Tom Selleck Had One Specific Reason for His Dislike of Magnum, P.I.’s ‘Really Sh-tty’ Title

Tom Selleck is known to a generation as private investigator Thomas Magnum, but it seems the actors disliked one thing about his most famous role – the name of the series he appeared in. Magnum, P.I. was a huge hit for Selleck in the 1980s, but in his new memoir, the actor shares how the title of the series was not something he was overly enthusiastic about.

As per TVLine, Selleck discusses his time as Magnum in great detail, sharing how he was not a fan of Glen Larson, who wrote the original pilot for the then-titled Magnum series, but felt that the subsequent two-hour movie pilot written by eventual Quantum Leap and NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario was “the best script that had ever crossed [his] path.” However, one thing he was not sold on was the title.

Magnum P.I.

Release Date

December 11, 1980

Cast

Tom Selleck , John Hillerman , Roger E. Mosley , Larry Manetti

Seasons

8

While it seems impossible to image Magnum, P.I. under any other name – something that became evident when it remained in place for the 2018 reboot – Selleck explains in his book that originally his character’s name was going to be Harry Magnum, but there were concerns that Warner Bros. would have issues calling the series Magnum due to the Dirty Harry movie Magnum Force being popular at the time. This led to a change in first name for the character and a retitling of the series. However, Selleck believed the title of Magnum, P.I. was “really sh-tty”, partly because he was aware that “P.I.” was also a “less than flattering abbreviation for Philippine Islander.” Obviously, this is more understandable when considering the series is set in the US island state of Hawaii.

Magnum, P.I. Prevented Tom Selleck Appearing as Indiana Jones

Among the many well-known “what-ifs” of Hollywood castings, Tom Selleck was originally wanted as the lead in the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford may have made that role his own, and continued to play the adventuring archeologist for four decades, but it could very easily have been moustache-sporting Selleck cracking the whip if his contact on Magnum, P.I. had not blocked him from accepting the role.

Ford himself offered up his gratitude to Selleck for being wrapped up his TV contact in a jokey comment made while promoting Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny last year. During a panel appearance at the Taormina Film Festival, Ford responded to the question of how he won the role of Jones, saying:

“How I got the job? Tom Selleck had the job, but he also incurred an obligation to do a television series and he was unable to get out of that contract. I became the second choice, and I’m very grateful for Tom. Thank you, Tom, man. If you’re listening, thank you again.”

Related

Magnum P.I. Reboot Showrunner Reveals Why Tom Selleck Never Appeared on the New Series

Magnum P.I. showrunner Eric Guggenheim shared why Tom Selleck never had any cameos in the reboot.

Despite not being able to take on Nazi’s and dodge booby traps, Selleck did not suffer too much for the loss of the role. Magnum, P.I. ran for 8 seasons between 1980 and 1988, with the actor also starring in dozens of movies, including Three Men and a Baby, the sequel Three Men and a Little Lady, and several Jesse Stone thrillers. Since 2010 Selleck has played Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods, which comes to an end with its 14th season, although the actor has previously shared his hopes that the cancelation will not be permanent and the series will return again.