Show: Magnum, P.I.
For most of the ’80s, Thomas Sullivan Magnum and his mustache (and, frequently, his chest hair) watched over Hawaii—particularly if that part of Hawaii was the estate of his boss, Robin Masters, where the ex-navy P.I. worked as head of security. Magnum was a bit of a loose cannon, hanging out with a helicopter pilot, getting tips from a nightclub owner and breaking down the fourth wall by locking eyes with the at-home audience. In each episode, the intrepid investigator solved a crime and basked in the lush Hawaiian setting. But he also took things deeper. Magnum’s military past, especially as the U.S. continued to deal with the aftermath of the Vietnam War, was a source of reflection for the character and his viewers alike.
Case File: In season one’s “Thank Heaven for Little Girls and Big Ones, Too,” Magnum helps a bunch of schoolgirls find their teacher.
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