Discover the most popular TV show the year you were born

1982: Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I. was a crime drama series that aired on CBS from 1980 to 1988. The series followed private investigator Thomas Magnum as he takes on cases in Oahu, Hawaii. Magnum lived a luxurious life in the islands, staying in the guest house of a beautiful beachfront estate at the invitation of a celebrated author, who never appeared on the show. The P.I. is always driving around in a Ferrari and is surrounded by beautiful women. He’s also rarely seen without a Hawaiian shirt and his trademark mustache.

The show consistently ranked within the top 20 shows in the United States for its first five seasons, and in 1982, it reached the #3 spot. The show was supposed to end after season 7, when Magnum was killed off (sorry, spoiler), but after an outcry from fans, they brought the show back for one last season to bring him “back to life” and give him a proper send-off.

The show was a hit with critics as well as audiences, and both Tom Selleck and co-star John Hillerman won Golden Globes and Emmy Awards for their performances on the show. Due to its ongoing popularity after all these years, a reboot is being ordered to CBS, set to premiere September 24, starring Jay Hernandez.