60 minSeason 12 • Episode 20
LatestThe series concludes with the final showdown between McGarrett and Wo Fat. Three scientists have gone missing. They have one thing in common: they all attended a symposium that discussed a possible space-based, laser defense system. McGarrett impersonates a fourth scientist, Dr. Elton Raintree, who attended the same gathering and is soon abducted. Wo Fat is behind it all and wants the scientists to complete their work and produce such a device.
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. Jack Lord portrayed Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett, the head of a special state police task force which was based on an actual unit that existed under martial law in the 1940s. The theme music composed by Morton Stevens became especially popular. Many episodes would end with McGarrett instructing his subordinate to "Book 'em, Danno!", sometimes specifying a charge such as "murder one".
Score
Morton Stevens' brassy theme — arguably TV's greatest earworm ever.
Production
On-location Hawaii shooting was revolutionary for 1968 network television.
Acting
Jack Lord's hair and granite intensity defined TV cop archetypes.
Creator
Leonard Freeman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jack Lord demanded and got full script approval plus 50% ownership, making him one of TV's wealthiest actors — he never worked again after Five-O ended in 1980.
The 'actual unit' from 1940s martial law was real: Governor's Investigators formed under WWII military government, giving the show uncomfortable colonial undertones it rarely examined.
US
