A popular detective series that not only ran eight seasons for a total of 164 episodes, but also made a star of Tom Selleck, a handsome ex-model who up to that point had gained little traction in his acting career, the Hawaii-set Magnum P.I. follows the exploits of its eponymous hero, an ex-Navy SEAL turned private investigator. Hired to provide security for the estate of a wealthy absentee owner, Thomas Sullivan Magnum moonlights as a private eye, and these extracurricular activities frequently arouse the ire of estate caretaker Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman), a caustic, by-the-book administrator who's always keeping a watchful eye on the security chief's expenditures. Magnum's closest friends, ex-SEALS Theodore “T. C.” Calvin (Roger E. Mosley) and Orville “Rick” Wright (Larry Manetti) often assist their Vietnam-era buddy on his cases, bringing them into contact with a varied assortment of criminals and murderers. Created and initially written by Glen A. Larson and Donald Bellisario, Magnum P.I. relied heavily on Selleck's charm and his chemistry with veteran character actor Hillerman, but it also sported some genuinely fascinating storylines played out against picturesque Hawaiian locations. Selleck originally played the private eye with a harder edge, and the 18 first-season episodes collected here are tougher, grittier, and less dependent on comedic byplay than those of later seasons when Selleck softened the character, the plots grew more fanciful, and Magnum P.I. lost some of its allure. But the first-season episodes are uniformly good and will once again delight fans of this enormously popular series, who will also appreciate this boxed set's bonus disc featuring four additional episodes: a two-part “crossover” story featuring characters from Simon & Simon (another CBS detective show), and two episodes showcasing Sharon Stone pre-Basic Instinct. Highly recommended. (E. Hulse)
Magnum P.I.: The Complete First Season
Universal, 4 discs, 1,113 min., not rated, DVD: $59.98 November 15, 2004
Magnum P.I.: The Complete First Season
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