“Tom Selleck Reveals Why He Disliked Magnum, P.I.’s ‘Really Sh-tty’ Title”

Tom Selleck, widely recognized for his iconic role as private investigator Thomas Magnum, had a notable critique about the series name that became so synonymous with his career. “Magnum, P.I.,” a major hit in the 1980s, was not a title Selleck was particularly fond of, as revealed in his new memoir.

According to TVLine, Selleck reflects on his experience with “Magnum, P.I.,” including his mixed feelings about Glen Larson, who penned the original pilot script. However, Selleck praised the two-hour movie pilot script by Donald P. Bellisario, who later created “Quantum Leap” and “NCIS,” describing it as “the best script that had ever crossed [his] path.” Despite this, Selleck was not a fan of the series title. He explains in his memoir that the character was initially going to be named Harry Magnum, but due to concerns that Warner Bros. might have issues with the name because of the popular Dirty Harry film “Magnum Force,” a change was made. Selleck was particularly critical of the title “Magnum, P.I.,” finding it “really sh-tty” partly because he was aware that “P.I.” could be a derogatory abbreviation for Philippine Islander, which was a sensitive issue considering the series’ setting in Hawaii.

Additionally, Selleck’s commitment to “Magnum, P.I.” had unintended consequences for his career. He was originally considered for the role of Indiana Jones, but his television contract prevented him from taking on the part. Harrison Ford ultimately landed the role, and Ford has publicly expressed gratitude for Selleck’s commitment to his TV show, jokingly thanking him for inadvertently paving the way for his own iconic performance.

Despite missing out on the Indiana Jones franchise, Selleck’s career flourished with “Magnum, P.I.” running for eight seasons from 1980 to 1988, and roles in films like “Three Men and a Baby” and its sequel, “Three Men and a Little Lady,” as well as the Jesse Stone series. Since 2010, Selleck has starred as Frank Reagan on “Blue Bloods,” which is concluding its 14th season. Selleck has expressed hope that the series might return in the future, despite its impending cancellation.