‘Hawaii Five-0’: Variations on a Theme

By Stu Robinson,

Tonight brings the Season 2 premiere of CBS’ new Hawaii Five-0.

To borrow the slogan from another classic TV show: Same bat time; same bat channel. Once again, it will go up against the ABC hit Castle. NBC hopes to grab some attention with The Playboy Club, but in this time slot I expect it to last about as long as Hef’s latest engagement.

While we wait to see if the H50 writers can resolve last season’s cliff-hanger in a remotely plausible fashion, I thought I’d set the mood with that boffo theme song – along with some of the creativity it has inspired on YouTube.

First, the behind-the-scenes video from last year’s re-recording of the theme.

The Brain Setzer Orchestra had a slightly different take, but still pretty cool.

This one’s a little out there, but it won CBS’ H50 theme song contest last year.

It would be hard to get more out there than these videos giving the H50 sound treatment to Star Wars and Star Trek. I think one of the commenters said it best: “Book ’em, Chewie.”

Finally, who knew there were lyrics to the H50 theme? Sammy did!

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Stu Robinson, a college friend of the TV Tyrant, is a writer, editor, media-relations practitioner and social-media guy based in Phoenix.