Fans squealed across the Internet last week as "Hawaii Five-0" started production of its third season with a series of unrelated events that for all intents and purposes became a social media party for the CBS crime drama.
First, the show’s blessing Monday was streamed live on Hawaii News Now, at one point attracting 23,000 viewers as fans tuned in on their computers and smartphones to watch the 20-minute event at Manoa Valley District Park.
As work progressed on the first episode, set photos were posted on Twitter by cast member Masi Oka and executive producer Peter Lenkov. They were re-tweeted by hiatus-weary fans eager for a glimpse of anything related to new season.
And on Wednesday the Twitter faithful got a chance to interact with two cast members during a Tweet Up at Big City Diner in Pearlridge. Karl Herlinger, the Hawaii-born actor who plays the villain Toothpick, attended the event, and Michelle Borth, who plays Steve McGarrett’s love interest, Navy Lt. Catherine Rollins, phoned the gathering.
Herlinger, who tweets as @regnilreh, started a following in April when he began tweeting as Toothpick while shooting the Season 2 finale. He would engage fans with his plans to inflict mayhem and murder on the "Five-0" team.
They loved it. Herlinger loved it. Together they kept it up through the show’s hiatus.
"I thought I would run out of things to say or different ways to say the same thing," he said. "But with the give and take with the fan base, it has been easy to keep it going."
When he returned last week for the new season’s first episode, he jumped right into character, exchanging messages with fans about what he had in store for the "Five-0" squad.
"I kept thinking that if I was on the fan side of things, I would want that, and I feel it’s adding value to the show," he said. "And it’s fun."
The same applied to the Tweet Up. Herlinger had met some of the organizers when he was here in April and felt it would be a good opportunity "to give back," he said. He had no idea what to expect, and the group was small — 10 fans, three children and three dogs — but the event was fun. Other "Five-0" Tweet Ups held during the season have attracted much larger crowds.
Organizer Lisa Woo, a loyal "Five-0" fan who tweets as @H50hana, said the personal connection means a lot to those who watch the show.
"It was amazing that Karl reached out to us and wanted to do this," said Woo, 30, of Kaimuki.
Having someone from the show connecting with the fans was a great experience, she said.
The Tweet Up fans were surprised by the call from Borth, who appeared in the first two seasons but was recently promoted to a series regular.
"She wanted to say how much she appreciates the fans and wanted to connect with us and get to know us better," Woo said. "She loves it here."
Borth apologized for not being able to attend.
"I said we would plan one just for her, and she said that would be great," Woo said. "She’d sign stuff and take pics with fans and get to know us. She is a sweetheart."
CBS will premiere the show’s third season at its regular day and time — 9 p.m. Mondays in Hawaii — on Sept. 24.
AND that’s a wrap. …
Mike Gordon is the Star-Advertiser’s film and television writer. Read his Outtakes Online blog at honolulupulse.com. Reach him at 529-4803 or email mgordon@staradvertiser.com.
