Magnum P.I. Was Destined for Success on NBC, so Why Did the Network Fail the Show?

When CBS canceled Magnum P.I. in 2022 after 4 seasons, it was considered one of the most stunning cancellations of a TV sequence. Ever.

With rankings throughout the board dipping increasingly annually, Magnum P.I. Season 4 had outstanding resilience.

It was considered one of the community’s most-watched exhibits and delivered strong viewership on the lesser-viewed Friday nights in the U.S.

Had Fire Country not been part of the community’s agenda for the 2022-23 season, there is a good probability Magnum P.I. would have remained on the community for one other couple of seasons.

At the time of its cancellation, CBS had many exhibits on deck for the following season and did not suppose transferring Magnum P.I. to a different evening would profit the present.

Thus, the community axed the profitable sequence after 4 seasons, leaving the passionate followers who tuned into the present for years questioning what would grow to be of their favourite present.

In July 2022, months after CBS put the sequence out to pasture, NBC stepped in to save lots of the day, giving the present — and followers — a lifeline in the type of a 20-episode order.

It was a dream come true as a result of it meant we received to return to the Magnum P.I. universe for one other season and would get a decision to that #Miggy cliffhanger.

To NBC’s credit score, the community did promote the transfer to a brand new community, and the promotion helped followers perceive the present had discovered a brand new residence.

Unfortunately, regardless of NBC execs touting the present’s transfer to a brand new community, the numbers for Magnum P.I. Season 5 Episode 1 have been low.

The episode managed 3.8 million viewers and a 0.3 ranking in the demo to hit and match sequence lows (at the time!).

Magnum P.I. Season 4 averaged 5.2 million viewers and a 0.4 ranking on NBC, however the numbers soared once they factored in post-airdate viewing.

The sequence was a bonafide hit, but it surely was harmed in its transfer to Sunday nights.

NBC clearly needed to revamp the evening with Magnum P.I. and Found, however the plan later modified with The Blacklist serving as the sequence’ lead-out.

The numbers for Magnum P.I. on Sundays went as little as 2.7 million viewers and a 0.2 ranking — manner down from its heyday on CBS.

The sequence had huge competitors in the type of American Idol on ABC, East New York, and NCIS: Los Angeles.

On cable, the present went up towards behemoths like The Last of Us and 90 Day Fiance — all exhibits which are competing for the similar 18-49 demo.

It makes you ponder whether NBC protecting the present on Fridays at 9 p.m. would have been the higher possibility.

Fans have been conversant in that point interval, and it could have in all probability given NBC one thing to boast about going through Fire Country, the present CBS changed the Jay Hernandez drama.

Moving exhibits to a brand new community is hard, however transferring them to a brand new evening and time is a unique situation completely.

Magnum P.I.’s one-time lead-in S.W.A.T. can attest to a time interval being essential to a present’s success.

CBS beforehand pulled S.W.A.T. from Fridays to shore up its Sunday slot in early 2022, and the numbers have been manner down, so the community righted the mistaken and moved it again to Fridays, the place the numbers elevated.

Even although NBC allowed the first half of Magnum P.I. Season 5 to air on Sundays, the community might have at the very least given the present an opportunity to see if it received a rise again on Fridays at 9 p.m. earlier than making the name to cancel the sequence.

Now, it is easy to say, “You should be happy with 20 extra episodes after NBC picked it up,” but when these have been purported to deliver the sequence to a detailed, why not announce as a lot when the present received picked up?

Also, NBC’s choice to air the 20-episode season throughout two TV seasons arrange the present for failure.

As Deadline reported at the time of the present’s demise, the solid choices have been set to run out on June 30, so a choice to resume, cancel, or prolong choices on the actors needed to be made.

Had the solid choices not been the hurdle, NBC might have delayed the choice till the ultimate episodes of Magnum P.I. aired in midseason 2024.

The different kicker is that Magnum P.I. Season 5 has already wrapped filming, that means that the sequence finale will not have the closure we should always count on for a present on the air this lengthy.

Heck, there could also be no closure and a plethora of cliffhangers.

That being mentioned, we’re inclined to consider the finale will probably be edited to take away any cliffhangers to make it look like this was the plan all alongside.

NBC is anticipated to do an intensive promotional marketing campaign to tout the ultimate episodes, but it surely’s arduous to not really feel like the community picked the present up, promised huge issues, and dropped it like a sizzling potato when it received the probability.

Knowing that TV is a numbers sport, it is easy to know that it has to make financial sense to maintain a present on the air.

As a consequence, it is disconcerting NBC by no means tried the present on Fridays once more to see if the numbers went in the proper path.

When you concentrate on it, there’s little TV on the air proper now because of the WGA strike, and NBC has ten episodes in the can.

Go determine.

The community desires to have some scripted programming in the 2023-24 season, however its choice to carry Magnum P.I. to shore up its schedule may very well be considered one of the greatest causes for the sequence’ demise.

The solid, creatives, and followers deserve extra, however that is the similar community that canceled Manifest on the greatest cliffhanger.

What extra ought to we have now anticipated?

It could be far simpler to digest the information of Magnum P.I.’s cancellation had NBC tried to make the present profitable.

But now, we’re saying goodbye to Magnum P.I. for the second time, and it hurts realizing this wasn’t meant to be the finish and that we in all probability will not get a lot of a conclusion.

Alright, Magnum P.I. Fanatics!

I might go on and on about how I feel the present has been poorly handled.

What are your ideas on the cancellation and the ultimate episodes being held till 2024?

Hit the feedback, however earlier than you do, vote in our ballot beneath!

Do you suppose NBC failed Magnum P.I.?

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Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.