Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Trivia: Danno was played by Tim O'Kelley in the 5-0 pilot. But a NY test audience told CBS they didn't buy him as a serious cop because he was too much of a "smart-cracking, Jimmy-Olsen-type gee-whiz kid." Leonard Freeman took the criticism to heart, and recast the part with James MacArthur for the series.

Trivia: Throughout the first two seasons, both McGarrett and Danno often referred to "Chief Dann of HPD." This was a thank-you to CBS programming chief Mike Dann, who helped first persuade the network to put Hawaii Five-0 on the air, and also got it a better time slot later on.

Trivia: Though he somehow remained in office for all 12 years of Hawaii Five-0's run, the Governor never had a name until episode 208, when he was referred to as "Governor Paul Jameson." Most TV trivia sources wrongly insist that his name is Philip Grey - but this was another character played by the same actor (Richard Denning) in episode 6, "The 24-Karat Kill," before he was permanently cast as the Governor.

Trivia: Sunburned actors were a frequent problem for Hawaii Five-0's make-up crew. So many guest stars arrived in Hawaii early and sunbathed before reporting to work, the make-up team had to devise a special formula to neutralize red skin for the camera. Dubbed "mellow yellow," it remained a Five-0 make-up staple for all 12 seasons.

Trivia: Kam Fong, who played Chin Ho, was a real Honolulu police officer for 17 years before changing careers to become an actor. He originally auditioned for the part of villain Wo Fat.

Trivia: Actor Robert Brown (Jason of Here Come the Brides and Lazarus in the ST:TOS episode "The Alternative Factor") was originally slated to play McGarrett. A week before filming was to begin on the pilot, CBS asked producer Leonard Freeman to change the lead, giving no explanation. Freeman had to scramble for another leading man, and asked Jack Lord, whom he'd worked with on a previous (failed) pilot. Lord moved to Hawaii on a week's notice, and remained there throughout the series' run and for the rest of his life.

Trivia: For years, much of the world was convinced that Five-0 was a real police unit. The studio once received a telex from a foreign government requesting assistance in locating a fugitive believed to be in Honolulu. Producers had to respond with the apology, "We're sorry, but Five-0 is just a television show."

Trivia: The name "Chin Ho" came from Chinn Ho, the owner of the Ilikai Hotel, which is where the penthouse shot of Jack Lord in the opening title sequence was taken.

Trivia: Gregory Peck was the first choice to play Steve McGarrett, but he turned down the role.

Trivia: Jack Lord is the only actor to appear in all 281 episodes of the show.

Trivia: Creator Leonard Freeman took the name "Wo Fat" from a restaurant in downtown Honolulu.

Trivia: McGarrett didn't use his iconic phrase "Book 'em, Danno" until the seventh episode of season one.

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