September 1968 —— September 2018
HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY HAWAII FIVE-O
Well…..hello there, my friends! How have you been? Have you been enjoying your summer? I sure hope you’ve all had a fantastic time. I know I’ve probably said this before, but I never thought there would come a time when I would want to wish away my summer but, damn, if the arrival of Hawaii Five-0 eight years ago didn’t do just that.
Well, here we are again. We’ve made it. We’ve made it almost to the end of another summer of hiatus hell. This hiatus seemed particular awful since CBS, in its infinite wisdom, decided we didn’t need H50 reruns for the better part of the whole summer. Aaauugghhh!!!! What on earth would I have done without iTunes and DVDs and Netflix and Amazon Prime and CBS AllAccess?!?! 😉😉
But, it’s September now and that means the season premiere of our favorite show is just around the corner. Already, there’s so much to be excited about.
Here are some of the things we already know about Season 9:
The entire cast is back! Personally, this was never a concern for me once I learned that Alex was definitely on board, but I know there were those who were worried, especially when Alex and Scott stayed off island an extra week when filming began in July. But, not to worry. Our team is fully intact!
Even Eddie is back, thank goodness! 🐶 😘 Courtesy of Michael Ausiello at TVLine, Eddie is going to get his very own origin story! I’m not sure if this is going to be a full episode, or a second or *shudder* third story but how cute will it be to find out just how Eddie became the awesome service dog he is?
A full season of H50! As of right now, there is a season order for 22 episodes. But as we’ve seen in the past, that number can be very fluid. We’ve seen it increased to 24 and then to 25 in previous seasons. Let’s hope that happens again this year.
Sunset on the Beach is a go! Not only is it a go, but it promises to be an extravaganza the like of which we’ve not seen on Queens Beach before. Because not only is the cast and crew of H50 going to be there like always, but the cast of the new Magnum PI will be there as well. Attendees (and I am soooooooo jealous I can’t be there) will be treated to a 50th Anniversary celebration for H50 as well as a double feature presentation of both the Season 9 Premiere of H50 and the Series Premiere of Magnum PI.
I know there was a lot of hand wringing over this when the announcement was first made. That Magnum was going to take away H50’s thunder, or something. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is not the first time attendees have been treated to a double feature on the beach. At SOTB 2016, the Series Premiere of MagGyver was also shown. And even before that, at SOTB 2014, the Series Premiere of Scorpion was shown. So this is not, in any way, a new development. What is new, of course, is that, unlike those other CBS shows, Magnum films on Oahu, so the Magnum cast is able to attend the celebration.
To top everything off, there will be a live concert from the one and only Cyndi Lauper to round out the night! It will be interesting to see if Cyndi ties in with H50 or possibly with Magnum in some way. Previously, the musical guests at SOTB also had some part in the show.
The Jonas Brothers appeared at SOTB 2013 when Nick Jonas was on the show as Ian Wright. When Darius Rucker (of Hootie and the Blowfish) was on the show in Season 7, he appeared at that year’s SOTB. Episode #100 gave us two guest musicians. Gavin Rossdale (who appeared in #100) performed at SOTB 2014 and, of course, I’ll never forget singing “All for One” (the “theme song” of Episode #100) along with Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik at SOTB 2015. So, it makes me wonder if we’ll be seeing (or hearing) Cyndi on either of the two shows this season.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hawaii Five-O! And how awesome is that?!?!? There aren’t many shows that can boast that claim to fame. And in a stroke of genius, TPTB have decided that the Season 9 Premiere (September 28th), which is almost exactly 50 years from the date of the Original Premiere of Hawaii Five-O (September 20, 1968), will be a retelling of the original Pilot episode, “Cocoon” (Ka ʻōwili ʻōka’i).
The retelling of this story gives Peter Lenkov a co-writing credit with Series creator Leonard Freeman which I’m sure is a huge honor and thrill for Peter. And if we go by the great job that was done when they tackled the retelling of “Hookman” in Season 3, this episode will be incredible.
I took a look at the original version of “Cocoon” recently and it is a fascinating story. When I heard they were going to re-tell it, my first thought was, “how are they going to get two hours worth of story into 42 minutes”. Having now watched the original, I’m not worried one bit. There is a lot of expendable material in the original. Of course, in those days, there weren’t as many commercials taking up story time as there is now so there was a lot more time to fill. A good deal of that expendable material can be trimmed back leaving a great, intense story that I know our cast, especially Alex will totally rock!
Jack Lord’s McGarrett was pretty much the only major part of the original “Cocoon”. As a matter of fact, you barely see the rest of the team at all. Chin Ho and Danny don’t show up until the second hour and while Kono is in the first hour, he’s reduced to only coming and going from Steve’s office basically running errands. Thank God, our H50 is nothing like the 1968 version in that regard. The original H5O was always, more or less, the Jack Lord show. While Alex is, most decidedly, the lead and, yes, carries the major bulk of screen time, our H50 is not the Alex O’Loughlin show. We’ll be seeing our entire team tackling this story from beginning to end, just like they always do! It’s going to be so great!
Oh, and WoFat comes “back” too! 😉
Check out the press release and the promotional pictures courtesy of CBS and Spoiler TV here:
https://www.spoilertv.com/2018/08/hawaii-five-0-episode-901-ka-owili-okai.html
Two upcoming episodes which sound like they will totally blow us away!
Episode 9.07 will be H50’s milestone 200th episode. First, the most important thing of all…. Scott/Danny will be in the episode, as we can see from Peter’s answer above (courtesy of Matt Mitovich at TVLine) . That is extremely great news!!
We’ll also get to see the “soft” opening of Steve and Danny’s restaurant. We’re left to wonder what the “big turning point” will be however. Me? I’m hoping for a huge success. I’ve made no secret that I really want Danny’s “dream” from when he was shot to come true someday. What else will #200 include. Who knows? But I’m willing to bet, considering how incredible #100 was, that we’re all in for quite a treat.
The “mid-season finale” also sounds intriguing. This is the synopsis of the movie “The Expendables”.
First off, let’s dismiss the totally inaccurate and, quite frankly, ludicrous web article that said “look for” Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to make an appearance. Seriously…. where on earth do people get this stuff???? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
It seems likely the episode may be about some sort of big mission/OP (like the theme of the movie) that needs the assistance of characters who have helped out in the past. There’s a long list of people who have helped out Five-0 over the years. I can’t wait to see who ends up coming back!
And another episode that looks to be a really great one!
Yup! You’re reading that right! Written by: Chi McBride! This is very exciting. I love it when the cast dips their toes into the creative process. Alex did it last year with his story credit for the 8.24 SEAL story with Joe and Junior and with his directorial debut in 8.18. Both fantastic episodes.
Who knows what story Chi has come up with, but with the news that Oscar Winner Louis Gossett Jr. has been cast to play Lou’s father, it sounds like it could be a Grover family saga of some sort. As you can see above, it’s Episode 9.08, which will be the Thanksgiving episode. With two powerhouse actors anchoring the story, you just know it’s going to rock! Here’s hoping we get to see Renee, Samantha and Will again too.
Happy Halloween! This year’s Halloween episode looks to be a lot of fun, as Halloween episodes always are! This years installment will center around Jerry, Eric and Noelani. Three of my favorite characters and all three of them, always a lot of fun! This should be one great Halloween!
Oh, and by the way, speaking of Alex……..
Woooooo Hoooooo!!!!!! I wonder if Alex will be given a script to direct or if he’ll come up with another story of his own? Either way, this makes me extremely happy!! He did such a fantastic job with his directorial debut in 8.18, I can’t wait to see what he does with his next episode.
So, there we are. A little less than a month to go until the Premiere and so much we already know of what’s to come. The best part? There is still so much we don’t know so an abundance of great stuff yet to find out. I’m excited. Who’s with me? Yeah…… thought so! 😁😁😁
Aloha. Malama Pono
Pictures used above are, obviously, not mine. I’ve given credit where appropriate and I’m posting this incredible picture again because I just love it so much. Courtesy of @alangesek007.
Hawaii Five-0 Kool-Aid 
Wow! Happy September 1st! I’m so excited this blasted hiatus is almost over! Looks like a fabulous season heading our way. So many things to look forward to – but I think more than anything, I just need to see the whole gang back on my screen doing what they always do – fighting crime doggedly, living life honorably, bickering endlessly , sharing Aloha always. 😉 Bring it on…I’m so ready!
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All the things that make this show so awesome! Going by what we know so far plus the BTS info from the crew and antics of the cast, it looks like they are all pretty excited to be back as well. Gonna be another great season… I can just feel it! ♥♥
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Great article,Linda! Season 9 already sounds like it could be the best season yet and if the premiere episode is any indication, I know it will be! Be it flashback or whatever,I can’t wait to see Wo-Fat again! This episode will be a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original show! Speaking of which, I’m wondering if TV Guide will do what they did for Star Trek’s 50th and have a special collector’s magazine devoted to the original H50? I hope so! Can’t wait to season 9 to begin-just over three weeks to go!
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Ohhhhhh I didn’t even think of that Rhonda! It would be awesome if TV Guide did that. It’s such a huge milestone, I hope they DO make a big deal out of it and I hope to God CBS promotes the living hell out of it too! ♥
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Linda that was great. I love getting all information in one read that’s accurate and to the point. I am so excited for the entire season. Not one moment sounds anything but spectacular. Thank you for putting everything together that we all love to know. Hope you got some rest this hiatus bc you are going to be busy this season, LoL
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ROFL…. I think you’re probably right Susan. So far it looks like this new season is going to be keeping me on my toes, that’s for sure! ♥
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What an incredible piece, Linda …. Yes, it IS September 1 — and we will reconnect with OUR SHOW in less than a month. My prep for Season 9 is to go back to the Pilot (9th time, maybe?), the Season 2 opener, Episodes 100 & 150, and of course, the Episode that to this day brings me to my knees … the Pearl Harbor story. Book-em-Danno … Let’s ROCK !
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You’re hitting all of the best highlights Dan! I started back in early June and re-watched every episode (with one or two exceptions) from the very beginning. It’s a tradition I started back during the summer between Season 1 and Season 2. Of course, now it takes the better part of the whole summer to get through them all, which is positively wonderful.♥♥
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Dan, the Pearl Harbor story was the best. Not only did the story have some great twists, but it made me (and many others) aware of what happened to many Japanese Americans during WWII. And the poignant story that connected McGarrett to David was so beautiful —- I cry every time David gives the baseball glove to Steve.
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It’s really remarkable when you think about the Pearl Harbor episode and, to a slightly lesser extent 2.10 (WoFat captures Steve in North Korea) that they were really, simply regular weekly episodes. Each one would have been worthy to be a #100 or a #150 milestone episode because both were so incredibly epic. It’s really something to think they were simply weekly episodes.
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Linda ,I share you love of Hawaii Five-0 and love your perspective on the show. You make the long summer hiatus more bearable for us die-hard fans. I too am more than eager to see what season 9 holds in store for us. I love the new cast members who have given the show new life and fun it helps to make the long days and months of shooting more palitable for Alex , Scott , Ch and the entire crew. I appreciate Peter Lencov’s commitment to this show even with so much on his plate with so many great shows. May Our beloved show last at least 13 glorious seasons.
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We were all so worried at the end of Season 7 about what Season 8’s new additions would bring. Of course, we had no need to worry since Meaghan and Beulah have, as you said, given the show a new life and a new attitude we didn’t even realize we needed. It’s been a joy watching them develop over the course of the season and I can’t wait to see what else is coming down the road!
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Wishing for a thumbs up icon. Ditto to all you said!
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👍👍👍
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How’d you do that? LOL, I’m very challenged in the tech department.
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ROFL… I copied it from a twitter post and pasted them here! I’ve yet to figure out how to do it through WordPress! LOL
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Yay! This has been THE longest hiatus ever and the deprivation is not pretty! Can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. This wonderful and informative article has me chomping at the bit for more! I’m so ready for this season to start. Bring it on! Is. It. Sept. 28th. Yet?
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Yeah, this one has been particularly hard. I don’t know if it’s because we had no re-runs pretty much all summer what. But, yeah, this has gone on lone enough! Bring on September 28th and lets get this show on the road! ♥♥
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I cannot wait for the season to start. I have spent a lot of my evenings watching my dvds of past episodes. It keeps me from going through withdrawal. I am so excited that Danno will be in the 200th episode. It just is not the same without him. But, I’m happy he gets the time off. it will be great to see Alex direct again. He did a fantastic job. I am looking forward to a winter full of H50 Kool-Aid. And, by the way, I really look forward to Magnum PI. It will never compare to H50, but I feel that I will really enjoy it. Thank you, Peter Lenkov.
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I’m a little more leary of Magnum than I was for H50, or even MacGyver, because, unlike H5O (which I never cared for much) and MacGyver (which I liked but wasn’t orgasmic over), I adored Tom Selleck and Magnum. So H50 and MacGyver didn’t have a lot to live up to for me, memory wise of the original shows. Magnum does.
But, having said that, I adore H50….obviously…. and I enjoy the hell out of MacGyver. So I have no doubt that in Peter’s capable hands, I’m going to enjoy Magnum too. We’ll see if it reaches Selleck adoration levels, but for now, I’m fully in and ready to enjoy what ever comes my way.
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I agree, Linda. TS was my crush all those years ago. And I just don’t think it will be the same without the wonderful portrayal of Higgins by John Hillerman. His priceless “Oh my God!” will be tough to beat. And his rambling war stories. But I will give the new Magnum PI a fair chance.
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When she was little, I used to tell my daughter at the dinner table that she wasn’t allowed to say she didn’t like something until she tried it. If, after having a taste, she decided she didn’t like whatever it was, that was fine. She could eat something else. But there was no way I was letting her get away with “I don’t like that” until she tried it. It’s really too bad many people who tune into TV shows didn’t learn that simple lesson when they were three! A fair chance is really all that’s needed. ♥♥
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Happy September. Can’t wait for new season. And really think that Alex and Scott should be producers. But that is just me I guess. And really think hopefully we will get more seasons to come. God bless!
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The other thing about “Cocoon” not necessarily needing 2 parts to tell the story completely in “our” version of the show:
Even though it sounds like the actors who play Danny (who was replaced by James MacArthur for the original series), Chin, & (male) Kono are barely in the ep & it’s mostly got Jack Lord in it, this episode served as the pilot for the original series (which I know you mentioned in the blog post). So there was a certain amount of “introductory” stuff—about Hawaii & about the characters, & about who knows what else—in it.
Since “our” version is premiering Season 9, we don’t need to have script pages/show running time devoted to introducing us to anyone/anything in it. Not even to Tani, Junior, or Eddie, since we met them last season; or any other cast members/recurring characters with (or without) upgraded billing status in the credits as of S8. That should be most of the changes—well, other than Tani, Junior & other characters probably now saying lines that originally belonged to Chin & Kono in the original, since “our” Chin & Kono were written out last season.
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I’m so looking forward to season 9 of H50 and getting to see Alex again he’s my one and only the only thing I didn’t like about this article is people saying it’s not the Alex O’loughlin show I’m sorry I’m not trying to be rude but it hurts my feelings sometimes when people talk down about Alex because he is the heart and soul of the show he puts 1000% percent of his blood sweat and tears into the show just watch episode 5×07 and you will see he is one hell of a actor who deserves a Emmy for everything he does. He also has a big beautiful heart on and off the screen. Sorry that’s how I feel about Alex/Steve I hope you won’t take offense to my comments.
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Absolutely no offense taken. I happen to agree that Alex is the heart and soul (along with Scott) of this show and I firmly believe without them there would be no show. If you read this blog on a regular basis, you’ll know that I adore Alex and feel his acting is not only fantastic but underappreciated by many. Not by me, though. I think he is incredible. His ability to deliver pages of dialog with only his eyes is amazing. And I am thrilled he with his directorial debut last season and I adored his 8.24 story idea with Joe and Junior.
My comments on the fact that our H50 is not the Alex show is based on the fact that the original Five-0 team of 1968 was Steve in charge and everyone else his loyal minions. Jack Lord’s McGarrett was the star and everyone else pretty much had to kow-tow to him. Alex is not like that. Yes he is the most important one in the show but our H50 is very much a very talented ensemble cast where every single actor is capable of and has carried episodes all by themselves. It takes nothing away from Alex and how great he is to recognize all the other actors on the show are extremely talented as well.
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