Wednesday, July 22, 2020

A happy Hollywood ending

Great article in VANITY FAIR by Maureen Ryan about a true Hollywood raging asshole, Peter Lenkov.  He was the showrunner of HAWAII 5-0, MCGYVER, and MAGNUM P.I.  He was recently fired by CBS after years of unbelievable abuse and bad behavior.  His (through his lawyer's) major excuse: the enormous pressure of the job.  

Yes, showrunning is an incredibly stressful job, especially on a hit network show where you have to turn out 22 or 24 episodes a season.  But here's the thing:  You don't have to be a unleashed monster to do the job.  Trust me, there are some lovely people running shows.  It has more to do with your personality and who you are.  And if you are an asshole, add the element of pressure and you become out of control. 

Peter Lenkov is not the only horrible showrunner out there.  But happily, most are not like that.

And in his case, it's not even that he's such a genius.  To that end, I'm reposting my review of his HAWAII 5-0 that I wrote in 2011.  Just know that I was a fan of the original and I love pretty much anything "Hawaii."   And yet this is what I thought of his show and his writing.  

HAWAII 5-0 is a great example of a show that even in year two has no idea what it wants to do. Most new shows tinker in the early going as they try to find their groove, but when they still are making big changes in the second season that’s a sure sign they’re flailing creatively.

Every time I watch HAWAII 5-0 I always make a vow that that’s it. I’m done with this stupid show. But for some reason I end up watching it again. And making the same vow. It’s the same principle as eating at Wendy’s.

The original version in the ‘60s was very clear. Jack Lord played the head of a special police investigation unit. He generally wore a suit. His team did most of the difficult stunts (like walking quickly) and they always got the bad guys. Throw in a great theme song, beauty shots of Hawaii, and you had rating rainbows for twelve years.

The new version had to be spiffed-up. Steve McGarrett (now played by Alex O’Loughlin) became a super human action hero. Jack Bauer goes Hawaiian. I’m guessing the more the writers gave him scenes to “act” the more they decided to give him scenes to shoot people.

Scott Caan was chosen as his partner. He’s likable, quirky, but the sense I get is he’s kind of a klutz. Good for banter, bad for cliff diving. So the decision was made to give him a heart tugging personal life. He’s crazy about his daughter but rarely gets to see her. He’s divorced but still loves his ex-wife. What the writers soon discovered was – no one gave a shit. Who wants to cut away from a drug bust to see Scott Caan taking his daughter for shave ice? So after the obligatory daughter-was-kidnapped story, they moved off of that. They still don’t know what to do with Scott Caan.

For a while they tried to establish that Alex had a former flame who still worked for the Navy and would provide needed info and the occasional romp in the sack. Three weeks of this and it was an early discharge.

Daniel Dae Kim (Jin from LOST) as a former Hawaii PD officer that was drummed out of the force for supposedly being dirty (but of course he wasn’t… he was just protecting his family in a convoluted subplot that captivated a grand total of no one). And Grace Park. What law enforcement team doesn’t need someone whose specialty is surfing?

Her role has been reduced to Googling potential perps, taking discreet surveillance photos with a camera the size of a howitzer, and looking smoking hot in a bikini. Every so often she gets to kick someone in the mouth.

They tried to give Alex a backstory. His father was a cop who was killed under mysterious circumstances, leaving Alex a toolbox with clues. From time-to-time they deal with that. Other times it’s ignored. A sister was introduced into the mix. After several episodes she didn’t work out and was gone.

Jean Smart was the governor. It’s hard to make Jean Smart not interesting but they somehow managed to do so. Bang! She was shot and gone the end of last season.

Larisa Oleynik was introduced late last year as a former CIA analyst who winds up doing the same stuff for the team that Grace does.  Big surprise.  That didn’t work. She’s mousey so she can’t be used during action scenes. My guess – they thought she could become a love interest for Alex. But there’s no chemistry. She’s now gone.

And in her place – a super hot blonde bombshell, Lauren German. If that doesn’t light a fire under Alex’s loins then it's time for Ricky Martin.  Lauren's a former Homeland Security agent assigned to the team against his wishes. So expect three weeks of mandatory bickering before the beleaguered writers realize that doesn’t work either. Good luck writing those scenes where we see Alex’s “sensitive” side. That’ll be one more story arc for the “dear God, never again!” file.

And still the new characters keep on coming. Terry O’Quinn (also a LOST alum) as a… I can’t even keep track. Alex’s mentor, John Locke, I dunno. And Tom Sizemore (in between his own jail stints) as an Internal Affairs hard-ass.

But wait! There’s more!

I suppose the writers felt they needed some comic relief. That way the tone could be action-thriller-romance-relationship-comedy. So joining the crew is Masi Oka as a goofy nerd coroner, and Taylor Wiley as big fat Hawaiian street informant, baby sitter for Scott’s daughter, scam artist, and shave ice stand proprietor. By this point you should be screaming, “Jesus! This is just a clusterfuck!” And you would be right.

But wait! There’s still more!

Arch villain Wo Fat pops in and out. Scott Caan’s ex-wife pops in and out. There’s a story arc involving Grace being investigated for grand theft. Lirisa may be a mole, or she may be a double-agent. The new governor has it in for Alex’s team. Alex suspects his late father may be a bad guy. There’s still the toolbox with clues. The HPD still hates Daniel Dae. And just what’s in that mysterious “hatch”.

The bottom line is this: If you don’t know what you’re writing you’re in trouble. Maybe one of these mid-course corrections will work and the show will click. The ratings are still okay but the theme song and beauty shots can only take you so far. One of these weeks I’m going to keep my vow. Better introduce Charlie Sheen before it’s too late.

36 comments :

Troy McClure said...

He was the showrunner of HAWAII 5-0, MCGYVER, and MAGNUM P.I.

A guy full of fresh ideas, I take it.

Dave Creek said...

I watched a few episodes of the new "5-0" but that was it. Scott Caan was kind of interesting and often funny, but I didn't see anything else but generic cop stuff in the scripts. The original show had Jack Lord's odd sort of charisma ("You can tell I'm an asshole but you can't look away from me"), and the Hawaiian scenery. None of these characters turned out to be that interesting, and we've seen plenty of pretty scenery on lots of other TV shows. Location shooting isn't really a selling point these days, it's an expectation.

Finding out how awful the showrunner was just makes everything worse, and would do so even if it were a good show.

Troy McClure said...

Ken, have you seen this Hollywood Reporter article about an old episode of Jeopardy being a ratings hit?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/retro-jeopardy-episode-scores-ratings-gains-1303923

Mike Barer said...

I'm another fan of the original who could not get myself to watch the reboot.

Michael Hagerty said...

My review (spoken to my wife) of the "new" HAWAII FIVE-O was one sentence:

"This is CSI:HONOLULU, not HAWAII FIVE-O."

Dana King said...

I've never seen the new version (LOVED the original) but from what you describe here it sounds like the creative meeting consisted of, "This worked in 24," "This worked in CASTLE," "This worked in NCIS," "This worked in STARSKY AND HUTCH." Hard to believe an approach like that could go wrong. ^sarcasm^

Don Kemp said...

If they add Charlie Sheen I just might watch.

Matt said...

Hawaii 5-0 is a reboot that has nothing to do with the original. It is just your standard action cop show. Nothing special.

The new Magnum is slightly better in that it did take the premise of the original of a disenchanted former Navy Seal decides to move to Hawaii and be a little irresponsible. Though it doesn’t add a whole lot to the original other than making Higgins a smoking hot blonde (Perdita Weeks).

Graham Powell said...

To echo what Troy McClure said (and I love you on the Simpsons, Troy), they gave this guy the chance to reboot three of the most memorable shows of the past 50 years or so. Shows that people were going to check out just because of the names. And he botched it every time. Plus was a raging asshole. Nice work!

Mike McCann said...

I just dug the original McGarett's solid black 1968 Mercury Marquis four-door hardtop. You saw it in a garage in the pilot episode. I never tuned back in. Never. I gather Steve II and the new Dan O don't drive it?

Todd Everett said...

I kind of liked the new McGyver, but when George Eads left (wonder why?), he took a lot with him.

thirteen said...

It's been on for 12 years, but I've only seen one episode. It was about how Christmas trees cost like $350 in Hawaii, so the guys go and cut one down in a national forest. Or something. At the end, a cop shows up on Christmas Eve to ticket them. I couldn't take the excitement.

DBenson said...

Okay, a fairly big question: When a powerful SOB is toppled, how many of his lieutenants and enablers remain in place, preserving the toxic culture and perhaps exacting vengeance? Roger Ailes must have left several Fox News executives who, at the very least, were of similar mindsets. And while there's a passing reference to CBS removing "the old guard", Lenkov must have had a well-rewarded circle of henchmen as well as higher-ups with a financial incentive to let him be.

Thinking of an employee who exposed financial graft at his branch of a big operation. There were some sudden retirements, an official thank you, and an end to promotions -- the grafters had personal friends at the home office.

DBenson said...

When a guy like Lenkov gets fired, is that really the end of it? He must have had a circle of flunkeys in positions of moderate power, as well as superiors who personally profited by turning a blind eye. While there's a reference to removing "the old guard", it seems likely a toxic hotspot can survive, complete with an ability to Get Even.

Recently Fox News has been hit with more sex scandals. Since Roger Ailes was the top man, to what extent were the executive ranks filled with like-minded sleazes? If they're still in place, small wonder they've still got problems.

DBenson said...

Uhm, thought my first post didn't upload so I tried again, more concisely. Feel free to lose one. Or both -- It's your blog.

D McEwan said...

I watched most of the first season of the reboot of Hawaii Five-0, and then stopped, because I felt like I had seen the same stories over and over. It was like they had only five scripts for the season, and kept re-shooting them, changing the names of the one-episode characters. I have not looked at it again.

blinky said...

If they rebooted Cheers today they would cast K-Fed for Sam, Paris Hilton as Diane, Kevin James as Norm, Snooki as Carla and Max Greenfield as Cliff.

BG said...

I loved the original with Jack Lord. I tried to watch the new version a few years ago, and it just had nothing that made me want to continue. Then I saw a scene where they tried to do a product placement for Subway. Never watched again. It was laughably pathetic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQYwFND7rHE

But a lot of TV shows fail to hold my attention. They either try too hard to be edgy or have too many elements instead of keeping it simple.

Liggie said...

I hadn't heard of Lenkov until this news broke, but I do have a general question about his alleged type of conduct: Other than drill sergeant or trial attorney, are there jobs where being a jerk is actually a good thing? Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were known for borderline rudeness to their employees, and they're celebrated as geniuses in their field. Likewise, a lot of sports coaches such as Bobby Knight have won championships in part by getting in the grills of their players. Gates et al. would've said this was how they could challenge their employees/players to achieve excellence and was therefore acceptable. I'm not sure, but then again I'm not a well-regarded expert in my field, so ...

Kendall Rivers said...
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Kendall Rivers said...
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Jeff Boice said...

Thanks for the post (and link). My first thought was "Showrunner on three different hour-long dramas at the same time? How is that even possible?" So Mr. Lenkov had to delegate a lot- but it sounds like he wasn't any good at doing that.

I never had any interest in watching these reboots. But I realize that I haven't been in the desired audience demographic for a few decades now. So my opinion means nothing as far as the networks are concerned.

Dixon Steele said...

Always appreciate you unflinching reviews, Ken.

But it made me wonder: have you ever heard back from any of your "targets"?

Kendall Rivers said...

@Ligge being a no nonsense jerk is one thing but being an abusive monster ala Roseanne, Lenkov,Cosby etc is another.It's like John Becker who was blunt with his patients but at the end of the day he cared and told them what they needed to hear not what they wanted to hear. Big difference from just bullying people for their own amusement or just to vent their own craziness.

Kendall Rivers said...

I'm not surprised. The guy being a hack is no surprise at all with his career of taking classic beloved shows and turning them into crappy bootleg reboots so his being an official asshole is all the more perfect. I just hope this reboot craze dies a painful death very soon. I'd rather keep watching the only Magnum on Hallmark or the other two on CBS access any day

kitano0 said...

Watched what turned out to be the last season, just for Katrina Law. I would love to see her in her own series.

RIck J. said...

What about the pressure of show-running? You've been a showrunner! Ever find yourself maybe pushing to hard to meet a deadline? Snapping about an actor's appearance? Insisting on extra hours? Is the pressure really so intense that a showrunner can lose their moral compass?

Wendy M. Grossman said...

I would have thought you'd have a much easier time producing a good show if you're *not* an asshole. People rarely do their best work when they hate their boss and are suffering
through bad treatment.

Always seems to me a good sign when you see the same people popping up over and over again in a particular showrunner's shows and writing rooms...suggests they run an operation that treats people well.

wg

PolyWogg said...

The same guy was running Magnum PI? NOW it all makes sense. What you wrote for H50 could be written for Magnum PI.

Season 1 had very little chemistry between the three guys, and while I loved the idea of replacing Higgins with a woman, it gave her nothing to do for most of the season other than occasionally backup Magnum, and look stuff up on computers for him. Hannah as Magnum's ex was interesting, while everyone else seemed to have their "EP of the season" to talk about coaching kids' sports or helping vets or something. Don't ask me what Kummu does.

Season 2 had some initial gravitas -- at the end of S1, Magnum asked Higgins to become his partner officially, and she dragged it out for several EPs, which made no sense. A woman in charge who is great at making decisions in the moment can't decide on a business arrangement yes or no? There are a couple of good EPs -- and almost all of them are stolen from the original show. Then we hit the end of the season. There's a ridiculous plot device about Higgins needing a new visa but can't get one so she'll have to be deported. Out of nowhere comes a green card wedding proposal idea, and while ridiculous in concept, it could give some interesting fun to the chemistry between Higgins and Magnum. Then Covid hit, and I don't know WHAT they had in mind originally, but instead, she'll marry TC instead, as easier to fake than with Magnum as her business partner already, and then Robin Masters coming up with a better idea that makes it easy for her to stay.

Repeatedly, ideas are thrown in, the story COUDL go in that direction, and an EP or two later, it's killed. It's almost like they beta test ideas and some suit kills them. I don't know.

THey're renewed for S3, but with this showrunner out, maybe they'll get someone who as a creative vision of where the cahracters could go.

But I'm still watching. Cuz Ferraris are cool, I guess. And I might be crushing on Higgy.

P.

McAlvie said...

I, too, really wanted to like this show. But it made many of the same mistakes I've seen in other reboots - too much angst! They took great action shows and turned them into soap operas! Why can't they just chase bad guys and save the world? I have problems, too. So does everyone else. It's not entertaining.

The new Magnum PI had possibilities, and I didn't care that they made Higgins a female, but I thought it would have been better if it had been one of Magnum's buddies. The reboot made way too much of the Magnum/Higgins dynamics. It became the Magnum and Higgins show, so every episode was "will they or won't they" which got old really fast.

Viscount Manzeppi said...


I miss actors. Real, actual actors.

Now all we have on network TV are Playmates of the Month and Chippendales who mistake talking in a low bedroom voice for acting.

And enough with turning every drama into a serialized soap opera!

Todd Everett said...

. It became the Magnum and Higgins show, so every episode was "will they or won't they" which got old really fast.

But marrying them gives a “very special” wedding episode, then kills the tension and generally the laughs. A guaranteed display of writers’ desperation, along with the sudden appearance of a new child.

Troy McClure said...

Back when it was still funny, The Simpsons did a brilliant parody of TV shows that keep changing. Homer is watching a drama called Cyborganizer, about a robot cop who helps the police with their paperwork. When Marge tries to talk to him, he says "I wanna enjoy this show before the network retools it." Homer turns his attention back to the show and the robot now says "How can I organize this modeling agency and still be a good single father?"

Kendall Rivers said...

@PollyWogg only one Higgy baby and that's John Hillerman. Can't believe anybody actually watched past the first episode this reboot you have stomach I'll give you that lol

mike schlesinger said...

Well, German landed on her feet pretty well, breaking out as the exasperated Detective Chloe Decker on "Lucifer."

I enjoyed the new H50. As it went along, it developed into more of an ensemble show, and the chemistry was admirable (adding Chi MacBride was a big boost). And they had a genuinely diverse cast long before it became "woke" to do so. It wasn't my idea of a "great" series, but as a popcorn action show on Fridays, it did its job well.

jcs said...

I bet that for every Peter Lenkov there are two showrunners who make everybody's job almost as difficult and painful but who are a bit more subtle. A little bit of cronyism here, a bit of abuse of power there. Always in that grey area so that you can't find too many ligitable actions. If the numbers are right, HQ will not bother too much. It's that way in my industry and why should Hollywood be any different?