The new Hawaii Five-0’s remake of the “Hookman” episode from the original 1968-80 series is scheduled to be broadcast by CBS on Feb. 4, according to the TV LINE WEB SITE.
The story is presumably accurate because CBS promoted TV Line’s piece IN A TWITTER POSTING.
According to TV Line, the remake includes some scenes shot in the same locations as the 1973 original. The story includes stills from the new and original versions of Hookman, which features a villain who has no hands and must use hooks to operate weapons. Here’s an excerpt of the TV Line story:
Fans of the original series will remember the episode’s title and plot from the sixth season premiere, which nabbed an Emmy for the iconic drama. Only back then, a double amputee gunned for Jack Lord’s Steve McGarrett, who’d played a huge role in his accident.
Morton Stevens, composer of the Five-O theme, won the Emmy for his background music for the 1973 episode.
UPDATE (Jan. 23): We came across a CBS PRESS RELEASE for this episode and see a red flag. It has some credits near the end including “Written by Joe Halpin.” But what about the writers of the original episode, Glen Olson and Rod Baker?
In the 1990s, Lois and Clark: the New Adventures of Superman remade “Panic in the Sky,” an episode of the 1950s George Reeves series The Adventures of Superman. Jackson Gillis, the writer of the original, got a “story by” credit for the 1990s show. It would seem that Olson and Baker would be due similar treatment for the new version of “Hookman.”
UPDATE II: Back IN NOVEMBER: CBS said writer Halpin had consulted with Olson and Baker about the remake to get their blessing. Executive Producer Peter Lenkov said the remake would “stay true to each and every element that made ‘Hookman’ such a beloved hour of television.”
UPDATE III (Jan. 25): The Writer’s Guild of America has weighed in on the credit issue for Glen Olson and Rod Baker. See Rod Baker’s response to this post below. We’re glad to hear it. If you click on the link to the online CBS press release, it now has a credit for Olson and Baker.
UPDATE IV (Jan. 28): Peter Lenkov fielded a question from a fan on Twitter about Hookman:
Peter Lenkov@PLenkov
“@FangirLEEng: @PLenkov Currently watching the original Hookman. Are you guys going to remake every single scene of the episode? #H50” yep
That’s going to be a neat trick. In the 1973-74 season, Five-O episodes were 49-50 minutes without commercials. The new Five-0 is 42-43 minutes.
Filed under: The Other Spies | Tagged: Alex O'Loughlin, CBS, George Reeves, Glen Olson, Hawaii Five-0, Hawaii Five-O, Jackson Gillis, New Hawaii Five-0 to remake Hookman, Peter Weller, Rod Baker, TV Line |
The Spy Command 
Dear HMSS Editors: Thank you for pointing out that Glen Olson’s name and my name were left out of the CBS press release as the writers of the original Hawaii Five-0 “Hookman” episode.. The Writer’s Guild contacted CBS today and that omission was corrected immediately. Thank you again! Rod Baker
Well done Bill, Paul and Tom!
I have the new script and they did a great job. I think the show will be great. Rod
That’s great to hear, Mr. Baker. We will definitely check out the Feb. 4 episode.