I can't swear that it is my favorite all-time TV show of the 1970s but it is almost certainly my favorite drama. That's why last month's Season Four DVD release of Hawaii 5-0 has been giving me hours of pleasure this summer.
The show ran from 1968 - 1980 and centered on the crime fighting (fictional) police force of the Hawaiian Islands, headed by super cop Steve McGarrett, who, I think you can see from the DVD cover of actor Jack Lord here, had possibly the best hair in the history of television.
Last night Donna, her father and I watched Episode #71, originally broadcast on CBS on October 12, 1971.
It had a complicated plot about a hippie gone bad attacking an insurance company embezzler with a piece of driftwood to the head and stealing his wallet. Inside was the key to locker at the airport in which a briefcase was found with the $250,000 the victim has skimmed. The hippie was played by the late John Ritter and the embezzler by the late Vic Morrow. Their freakish, early real-life deaths should be bad news for other guest stars of the series.
Anyway, McGarrett's #2 man, Danno, is trying to help an old friend from Berkeley whose daughter is missing in the islands and he thinks she is the girl who burned up when the candle shop was set on fire but it turns out that was a cover up because the embezzler left his fingerprints all over everything slapping the girl around after she had already taken a fatal dose of heroin.
Cleo, the girl Danno is looking for, is actually the accomplice of the hippie gone bad and they are trying to board a plane to Asia when the embezzler kidnaps her and tries to hold her for ransom (well, his $250,000 back) in an abandoned airplane hanger that he somehow knows about. The hippie decided to ditch the girl and split with the money until McGarrett's #3 man, Chin Ho, nabs him while boarding the plane.
In the thrilling conclusion there is a shootout at the hangar and Steve wounds the now-fleeing embezzler in the leg with one incredible shot from about 100 yards away and the two wayward kids are safe and sound. The hippie gets arrested for stealing the stolen money but the girl is not charged as an accomplice because she knows Danno.
Whew. As an aside, my 13 year-old Chow dog is actually named Kam Fong As Chin Ho as a tribute to this great character but we usually call her just Chin Ho for short. Or Chin Chin. Or The Chincess.
I love this show so much that I could write a whole blog just about Hawaii 5-0 but I see that someone already does, here.
There are dozens of websites with tons of great show information too including the Wikipedia page here and the single most comprehensive site about all things 5-0 here. Please enjoy!
P.S. And you'll get no argument from me if you say the show had the best theme song in the history of TV too!
Three words, The Rockford Files!
Posted by: Geo | July 15, 2008 at 04:44 AM
My favorite show from the 70's is Quincy, M.E. CSI before there was a CSI.
Posted by: LiLa | July 15, 2008 at 05:33 AM
Steven Hawking is "Ironside - 2008!"
Posted by: bruin | July 15, 2008 at 06:52 AM
I have a cat named Chin Chin. I will now tell my son (who hates the name Chin Chin)that Kam Fong As Chin Ho is Chin Chin's full name. I know he'll love that one.
And thanks for ruining episode #71 for me. I may have gotten around to watching it someday.
Posted by: Gail | July 15, 2008 at 07:25 AM
I'm going to throw my vote to Rockford and Quincy, too.
Posted by: Diane | July 15, 2008 at 07:36 AM
If you didn't start humming the theme song the moment you saw Jack Lord than you, my sir, are no Five-0 fan.
Steve McGarrett manages to screech the tires no matter if there is a rush or not.
Nothing ever goes to court. Steve manages to get a confession every time.
It doesn't happen in every episode, but I always look forward to "Book em, Danno".
Posted by: Dean | July 15, 2008 at 08:00 AM
That show could have used more 400+lb Hawaiian women in muumuu's w/hair up in a ball and sweat dripping from those chubby round faces speaking with that soft sexy sound of an injured monk seal...mmmmmuumuu's
Posted by: db | July 15, 2008 at 09:14 AM
as another aside, you forgot to tell them about jack lord's statue; where it is and how he will NEVER be forgotten.
Posted by: your wife | July 15, 2008 at 10:19 AM
I have the theme song on my ipod. It is, hands down, the best theme song. Followed closely by S.W.A.T
Posted by: steven | July 15, 2008 at 01:30 PM
It's fun too when they say where they are going, usually a long Hawaiian name followed by "street". Streets of San Francisco was always good for a crazy plot line and guest star, not as campy tho. Another great old show, but from the sixties is "Mission Impossible". The old technology is a hoot!
Posted by: DeeJay | July 15, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Damn, you could have put a spoiler alert at the top, I had not seen it yet.
Damn you Bean!
Posted by: Dave W | July 15, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I'll never forget James MacArthur's deep blue eyes...being pretty obsessed with most things Hawaiian from the 40s through 70s, Hawaii Five-O was a must see growing up.
An aside: Years ago, I was an invited guest at the 20th Hawaiian Int'l film festival. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Since being in Oahu meant that I could FINALLY see & hear my childhood singing idol, Don Ho. Its a long story how this exactly came about, but not only was I in the audience for Don's show at the Sheraton Waikiki, he invited me to join him on stage (after a lengthy complicated - and entertaining series of scribbled napkins were passed between us via his "assistants" who trolled the audience for interesting -- or in my case, obsessive, fans).
To make a short story EVEN longer, I joined in with Don as he sang "Tiny Bubbles" for the trillionth time, and my vocal performance (enhanced by many mai tais and tequlia shots shared under the table with my new friend from Wisonsin seated next to me) apparently brought the house down.
I don't recall much else, but I have pics to prove that this actually happened.
Anyhow, the above is simply to say that I find it very odd that Mr. Don Ho was never a special guest on HAWAII FIVE-O. He did record a VOCAL version of the theme song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgKnyPsDL5k ...and also appeared in the 1963 rival Hawaii cop show HAWAIIAN EYE http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0598320/ ...but never did he share the spotlight with Garret or the rest of the clan. What a shame. If you're a fan of Don Ho, check this vintage clip out:
aLoha!
m
Posted by: kez | July 15, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Bean, I loved reading this article it reminded me of a great aussie band called Radio Birdman who had a hit song called "aloha Steve & Danno" it was a great song, here is the youtube link for you..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul8x9EAQLUI
Posted by: Drex from Australia | July 15, 2008 at 11:16 PM
yeah what about the statue?
Posted by: Tracy | July 16, 2008 at 04:38 AM
I grew up in Connecticut and Danno grew up nearby. Everyone there really loved him and everyone watched that show.
Posted by: | July 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM
My high school's fight song was the Hawaii 5-0 theme song.
Posted by: Charlie | July 16, 2008 at 11:11 AM