Why CBS Canceled Hawaii Five-0

The season 10 reboot of “Hawaii Five-0” was a solid Nielsen ratings performer for CBS. A combination of nostalgia for kids who grew up watching Jack Lord and James MacArthur romp in and around Honolulu and a stylish procedural for fans of the network's popular “CSI” and “NCIS” franchises, Hawaii Five-0 comes to you. consistent with its wildly attractive cast and a plot that explored the characters' pasts without ever getting bogged down in long story arcs. “Hawaii Five-0” knew what its fans wanted and never deviated from its proven formula.

When a series lands in the Nielsen hot spot every week, you understand that the network will bend over backwards to keep it going until people stop watching. That's what Fox continues with “The Simpsons” now in its 36th season, and how has NBC fared with its “Law & Order” franchise. That makes CBS's decision to end “Hawaii Five-0” while dropping its highest-ever Nielsen ratings share (9.7) to 20th overall. Often, long-running series become more expensive, in part because stars raise their salary demands (Daniel Dae Kim says he left the show over a pay dispute), but there were several reasons why “Hawaii Five-0” ended in 2020.

When CBS officially announced five years ago that “Hawaii Five-0” would give up its shield, it issued a statement praising the series' long-term ratings success, network-friendly promotional materials and committed cast. Peter M. Lenkov, who developed the reboot with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, graciously responded, making it all seem like a mutual agreement, which it was. Type.

In an interview with TVLine before the series finale aired, Lenkov revealed the decision to end it. Not surprisingly, he would have been happy to keep it going. Per Lenkov:

“I think we have a chance to maybe go to another season — every season I think the show is going to end for some reason, but I think the network just thought it was a good time. (…) There's so many different things. that factor into it — the economy, everything — and I think they felt it was the right time.

While Lenkow's interview with TVLine didn't come off as witty, he did mention that there was one major reason for the show's cancellation: Alex O'Loughlin, who played the dashing Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett, was done chasing bad guys for 20 years. plus episodes per season. While there are certainly worse places on Earth to shoot a police procedural, the physical strain had gotten to O'Loughlin. And before you start attacking the guy for being a spoiled TV star, maybe hear him talk about how overwhelmed he was after 10 seasons as McGarrett.

According to the deadlineO'Loughlin was set to quit “Hawaii Five-0” before season 10 due to a serious back injury he suffered early in the series. The star backed it up and then some in an interview with TVLine, claiming:

“I've blown both shoulders, one knee. I've had my elbow reattached. I've had bulging discs in my neck and back. I don't know where to start. I'm a mess and I think it's been really, really hard when I first years I did most of my stunts, but it wasn't a great idea, dealing with injuries and working huge hours day after day, year after year (…) The whole show has been extremely physical scary. That's one of the things I'm trying to figure out right now.”

Lenkov told TVLine that O'Loughlin's exit was not supposed to be the end of Hawaii Five-0. There was talk of bringing on new recurring character Lincoln Cole (Lance Gross) full-time, but when Scott Caan made it clear he wanted to follow O'Loughlin, that plan was scrapped.

In the end, Lekov diplomatically laid the blame for the show's cancellation at the network's feet. “I believe Alex wanted this to be his last year,” Lenkov told TVLine. “He didn't have a contract (..), but he didn't last year, and at the last minute, right before the Upfronts (in May 2019), a one-year extension was signed. If the studio wanted to bring the show back for an 11th season, I you have to believe they would have tried to get Alex to stay, but now that's moot.

Apparently, there was some fan displeasure at the end of the beloved series when it was more popular than ever (a similar scenario recently played with “Blue Bloods”), but 10 seasons is a heckuva run. There will always be more procedurals to scratch that crime-solving itch television viewers have had since the medium's inception.