An investigation into multiple claims that top showrunner Peter Lenkov created toxic work environment, urged CBS to fire the Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver and Magnum P.I. showrunner.
Lenkov was dismissed despite having a year left on his deal with CBS TV Studios, which produces MacGyver and Magnum P.I.
Sources say Lenkov had been the subject of at least three complaints alleging that he was manipulative and abusive during Hawaii Five-0‘s 10-season run and on the current hit MacGyver (with the latter heading into its fifth season in the fall). He allegedly had a “boys club” that included favored male employees who regularly gathered, smoked cigars and inappropriately judged the appearance of women in Hawaii. Others allege that he accommodated special work-schedule requests from male actors without offering similar consideration to actresses on Hawaii Five-0. The series, a reboot of the iconic procedural, concluded its run in April.
“It was a hard place to be a woman on that set,” a source said of the former set of Hawaii Five-0.
Sources allege that Lenkov would routinely talk down to writers — particularly women and people of color. In one incident, he allegedly mocked a disabled fan and, after a writer objected to his behavior, attempted to have her fired.
“He isn’t racist or sexist or classist singularly — it’s all of it,” says an insider. “He’s anti-woman, anti-POC, anti-gay, and everything you’d expect. But he’d also torture straight white men if he felt like it.”
Lenkov is one of CBS’ top showrunners, having successfully rebooted Hawaii Five-0 into a global syndicated hit as well as reviving procedurals Magnum P.I. and MacGyver. The latter two series are set to air back-to-back on Fridays in the fall; Lenkov is one of a small handful of showrunners to control a night of programming.
Hawaii Five-0 made headlines in July 2017 when original series stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park decided to depart the CBS drama after shooting its first 168 episodes. Both actors, who had appeared in all 7 seasons as series regulars, asked for pay parity with co-stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. CBS and CBS Television Studios could not come to terms that worked for the two stars.
