July 23rd 2024.
During a recent talk at 92NY, the legendary Tom Selleck gave us a glimpse into his illustrious career. Known for his iconic role as the private investigator in the hit CBS drama Magnum PI, Tom shared some interesting insights about his time on the show and why he has always refused to say its full title.
At the age of 79, Tom shot to fame and became a household name with his portrayal of the charismatic detective. He turned down the opportunity to play Indiana Jones for the role, a decision that ultimately paid off as the show ran for eight successful seasons from 1980 to 1988. But his career didn't just stop there, as he went on to star in other popular projects such as Three Men and a Baby, Friends, and Blue Bloods – which is unfortunately coming to an end after more than a decade on the small screen.
During the talk, Tom's co-star from Blue Bloods, Bridget Moynahan, moderated the conversation and brought up an interesting point about his initial reluctance to take on the role of Magnum PI. "You said no to Magnum but they convinced you..." she shared. To which Tom humorously replied, "They kind of weaseled their way in. Don [Bellisario, co-creator, writer, director, and producer] made it really easy and said, 'What do you want to do?'"
Tom revealed that he wanted to play a flawed character similar to the one in The Rockford Files, rather than a perfect James Bond-like character – a role which he had previously turned down. He believes that flaws make a character more interesting and Don completely understood his vision. "He said, 'Say no more'. And about two weeks later, it's really fast, I got to read the best two-hour movie script I'd ever had," Tom shared.
After a long wait, Magnum PI finally got the green light and Tom was set to play the lead role. However, right before the show premiered, TV bosses decided to change the title slightly – something that Tom wasn't comfortable with. "Pet peeve alert!" he exclaimed, "Don calls me, the show was picked up, but then the actors went on strike. He tells me the studio wants to change the title to Magnum PI. I said that's a horrible title. Where did they get that idea?"
It turns out, the original character in Glen Larson's script was named Harry Magnum and the studio was afraid of getting sued by Clint Eastwood, who had a movie called Magnum Force. But Tom had a different reason for not wanting to use the title. "The problem is this – I lived in Hawaii for quite a while, while the actors strike was going on. [In Hawaii] PI is a less than flattering term for a Philippine Islander," he explained. "I said, 'Do they know that?' It's not the worst thing in the world, it's slang..."
Despite the official title being listed as Magnum PI, Tom has never personally uttered the full name. He urges others to do the same and says, "I refused, my record is I think spotless. I never call it Magnum PI – and if you want to change the way you call that show, I'd be very, very happy."
Tom played the role of Thomas Magnum for eight seasons before the series ended in May 1988. He then went on to appear as Monica Geller's on-off partner, Richard Burke, in 10 episodes of Friends and portrayed Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods for over a decade. Sadly, the police procedural drama has been canceled after 14 years, with the show's official Twitter account confirming the news in November 2023.
In a heartfelt statement addressing the cancellation, Tom expressed his gratitude for being a part of the show. "For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City but also displays the importance of family," he wrote. "Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors, and crew has been a dream come true and I'm grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes."
He also thanked CBS Studios and CBS Network for their unwavering support and showed his appreciation for the fans who tuned in every Friday night. "Thank you to CBS Studios and CBS Network for their steadfast support and we offer heartfelt gratitude to the fans who gathered with us for dinner every Friday night," he wrote.
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