Hawaii Five-0: Now and Then – What Would The Lord Think? – PT 3
October 22nd, 2010
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Part three of a three part series examining Hawaii Five-0 now and then (H50NAT): Technology. Hawaii Five-0 was a popular television show that aired on the CBS network from 1968 to 1980 and now is in syndication. Filmed in Hawaii, the show was based on the fictional state police force known as Hawaii Five-0. The team name is a reference to Hawaii’s admission to the union as the fiftieth state, joining the United States in August of 1959.
Jack Lord starred in Hawaii Five-0 as Steve McGarrett, head of the Hawaii State Police. It is rumored that fellow cast and crew members called Jack “The Lord” due to his insistence on perfection, involvement in all aspects of the show and refusal to fraternize with others as noted in this TV Guide story from 1971. He was particular about his trademark pompadour hairstyle and stylish suits.
Lord continued to live in Hawaii and passed away there in 1998. As I watched the pilot episode of the rebooted Hawaii Five-0 television show, I pondered what Jack Lord would have thought of the new production.
The reboot stays true to the original show by reviving the famous theme song and pipeline wave logo, though in an updated way. Both series highlight the gritty parts of Hawaii which visitor bureaus do not want tourists to see. The reboot characters enter the show more developed and with their own baggage providing storylines for future shows. The director, writers and actors give a nod to the original cast while making the show their own. Lord was set on being the sole star of the show rather than sharing the limelight.
The Technology
Both teams depend on more than brawn, fasts cars and guns to win the battle against crime. Technology plays a key role in both the old and reboot show. In almost every episode, the original Steve McGarrett and the team sent a problem to “The Computer” to solve. We saw stock shots of a computer technician sorting stacks of punch cards as the computer analyzed facts from eye color to library card usage. Some of the invented technology included using a computer signal to open a bank or a signal tone on a police radio used to open a garage door.
The reboot team also depends on technology to solve crime. Smart phones and laptop computers with wireless Internet access give the team instant information. In the original show, McGarrett used the police car radio requesting, “Patch me though to the Governor.” Now McGarrett uses his cell phone to contact a friend on a naval intelligence ship in the middle of the ocean to call in a favor. He gets video of top security military satellite images sent directly to his car phone to aid in a high-speed chase. It is not just the Hawaii Five-0 team that has the latest technology. What would Jack Lord think about the reboot pilot episode scene of a father video chatting with his son via a smart phone while a passenger in a car?
Ford Motor Company sponsored the original show and all the cars used were big road boats that would list as they took the curves. Reboot vehicles like Camero, Silverado pickup and motorcycles are much more agile and faster. Jack Lord would have enjoyed taking a spin in one of these and put these rides through their paces. So far, the hubcaps in the reboot shows are staying on the cars wheels, unlike in the original.
The New Technology of Hawaii Five-0
Would Lord turn over in his grave? Of course, we will never know for sure what Lord would think of the reboot Hawaii Five-0. In the 42 years since the original show debuted, Hawaii has evolved. Lord would hardly recognize some of his old haunts. My guess? Lord would appreciate the nod to the original show from the reboot series and with the spirit of aloha, wish the new show well.
For those who cannot get enough Hawaii Five-0 discussion, visit Mike Quigley’s Hawaii Five-0 trivia and oddities page or follow Mike on Twitter. Mike also maintains links to other Hawaii Five-0 sites on his Hawaii Five-0 FAQ page.
View my entire “Hawaii Five-0: Now and Then” series at tag: H50NAT
About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk. She is also the author of the book “Social Networking Throughout Your Career”, available in paperback and on the Kindle.
Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://www.cyberlifetutors.com/blog/
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com
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