On the surface, Magnum was a standard private eye drama, starring preternaturally handsome Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum. The series' early success started a boom of crime dramas with good-looking male leads. However, it was the underlying subtext that set Magnum apart--the Vietnam veteran as hero. While Magnum was not the first series to feature Vietnam vets, it was the first to have Vietnam as a subtext, and the show set off a mid-1980s trend of heroes with Vietnam backgrounds, including The A-Team, Riptide, Stingray, and Miami Vice. Previously portrayed mostly as victims of post-traumatic stress, the success of these series changed the way Vietnam was viewed, at least in popular culture.  In the pilot, which aired December 11, 1980, former Navy lieutenant Thomas Magnum was hired by mysterious millionaire pulp writer Robin Masters to test the security of his Hawaiian estate, Robin's Nest. Magnum successfully evaded the Dobermans, Zeus and Apollo, and the estate's major domo, Higgins, and thus became the estate's new security chief, living in its guesthouse. Magnum's presence rankled Jonathan Quayle Higgins (John Hillerman), the very British former military commando, to no end. Higgins, forever writing his memoirs of years in military service in Africa and Asia, regarded Magnum as a nuisance. Eventually, however, they bonded through their experiences in war.The Masters estate became the base of Magnum's struggling private investigation operation. Magnum was often aided in his investigations, usually unwillingly, by two of his fellow vets--Marines Theodore "T.C." Calvin (Roger E. Mosley) and Orville "Rick" Wright (Larry Manetti). Magnum continually "borrowed" T.C.'s chopper, Rick's underworld contacts, and Robin Master’s red Ferrari to solve crimes and protect people on the estate. Higgins eventually became another unwilling helper in Magnum's investigations.Magnum became much more than a standard-issue action drama due to co-creator Donald Bellisario, himself a former Marine (who would later create Quantum Leap and JAG). Bellisario turned the series into a meditation on Vietnam and friendship. Glen Larson had created Magnum as an ex-CIA agent, a playboy freeloading on the estate, much in the mold of his other successful action series, Knight Rider. Bellisario was brought in when Selleck objected. Bellisario changed Magnum into the Vietnam veteran of Naval intelligence and added Rick  and T.C.In the first six years of Magnum, Vietnam was practically another character. The pilot tied smuggled gold to a member of Magnum's commando team in Vietnam, and introduced Rick and T.C. as members of that team, all marked by their croix de guerre rings (the symbol of the French Resistance). In the second season Magnum's long lost wife Michele (who wears her croix on a pendant) returned from Vietnam, and then went back as a spy. In various episodes, Magnum had Vietnam flashbacks, which usually tied the past into the present day plot. These cinematic flashbacks, the other Vietnam references, the sometimes psychic flashes of Magnum, marked Magnum as different, as did Selleck's voiceovers of Magnum's thoughts, one of the few times this has been done in series television. Within those monologues, Magnum often referred to his "little voice," a variation on his conscience, which warned him of danger. The little voice was always counseling him and making the leaps of intuition he needed to escape or solve the crime.Once Bellisario left during the sixth season and Selleck and other producers took over, Magnum became a more traditional detective show. The series was to end in 1987, and the finale depicted Magnum dying and going to heaven, complete with cameos by all the recurring characters. However, the series came back for one more year and the death became near-death. The two-hour series finale airing May 1, 1988 was highly rated and wrapped up the series: Magnum gained custody of Lily (his daughter with Michele), abruptly quit the private eye business, and rejoined the Navy. Rick married, and it was implied that Higgins might be in reality the unseen Robin Masters. Since the series' end, there have been rumors it may be revived in movie form.In the first six years of Magnum, Vietnam was practically another character. The pilot tied smuggled gold to a member of Magnum's commando team in Vietnam, and introduced Rick and T.C. as members of that team, all marked by their croix de guerre rings (the symbol of the French Resistance). In the second season Magnum's long lost wife Michele (who wears her croix on a pendant) returned from Vietnam, and then went back as a spy. In various episodes, Magnum had Vietnam flashbacks, which usually tied the past into the present day plot. These cinematic flashbacks, the other Vietnam references, the sometimes psychic flashes of Magnum, marked Magnum as different, as did Selleck's voiceovers of Magnum's thoughts, one of the few times this has been done in series television. Within those monologues, Magnum often referred to his "little voice," a variation on his conscience, which warned him of danger. The little voice was always counseling him and making the leaps of intuition he needed to escape or solve the crime.Once Bellisario left during the sixth season and Selleck and other producers took over, Magnum became a more traditional detective show. The series was to end in 1987, and the finale depicted Magnum dying and going to heaven, complete with cameos by all the recurring characters. However, the series came back for one more year and the death became near-death. The two-hour series finale airing May 1, 1988 was highly rated and wrapped up the series: Magnum gained custody of Lily (his daughter with Michele), abruptly quit the private eye business, and rejoined the Navy. Rick married, and it was implied that Higgins might be in reality the unseen Robin Masters. Since the series' end, there have been rumors it may be revived in movie form.

The Car  

To many people the beautiful Pininfaria styled 308 GTB epitomizes classic Ferrari styling. Blending elements from the 246 Dino which it replaced and the outrageous Berlinetta Boxer, produced a razor edged design which managed to retain a delicate feminine line. The six cylinder engine of the 246 was replaced by gutsy V8 unit. Early models were dry-sumped and until 1977, almost unbelievably had fibreglass panels! The engine remained mid-mounted in the body giving superb balance and handling. The 308 is a strict two-seater, but once in, the cockpit is a comfortable and pleasant place to be, with room for a set of golf clubs or a couple of overnight bags in the boot. However, as the boot is mounted just behind the engine and just over the exhaust system, it is not a suitable environment for Easter eggs! In 1981 fuel injection replaced carburetors, but left the car down on power, an issue addressed in 1982 when the car was blessed with revised cylinder heads, receiving four valves per cylinder. The car was re-badged the 308 gtbi QV, for Quattrovalvole. The multi valve, fuel injected engine provided smooth and progressive power, enough to propel it to 160 mph.

 By the end of its production run, the 308 proved to be the most successful of all Ferrari models, thanks surely in no small part to a certain Thomas Magnum PI, who drove a GTS (targa) helping him solve many a Hawaiian mystery!  

Triva 

• One reason this show was set in Hawaii was so that CBS could re-use many of the sets from its other hit show, Hawaii Five-O which had just completed its on-air run in 1980. Several early episodes make reference to the fictional "Five-0" squad, setting this series in the same "universe" as Hawaii Five-O. Due to crossovers with other programs, the series is also shown to take place in the same continuity as Murder, She Wrote and Simon and Simon (and by extension, The Law and Harry McGraw and Whiz Kids).

• Former Five-O cast members Kam Fong and Herman Wedemeyer have guest-starred on Magnum P.I.

• The fictional license plate on the Ferrari changed from "56E-478" after the pilot to "ROBIN 1", which remained for the duration of the series. It's evident the producers hadn't considered, decided on, or paid for a "ROBIN 1" vanity plate when the initial episodes were shooting, and only added it later. The original plate number can be seen, briefly, in the titles of every episode, just as the 308 pulls away from the shoulder of the highway. Other vehicles in the series displayed similar "ROBIN" vanity plates, including an Audi 5000 with "ROBIN 2" and a green Ferrari ("ROBIN 28") driven by Robin's nephew, R.J. Masters.

• The producers originally intended to use a Porsche 928 as 'Magnum's' car and asked Porsche to produce one with an extra large sunroof for aerial shots. Due to a strict policy by Porsche of not doing any special specifications at customer request, the Ferrari 308 GTS was chosen instead and went on to become one of the most iconic cars of all time.

• It was originally intended for there to be an episode of the science fiction program Quantum Leap where main character Sam Beckett leaps into the body of Thomas Magnum. The episode would have Beckett (played by Scott Bakula) stumbling through a day-in-the-life of Magnum, P.I., and presumably interacting with the varied series regulars. Both Magnum P.I. and Quantum Leap were produced by Donald P. Bellisario. Plans for a Magnum, P.I. movie led to the early demise of the crossover, but some footage was filmed; namely, the end-of-episode "jumping in" scene, in which Beckett jumps into Magnum's body, turns to the camera, and raises his eyebrows the same way Selleck made famous.

• Selleck's contract commitment to the Magnum, P.I. series famously cost him the role of Indiana Jones in the first Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark, which went to Harrison Ford. Selleck was unable to take the part of Indy because Magnum was due to start filming in March 1980, but ironically, the start of production on Magnum was delayed until December due to a writer's strike, meaning that Selleck would have been free to play Indy after all. In the final season the producers gave a nod to his sacrifice with the episode- "Legend of the Lost Art" -parodying the film.

• During the broadcast of the series on TVG (Spain), a voice-over narrator uttered the title of the series during the opening. However, due to a misunderstanding of the abbreviation P.I. (Private Investigator), the narrator said "Magnum Pi" - confusing the audience.

• The Family Guy episode entitled 'Stuck Together Torn Apart' mocked Magnum P.I., with Magnum referring repeatedly to Higgins as "Tattoo". When Higgins tries timidly to correct him repeatedly, he steps out of the Ferrari, slaps him to the ground, and asks his name. Higgins, even more timidly, says "Tattoo". This is a clear reference to the Fantasy Island character portrayed by the late Hervé Villechaize.
  

• In 7.21, Limbo, the song we hear as Magnum walks off is "Looking for Space" by John Denver.

• In an episode of The Simpsons Lenny gives Homer a DVD player and the first season of Magnum, P.I. as a Christmas gift.

• The video Hard to Explain by The Strokes, begins with a scene from Magnum P.I., where the Red Ferrari is accelerating from the dirt