Can Jay Hernandez Fill Selleck's Ferrari on "Magnum P.I."? Ask His Mom.

Given the success of the networkamp8217s Hawaii FiveO update and subsequent audience acceptance it seemed like a good bet amp160But with Selleck unavailable who could ever fill his signature Hawaiian shirts amp160Itamp8217s a quandary new Magnum PI star Jay Hernandez also ponderedamp160 In fact his biggest obstacle in landing the role was convincing his mom that he could do it amp160amp8220I remember when I first broke the news to her amp8230 I took my time about having the conversation because she was a massive Tom Selleck fan and that39s how I was introduced to the showamp8221 Hernandez recalled during a recent interview with MediaVillage amp160amp8220We were enjoying a steak dinner and some wine when I said amp8220Mom I didn39t want to say anything but I am telling you now because it39s official I39m doing Magnum PI Her response was amp8216Who39s going to be Magnum amp160Please tell me its Tom Selleckamp8217 I had to tell her it was me amp160She really wanted Selleck backamp160 She still does and keeps asking when he39s doing the showamp8221Hernandez still canamp8217t quite believe he landed the coveted role although the reality has seeped in amp160amp8220For me one of the most amp8216step back and pinch myself momentsamp8217 was two months before I got this opportunityamp8221 he said amp160amp8220I was randomly flipping through the TV saw Magnum PI on the guide clicked on itamp160 and there was Tom Selleck on a jet ski in the middle of the bay in Hawaiiamp160 Two months later I found myself in the very same scenario shooting that same sceneamp160 It was surreal to find myself in that same spot amp160It was one of the first moments that it really landed on me that I was given the chance to play this iconic characteramp8221Magnum PI circa 2018 follows the exploits of Thomas Magnum with this incarnation picking up as the decorated former Navy SEAL returns from Afghanistan and decides to use his military expertise to become a private eye in Hawaii amp160Besides the familiar locales scenarios and character names Hernandez insists this reimagination is vastly different from the original as will be his portrayal of the characteramp8220Because thereamp8217s such a different direction for this character I feel less burdened by the pastamp8221 he explained amp160amp8220I thought it was a really smart thing for casting to do something that felt really different amp160Visually I don39t have a mustache and that was something that Tom brought to the characteramp8220I thought they were dealing with that in the right wayamp8221 he continued amp160amp8220Coming in it was one of the things I was worried about amp160Everyone has an opinion and I knew thereamp8217d be some sort of backlash but I felt confident in the fact I could do this and it was enough of a different direction that there was less weight on me so it definitely gave me more freedomamp8221One glaring difference in the update is the character of Higgins a major part of Magnum39s original team and portrayed by John Hillerman amp160quotNow Higgins is Juliet Perdita Weeks a woman so there39s that dynamic between Higgins and Magnum that will be differentquot Hernandez said stating the obvious amp160quotThere39s some relationship stuff that can be explored and be fruitful in terms of building the storyamp160 Outside of that the main bones of what made Magnum PI unique besides the charm are all still therequotHernandez would love to see Selleck who has given the series his blessing make an appearance as amp8220Tomamp8221 was the thing he said he loved most about the original amp160amp8220Looking back on it it was his charm and charisma and the ability of this individual to be attractive to both men and womenamp8221 Hernandez notedamp160 amp8220Women wanted a relationship with him and men wanted to get a drink with him on the weekend amp160He was just cool and as a kid thatamp8217s something I responded toamp160 That red Ferrari didn39t hurtamp8221At the moment Hernandez has one convert in his corneramp160 amp8220Mom saw the pilot and she39s overflowing with prideamp8221 he laughed amp160amp8220I think sheamp8217s a pretty good gauge as far as other people accepting me although she was maybe a little bit of an easy sell amp160Now she just wants to meet Tom Selleckamp160 That39s the only thing and if she does she will die a happy womanamp8221Magnum PI will premiere Monday at 9 pm on CBS

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Can Jay Hernandez Fill Selleck's Ferrari on "Magnum P.I."? Ask His Mom.

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Can Jay Hernandez Fill Selleck's Ferrari on "Magnum P.I."? Ask His Mom.

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