Theme From 'Hawaii Five-0' Reboot Gets Respect
Network launches massive marketing campaign around the iconic 42-year-old tune
Got one of those old TV show theme songs stuck in your head? CBS intends to make sure its the catchy, impossible-to-forget tune from "Hawaii Five-0."
The network is centering a massive marketing campaign around the iconic 42-year-old theme song to promote the reboot of the classic show.
George Schweitzer, president of CBS Marketing Group, believes the familiar tune will be a hook for viewers, both the baby-boomer crowd with fond memories of the original show and the coveted 18-40 age group.
Its the most enduring 59 seconds in TV music history, Schweitzer said in a New York Magazine interview. Its known by people who dont even know what the show is.
A remake of the theme was distributed to the media in May. But the producers of the show and the CBS executives soon realized the synth-heavy updated version was a huge mistake.
When you talk to people and you say youre rebooting 'Hawaii Five-O,' the first thing they say to you is dont mess up the theme song, said Peter Lenkov, executive producer.
Film score veteran Brian Tyler ("Fast and the Furious," "Eagle Eye") was brought in as the "Hawaii Five-0" series composer. He oversaw a new orchestration featuring 35 musicians, three of whom played on the original theme.
Sticking closely to the original Mort Stevensversion, Tyler described the new recording as true vintage with a cool vibe. The theme for the new "Hawaii Five-0" premiered at Julys Comic-Con.
The focal point of the marketing blitz is the distribution of ringtone cards giving the holder a free ringtone download of "Hawaii Five-0s" new, modern theme song.
Other facets of the campaign include oldies radio stations featuring contests where DJs will play snippets of the theme and give away trips to the Big Island, magazine ads equipped with sound chips that play the theme and a competition where college bands can enter their versions sponsored by the CBS College Sports Network. The song remains popular with marching bands, especially at the University of Hawaii, where it is the unofficial fight song.
The original "Hawaii Five-O" aired for 12 seasons, from 1968-1980. Its success set the standard for modern police dramas. Two-thirds of the show was shot on location, making Hawaii a key character in the show. Known for the beautiful locations, ensemble cast and the iconic theme song, "Hawaii Five-O" has become a legend in television history.
While the classic theme song is a major focus of the promotion campaign, CBS places emphasis on the shows action and cast, promising lots of chases, shooting and crime fighting. The network assures that Hawaii will still be a key character. But they do want people to know that the 0 is a zero, not a capital letter.
The cast features Alex OLoughlin ("Moonlight") as Detective Steve McGarrett, Daniel Dae Kim ("Lost") as Detective Ho Chin Kelly, Scott Caan ("Oceans Eleven") as Dectective Danny Danno Williams and Grace Park ("Battlestar Galactica") as Detective Kona Kalakaua.
"CSI:NYs" Peter Lenkov and "Fringes" Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are the executive producers.
"Hawaii Five-0" debuts Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.
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