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New Hawaii Five-O on CBS... Racially Insensitive Casting?

G

Gregg

Thirty-plus years ago, CBS had a hit with the crime drama Hawaii Five-O. Two Asian actors were in the opening credits but they really had supporting roles and little back story. The show was mostly about the two white leads, Jack Lord and James MacArthur. In a state where whites have always been a minority, CBS presented a show in a tropical locale where white guys control the police force.

Now in 2010, it looks like CBS hasn't progressed much in casting. I haven't seen the pilot but from the looks of the commercials, the show is again about two white guys with an Asian guy. Even though his show Three Rivers failed last year, CBS is giving another show to Ireland native Alex O'Laughlin. The commercials show O'Loughlin shirtless, chiseled abs and all. Another good looking blond guy is also featured in the commercials, Scott Caan, who has done a number of movies where he plays an athlete or playboy. The only Asian actor featured is Korean-American Danial Dae Kim from Lost, who we see briefly. No Hawaiian actors are featured. At the end of the commercial we see O'Laughlin and Caan relaxing and clicking beer bottles.

The Wikipedia article about the show also lists in the cast actresses Grace Park (another Korean-American?) and Jean Smart from Designing Women, although they're not featured in the promos.

Once again, a show about police in Hawaii is going to primarily be about two white guys, with their supervising officer a white woman?




Gregg
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Gregg said:
... Once again, a show about police in Hawaii is going to primarily be about two white guys, with their supervising officer a white woman?
Click to expand...

Hell, they might as well bring back "Miami Vice" - wait...
 
I'd be more upset their brining in a foreigner of whatever race than the racial make isn't correct.

For casting, whether it's race or sex, or religion, I feel it only need be a factor if it's integral to the character.

For intance, Rhoda on Mary Tyler Moore was Jewish. Valarie Harper was not. This doesn't matter because outside of one episode (where Mary Frann of Newhart fame, played an anti-Semite) and a few throw away jokes, Rhoda being Jewish wasn't necessary for her character.

However like on Archie Bunker's Place, when Archie got a new partner it was played by Martin Balsam. Now the whole point was Archie had to deal with a Jew. So it WAS integral to the character that that character be Jewish, or at least some other minority. So in that case the role should've went to a Jew, which it did. Balsam was Jewish.

Now I never watched Hawaii Five-O but so I can't say, but if it's integral to the characters that they be Asian, then they should've been played by Asian actors, otherwise let everyone audtion and let the best actor win.

And as for immigrants, well if the role couldn't be filled by any American, then it should go to an outside actor, but all Americans should be rejected first. It's only fair take care of your own people first. :)
 
I agree gregg, but we live in a society that still believes in 'westernize imagery' over the realism that exists in our increasing diverse society.
 
Gregg said:
Even though his show Three Rivers failed last year, CBS is giving another show to Ireland native Alex O'Laughlin.
Click to expand...

Actually O'Laughlin has two CBS misfires under his belt as he starred in "Moonlight" during the 2007-08 season.
 
I don't think it's "insensitive", but I'd hope that the show would have many supporting characters of Hawaiian and Asian heritage to compliment the cast. That would be representative of the population in Hawaii. And that is where we'll see what kind of job they really did in 'keeping it real'.

According to the census bureau, ethnic "minorities" account for 75 percent of Hawaii's population (i.e. whites are 25%). Asians make up 55 percent, the largest percentage in the nation. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are 21 percent of the state's population, according to the census.

The original Hawaii-Five-O actually did a pretty good job of demonstrating this IF you look beyond McGarrett and Dan-O. More than half of the HPD officers and lab guys shown were Hawaiian or Asian and the show was quite well cast. You'd also have to consider the ethnic makeup of the real police force in Honolulu - which appears to underrepresent Asians and overrepresent Whites. So there is nothing wrong with the lead "McGarrett" character being a white guy - that was part of the show and it's certainly realistic.
 
the commercial we see O'Laughlin and Caan relaxing and clicking beer bottles. Once again, a show about police in Hawaii is going to primarily be about two white guys, with their supervising officer a white woman?

Oh boy.....I feel full of self hatred after reading your post. I watched the original show that had characters that cannot be imitated or copied, and that is the great Jack Lord. For those like me who remember the character Steve McGarett....it would be shocking to make a remake I find out that Steve McGarrett is played by a hispanic, Dano played by a black, and Chin Ho played by a female. There doing a remake of the show....I can understand if the show was directed and displayed Hawaii 5-0 : the Next Generation........I can see the reality , that the cast would be mostly Hawaiian in today's times, but the show is a remake of the original late 60's drama. So don't play quotas with us. Hey....if we bring back Mannix....I think Morgan Freeman should star in the role...what do you think?




Gregg
[email protected]


[/quote]
 
Mediafrog+ said:
Gregg said:
Even though his show Three Rivers failed last year, CBS is giving another show to... Alex O'Laughlin.
Click to expand...

Actually O'Laughlin has two CBS misfires under his belt as he starred in "Moonlight"...
Click to expand...

So I guess CBS is hoping third time's a charm with "5-0"?
 
All of this is nothing new.

Take a look at a painting of "The Last Supper." A 15th century painting featuring all white guys (and according to th DaVinci code, maybe a woman or 2)!

No Semites are in the picture.
 
What is the racial makeup of the police force in Hawaii? Honestly, I have no idea.

On the old show they tended to recycle a lot of actors into different roles, precisely because there
were only so many members of the Screen Actors Guild living in Hawaii. Hence you tended to see the
same faces popping up over and over in different roles. I suspect that will also be case with the new
version. And since Hawaii is our most racially diverse state, it stands to reason that the SAG members
living there are also diverse. Hence I expect this will be reflected in the casting.
 
Let's see..what other Hawaiian series did CBS have...ah...yes...Thomas...Magnum...White guy...John Hillerman? White guy. Another short white guy as a side kick, helicopter pilot, black guy...Orson Welles (voice of the mansion owner)..big ol' White guy.


Didn't NBC have a much hyped yet short lived police series about Hawai'i featurning many Hawai'ians? Sometime earlier this decade I believe.....
 
Still all about skin pigmentation on television, huh? ::)

As if we aren't being torn asunder in this country everyday without more race hustling.
 
Hawaii is a true melting pot. The state's current Governor is Linda Lingle, who is Caucasian and Jewish. One of their 2 US Senators is of Chinese ancestry - Daniel Kahikina Akaka is of native Hawaiian ancestry. The state's other Senator - Daniel Inouye is of Japanese ancestry. Both 'Daniels' are 85 years old, born in September 1924.
 
Starbucks said:
Caucasian and Jewish....huh. I never knew there was a mix like that.
Click to expand...

Many people would argue that white Jewish people are basically Caucasian. But to avoid a long argument about that I'll correct myself and just say that the Governor of Hawaii is a white Jewish woman.
 
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