Hawaii Five-O (1997 pilot)
Encyclopedia
A pilot
for a Hawaii Five-O remake series of the TV show Hawaii Five-O
was produced in 1997
, but did not air. The pilot was produced by Stephen J. Cannell
Productions and CBS Television. It starred Gary Busey
and Russell Wong
as the new Five-O team while the character of Danny Williams (James MacArthur
), would have moved on to become governor of the state. The pilot would introduce some of the new cast and feature former regulars from the original series, like Danny Williams or Chin Ho. Kam Fong returned to play the role as Chin Ho again, even if he was killed off at the end of the tenth season. This was only discovered after all of Fong's scenes had been shot and to excise him from the project would have caused delays and overruns in cost. Hoping that CBS executives would not remember the one episode out of hundreds, Cannell screened the pilot.
According to Five-O fan and author of a book on the show, Karen Rhodes, Kam Fong was asked to reprise his role and appear in the pilot. Neither Fong nor any of the other regulars told Stephen J. Cannell that Chin Ho had been killed off at the end of the tenth season. This was only discovered after all of Fong's scenes had been shot and to excise him from the project would have caused delays and overruns in cost.
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for a Hawaii Five-O remake series of the TV show Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
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 twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
was produced in 1997
1997 in television
The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :-Debuts:-Miniseries:*Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, a reunion of the 1979–93 series*The Last Don...
, but did not air. The pilot was produced by Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen Joseph Cannell was an American television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor, and the founder of Stephen J. Cannell Productions.-Early life:...
Productions and CBS Television. It starred Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
and Russell Wong
Russell Wong
Russell Girard Wong is an American actor and photographer, as well as the brother of actor/model Michael Wong.-Biography:...
as the new Five-O team while the character of Danny Williams (James MacArthur
James MacArthur
James Gordon MacArthur was an American actor best known for the role of Danny "Danno" Williams, the reliable second-in-command of the fictional Hawaiian State Police squad Hawaii Five-O.-Early life:...
), would have moved on to become governor of the state. The pilot would introduce some of the new cast and feature former regulars from the original series, like Danny Williams or Chin Ho. Kam Fong returned to play the role as Chin Ho again, even if he was killed off at the end of the tenth season. This was only discovered after all of Fong's scenes had been shot and to excise him from the project would have caused delays and overruns in cost. Hoping that CBS executives would not remember the one episode out of hundreds, Cannell screened the pilot.
Cast
- Gary BuseyGary BuseyWilliam Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
... Jimmy Xavier Berk - Russell WongRussell WongRussell Girard Wong is an American actor and photographer, as well as the brother of actor/model Michael Wong.-Biography:...
... Nick Wong - Steven Flynn
- Kayla BlakeKayla BlakeKayla Blake is an American actress. She is also credited as Leila Lee Olsen and Elsie Sniffen. She is best known for the role of Kim on the ABC Television series Sports Night....
(as Elsie Sniffen) - James MacArthurJames MacArthurJames Gordon MacArthur was an American actor best known for the role of Danny "Danno" Williams, the reliable second-in-command of the fictional Hawaiian State Police squad Hawaii Five-O.-Early life:...
... Governor Dan Williams - Branscombe RichmondBranscombe RichmondBranscombe Richmond is an American character actor and stuntman. He is sometimes credited in films as Richmond Branscombe, Ranscombe Richmon, Ranhome Quickman or Branscom Richmond....
... Napoleon DeCastro - Natasha Pavlovich ... Shana Dennis / Oksana Demetrios
- Harry EndoHarry EndoHarry Endo was an American actor best known for his role playing Che Fong, a forensic scientist on the television series Hawaii Five-O.Endo was born in Colorado, but spent most of his life living in Hawaii...
... Che Fong - Kam Fong ... Det. Chin Ho Kelly
- Achilles Gacis ... Colonel Yodin
- Moe KealeMoe KealeWilfred Nalani "Moe" Keale was a musician of Hawaiian music, ukulele virtuoso, and an American actor. He was uncle to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.-Career:...
... Truck - Michael Lee ... Detective
- Scott ShawScott ShawScott Shaw is an American actor, author, journalist, film director, film producer, musician, professor and martial artist.-Early life:...
... Case Dennis - Michael Sun Lee ... Detective Lee
- Herman WedemeyerHerman WedemeyerHerman John Wedemeyer was an American actor, football player, and politician. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O ....
... Duke - Joji Yoshida ... Detective
- ZuluGilbert Lani KauhiGilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi , also known by the stage names Zulu and Zoulou, was an American actor and comedian. He is remembered largely for his portrayal of "Kono Kalakaua" on the long-running television program Hawaii Five-O.-Career:Kauhi was born in Hilo on the "Big Island" of Hawaii...
... Kono
According to Five-O fan and author of a book on the show, Karen Rhodes, Kam Fong was asked to reprise his role and appear in the pilot. Neither Fong nor any of the other regulars told Stephen J. Cannell that Chin Ho had been killed off at the end of the tenth season. This was only discovered after all of Fong's scenes had been shot and to excise him from the project would have caused delays and overruns in cost.
External links
- "'Hawaii Five-O' to be revived", Sun Journal, February 26, 1997.