What was Glen Larsen's involvement in the show?

[A P Leyland]

So, I'm watching the last episode of season 4 and on it is a bonus feature (Region 2). It's a fluff piece about 80's TV with some no-name TV critics talking about stuff out now on DVD. There's some interesting faces amongst the no marks (Stephen J Cannell, Glen Larson, David Hasselhoff) so I leave it on. When it gets to the MAGNUM section a no mark claims MAGNUM PI is 'pure Glen Larsen' and then there's a shot of Larsen himself saying that he wrote Magnum with Hawaii in mind as it was always a favourite place.

Say, What?

My understanding (and MPI's beginning are not as well documented as other shows) is that Larsen came up with the concept/pitch of the show that became Magnum. Don Bellisario reworked it considerably but, under writer's guild rules, Larsen still recieved a co-creator credit. Larsen was not a producer nor did he write an episode of Magnum. If anything the show is quintesentially a Bellisario show, sharing many themes with his other shows (Vietnam Vets, Helicopter pilots, Navy officers and characters being MIA have all appeared in other Bellisario shows.)

In addition, the pilot was written with the setting being Bel-Air and the character was called Cutter. So when did Larsen write Magnum with Hawaii in mind? What was Larsen's involvement with the show? And what was his oriignal pitch/idea? Or am I completely wrong?

Andy

[J.J. Walters]

Andy,

Larson was co-creator of the show and he co-wrote the pilot movie. As you pointed out though, Bellisario did most of the work.

[lutherhgillis]

What I have heard is that Larson had the idea for the show. It was to be based in LA and was to be a little bit seedy. The characters were hard edged and the subject matter a little on the dark side. Universal bought the concept but had a change of heart prior to production. They brought in Bellasario to remake the show and moved it to Hawaii. All that Larsen did was write the pilot which ended up being re-written.

Thankfully, we ended up with a pretty good show. I believe Larsen's concept would have tanked.