First thought about in the late 1900s, debuting at the New
York World Fair in 1939, and spawning a new entertainment frontier shortly
after World War II, the television swept this country off its feet. Today,
television offers entertainment, information, and news to anyone willing to
take the time and sit down in front of the set. People voice their opinions
about every topic under the sun. Others devote their lives to uncovering the
drama that occurs in everyday life. A majority seek to entertain or be entertained.
It is this aspect of television we are seeking to explore and define as we look
to a very popular crime-drama during the 1980s, Magnum, P.I.
There are
five questions that are asked when attempting to analyze or explain anything
logically and efficiently: who, what, when, where, and why. “Multiple Media
Literacies” by Joshua Meyrowitz defines three types of media literacies used to
either analyze or produce media. Meyrowitz outlines content as characters,
ideas, ideologies, themes, and values. Content can be thought of as who, what,
and why of our five questions. How is answered by the “grammar” used by the
directors and production companies. Grammar is explained as all the different
elements used to deliver a message with camera angles, fades, cuts, dissolves,
long close-ups, or wide-angle shots. The medium used to deliver the message to
the intended audience whether it is a movie theater, radio, or television
resolves the where question.
The writers eloquently incorporated history and current issues into the show’s pilot episode referencing the American Revolution and the feelings between the United States and Great Britain, the Vietnam Conflict and the constant mental impact left on the soldiers who fought in the war, Hawaiian history, and the current battles against drug lords and cartels. Analyzing the show closely, and knowing what to look for to include content and grammar, sheds a new light on how messages were transmitted to the audience. Not only did the directors, producers, writers, and actors portray their characters in a manner that they were likable and easy to bond with or relate to, they delivered references dynamically and subtly enough so the messages were noticed but not offensive in some cases.
The pilot episode, “Don’t Eat the Snow in Hawaii,” set the stage for how important the characters in the show were. The most followed character was Thomas Magnum played by Tom Selleck. Magnum was the eligible bachelor living a relaxed life on the Hawaiian Islands with ties throughout the community. Higgins, played by John Hillerman, represented the British feeling of superiority and authoritarianism believing himself to be infallible and in complete control of any situation. Other key characters from the show were Rick and T.C., Magnum’s friends and teammates from the Vietnam War, played by Larry Manetti and Roger E. Mosley.
Many of the scenes and dialogue could be interpreted as having double meanings based on how they were presented to the audience. Teamwork and comradery was shown multiple times during the course of the episode. Flashbacks to the Vietnam War indicated the close-knittedness of a military team as well as the recurring mental struggles veterans faced having lived through a very challenging, strenuous, and exhausting war. This also showed how strong bonds and friendship could last, grow, and survive over time. In the title, “snow” references the slang term for cocaine. This symbolizes the current campaigns to end the smuggling of illegal substances into the United States, an effort re-emphasized by President Reagan in the beginning of his first term as president. Other references to “snow” included “Snow Palace,” Rick’s club, noting it was an easy place for users to get their “fix” or “score,” and “Snow White,” a name for the Chinese drug lord that controlled the flow of cocaine through the Hawaiian “trade routes.”
War acknowledgements were not limited to the Vietnam and drug wars. Though subtle in nature, the conflicts between American rebellionism and British feelings of superiority were suggested in Magnum and Higgins’s relationship. The American Revolution was a very long and bloody battle that eventually culminated in the United States ceding from Britain and establishing a new nation. Magnum’s constant struggle with Higgins over rights and freedoms could be viewed as similar arguments our Founding Fathers had with King George. An eventual compromise is met between the two establishing territories and domains much like those in Revolutionary War when Britain finally surrendered and the American colonies firmly established their new domain. Another conflict addressed on the show is the Hawaiians’ feeling toward a military presence on the islands. This is incorporated by the history of and the episode being somewhat centered around Kahoolawe. Kahoolawe was used as a live-fire bomb testing site during World War II and was continually used as such until it final relinquishment in 1990.
Born during the period of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, Magnum, P.I. ran for eight years and dealt with important world issues and events of the period. The show centered on an ex-Naval Intelligence Officer turned private eye and all the troubles, problems, and issues that America faced during the 1980s. CBS syndicated the show for the entire eight-season run producing over 160 episodes. Magnum, P.I. was created and produced by Don Bellisario and Glen Larson and received 14 awards including two Emmys and two Golden Globes. Don Bellisario went on to produce popular shows like Quantum Leap, JAG, and NCIS. Glen Larson also produced Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, and The Fall Guy. Tom Selleck, Roger E. Mosley, and Larry Manetti accepted a “Hero Award” for Magnum, P.I. during the 2009 TV Land Awards. The “Hero Award” “salutes a lead character whose crime-solving feats were astounding, yet remained thoroughly authentic, offering equal parts of street smarts, wit and charisma.” Tom Selleck and Don Bellisario have both received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Magnum Mania)
