Somewhere, in a room, there are people throwing out names of old television shows to reboot, reimagine, restart, or retread. Considering the multitude of new spins on cop shows that we see each year, I would have never thought that this was a genre that would need to mine television history for new ideas. The Hawaii 5-0 pilot, however, does a good job of taking a familiar story and attaching a modern spin. I do have to throw out a disclaimer as we move forward though: Not only am I not some big fan of the original show, I’m not even sure that I’ve seen an episode before (blame my age, blame my parents, just don’t blame me). The new version, though, is easily accessible, and did a great job in making me a fan in a short time period. I have faith (even if my friend Rich Keller doesn’t) in the fact that Jack Lord has finally found a worthy replacement, and that Hawaii 5-0 is going to be a hit.
It is hard to feel sorry for Alex O’Loughlin (Moonlight), given that he’s been given two great shots at headlining his own show (and yes, it was difficult to keep a straight face when referring to Three Rivers with the word “great”). In Steve McGarrett, I think he’s finally found a role he’ll be able to see past episode thirteen. The rest of the cast is solid. Danny “Danno” Williams is played by one of my all time favorites, Scott Caan (Varsity Blues … and yes, I’m using Varsity Blues because it’s only the greatest movie ever). Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica) round out the cast as Chin Ho Kelly and Kona Kalakaua.
McGarrett and Williams don’t instantly get along. Hell, McGarrett doesn’t even want to be on the island. The story of how he gets there and why he stays is one of the three storylines that producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Fringe, Star Trek) mentioned at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con that will carry through the first season. I look forward to seeing how that particular story plays out, because it means more James Marsters (Angel, Smallville), which means vampire fans across the world get to geek out at every moment.
The pilot was incredibly well (over?) produced. It is certainly movie quality work, directed by Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard). I would say it will be hard to keep up to that level, but, truly, all you really have to do is pan over the background of the islands, and that is all the special effects you’ll ever need. This show will make the state of Hawaii its own character much more so that Lost was ever able to do.
CBS has a hit on its hands. It will be impossible to avoid comparisons to the original, but the cast is solid, the writers are top notch. It is about time that O’Loughlin breaks his slump.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Aug 05, 2010 @ 15:20 EST5EDT
Jack Lord did not find a replacement. Casting found someone to portray a character of the same name in a program of the same name. I do agree with your statement that “…all you really have to do is pan over the background of the islands, and it that is all the special effects you’ll ever need.”
*POST AUTHOR*
Sorry you feel that way … Have you seen the pilot yet?
I get loyalty to a show, but did you watch the new Battlestar Galactica?
I’m old enough to have watched the original with my family and I was/am a big fan of it. Having said that, I will be watching the original with a good bit if skepticism since they’re tinkering with one of my childhood favorites, but I will also be watching with a very open mind. I like the casting and the fact that they’re trying to stay true to one of the greatest opening sequences and especially songs in television history.
I won’t be judging until I see it, but I will have a small chip on my shoulder with Jack Lord’s picture on it. As a fan of the original I can’t help it, but I’m ready to see Hawaii Five-0: The Next Generation. :o)
Darn! I meant to say, “…I will be watching the *NEW VERSION* with a good bit if skepticism…”
Sorry. Told ya I was old enough to have seen the original when it was first broadcast. The forgetful mind is a side-effect of time travel. :o)
That video they released a while ago, about the recording of the theme music with the original orchestration, convinced me that they were making a solid effort not to insult the original show. I have to admit I’ve never seen an episode of it, but I think those original opening credits, edited so perfectly to the music, stands as one of the best credit sequences in TV history. I’ll be watching the premiere just to see how the new credits turn out. If the show is any good, I might stick around. But I doubt it–I’m not a big fan of procedurals/cop shows. I got my fill of those years ago.
Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1b3H52oCeU&feature=channel
Thanks for the link, Scott! The original song always gave me goosebumps when I’d hear it because it brought back memories of what was considered back then action-packed drama…and damned good hair! (Go Jack Lord!!)
This video showing some of the original performers helping make an updated version was just fantastic. I think they’ve really done the old tune proud and have made it even cooler than it was back then. I’ll be tuning in for so many reasons, but the theme song is the first.
Hey Ivey, It’s nice to hear a positive review. When I first watched the commercials for Hawaii Five-0, I thought CBS would have to add another fail not only to Alex O’Loughlin’s column but to the column of TV remakes. But, last night, while flipping between Moonlight and Mentalist repeats, I caught another round of previews and found myself excited. #1) O’Loughlin’s American accent seems better and #2) it looks like fun. However, with a seemingly younger cast, less of a focus on drama, and more action, (despite the same location and character names), it does look like a different show (as H5 pointed out). At the same time, even if they launched it under a different name, any cop show in Hawaii will always receive that comparison, so I’m looking forward to watching Hawaii 5-0: TNG -
*POST AUTHOR*
I’m not sure the action will keep up to the same levels seen in the pilot. There’s the old joke that pilots are put directed like movies, and this one TOTALLY looks like a movie in scope. The opening scene that sets up all the drama? I doubt we’ll see anything like that again on the show :)
Like I said. I liked it, to the point of being surprised. This really wasn’t on my list of “must watches” this fall, but it is now.
I for one, am looking forward to this show. TOS was terrific but I have a strong feeling this version will blow TOS out of the water (pardon the pun).
*POST AUTHOR*
I wonder if there is any particular reason you’re looking forward to the show??? Maybe you just have a thing for characters that were men in the original and turned into women in the remake??
Why Dorv….I was hoping that you would review Hawaii 5-0 when it airs (If the site is going to carry it of course).
I’m old enough to remember the original and while it was fun and had its moments, it wasn’t perfect, since no show ever is and I think its only fair to give this new version a chance. Reboots can indeed succeed and you only have to look at the Star Trek movie to see how well. I’ll definitely be tuning in in September because there’s always a way to jumpstart and improve.
I also want ot make note of the fact that Alex O’Loughlin is NOT in the middle of any kind of slump since he had a very successful time on The Shield (they were, in fact, upset that he didn’t return to the show) before he went to Moonlight, which was cancelled through no fault of any cast member but due to behind-the-scenes problems with multiple showrunners. That’s a spurious comment I see now and then and it’s simply not the case.
*POST AUTHOR*
I disagree about O’Loughlin. Isn’t the definition of slump not performing to expectations that were set by previous work?
The man has headlined, headlined, two separate shows, in a row, that have been canceled in their first seasons. Yes, Moonlight developed a dedicated, yet small, fanbase (And I still to this day contend that Jason Dohring was the best part of that show). At the end of the day, however, the shows failed from a ratings perspective.
You’ll not find a more dedicated O’Loughlin fan around these parts than commenter WolfpackRed, and I’ve said the same thing to her over the dinner table time and time again when I’m home for the holidays :)
You need to get a lot of your ‘facts’ straight there bud: Moonlight was NOT canceled because of poor ratings – as a matter of fact, the show had some of the best Friday night ratings, for any scripted show, in recent memory. “Three Rivers” was going to fail before it hit the air. As almost every established critic noted, the story lines were too obscure to hold any fan interest and the time slot was probably the absolute worst for any new scripted show… and fail it did.
Alex has proven, in both TV and film, that he is a damn fine actor. Hopefully, he will receive the recognition he deserves in the new Hawaii 5-0
*POST AUTHOR*
Why was it canceled?
For the run of Moonlight, GW averaged 9.2m viewers, Moonlight 7.9m, and Numb3rs 9.65.
It wasn’t even the most watched show on its network on any given night, but it had “the best Friday night ratings … in recent memory?”
Should it have been canceled? Probably not. Nor, though, was it a slam dunk.