NBC fumbled Magnum P.I. BIG TIME
Two episodes air tonight (Wednesday, January 3).
Sadly, these are the final episodes, though with the ratings, it's frustrating why NBC couldn’t #SaveMagnumPI again and give the show a Season 6.
“Ashes to Ashes” airs at 9PM ET and “The Big Squeeze” airs at 10PM ET.
“Ashes to Ashes” (9PM) – Magnum and Higgins re-examine a fatal arson investigation at the request of TC and Mahina, leading to a sinister discovery. Kumu volunteers with Rick at a veterans’ crisis call center.
“The Big Squeeze” (10PM) – Magnum and Higgins take a major step forward in their relationship. At the same time, the past comes back to haunt them when a previous suspect becomes their client. TC aims to scale up Island Hoppers. Rick gets a new business partner.
I watch more than I've ever covered on this blog and "Magnum PI" is one of me and the mister's favorites - both this version and the original with Tom Selleck (His grandmother even uses Tom's face as a reference in her paintings.) - so NBC's idiocy with scheduling season 5 on Sunday nights with NO good and proper lead-in was baffling and frustrating!
Do we wish the live ratings had been the same as on CBS Fridays? Of course! But Season 5 has still been very good for NBC, especially with a strike taking many months. Why they didn't put it on Fridays in the first place is a mystery, as all NBC runs there are reruns and Dateline!
Anyway, it seems we just have to be grateful for these 20 NBC episodes. The La Mariana set has already been dismantled and repurposed for another show. "Magnum" actor contracts expired months ago. The writers room would love to keep making it, the cast loved their time on it, but no else is fighting like the fandom is. (Kudos for the billboards etc! No one's spent what you guys have.)
How well would "Magnum" do on streaming? The show is easily binge-able.
So...lift a glass to our ohana and wish them well.
Thanks for being excellent comfort food television.
