(Photo: Zack Dougan/CBS)
Thomas Magnum and his friends may get another chance at having a fifth season. Last month, CBS cancelled the Friday night series but there are discussions underway to possibly save it. Magnum PI was likely the most-watched broadcast series to be cancelled during the 2021-22 season.
An action-drama series, Magnum PI stars Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill, Tim Kang, and Amy Hill. Recurring performers include Lance Kim, Chantal Thuy, and Martin Martinez. 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.
The fourth season of Magnum PI averaged a 0.42 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.24 million viewers. Compared to season three, that’s down by 20% in the demo and down by 6% in viewership in the live+same day ratings (including DVR playback through 3:00 AM). In the live+7 day ratings, the reboot averaged a 0.70 demo and 7.38 million with delayed viewing added in.
It was reported that the cancellation came after CBS and the show’s co-producing studio, Universal Television, couldn’t come to an agreement for a fifth year. As traditional viewing has been dropping, networks are less willing to spend as much on shows that they don’t own. It also didn’t help Magnum’s chances of survival when the network’s pilots for new drama ended dup being strong contenders for space on the schedule.
Deadline now reports that there are talks underway for NBC and/or USA Network to save the series. One scenario being considered would see fifth season episodes running on NBC while USA would air reruns. There has also been talk of potentially moving the series to the Paramount+ streaming service.
A deal for season five of Magnum PI would need to be worked out by the end of the month, before the cast’s contracts expire. NBCUniversal would need to extend the cast options if negotiations continued past that date.
What do you think? Are you hoping that the Magnum PI series is saved on NBC or USA Network? Were you disappointed by the CBS cancellation?
I figure that Magnum getting together with Higgins is the death knell for the show. Few shows survive the end of the “will they/won’t they” tension.
Seemed to work fine on Bones, with 6-7 more seasons after Booth and Bones did.
Theres ben countless shows where the couple were on and off again. I hardly think this first getting together would have been written to last. They both are headstrong characters that would be easy to do a split with and the bad blood from that split would gave been fun to watch as they still tried to work around each other and live on the same estate .
This one is going to be hard to replace. One of Friday nights top shows. I didnt watch it but just looking on here and showbuzz daily, I know its ratings were top 5 every friday night (maybe even top 3). Please do not send it to Paramount plus. No one will watch it there. I dont even think they have 5 million subscribers. Keep it on regular prime time tv.
Hope they renew!!! One of my favorite shows – I was so disappointed when I heard they were cancelling! PLEASE, RENEW!
Great news. Hope they work it out. I look forward to the show every week for an hour of escaping into paradise.
I sincerely hope that it can be resolved so that Magnum PI continues. I look forward to the show every week. It has gotten better every season and the storylines of this past season were terrific, but left hanging.
Please fix the problem. I always make sure I am home to watch Magnum PI. This season was extra great. With both of them admitting they love each other. Want to see what happens between both of them. Love, marriage and a baby. The show can keep on going on for awhile. Lots of store lines for all of them. Please keep the program!
Please, please find a way to keep Magnum PI on, NBC works one of the better shows on! I never thought I’d say this but it’s just as good as the NCIS’s if not a bit better at times!!!!
I have felt devastated since Magnum PI was cancelled. The show’s storyline had gotten better each year and now there are so many left hanging. Please work something out so that the show can continue. There are so many idiot shows on tv which continue year after year. There are some people who appreciate quality programming.
One of the better shows on TV. Why mess with a good show when there is so much garbage TV on now!
It made me so very unhappy when it was said that Magnum PI was going to be canceled, so please renew it and let NBC take over! It seems as if when there is a good exciting show on, it gets canceled but some of the stupid shows get renewed!
We love watching Magnum. One of our favorite shows. Please save it!! I do not like these mindless reality shows.
This is a great show. It’s so much better than many of the others that are being renewed. Please save it!!!!!
As it should be. This is head and shoulders above so much else that is being renewed.
Save it! One of our favorite shows.
It had 4 seasons. That is enough for syndication, no reason to bring back this poor excuse for a reboot!
Bonjour je suis Française et j’aimerais que la saison cinq de Magnum puisse aboutir mais j’aimerais qu’un réseau puisse diffuser la série et qu’elle puisse etre vu en France ensuite comme les autres saison les personnages sont super et je voudrais une fin heureuse pour Magnum et Higgins