Magnum and Higgins’ time on television is coming to a close. NBC has revealed that the Magnum PI TV series is ending and won’t have a sixth year. The fifth season of 20 episodes will conclude in 2024.
An action-adventure drama series, the Magnum PI TV show stars Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Amy Hill, and Tim Kang. This reboot of the 1980s TV show follows Thomas Magnum (Hernandez), a decorated former Navy SEAL who repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. He lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business. The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins (Weeks), a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent who keeps Magnum in line. When Magnum needs back-up on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors, chopper pilot Theodore “TC” Calvin (Hill) and Orville “Rick” Wright (Knighton), a former Marine door-gunner who now runs a nightclub. Magnum frequently has run-ins with police detective Gordon Katsumoto (Kang) and the two are more alike than either cares to admit. The unofficial “House Mom” and cultural curator of Robin’s Nest, Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta (Hill) is also one of Magnum’s biggest fans.
Airing on Sunday nights, the fifth season of Magnum PI averages a 0.27 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 3.35 million viewers. Compared to season four (which aired on CBS), that’s down by 35% in the demo and down by 36% in viewership in the live+same day ratings (including DVR playback through 3:00 AM). It’s been a moderate performer in the traditional ratings.
Last year, CBS cancelled the reboot series after four seasons because the network and the show’s co-producing studio, Universal Television (owned by NBC-Universal), couldn’t reach a financial agreement for a fifth year. As traditional viewing has dropped, networks are less willing to spend as much on shows they don’t own.
NBC revived the show for 20 episodes. It was initially reported that they would be split between seasons five and six. It was later confirmed that they would all be part of a fifth season. Ten episodes aired during the 2022-23 season, and the remaining ten installments will run during the upcoming 2023-24 season.
The cast’s options expire on June 30th, and NBC has opted not to extend them. The network could have extended them and would have had next year to decide if they wanted a sixth season, putting the cast on hold for a year. With the uncertainty of the ongoing writers strike, the decision has been made to end the show.
What do you think? Have you kept up with the Magnum PI TV series on NBC? Are you sorry that this reboot has been cancelled instead of renewed for a sixth season?
I’m so disappointed that there will not be a season six
Love the show and looked forward to watching it another good show bites the dust really bad move reg tv’s getting so boring to watch
I love this show. Please do not canceled this show. It is one of the best shows on TV.
I love this s how. I am very disappointed that it is being canceled. Bad decision.
Are you kidding me?! They have a two-season contract.
Another bad decision as usual. I really enjoyed this show and will miss it for sure. Network television is becoming unwatchable. Not much left worth spending time watching. These companies will be canceling themselves out of business before too long.
Loved the show. I knew NBC would back out. The only thing rescued would be the mindless reality shows. I won’t be watching NBC after Magnum ends.
Please rethink about the cancellation of season six.
Just another reason to cut ties with some streamers. Paramount, Max and Peacock are the worst offenders. At least we got another 2o episodes, but there could have been more.
It was a rare reboot that actually worked from the start. So when it was originally cancelled, I thought it was a bad idea and when it was picked up by another network, I was pleased.
Whilst it was still good, something abut the general tone changed and it didn’t quite have the same flow and vibe.
However I would still rather have it than not.
So sad to see this show cancelled! It was better than the original. Good shows like this get cancelled and hateful trash shows like the View live on!!!
No surprise it had awful ratings. Fans can’t complain nbc did give it an extra season.
Magnum is one of the better shows on TV. Will miss it
I am so disappointed with NBC’s decision not to retain the amazing cast and writers of Magnum PI for Season 6 and beyond. I know that the writers strike had an impact on their decision, and they may even have felt they were doing the actors a disservice retaining them while waiting for the strike to end. But, NBC has broken the trust of the entire very large fanbase of Magnum PI. This is an amazing show that has created an Ohana on and off the screens. The actors and fans have formed a bond that would have assured Magnum… Read more »
Good its canceled. Wasn’t good as the original
Whether it was better or worse than the original is irrelevant. I’m old enough to have watched the original, and I like the current one as well. Jay Hernandez does a good job of capturing the charm of Magnum. I wish it wasn’t getting cancelled as it was an enjoyable show. Whether it was better, worse or equal to the original doesn’t change that.
Somewhere, John Hillerman is smiling.