15 Snappy Facts About Magnum P.I.
The Show
Magnum P.I. is without a doubt one of the most successful tv shows of the decade. With its popular intro theme, it kept many tv viewers nailed to their couches. Here are 15 Snappy Facts About Magnum P.I. that you probably never knew.
1. The Film Set
The show was originally slated to be filmed in Southern California. CBS rather opted to film the series in Hawaii to prevent the closure of their offices, after Hawaii Five-O came to an end in 1980.
2. Cross-overs
Various crossover episodes featured Simon & Simon (1981) and Murder, She Wrote (1984).
3. Mike Post
The well-known tv series music composer, Mike Post, was classmates with Tom Selleck in Grant High School, California
4. Higgins
Although Higgins (John Hillerman spoke in an English accent, the actor was actually from Texas. in the show, Higgins was an English WWII veteran, and Hillerman was a child during the same time.
5. Robin’s Nest
The estate used in the show, called “Robin’s Nest”, was put up for sale in 214, for a whopping $15,750,000. In 2015 it was sold for $8, million. Sadly, in 2018, all of the buildings on the property were demolished.
6. The Dobermans
Higgins’ two pet Dobermans was called “Zeus” and “Apollo”. Plans were made to write the dogs out of the show by season to cut costs. Selleck and Hillerman protested and the four-footed actors kept their jobs. The dogs used in the show weren’t always the same dogs either, and on some occasions, female dogs were used by the dog handlers.
7. The Cars
The Ferrari Magnum drove as a 308 GTS, dubbed “Robin 1”. Higgins drove an Audi 5000 named “Robin2”.
8. The Theme Song
The episode intro of Magnum, P.I. was adapted as a pop music single and peaked in the charts at number 24.
9. Navy Seals
In the show, Magnum was a retired y Seal.
10. Mad magazine
In the December 1981 issue of Mad Magazine, the show was spoofed as “Magnumb PU”
11. Favorite Beer
In the show, Magnum’s favorite beer was Old Dusseldorf in a long neck.
12. The Numberplate
In the episode intro, the numberplate on the Ferarri reads ” 56E-478″, not “Robin1” which was used during the whole show.
13. Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone appeared in Magnum, P.I. episode 1 of Season 5, called “Echoes of the Mind”. She played the role of Diane Dupres.
14. Magnum’s 45
The Colt 911 45 caliber was replaced by a 9mm version because the blanks were cheaper.
15. Highest Rated Show
The show enjoyed the highest ranking position on Thursday evenings until the debut of “Cosby Show” in 1984.