Ed Asner is returning to Hawaii Five-0 after 36 years. The Emmy-winning actor, best known for his portrayal of Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, appeared on the original series in a 1975 episode called “Wooden Model of a Rat.” Opposite Jack Lord and James MacArthur, Asner guest-starred as a world-class smuggler named August March.
Now, Asner is getting ready to play the same character on the rebooted version of Hawaii Five-0. Footage from his appearance on the original series will be incorporated. His character will have served 30 years in prison for committing murder, has reformed and now lives on the island of O’ahu.
McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and the rest of the team will approach him, asking for his help on a smuggling case. Since this is a reboot, it’ll be interesting to see if the writers make any kind of reference to the man who brought March to justice years ago — Lord’s McGarrett.
Executive producer and showrunner Peter Lenkov said, “It is thrilling to, for the first time, merge the original Hawaii Five-0 and our new show by having the classic, versatile and award-winning actor Ed Asner reprise his role of August March, a character Mr. Asner first played 36 years ago… There is no better way to form a bridge between our reboot and the original series.”
Asner’s appearance is being billed as a recurring guest star so this likely won’t be the last that we see of August March. The episode is expected to air in the spring.
What do you think? Will you be tuning in for Asner’s appearance? Do you like the idea of linking the two versions of Hawaii Five-0?
I’m a big fan of the original Hawaii Five-O, and I like the idea of Ed Asner reprising a character from the classic series. But with the new show being a reboot, I don’t see how it’s possible. Unless we’re to believe there were two sets of characters, one in the ’70s and one today, all with the same names, all working together for Five-O. In that case, instead of Ed Asner, they should cast Leonard Nimoy, who can explain this paradox.
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What a cool idea! At first I was kinda lukewarm about the new Hawaii 5-0 but as it has incorporated more authentic island scenes and dialogue, and the characters have grown, it is first rate. hope one day they come over to the Big Island and film some lava… aloha!
Yes, my family and I will absolutely be tuning in to watch H50, with Ed Asner as a recurring character August March.
I can’t stand Ed Asner. Won’t watch anything he is in.