May 8th 2024.
During a recent talk at 92NY, the legendary Tom Selleck opened up about his illustrious career, spanning from his breakout role as the charming private investigator in Magnum PI to his recent stint on Blue Bloods, which is sadly coming to an end this month after 14 successful years on the small screen.
The 79-year-old reflected on his time on Magnum PI, revealing why he has always refused to say the show's full title. Despite turning down a role in Indiana Jones, Tom shot to fame as the lead in the hit CBS drama, which ran for eight seasons from 1980 to 1988. He also went on to star in Three Men and a Baby, Friends, and of course, Blue Bloods.
Moderated by his Blue Bloods co-star Bridget Moynahan, the conversation delved into Tom's incredible journey in the entertainment industry and his memorable first few years as an actor. Bridget posed the question, "You said no to Magnum, but they convinced you..." to which Tom replied with a laugh, "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 then shared how he wanted his character to have flaws, citing James Garner's character in Rockford as inspiration. He even turned down a script for a James Bond type of character, wanting his character to be more relatable. Don immediately understood and just two weeks later, Tom received the best two-hour movie script he had ever read.
After a long wait, Magnum PI finally got the green light, with Tom in the lead role while Don and co-creator Glen Larson worked on the script and production. However, just before the show premiered, Tom was informed that the title had been changed to something he was not comfortable with. He shared his "pet peeve," saying, "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."
Tom explained that the original title was inspired by his character's name, Harry Magnum, but the studio feared being sued by Clint Eastwood due to his movie Magnum Force. However, Tom, who had lived in Hawaii for a while, was aware that "PI" is considered a derogatory term for a Philippine Islander. He shared, "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 referred to the show by its full name. He stood his ground and urged others to do the same, saying, "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's role as Thomas Magnum in the hit series spanned eight seasons before the show ended in May 1988. He also made a memorable appearance as Monica Geller's former partner, Richard Burke, in 10 episodes of Friends. But it was his role as Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods that captured the hearts of audiences for over a decade.
Sadly, the beloved police procedural drama has been axed after 14 years, with the show's official Twitter account confirming the news in November. Tom released a heartfelt statement addressing the news, expressing his gratitude for being a part of the show for over 275 episodes. He thanked CBS Studios and the network for their support and gave a special shout-out to the fans who gathered with them every Friday night for dinner.
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