If there are any classic Hawaii Five-0 fans grumbling at how the new series has Jack Lord doing back flips in his grave, I hope they gave “Kālele” a fair chance. In “Kālele”, writer Joe Halpin was spot on in creating a brilliant story that tied the classic series to the new one in a creative way. Joe brought back Ed Asner, reprising his role of August March, the sinister diamond smuggler who just finished a thirty year stint in Halawa prison for the murder of two of his associates.
“But how is the same character brought into the new series if it’s not directly related to the old one?” one may ask. And therein lies the brilliance of re-inventing the procedural to keep it fresh. August March is the same character in both series, though in one “alternate reality” he’s busted by Jack Lord’s Steve McGarrett, and in another he’s taken in by William Sadler’s John McGarrett. Sounds a little like Desmond bouncing between realities in “Lost” doesn’t it? Well, maybe not.
Ed Asner played the role perfectly, appearing as a docile ex-con, harangued by the persistent Captain Fryer. March even waxed nostalgic with Steve, talking about a young John McGarrett who refused to take a bribe from March. The episode faded into the classic Five-0 footage viathe ivory figures in March’s apartment, which was a clever touch. Fryer’s voice over to the vintage footage was incorporated perfectly in to the episode and really showed in a lot of ways how far Hawaii Five-0 and Ed Asner have come along. The episode continued with March doddling along, helping the Five-0 team solve the case, flirt with Kono and bait a suspect in. Of course the big kicker that I totally did not suspect was that August March was in it all along, who dispatched the diamond seller Angela at the pier, with his parting words lifted right out of the old episode: “Never turn your back on the buyer!”.
With March walking off into the darkness, he became one of the few baddies who actually wins one against the Five-0 team, as in most cases Steve and crew bring their man in. But with a body floating in Honolulu Harbor, I would venture a guess that the investigation will work its way back to August March…is this the last we’ll be seeing of him?
Parade of guest stars
Tom Sizemore was brilliant again in his role as Captain Fryer. Slowly, I think he’s earning the fans’ trust, and while he may rustle feathers with everyone, he appears to be on the side of good.
I loved seeing Taryn Manning again back as Mary Ann McGarrett. I expected her to do a little more butt kicking as she did the last time she was on, and seeing her as the patsy in all this while trying to do good for herself does emote some sympathy for her.
Jason Scott Lee returned to reprise his role as the corrupt Detective Kaleo chillin’ like a villain in Halawa. I had a feeling that at some point we would see the smug cop return to harass the Five-0 team, and what better way than for him to be calling the shots in the diamond heist from prison. I still hope they bring his character back again.
Now how many of you expected a scene something like this when you saw Tony Dodd: a man tossing out his cigarette starts a flash fire in the trash can of the hotel lobby. The sprinkler system activates, but the overhead sprinkler is defective, and instead the water pressure shoots the spigot into the back of someone’s head. I get “Final Destination” flashbacks when I see him, but he rounded out the guest stars perfectly in this episode.
Mary Ann got it all wrong
I understand that Mary Ann was probably panicked about trying to save Angela and thought that taping the diamonds to her was the best way to get them on the plane. What she should have done was say, give Danny brand new awesomely awesome denim boardshorts (“Hey Danny, I Bedazzled these just for you!”) and tell him that the surfing is much better this time of year at Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Then de-Bedazzle the diamonds off when they get to Jersey. I don’t think Danny would have noticed it at all…
And now, Things We Learned About Hawaii, From Hawaii Five-0, Episode 219, “Kālele”
1) Danny should have remembered Kono clocking the surfer from the Pilot. Don’t drop in on anyone’s wave. Or he should have been familiar with the surfing classic “North Shore” and the classic line “Ho Vince dis haole is so haole he don’t even know how haole he is”.
2) Pupu is a borrowed pidgin word from Chinese, and refers to a plate or platter of appetizers, and not a plate of poo-poo.
Did you notice…?
Danny had no idea how to stick his surfboard in the sand. It’s funny to see Danny flounder as Scott is an avid surfer.
The logo for Town and Country appeared on the surfboard and is a local surf and skate shop.
Danny always makes himself at home at Steve’s house- malasada powder all over the dining table, helping himself to anything in his fridge, occupying the couch and keeping the TV blaring, letting his dog stay in Steve’s bed, and helping himself to Mary Ann’s coffee. True surfing buddies.
There was a nice tribute to Mrs. Freeman at the end of the episode.
Bubbles, of the tumblr “itsnotfiftyitsfive0″ recently shared some never before seen photos of Alex O’Loughlin (including one with Scott Caan) from last year’s CBS Watch Magazine
Apparently Ed Asner nailed his guest-starring turn on the original Hawaii Five-0 back in the 1970s, because the crime drama’s current CBS incarnation asked him back — some 36 years later — to reprise the very same role in tonight’s episode, airing at 10/9c.
But you’ll have to forgive the actor if the details of that 1975 gig, as a smuggler named August March, didn’t instantly come flooding back when he got the call.
“No, I didn’t retain what I had done then. It was one of hundreds of TV roles I’ve played,” the seven-time Emmy winner tells TVLine. “But because of what Joe Halpin, the writer, and [executive producer] Peter Lenkov created for me in this script, it was easy to recapture the essence of the character from the past — as well as establish the refinement at present.”
In Asner’s original Hawaii visit, August March was an up-and-coming world-class smuggler. As is established tonight, March went on to serve 30 years in the clink and is now living free, as a presumably rehabilitated man, when today’s Five-0 team seeks his advice on setting up a sting after McGarrett’s sister (played by Taryn Manning) is pinched for trying to smuggle conflict diamonds.
As March’s criminal yesteryears are recounted, footage from Asner’s ’75 turn is weaved into the new episode — “You’ll see how much weight I’ve gained!” the 82-year-old quips.
But if you think Asner is here to portray a cuddly, contrite retiree, think again. “Oh, he’s still a spicy individual,” he says of his “reformed” alter ego. “He hasn’t changed.” In fact, Asner almost proudly boasts that in addition to working with Five-0 team members such as Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, he clashes memorably with Tom Sizemore’s Chief Fahey. “Yeah, I did a lot of head-butting with him.”
Of his rather unusual encore, more than three decades in the making, Asner says, “It was a delight that I was alive to inspire the idea, firstly. And secondly, the opportunity to work on a top show like Hawaii Five-0 with Peter Lenkov, whom I admire enormously… it was all roses. There was no lemon in the bunch.”
Hawaii Five-0 actually marks Asner’s third guest-starring primetime role in less than a week, with the actor having last Wednesday popped up on both ABC’s The Middle and TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland. On the latter sitcom, he was of course reunited with fellow Mary Tyler Moore alum Betty White.
“Betty can do no wrong — and evidently the whole production world knows it,” he says of White’s rebirth into the pop culture zeitgeist. “She pops up everywhere, doesn’t she?”
As for reuniting with the sharp-as-a-tack and sassy 90-year-old on camera, Asner shared, “I have a 95-year-old sister, and a 92-year-old sister, so…. They fully prepared for that young pup, Betty!”
Some of Hawaii Five-0’s, ahem, older fans, have really been looking forward to this episode primarily for Ed Asner’s appearance. I’m aware that you youngsters might not even know who Lou Grant is, but for many of us, the lovably gruff character left an indelible mark on television history. Mr. Asner reprises a role he first brought to life thirty seven years ago, an occurrence rarely seen outside of the soap opera world, where the reappearances are preceded by a battery of Botox injections, collagen implants, and multiple applications of self-tanner. I’m not familiar with the August March character, but from what I understand, he’s a ruthless sort. Is it wrong that I’m hoping he’ll turn out to have a heart of gold? Or at least some redeeming qualities?
Photo: Norman Shapiro/CBS
Quite a few viewers are also looking forward to the return of Steve’s sister, Mary, portrayed by Taryn Manning. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the Mary character or not, she brings out the loving, and fiercely protective side of the often stoic McGarrett. Much as Grace does for Danny, this relationship humanizes the character and serves to tug at our heartstrings (“Awwws” are certainly guaranteed.) Given Mary’s penchant for trouble, big bro Steve must once again come to her rescue when she’s accused of stealing diamonds. Presumably, this is when McGarrett turns to the old jewel thief, August March for help.
Tom Sizemore returns as Captain Fryer, and interestingly, Jason Scott Lee makes an appearance as dirty detective, Kaleo from last year’s “Mana’o.” Perhaps he and Sang Min are vying for the Snitch of the Year Award. “Matrix” fans may recognize Aussie actor Anthony Brandon Wong whose character curiously also bears the last name of Kaleo.
The Ratty
This episode is written by Joe Halpin, someone who in my opinion, just continues to get better and better at this script-writing thing. Director Fred Toye is a television veteran with shows such as The Good Wife, Fringe, and Alias in his background. Falling under the “it’s a small world” category, he also directed Alex O’Loughlin in the actor’s first series, Moonlight. It’s been a few weeks since we’ve had a new episode, but it seems like forever. Enjoy this one kiddies, as it will be at least a couple weeks more before the next fresh one.
“Kᾱlele*” – When McGarrett’s sister is arrested for trying to smuggle $20 million worth of conflict diamonds, he and Chief Fryer reach out to August March, an ex-con who served 30 years for diamond smuggling, to help arrange a sting operation, on HAWAII FIVE-0, Monday, March 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Emmy Award winner Ed Asner guest stars, reprising his role of “August March,” an up-and-coming world-class smuggler, from the original “Hawaii Five-0” 1975 episode, “Wooden Model of a Rat.” Footage from the original series will be included in the episode.
Great news fellow Hawaii Five-0 fans! We’re getting a mid-week present in form of a renewal announcement from CBS!
Photo: CBS
Source: CBS press release.
03.14.2012
CBS ANNOUNCES RENEWALS FOR 18 PRIMETIME SHOWS FOR THE 2012-2013 SEASON
Renewals Showcase the Strength, Stability and Success of Television’s
#1 Network
In a move that renews a large portion of television’s #1 primetime lineup, CBS announced today it has picked up 18 returning series for the 2012-2013 broadcast season.
The renewals include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series and two newsmagazines. The returning shows encompass every night of the week and every hour, many of which are #1 in their time period and some #1 on the entire night.
The renewed comedies include the previously announced multi-year pickups of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and THE BIG BANG THEORY, the season’s #1 comedy and the first scripted program to top “American Idol” in viewers and adults 18-49; 2 BROKE GIRLS, the season’s #1 new comedy in viewers and key demographics; and sophomore hit MIKE & MOLLY.
Also in comedy, CBS and Warner Bros. Television are in preliminary discussions regarding future seasons for TWO AND A HALF MEN.
Renewed dramas are NCIS, television’s #1 drama/scripted program for the third consecutive year; NCIS: LOS ANGELES, the #2 drama for the second straight year; HAWAII FIVE-0, CRIMINAL MINDS, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, PERSON OF INTEREST, the #1 new series of the season, THE MENTALIST, BLUE BLOODS and the award-winning and critically acclaimed THE GOOD WIFE.
Among the Network’s returning reality series are THE AMAZING RACE, UNDERCOVER BOSS and the previously renewed SURVIVOR.
Television’s top newsmagazines, 60 MINUTES and 48 HOURS MYSTERY, will also return in the fall.
“This large-scale renewal is testimony to the strength, stability and success of a deep and diverse roster of top-rated programming,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “It positions us for continued success next season and certainly creates an environment that will give our new shows the best possible chance to succeed.”
Season-to-date, CBS is first in viewers (12.13m) and adults 25-54 (4.1/10) and a strong second in adults 18-49 (3.1/08). The Network is posting across-the-board year-to-year growth, up +1% in viewers, +2% in adults 25-54 and +3% in adults 18-49.
Fans of Hawaii Five-0 may remember that it was originally planned for Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams to fly to southern California for the much anticipated NCIS-LA crossover. With Alex O’Loughlin having to take time away from the show, however, Daniel Dae Kim as Chin Ho Kelly, has stepped in. Today Daniel tweeted: “The boys of #H50 are shooting our first day on #NCISLA. Does that make us NCIS:LA 5-0? HCIS:LA? Hmm. #MashUsUp”
At this time it’s unknown when Alex will return to filming Hawaii Five-0, but we wish him the absolute best.
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