Sinatra Magnum PI Story

Frank Sinatra was a big fan of the TV hit series, Magnum,P.I, starring Tom Selleck.

The story goes that Frank actually wanted to be on the show.  He shared that with Magnum costar Larry Manetti. So Larry told Tom Selleck to call Frank.

Tom asked Frank, Do you want to do our show?' Frank said, 'Yeah,' so Tom said, 'Well we're going to have to write it for you, what do you want to do?' Frank replied, 'I don't know, just make sure I get to beat somebody up'."

Frank added, And I'll do it for free, just pay my travel and stay expenses.

Well a surprise when those expenses were well over $100,000.

But, even so, Sinatra was onboard.

Frank played a retired New York Police officer who hires Tom Selleck to tract down criminals who murdered his granddaughter.

The scene was a bar room fight, which Frank improvised, beating up another character and pouring water over his head. All unscripted and the producers kept it all in.

That episode titled Laura, aired on Feb 25th, 1987. It was the highest rated episode of the show in over two years, and CBS then decided to renew for a final season.

This was one of Sinatra's last acting projects before passing in 1998.

This is Karen Morris, with a Swingin' Minute.