Will Hawaii Five-0 suffer without Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park?
Yesterday, the news took the internet by storm that both actors, who have been a part of the CBS series since the very beginning, are both departing. Now that more information is coming out, the picture is becoming clearer. Per a report from Variety, the two actors were seeking equal pay to their co-stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, who each also receive a piece of the backend from the series. Given that this is an ensemble show by and large and Park and Kim receive ample screen time, this demand was understandable from them.
The site reports that the final offer that came in for the two actors was around 10-15% less than what O’Loughlin and Caan receive for the series, and there was no way for a decision to be reached. We don’t quite understand why CBS TV wasn’t willing to bridge a gap of just that much given the show’s success in syndication and steady ratings performance, but we’re not a budget person. We don’t know what all of the financials were looking like for the eighth season, and we’re sure that certain parts of the series (including all of the stunt work) are not cheap.
The departure of Chin and Kono will be written into the upcoming premiere this fall.
Now, the remaining question is how much the departures will hurt the show in the ratings as well as the over all feel of the team. It’s certainly not going to help, since the ohana nature of Hawaii Five-0 is one of the reasons why so many people watch. The only original regulars now left on the show are Caan and O’Loughlin, as Jorge Garcia and Chi McBride each joined during the show’s run. There is no female full-time cast member now, and the show’s incredible diversity has also taken a hit. Given the percentage of native Hawaiians and people with Asian-American heritage in Hawaii, we hope that this is a casting priority. Beyond that, we hope that whatever new characters come in are not just people brought in to play certain types or try to literally replace Chin and Kono. At this point, it’s season 8. This is the time to take some bigger risks if you want any sort of reward.
What do you think that Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim’s departure will have on Hawaii Five-0 season 8 and its ratings? Be sure to share in the comments!
Meanwhile, head over here in the event you do want to secure some further news and updates right now when it comes to Hawaii Five-0. (Photo: CBS.)