Kenji the Gardener

[Styles Bitchley]

Was watching Blind Justice this morning and stumbled on the one scene I remember actually seeing Kenji in person, rather than just referred to. He doesn’t have any speaking lines so doesn’t get credited- I even checked IMDB. He does say something in Japanese that is clearly overdubbed. I couldn’t find any sleuthing on who this actor might be but may have missed it. Maybe he’s part of the crew and was just thrown in? Anyone else remember seeing Kenji in another episode?

[Sam]

Hi Styles..
This is from "Echoes of the Mind"

Kengi, the Robin's Nest workman, is briefly seen on the lawn of the estate. He's
also seen in "No Need to Know" (1.5), "Computer Date" (2.14), "Blind Justice" (5.7),
"Little Games" (5.12), "Professor Jonathan Higgins" (5.13), "All For One (2)." (5.16), &
"Ms. Jones" (5.19).

[Styles Bitchley]

I don’t remember seeing him. Same actor?

[Styles Bitchley]

Out of curiosity, I'm going to look up these scenes with Kenji to see if there are any others that show his face.

This is the best we get from "No Need to Know."

[Styles Bitchley]

Here he is in "Echoes of the Mind" and it looks to be the same actor. He doesn't get any lines or credits, although Higgins mutters something to him in Japanese. Note that his appearance is in Part 1 of the episode, not Part 2 as it is noted in the episode guide (plus, his name is spelled wrong).

[Styles Bitchley]

Here he is with the housekeeper holding The Lads in "Little Games." Incidentally, I think the note that Kenji appears in "Computer Date" is wrong. I've gone through the whole thing and he doesn't appear anywhere. It seems that they tried developing him as more of a recurring character in Season 5 but it never went anywhere...

[Styles Bitchley]

His brief appearance in Prof Jonathan Higgins.

[Styles Bitchley]

His quick appearance at the end of "All for One" (Part 2)...

[Styles Bitchley]

And finally, his appearance in Ms Jones, where he's helping Higgins prune the coconut trees. Still no credit or much of a clue who this actor is. The best close up appears to be the one in Blind Justice that I originally posted - I guess that's why it struck me when I saw it.

[Pahonu]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

[Styles Bitchley]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

Indeed. The housekeeper that is also in these scenes in Season 5 is interesting, because she so closely resembles the "Kumu" character in the Magnum Reboot. I think they have a Kenji in the reboot too?

[Pahonu]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

Indeed. The housekeeper that is also in these scenes in Season 5 is interesting, because she so closely resembles the "Kumu" character in the Magnum Reboot. I think they have a Kenji in the reboot too?

I don’t even remember the couple of episodes of the reboot I watched several years ago before giving up. That’s pretty wild that there’s also a Kenji in it. What an obscure element of the original to use. Since I know next to nothing about the reboot, have any other characters appeared, like Agatha, Mac, Carol, or Maggie?

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

Indeed. The housekeeper that is also in these scenes in Season 5 is interesting, because she so closely resembles the "Kumu" character in the Magnum Reboot. I think they have a Kenji in the reboot too?

I don’t even remember the couple of episodes of the reboot I watched several years ago before giving up. That’s pretty wild that there’s also a Kenji in it. What an obscure element of the original to use. Since I know next to nothing about the reboot, have any other characters appeared, like Agatha, Mac, Carol, or Maggie?

Ken Jeong played Luther Gillis and Ammie Masterson played Lt. Josie "Mac" MacReynolds. She was so blah I have no memory of what she did.
Jeong as Luther is possibly the most wrongheaded thing the reboot did in regards to channeling Classic Magnum, mostly down to him being the worst actor I have seen in 30 years. PU.
First off Jeong had absolutely no clue about Luther or even the series, he apparently decided to play Gillis as having a crush on Magnum - in subtext - as when he was riding behind TM on a bike,
holding on so tight Jay tells him to lighten up(I could be wrong but it seemed like Jay's reaction wasn't scripted). Jeong happily squeezes harder and nestles his face on Jay's back, purring "Safety first".

I think the producers left it in because it did come off as funny but it underlined that this new misfire version of Luther had nothing to do with the original wonderful character that was meant as
a commentary on the classic 1940's shamus types.

Whatever the New Luther was supposed to be it was a terrible off key acting performance by Jeong, who so ruined the character that after 2 appearances both Luther and Jeong were exiled from the show.
I have no doubt Jeong blackmailed the producers to get the part, they must have done something really naughty.

[Pahonu]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

Indeed. The housekeeper that is also in these scenes in Season 5 is interesting, because she so closely resembles the "Kumu" character in the Magnum Reboot. I think they have a Kenji in the reboot too?

I don’t even remember the couple of episodes of the reboot I watched several years ago before giving up. That’s pretty wild that there’s also a Kenji in it. What an obscure element of the original to use. Since I know next to nothing about the reboot, have any other characters appeared, like Agatha, Mac, Carol, or Maggie?

Ken Jeong played Luther Gillis and Ammie Masterson played Lt. Josie "Mac" MacReynolds. She was so blah I have no memory of what she did.
Jeong as Luther is possibly the most wrongheaded thing the reboot did in regards to channeling Classic Magnum, mostly down to him being the worst actor I have seen in 30 years. PU.
First off Jeong had absolutely no clue about Luther or even the series, he apparently decided to play Gillis as having a crush on Magnum - in subtext - as when he was riding behind TM on a bike,
holding on so tight Jay tells him to lighten up(I could be wrong but it seemed like Jay's reaction wasn't scripted). Jeong happily squeezes harder and nestles his face on Jay's back, purring "Safety first".

I think the producers left it in because it did come off as funny but it underlined that this new misfire version of Luther had nothing to do with the original wonderful character that was meant as
a commentary on the classic 1940's shamus types.

Whatever the New Luther was supposed to be it was a terrible off key acting performance by Jeong, who so ruined the character that after 2 appearances both Luther and Jeong were exiled from the show.
I have no doubt Jeong blackmailed the producers to get the part, they must have done something really naughty.

Sounds like a real missed opportunity with the Luther character. I’m surprised there weren’t more attempts at incorporating older characters.

[Luther's nephew Dobie]

Great analysis Styles! Thank you. It does seem that his character was trying to be developed in season 5… to no avail.

Indeed. The housekeeper that is also in these scenes in Season 5 is interesting, because she so closely resembles the "Kumu" character in the Magnum Reboot. I think they have a Kenji in the reboot too?

I don’t even remember the couple of episodes of the reboot I watched several years ago before giving up. That’s pretty wild that there’s also a Kenji in it. What an obscure element of the original to use. Since I know next to nothing about the reboot, have any other characters appeared, like Agatha, Mac, Carol, or Maggie?

Ken Jeong played Luther Gillis and Ammie Masterson played Lt. Josie "Mac" MacReynolds. She was so blah I have no memory of what she did.
Jeong as Luther is possibly the most wrongheaded thing the reboot did in regards to channeling Classic Magnum, mostly down to him being the worst actor I have seen in 30 years. PU.
First off Jeong had absolutely no clue about Luther or even the series, he apparently decided to play Gillis as having a crush on Magnum - in subtext - as when he was riding behind TM on a bike,
holding on so tight Jay tells him to lighten up(I could be wrong but it seemed like Jay's reaction wasn't scripted). Jeong happily squeezes harder and nestles his face on Jay's back, purring "Safety first".
I think the producers left it in because it did come off as funny but it underlined that this new misfire version of Luther had nothing to do with the original wonderful character that was meant as
a commentary on the classic 1940's shamus types.
Whatever the New Luther was supposed to be it was a terrible off key acting performance by Jeong, who so ruined the character that after 2 appearances both Luther and Jeong were exiled from the show.
I have no doubt Jeong blackmailed the producers to get the part, they must have done something really naughty.

Sounds like a real missed opportunity with the Luther character. I’m surprised there weren’t more attempts at incorporating older characters.

Pahonu,
You would think it would be a natural thing to do to lure in Classic Magnum fans, but Lenkov was still in charge, focusing on having mass firefights every 3rd episode that in the real world would
have made the front page of every paper in America.
At least Roger got a last farewell part.

I wonder if CBS is casting about for another Hawaii set series to keep their production studios there in business. Hawaiian Eye would be a natural, and the Hawaiian Village is still there
if they wanted to locate the PI agency there again. I don't know about now but that hotel looked fantastic on the old series, and the version Warner Brothers built in Hollywood was striking.
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"I have a large seashell collection which I keep scattered on beaches all across the world. Maybe you've seen it"...Steven Wright