Magnum Mania!

It was 36 years ago tonight, a cold windy day where the temperature in New York City didn't get out of the 30s. We were transported to the tropics, and introduced to Thomas Magnum and friends with what is, in my opinion, the best pilot episode in TV history.

Happy anniversary (or should that be birthday?) Magnum PI!


(we need emoticons for the Lads)

In my paper this morning(the Oregonian), they have a small spot, "Today in History", around the world, and in Oregon. Last one in around the world; In 1980: "Magnum P.I.", starring Tom Selleck, premiered on CBS.

I was a mere nine years old in December, 1980. Old enough to appreciate MPI, but I wouldn't learn about the show until the end of season two.

My TV watching childhood truly began when I discovered MPI. Even as a small child, I held a dim view of the television landscape of 1976-1980 (with the exception of Buck Rogers' first season and oddly enough, Quincy, M.E). Otherwise, programs like CHiPs, Sheriff Lobo, Diff'rent Strokes, BJ and the Bear et al., all left me cold.

But enough about you, let's talk about me.... I don't mean to come off as self absorbed, but whenever I think of those years before MPI, I remember how much I actually didn't enjoy most TV programs. There was the time before MPI, and then the much better years after I found the show.