Magnum PI: Why the Mustache and Comma Are Missing from the CBS Reboot

(Karen Neal / CBS)

Everything old is new again — well, almost. On May 11th, CBS ordered the Magnum PI TV show reboot to series. In addition to updating the famous private investigator’s backstory — he’s now a retired Navy SEAL and veteran of the US conflict in Afghanistan — the new production has made some cosmetic changes to this Magnum adaption. Along with original star Tom Selleck, gone is Magnum’s mustache, as well as the comma between Magnum and P.I., in the show’s title. At today’s Upfront presentation to advertisers, reporters queried the network’s president of entertainment, Kelly Kahl, about those decisions. Check out the answer, below.

A CBS action-adventure crime drama, the new Magnum PI stars Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Stephen Hill, and Zachary Knighton. Weeks, as pictured below, is playing Juliet Higgins, an updated, female version of the 1980s series’ character, Jonathan Quayle Higgins III — originated by John Hillerman. As a disavowed MI:6 agent, one of Higgins’ jobs is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. That seems like a bigger story than a mustache or a comma, but we weren’t at the Upfront to ask about it. #TimesUp indeed.

(CBS)

Magnum PI Minus Mustache and Comma

In place of the mustache, the new Thomas Magnum sports a goatee. You can get a better look at it, below. The Wrap reports:

CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl explained both decisions Wednesday morning during the network’s annual pre-upfront breakfast with reporters.

“We debated the ‘Magnum’ thing for quite a bit, believe it or not,” Kahl said about the latter. “There was a comma before, we’re taking the comma out this time to streamline things.”

“I think there’s a little science behind it, actually,” he continued. “In the new world of searching, commas are not your friends.”

Perhaps that explains rival ABC’s issue with the one-and-done “Alex, Inc.” (It definitely does not.)

After the eggs benedict, the “Magnum” facial hair switcheroo served a little bit more as comic relief than sincere Q&A.

When asked by a reporter about how “rigorous” the debate was about if new star Jay Hernandez ought to copy former lead Tom Selleck’s trademark look, Kahl came up with the following:

“It’s a goatee, so it’s… half-mustache,” he said. “Thom [Sherman, a senior vice president] and I dictated that he have a goatee.”

(Karen Neal / CBS)

CBS released its Fall 2018 schedule, today. As of now, Magnum PI is slated to air on Mondays at 9:00pm, after new sitcoms The Neighborhood and Happy Together. Following Magnum, is the third season of Bull. Schedules often change as the season draws near, so check back at the end of summer, to be sure.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to the Magnum PI TV series reboot? Do you plan to check it out, when it premieres on CBS? Let us know.