NBC miscues gave
‘Hawaii’ scant chance

NBC executives didn't give much deserved aloha to its cop drama "Hawaii" this week when they notified the show's cast and crew that the show was canceled -- this after saying three days earlier producers would be able to complete another four episodes. The drama's top execs candidly told their cast and crew (as well as Reel News) that "we were lied to" by the network.

"First," one producer said, "(network execs) debut the show in the worse week for a viewing audience, then bounce us in the family hour between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. with a show that has scenes with severed heads and a murdered prostitute."

Another producer, who requested anonymity, blames the show's demise on poor writing, but not by executive producer/creator Jeff Eastin. "The network's interference with scripts and storylines destroyed our chances," he said. "They made these decisions in Burbank (Calif.), while we're here in the trenches."

Another factor for the show's sudden demise was not qualifying for as much as $500,000 an episode in the state's Act 221 funding.

Two former Hollywood executives, now living here, offered their services to assist with the local aspect of the show, especially the writing, but were turned down. One of the drama's co-stars was so upset with scripts early on that he sent letters to writers, emphasizing that the stories had to improve to keep the show on the air ...

Fox's extreme makeover series "The Swan 2" debuts Monday, and it has a Hawaii connection. The series will include Dore Weber (the former Dore Fergerstrom), who was born and raised in Waimalu and is an Aiea High School graduate. She now lives in Las Vegas with husband Kurt.

Dore, 41, was sequestered for three months in Los Angeles in an apartment with no mirrors or reflective surfaces, while undergoing surgery, counseling, diet and daily workouts.

There's a beauty pageant at the end of the 11-episode series to determine the winner ...

A new round of extras casting, through Anna Fishburn, is about to take place for ABC's "Lost." This group will make up a group of previously unknown island castaways ...

The WB execs this week take a look at John Stockwell's "Rocky Point" pilot, with a decision on whether or not to OK further production to start early next month. One producer confides it's a coin toss ...