12 August 2008

Oh no, they're not! CBS Brings Hawaii Five-O 2.0

I was about five years old when I first watched Hawaii Five-O in black and white television. Much of what the show is about, I don't even remember. But reading about its impending return brought back memories of me in my grass skirt, learning the Hawaiian dance and dancing to this music:



Makes me kinda glad there was no Youtube during those days. Or else there would have been a different video.

Anyway, the news...

CBS is saying aloha to a new installment of the "Hawaii Five-O" franchise from "Criminal Minds" exec producer/showrunner Ed Bernero.

The new take on the popular crime drama, which aired on CBS from 1968-80, is one of three projects Bernero has in the works, along with "Washington Field," which is being done in cooperation with the FBI, and a fugitive apprehension drama.

Bernero is such a big "Hawaii Five-O" fan that he has the iconic theme song from the show as his ringtone. He said he didn't even hesitate when execs at CBS Par TV, where he has an overall deal, approached him with the idea for a new incarnation of the classic Leonard Freeman cop series.

Bernero is writing the project, which he describes as " 'Hawaii Five-O' 2.0."

Like the original series, it is a procedural chronicling the workings of the fictional Hawaiian state police department. In the original, the unit was headed by Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord. In the new series, McGarrett's son Chris will be the top cop.

While the characters, storytelling and pacing will be updated, "we will try to keep as much of the original show as possible," Bernero said. "I'm not trying to reinvent it." | THR