Casting Call — Hawaii!
As I was dropping off my rental back in August of 2004, I made the fateful mistake of frequenting the always-interesting Windward Mall in Kaneohe.
Windward Mall is a unique juncture where anything goes — from Polynesian Square Dancing to playing the very worst music from local Hawaiian bands about 100 decibels too loud.
But what was unique about this outing was that a casting call had been recently put out for extras (these are extras mind you) for this new TV show Hawaii (original title, ain’t it?) starring Michael Biehn of all washed up actors. Naturally, everyone and their grandma showed up – the lines were backed up to outside of the doors. I estimated at least 800 people were in que by 11:00.
If this was a roll call to get in some reality TV show like Survivor, or audition for a spot that is a little more tangible than just standing behind Star-X or Star-Y I could understand and justify what had to have been a colossal waste of time & energy.
Besides Magnum PI that used Hawaii as an interesting backdrop, I’ve known no other show that comes close to portraying the islands as is. There is no Hawaii-50, Baywatch Hawaii was pure fluff, and don’t even get me started on North Shore.
Which begs the question, why are these locals so pumped up into getting on the sets of these utter travesties? I concede that it isn’t the majority of population, but there’s something more at work here. Hawaii is well known as the vacationing hotspot of the United States. But the rest of the nation knows jack squat about the issues the state faces, besides how the construction in downtown Waikiki is alienating tourists.
Locals have a disconnect between them and the rest of the country – and are so desperate to show something, anything, other than stereotypical hula dancers, surfers and beaches that they’ll eat up any TV show, movie or local band that goes national. Of course with shoes like North Shore and Baywatch Hawaii it backfires and everyone falls everyone falls back into stereotypes — which leaves the Aloha state in a bit of an identity crisis.
And that’s a tough bag to carry – knowing that there’s more complexity underneath the surface, but never really being able to show it.
Or maybe Hawaii just has a whole lot of star-crazed lunatics with too much time on their hands?
And surprise, surprise. NBC canceled Hawaii after airing less than eight episodes.
July 10th, 2006 in Commentary |
