Magnum P.I., "A Bullet Called Fate", Episode 209

There's nothing quite like your first experience on a real television production set surrounded by incredible professionals in the industry. But that was the privilege that I recently had on the set of Magnum P.I.!

At about 2:30pm on a Friday afternoon, as I prepared for my 5:30pm gig at Wahoo's Fish & Tacos on Ward Avenue, I received a phone call from my talent agent representative, Aubrey, of Hawaii's Best Model and Talent Agency.

Aubrey: "Hi Rach, are you able to go to an audition?"

Me: "Sure! When?"

Aubrey: "Today!"

Me: "Today?! Shucks, what time?"

Aubrey: "4pm."

Now, as you can imagine, my mind began working overtime trying to figure out how I could be in two places at the same time, and I needed to figure it out quickly!

Me: "Sure! But I'd have to be able to go right in and audition, so that I can make it to my gig on time."

That old saying, "The Show Must Go On," is only true for theater. In reality, there is no show when the only person hired to sing for the night doesn't show up! But she agreed, and off I went to the audition!

With 10 minutes to spare, I quickly exited the car, signed in and read over my lines. There were none! I needed to improv! They called me in! Here goes nothing! Now at this point, my nerves usually take over. However, considering that I was hyper-focused on getting in there, doing my best, and getting out in time for my show, I didn't even have time to be nervous. So I listened for instructions and went for it. What style of acting did I use you ask? Method. Not intentionally, but the role called for a distraught mother whose daughter went missing for 2 years. Now, they've found Isabella, the daughter, and her mother and father are reuniting with her at the hospital. As a mother of a daughter almost the same age as the little girl in the script, I could absolutely identify with how that mother would be feeling. As parents in general, we can easily empathize with these types of scenarios since we are often afraid of those kinds of situations happening to our own children. I didn't overthink it, I lead with my emotions, nearly crying during the audition. After two takes, they called it a wrap and I was well on my way to work!

Over the next few days, I can honestly say I hadn't even thought about the role. My fellow actors out there know that we can get many auditions, but we don't always book. So, I assumed that someone else had landed the role since I did not get the call back, and had moved forward with that in mind. Boy was I wrong! By the following week, only two days before that scene was to be shot, I received a text.

Aubrey: "Are you free on the shoot date?"

Me: Confused I responded back, "Yes, is everything ok?"

Then my phone rang. When I answered, I heard three voices on the phone unanimously screaming:

"Congratulations!!!"

I laughingly responded, “Haha, congratulations for what? What’s up guys?”

There was more laughter and joy on the other end of the phone and a voice said, "You've booked the role!"

Me: Confused again..."What role?"

The Three: "Isabella's mom for Magnum P.I."

My face turned beet red. Disbelief washed over me...I booked it? And without thinking I utter...