CBS orders pilot for a new Hawaii Five-O ... again

A little over a year ago, CBS was all a flutter with thoughts of a new Hawaii Five-O. Jane wrote about it and even allowed herself to get geeked about a new Jack Lord and company. Well, that incarnation by Criminal Minds executive producer Ed Bernero failed to make it into production. I guess it didn't have enough "Book 'em, Danno's" -- or maybe it had too many. Whatever the reason, that version died and a new one has been ordered. CBS now has a new plan for an updated Hawaii Five-O.
This one comes with a pilot commitment, so the 2009 Five-O might have a better shot. CSI: NY executive producer Peter Lenkov is overseeing the process and feature writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are tackling the script. If those names seem familiar, that's because you've seen them in the credits for J.J. Abrams related productions, including Alias, Fringe, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible III.
So it's going to be an update, but it will be more of a procedural in keeping with today's police dramas. There will still be a Steve McGarrett and probably a Danno. And it will be set in Hawaii (duh!).
The original Hawaii Five-O had legs. It ran for twelve seasons. If you can appreciate the blend of cop drama and glamorous location, you can see the appeal of a show like Hawaii Five-O. It 's not unlike the appeal of CSI: Miami. However, with Kurtzman and Orci attached, it's likely that they'll bring a new angle to the procedural. You gotta like their credits; if it's even a little as cool as Alias, I'm in.
So, if you were casting, who would you like to see in the role of Steve McGarrett? I'll go first... Alex O'Loughlin. (Don't laugh -- I think CBS won't stop casting him until he's in a hit, and Three Rivers doesn't seem to be it!) Now, you go. Tell me who should play McGarrett.

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