'Hawaii Five-0': Then & Now

Like the revamped shows before it, the new "Hawaii Five-0," premiering more than 40 years after the original, is staying true to the some of the classic's specifics (a former military man turned head of a special task force on the beautiful island) but giving the series plenty of modern twists, too (female characters with actual jobs other than secretaries). Whether you were a fan of the 1970s series or are just ready to get your aloha on when the new version premieres on CBS next week, click through this slideshow to compare the characters of "Hawaii Five-0" then and now to see if the new cast stands up to the old crew. [Share this slideshow on Twitter]Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

New York-born actor Jack Lord was approaching 50 when the series kicked off, but that didn't stop him from spending the next decade playing a no-nonsense detective (with perfectly coiffed hair) chasing crooks in the then newly added 50th state. As for attire of the day, McGarrett was rarely seen without his crisp suit and tie (which seems like kinda heavy attire for a mid-Pacific island, doesn't it?). He also proved he could take down criminals with a clever plan and a stern line of questioning rather than bullets, usually brandishing his weapon only after being fired at (maybe because Lord himself was a big gun-control advocate?). Fast forward to 2010: The pilot's opening scene finds McGarrett caught up in a gruesome machine-gun battle. Not surprisingly, some have criticized the new version for being too violent.Paramount Pictures - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

The rebooted show is taking Detective McGarrett in a different direction by casting 34-year-old Aussie actor Alex O'Loughlin to play the part, and giving the more youthful character a Navy SEAL background (rather than that of a Naval Intelligence Officer). He ends up with a lot on his plate right away, as he hears his father getting murdered via cell phone and readies himself to take down a human trafficking ring. The good news is the governor is letting him handpick his new comrades, giving his ragtag gang a cream-of-the-crop feel.CBS/Mario Perez - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

Thirty-year-old James MacArthur might have seemed a little young to be cast as the Danny "Danno" Williams, second-in-command to the much older McGarrett, but his character showed just the right combination of jitters and inexperience early on and eventually seemed more comfortable with his responsibilities. Though he wasn't afraid to express his opinion and stand up to McGarrett when he believed his boss was wrong, McGarrett always made it clear who was in charge … and usually right. It was this character, of course, that gave the world one of the most memorable lines in TV history: "Book 'em, Danno!"Paramount Pictures - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

Unlike the Danno of the '70s, Scott Caan gives this show its touch of cop buddiness, thanks to his snarky banter with O'Loughlin's McGarrett. The two start out butting heads, but (surprise, surprise!) end up making quite a team. The new Danno is the only one on the team with a penchant for ties and the only one who absolutely hates Hawaii (who's ever heard of that?). The Jersey boy is only here to be near his daughter (the one who named him Danno, we finally find out), who's living with his ex-wife and her new, rich husband in a swanky part of the island. Hopefully, viewers will get more of that little family drama …CBS/Mario Perez - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

Actor Kam Fong had a big advantage when he was cast in the role of stocky Detective Chin Ho Kelly: Fong had spent years as a real-life Honolulu police officer. The character used his street smarts to help McGarrett and the rest of the elite team solve local cases up until Fong left the show before the end of its run, jumping over to another Aloha State show, "Magnum P.I.," where he guest starred in a couple of episodes.Paramount Pictures - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

Few TV viewers knew who actor Kam Fong was when he first landed the role of Chin Ho Kelly. Daniel Dae Kim, however, just spent six years on the hit ABC series "Lost," which CBS is hoping will give the new "Hawaii Five-0" a solid set of fans from the start. Kim's Chin Ho has a meaty backstory: As a cop, he was well-respected by McGarrett's father, but was wrongly accused of corruption and driven out of the force. Now, the younger McGarrett is ready to give him his career back.CBS/Mario Perez - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

McGarrett could always count on the tubby Kono, played by Honolulu local Zulu, to get the scoop on a suspect, figure out where a clue came from, or phone an out-of-state police station to run an ID. Kono (who, it was mentioned, was supposed to be related to Hawaiian royalty) also helped McGarrett approach fellow Hawaiians when they weren't too keen on spilling the beans to a haole.Paramount Pictures - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

OK, Grace Park's rookie cop character is first introduced in a bikini (and unlike her predecessor, would never be in the same sentence as the word "tubby"), but after she throws her first punch, it's clear this knockout is more than just a hot bod — she's one tough, karate-chopping crime fighter who happens to be Chin Ho Kelly's cousin. And unlike her predecessor, she can outrun the fastest of criminals.CBS/Mario Perez - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

Richard Denning sure did look like a politician, with his dapper appearance and tall, slender build. The governor of Hawaii, it turns out, was the one behind the whole task-force idea, helping to set up the team and giving McGarrett his assignments throughout the course of the series.Everett Collection - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM

The biggest difference here? This governor's got girl power. Kudos to the new series for giving Hawaii a fictional female governor (to match real-life counterpart Gov. Linda Lingle) via likable acting vet Jean Smart. Like the first Gov. Jameson, this one is all business, wants to keep the constituents of the great state of Hawaii safe, and knows that good old McGarrett is the one man who can help her. [Share this slideshow on Twitter]CBS/Neil Jacobs - Friday, September, 10, 2010, 10:10 PM