MovieChat Forums > Hawaii Five-O (1968) Discussion > The Late James MacArthur Was Right

The Late James MacArthur Was Right

posted 10 years ago by Attillio
24 replies | jump to latest

After having just watched the season 12 dvd episodes of the great, original "Hawaii Five-O," (after having first seen them way back in 1979/1980), all I have to say is that "Dann-O" was oh-so-right to bail out on the final and extremely disappointing 12th season of H5O. Ugh!

Without Kam Fong, Harry Endo, Zulu, Al Harrington and several other members of the outstanding, original cast, the show really looked old and tired. William Smith and former frequent H5O bad guy Moe Keale, as hard as they tried, just could not replace Chin Ho Kelly and Ben Kokua, imo.

And, is Sharon Farrell one of the worst actresses ever? I don't want to say that she is terrible, but Ms. Farrell even makes the "great" Demi Moore seem like Dame Diana Rigg by comparison. (One film critic once described Ms. Moore as being an "actress of stunning superficiality." I wonder why?)

And so:

Beam me up, Danno!

[–] Jeffman61 10 years ago

Attillio,

The original H 5-0 began its final downward trend towards mediocrity at points during Season 9. Me-TV on syndication aired the show up until around late May daily at 12 noon EST. Before then I caught a handful of episodes that were aired during Season 10. They were awful. One episode in particular was centered around a tennis match involving then Soviet athletes who were involved in a competition in Honolulu. During the match, a character was murdered. A female tennis pro also tried to defect to the United States during this competition. The entire episode, which surprisingly I didn't just turn off midway through it made me cringe. The actors/actresses, all American and naturally English speaking, had the most abominable Russian accents possible. The plot was silly, based mostly on the horrible script writing and the acting was poor. In addition the classic background music heard throughout the series going back to Season 1, (and greatly extended through Seasons 5 - 8) was long gone. It was replaced by this putrid late 1970's "elevator music" heard on a lot of mediocre television drama shows back during that time period.

Along with Alpha, I never purchased any Season DVD past Season 9 available online. Watching a few Season 10 episodes when Me-TV aired them, (in addition to the horrible episode mentioned above), I never have regretted my decision.

With Season 10 being well below average, I can only imagine what Season 12 most have been like without all of the old cast members. I do, however vaguely remember watching the series finale in the spring of 1980 when once again Jack Lord's "Steve McGarrett" failed to capture his all-time nemesis Wo Fat.

James MacArthur got out when he did and cannot be criticized for the decision that he made. People well-connected to the show and who knew MacArthur personally have stated that after Season 11 he just realized that the show had pretty much run its course.

[–] Attillio 10 years ago

Jeffman61,

Yes, the final episode of H5O was entitled "Woe to Wo Fat," in which the master Chinese agent is finally caught by Steve McGarrett (or so it appears to happen).

Man, after having just seen that episode after so many years, I have to say that Wo Fat's cohorts were about as inept as the Keystone cops (or the soldiers on "F-Troop"), as they fecklessly tried to capture Steve McGarrett and the American scientists whom McGarrett was trying to rescue from Wo Fat's island lair.

McGarrett put on a gray wig and beard, in attempting to impersonate another prominent American scientist. McGarrett sort of looked like a 1980 version of Albert Einstein, with that oh-so-obvious get-up, which was supposed to completely "fool" the wily and shrewd Wo Fat. Talk about a poor and pathetic story line!

Oh yeah, on the final season 12 dvd, they also included a rap version of the H5O theme song. (What would the late, great Jack Lord have thought of that?)

[–] dga23 10 years ago

I have to agree with the later seasons being sub-par. Season 10 did have a few good episodes though: Up the Rebels, Invitation to Murder, The Descent of the Torches. I especially liked The Descent of the Torches episode because it dealt with Hawaiian folklore.

[–] ScotchRox 10 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050053/board/thread/228900250

"You can't go wrong drowning politicians Henry." The Black Swan (1942)

[–] ShelbyTMItchell 10 years ago

James left due to being very tired of his character and heard, he wanted to go back to the stage. You can tell he got that from his mother, the late Helen Hayes!

July Independence!

[–] vrinda81 10 years ago

But he didn't go back to the stage that quickly. He was in a bunch of TV shows in 1979-1980.

[–] dgates64 10 years ago

A bunch? He made TWO appearances in 79/80. Stop trying to rewrite history.

[–] wilfoxhovel 10 years ago

I can attest that he did return to the stage after leaving, at least for one production. As a young man in 1980 I was an usher at the Elitch summer stock theatre in Denver, Colorado. He was there that summer starring in a production of Jean Kerr’s “The Lunch Hour” with Sybil Sheppard. It was just a light summertime comedy, but as I remember he was pretty good.

[–] vrinda81 10 years ago

James left Hawaii Five-O in 1979. That production was in 1980. From 1979-1980, he was making guest appearances on TV.

[–] happipuppi13 10 years ago

Like it says in my review of the series here on IMDb

...season 12 storylines could have been done on ANY police and/or detective shows. The crimes (by the previous seasons comparions) were "everyday type" that could easily have been handled by uniformed cops.

The new memebers of the unit were not that memorable either and I couldn't help but laugh everytime Steve said the name "truck". I did see most of Season 12 about 6 or 7 years ago on local TV here in Phoenix but I got robbed!

They got to the 2nd to last episode...and skipped "Woe To Wo Fat"!! .

At least now, I'm watching the series on DVDs borrowd from my local library and I'm up to season 5 & can't wait until I get to Season 12 (just to see that finale really.)

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] mactach 10 years ago

Don't see any need to be annoyed by it.

H-5-O had a good long run and not that many shows have been known to even last that long.

[–] haarfage 10 years ago

I watched all twelve seasons when I was young and have purchased all 12 season sets now that I'm older. I liked them then and still like all 12 seasons now. I look at it this way - the characters on Hawaii Five-O are like friends or family members. They don't always perform or behave admirably or do things that end in a happy ending. But, I look back on my friends and family who have passed away with fondness. Even memories of some of the bad times involving them can be cherished. That's the way I look at the latter seasons of Hawaii Five-O, instead of some who say they avoid the last 3 seasons. I believe those type of people are called "Fairweather Friends?"

[–] Jeffman61 10 years ago

haarfage,

Oh well, then as I do believe that the original H 5-0 tailed off rather badly the last 3 seasons, then according to you I must therefore be considered a "Fairweather Friend". Alpha and I did a fairly comprehensive review of a handful of seasons, (Season 3 - 9) several years ago, analyzing many episodes in great detail which the administrators of IMDB eventually chose to remove because of age and lack of active responses. Both Alpha and I were in agreement that the original 5-0 started to tail off badly at some point in Season 9.

MeTV for several years ran episodes daily on their cable network M - F at twelve noon, (EST). I was able to catch a handful of Season 10 episodes when the network cycled through them in chronological order according to the original release dates. I remember one particular Season 10 episode stood out which, despite my wanting to grab the remote, I hung in there watching it for the entire 60 minutes one day. This episode was entitled "Deadly Doubles" and revolved around a murder surrounding a diamond smuggling operation and a Russian female tennis player looking to defect to the US while playing in a tournament in Hawaii. The episode was awful having to do with it having a very poorly conceived storyline, acting, drama, etc. The actors, (all Americans)who portrayed the Russian characters were terrible at simulating Russian accents. The ending was non-climatic and contrived. Many other episodes that season were at the same level of mediocrity. One the other hand, one of the few good episodes was the Season 10 finale "A Death in the Family" the plot revolving around the kidnapping and murder of Chin Ho Kelly and McGarrett's seeking to bring those villains to justice. IMO now looking back, perhaps it would have been best if the show had ended its original run right at that point, the symbolism of Chin Ho's death and McGarrett being able to bring those responsible for the murder to face justice a meaningful ending to the show.

It's but a fact that Mike Quigley, who spent long and dedicated hours at fantastic his site, (without a doubt the best site on the Internet dedicated to both the original 5-0 and its current "modern" remake) researching and reviewing all episodes from the 12 seasons of the show graded many episodes from mid-Season 9 - 12 very poorly based on his 1 - 4 star system.

You have your opinion, just as others who love the original show, (Alpha, Mike Q., and myself) have theirs. Just don't refer to those people with knowledge of the show's history, (and I'm approaching my late 50's and remember the show well when it originally aired) with sarcasm because we happen to have a different opinion as to when the show truly had depth, quality, and consistently well-crafted episodes - and when it definitely did not!!!

[–] mactach 10 years ago

It's amazing that this thread is still going.

Why don't we move on and discuss other things about the old 5-O?

Look at the message board for the new one and how busy that is.

[–] Jeffman61 10 years ago

Mactach,

No offense but the new H 5-0 is nowhere near the quality of the original back when it was at its zenith, case closed! Back when I did spend time on the IMDB message board dedicated to new 5-0, most of the threads posted absolutely crushed the show, full of negative comments and feedback regarding the feeble quality of a lot of episodes.

We're now into the 5th season of the new 5-0. There still have been some pretty lame, and nonsensical episodes aired so far since Sept. Compare this version of 5-0 to Season 5 of the old version when episodes such as the great "Vashon trilogy", "I'm a Crook, Don't Shoot", "Engaged to be Buried", "Pig in a Blanket", "The Jinn Who Clears the Way", and "Thanks for the Honeymoon" amongst others all were aired. It's like comparing a VW Bug to a 6-figure priced Porsche!! There is no comparison, the old version of H 5-0 completely blows the current version out of the ballpark entirely that season alone!!

Further comparing the old 5-0 to this tepid version I can count on the fingers of one of my hands any episodes from the new 5-0 that I can remember all that well. The remake of the old Season 6 episode "Hookman" was pretty good, though still not as good in quality compared to the original. The Season 3 episode that mainly flashed back to the events of 9/11, with what Danny went through that day back in NJ when his partner was killed, (and his naming his daughter Grace after the partner) and a few from last season - the episode involving Chin Ho being grilled by Internal Affairs, and the episode involving the long standing feud behind two old Pearl Harbor survivors, (one of them also being a Japanese concentration camp survivor here in the US during WW II) stand out for their superior quality. However the really good episodes have been far outnumbered by some really average to below average - to down rotten "stinker" episodes.

I've missed watching several episodes this season because of other commitments this season and really don't care to watch them, even streaming on the CBS site beginning the day after the original airing on the network. Reading comments and reviews of these episodes analyzed by Mike Quigley at his terrific website, it appears as if I really did not miss all that much to be blunt!

CBS put the new edition of the show on Fridays last year, considered to be a night, along with Saturdays when most folks don't watch television and there are little expectations about high ratings being measured. The first several seasons airing on Monday, (I believe) the show was buried in the ratings by, amongst other shows MNF on ESPN in the fall, and "Castle" airing on ABC. Otherwise on any other night of the week Sun - Thurs were it to have been moved to after the Monday night debacle, I'm afraid that this version of 5-0 would have gotten cancelled by now - crushed by the competition airing on other channels.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

Uh Jeff can we just stop with the long posts?

I didn't say anything about the new 5-O. I've never seen it though you're probably right and frankly I don't appreciate it when these old TV shows and movies get revived so let's just drop it!

[–] Jeffman61 10 years ago

Mactach who died and left you boss? I'll write my threads as long as I want to, jerk!! If you don't like these "old shows" (as you call them) then why the hell are you even on this board? Geez, people like you who open their mouths before engaging their brains reveal their innate stupidity, and you're prime example #1! Why?

You make a silly and immature remark about the # of threads left on this topic, and then state that you don't like an old show like the original 5-0. What line were you in when the Good Lord was passing out brains? Obviously the wrong one! Is someone forcing you to come to the original H 5-0 board against your will despite the fact that you clearly don't like this "old show"? Or do you sit at home all day trolling the Internet looking to randomly spew some of the moronic thoughts that come from your dimwitted brain? Again, if you don't like this "old show" then don't come to this board fool! Even a 5 year old would understand that logic!

Oh btw Mactach, you've now been added to my blocked/ignored list. I'm not going to have my time on IMDB polluted by juvenile delinquents such as you obviously appear to be.

[–] mactach 10 years ago

You're the jerk Jeff.

I didn't say I hated the original

DUH!

[–] alpha128 10 years ago

haarfage,

Oh well, then as I do believe that the original H 5-0 tailed off rather badly the last 3 seasons, then according to you I must therefore be considered a "Fairweather Friend". Alpha and I did a fairly comprehensive review of a handful of seasons several years ago, analyzing many episodes in great detail. Both Alpha and I were in agreement that the original 5-0 started to tail off badly at some point in Season 9. - Jeffman61

I'd like to add that time, money, and shelf space are limited resources. If I'm going to purchase a DVD set, I want it to be something I'm going to watch more than once.

I admit I was tempted to purchase the Season 10 DVDs when they were first released. But CBS/Paramount did a slapdash job on that DVD set, and the negative reviews on Amazon.com convinced me not to buy it. If not wanting to buy substandard episodes with substandard remastering makes me a "Fairweather Friend", then so be it.

[–] elvimark01 9 years ago

William Smith, in his interview with Filmfax Magazine some time ago, said that James MacArthur quit the show because he wanted his own trailer, like Jack Lord had, and they wouldn't give him one.

In that same interview, Smith mentioned his initial excitement about working in Hawaii. After a couple of days, he woke up and "it's another s--tty day in paradise!"

[–] vrinda81 9 years ago

James had his own trailer from the beginning. Where was he getting changed otherwise? He said at the 1996 fan convention that he came out of his trailer one afternoon, and Bob Morrison, the cinematographer, dumped water on him.

William Smith was quoting something he heard the crew saying. They were an unprofessional bunch who didn't want to work, but get paid.

[–] happipuppi13 9 years ago

I quote James MacArthur : "I was tired".

Nothing more , nothing less. He'd simply had enough but Jack Lord & CBS
hadn't had enough. Only the most loyal (no matter what) kept watching in Season 12.

At least the show had a finale, not as nail-biting as I'd hoped, in that Steve finally arrests & imprisons Wo-Fat. It might have been more exciting had Chin Ho & Danno been in on it.

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] Gary O. (1009) 7 years ago

I'm in the 12th season right now and just watched the silly "Use a Gun, Go to Hell' episode. I think that the 12th season was uneven, quality-wise and the episode I mentioned was one of the worst ones. On the other hand, William Smith was a good replacement for Danno.

[–] 9 years ago

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