Filming in Hawaii

Off to Hawaii where so many great television shows have been filmed. It’s not just BIG WAVE DAVE’S. There have been others. Speaking of “others”, LOST films there. They’re probably close to concluding the series. If I see a giant blinding light and suddenly I’m in 1945 I’ll know why.

But you forget how many great shows were filmed in America’s 50th state. I’m pretty sure HAWAII FIVE-O. And from the 50s, HAWAIIAN EYE.

But that’s just the tip of the tropical iceberg.

These other great shows went before the cameras in Hawaii:

AVERAGE JOE: HAWAII
THE NEW GIDGET
SURF GIRLS
BAYWATCH HAWAIIAN WEDDING
MOOLAH BEACH
BRITNEY IN HAWAII
JOHNNY TSUNAMI
TOO RICH: THE SECRET LIFE OF DORIS DUKES
CROWFOOT
LEGEND OF THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
LAVA AND LIFE
TRENCHCOAT IN PARADISE
TARZAN IN MANHATTAN
ISLANDS OF THE FIRE GODDESS
THE WALLY AMOS HAPPINESS HOUR
WAR AND REMEMBRANCE
YUKI SAITO SPECIAL
MAUI JAIL BREAK
Oh yeah, and something called MAGNUM P.I.

When we did BIG WAVE DAVE’S in 1993 we did it as a multi-camera show on the Paramount lot. But the plan was, should the show become a big hit we would actually film it in Hawaii. I remember we had some preliminary discussions about what it would cost, converting a sound stage, building bleachers and sound and video booths, how many camera crews we would have to import, etc.

And then we realized, this is stupid! We’d still be inside, shooting on a dark sound stage. Who moves their entire production to Hawaii just to be filming indoors in a giant barn with no windows?

That would have been a colossal waste of money. Fortunately, CBS was looking out for us and cancelled the show before we could make such a faux pas. Thanks again, guys.

So now the Levine clan is off once again to Maui, where I can honestly say it is just as beautiful in real life as it is in HD.

Aloha.