Did he come to you and say that he wanted to exit.
or was it something you decided?
PETER LENKOV:Masi is so very ambitious.
Credit: CBS
He’s producing a movie.
He’s spending a lot of time in Japan these days.
He wants to produce more, and he’s very entrepreneurial.
CBS
When did you guys make the ultimate decision that now was the right time?
Last year, at the end of the season, we had discussed it.
The character warranted a little more of a buildup of his goodbye.
We came up with a great story, a little story for him to build to that place.
What can you tease for Max’s sendoff episode?
For seven years, he’s been this introvert.
In this episode, you’re going to find out how he really feels about everybody.
He never shared a lot of his emotions.
He’s been present in family get-togethers, but you never knew what Max was really thinking.
How does the team feel about Max leaving?
I think they’re happy for him to pursue his dream.
I think they’re happy for him.
Of course they’re sad.
How do you think Masi’s exit changes the show?
Even since the beginning, he hasn’t been in every episode.
But I’m hoping people miss him.
I’m hoping people talk about him and want him to come back.
We’ve left the door open for that to happen one day.
But like any show, it grows and characters change.
He’s leaving on a good note.
It’s sort of a best kind of exit you want for a character.
It’s all on good terms.
Was there anything in particular you wanted to do with Max before he left?
I wanted him to open up.
I just wanted him to open up.
He’s an introvert, and I just wanted to have him share what he thought of everybody.
It was just that.
They didn’t really get to know him that well.
Was there ever any consideration of killing off Max?
And I like the idea of the character being able to come back one day.
He’s sort of like a man-child all this time.
So then you do see the door open for him to potentially return.
For sure, I hope so.
Yeah, for sure.
I’d love him to come back someday.
Is she playing a bigger role moving forward with Max gone?
Yeah, she’s the new ME.
So whenever we have a case that involves an ME, she’ll be our ME.
Yeah, I think already she’s the opposite of Max.
Max never got the joke.
She gets the joke.
She’s a more fully functioning human being.
Masi always played things with blinders on.
This woman is a little more fully rounded in terms of her personality.
Did you ever consider doing a revolving door of people coming into the ME’s office?
Masi was funny, his character, Max, was funny, but not intentionally.
He didn’t make jokes.
I wanted the opposite of him, so I was looking for somebody who had some roots in comedy.
I was always looking for somebody specific, but never a revolving door.
How do you feel about that?
As you very well know, contracts come to an end and they get renewed.
So you’re not looking at these next few seasons as the end?
Hawaii Five-0airs Fridays at 9 p.m.
