In a couple of previous posts we talked about some of the shirts that appeared in the first half of Season 2 of the new Magnum PI. Unlike Season 1 where Jay Hernandez only wore shirts that Tom Selleck had NOT worn, Season 2 saw Hernandez wear several shirts worn by Tom Selleck. He wore the famous original Magnum PI shirt as well as Midnight Bamboo and Star Orchid. Ashley Heathcock is the Costume Designer for Magnum PI so everything Magnum and the other characters wear was selected by her for each scene and episode. So the fact that Jay Hernandez is wearing some of the shirts that Tom Selleck wore is not random and not an accident.
SHIRTS THAT HAVE ALREADY APPEARED ON SEASON 2
At the beginning of Episode 20 of Season 2, Jay Hernandez wore this red Mini Anthurium shirt in a scene where he is confronted by Higgins' dogs Zeus and Apollo. Earlier in the season, he wore the black version of this shirt.
Off to a good start. #MagnumPI pic.twitter.com/wOLP1nCkOB
— Magnum P.I. (@MagnumPICBS) May 9, 2020
At the end of Episode 18 when Higgins and Thomas have a serious conversation, Jay Hernandez is wearing the Calla Lily black shirt. He wore the purple one earlier in the season as did Tom Selleck back in the original series.
At the end of Episode 14 "A Game of Cat and Mouse", Jay Hernandez wore the Mini Anthurium print that Tom Selleck wore on the original show. It's a little hard to tell because of the lighting but Hernandez might be wearing the black version of the shirt. Selleck wore the blue one. It is the scene where everyone is on stage singing karaoke to the classic "I Will Survive" by Gloria Haynor.
Singin' our way into a little break. #MagnumPI will be off air for a little, but don't you worry, we'll be back! pic.twitter.com/opDC6ipr8F
— Magnum P.I. (@MagnumPICBS) February 1, 2020
In the lead up to the crossover episode with Hawaii Five-0, CBS aired commercials and posting pics and videos to social media that show Magnum wearing another shirt worn by Tom Selleck in the 80s. That shirt is the Calla Lily purple shirt. What makes this shirt special is that Tom Selleck himself picked this shirt out from the manufacturer's (Pacific Clothing) showroom back in the 80s. Usually, someone from wardrobe would pick the shirts or fabric out but in this case, Tom Selleck apparently took a liking to the shirt and purchased a several of them for him to wear during filming.
We have also learned that the show has picked up several other prints from this same Paradise Found label that Tom Selleck wore on the original show. Those shirts are the Jungle Bird black, Calla Lilly black, and possibly Mini Anthurium blue (as well as black and red). Tom Selleck did not wear the Calla Lily black shirt but he did wear the purple one. Of the Mini Anthurium shirts, Tom Selleck only wore the blue version on the show. But the shirt is also available in black and red and costume designer Ashley Heathcock apparently bought those colors as well. We don't know which of these shirts Jay Hernandez will wear or if some other character on the show will wear them. But it seems pretty clear that Ashely is specifically seeking out all the Paradise Found shirts that Tom Selleck wore on the original show.
Calla Lily purple
Star Orchid
Jungle Bird red (original Magnum PI print in the Smithsonian)
Midnight Bamboo black
Screenshot from Pacific Clothing of original Magnum Bamboo shirt