Magnum P.I.

Iconic 80's TV private detective

Produced by Danald Bellasario Magnum PI was first broadcast in April 1981 and ran until May 1988

The basic premise of the show was that Thomas Magnum, a Naval Intelligence officer, resigns his commission and becomes a private investigator on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. He gets various benefits when he lands a home in the guest house on the estate of a millionaire author Robin Masters. All he has to do is test the estate's security, the only drawback is that he has to work with the estate manager Higgins, a former British Army soldier who is none to pleased with his presence and owns two very large, very viscious Dobermanns.

Magnum makes good use of the perks that come with working on the estate, a red 308 GTS Ferrari, Audi, and all-terrain Jimmy, as well as equipment such as expensive cameras and telescopes. Of course, all of these expensive toys are under the keen scrutiny of Higgins, and Magnum often finds himself on the wrong end of Higgins's hard bargaining to secure their loan. Although Magnum's carefree ways often clash with Higgins's stricter manner, their mutual respect forms a strong basis for their friendship and relationship.

Two of Magnum's former Vietnam comrades live and work nearby. T.C. Calvin owns "Island Hoppers", a helicopter tour company, and Rick Wright manages the King Kamehameha Club, an exclusive beach front club. T.C.'s piloting skills and Rick's shady underworld contacts often get them involved in Magnum's adventures.

Robin Masters was never seen, but his voice was played by Orson Welles, it was often thought/suggested that Higgins was actually Masters, though this theory was never fully proven.

The show was a huge hit, with the first five seasons consistently reaching the top 20 shows in the U.S. due in no small part to it's wide appeal.

The series was widely applauded for being the first to recognize the difficulty vetrans, not only of the Vietnam war but also WWII adjusting to civilian life.

The series won many awards, including Emmys and Golden Globes for Selleck and Hillerman.