http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/MagnumPI

Donald P. Bellisario "When I created 'Magnum, P.I.' I got thousands of letters from Vietnam veterans thanking me for portraying Vietnam veterans who were something other than killers and drug addicts and crazy and unable to function in society...they just loved it."

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Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson and airing on CBS from 1980 to 1988, Magnum, P.I. seemed at first glance to be yet another Action Series show, using the old Hawaii Five-O production facilities in Hawaii, with a handsome lead actor talented in comedic schtick and the usual buddies helping him solve his case-of-the-week. But it soon revealed its more dramatic plot threads by alternating the comically-toned episodes with those concentrating on The Vietnam War background of Thomas Magnum and his friends. The concluding scene in the season three two-part premiere "Did You See the Sunrise?" was the key moment that illustrated Magnum's darker side. It remained the most unexpected and controversial scene of the series' entire run.

These deeper character-developing episodes became fan favorites, and helped to spur the series to a five-year stay in the top-20 rated shows on television between 1981 and 1985. Also, both Tom Selleck (Magnum) and John Hillerman (Higgins) won multiple awards for their work.

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Magnum was assisted ably by his friends T.C. and Rick, and alternately helped and hindered by Higgins, the manager of Robin Masters' estate where Magnum lived. Masters was only occasionally heard as The Voice of Orson Welles via telephone.

Donald P. Bellisario (who unlike Larson had a lot to do with the series after the pilot) became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see Quantum Leap), and they were introduced slowly into Magnum, P.I.'s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.

In February 2018, it was announced that Jay Hernandez would play Thomas Magnum in a reboot of the series. This will be the third remake Peter Lenkov has done for CBS and will be included in the shared continuity with the 2010 version of Hawaii Five-0, and by extension with JAG and its spin offs (NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans), Scorpion and MacGyver (2016).

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Magnum, P.I. contains examples of: