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Magnum P.I., MacGyver: Peter Lenkov Fired; CBS Names New Showrunners

Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I. showrunner Peter Lenkov has been fired from CBS following an investigation into several claims that Lenkov created a toxic work environment. The showrunner reportedly had a year left on his overall deal with CBS TV Studios, which produces MacGyver and Magnum P.I. (set to air back-to-back on Fridays this fall). A statement released by CBS TV Studios confirmed the termination, as well as what the showrunner plans would be moving forward:

"Peter Lenkov is no longer the executive producer overseeing MacGyver and Magnum P.I., and the studio has ended its relationship with him. Monica Macer will be the showrunner on MacGyver and Eric Guggenheim will run Magnum P.I. Both are currently executive producers on their respective series. Our studio is committed to ensuring safe and respectful production environments. Over the past year, we have assigned human resource production partners to every show, expanded staff training, and increased reporting options. We will continue to evolve our practices with continued focus on building trust with all who work on our sets. Every complaint is taken seriously, every claim is investigated, and when evidence is clear that policies were violated and values not upheld, we take decisive action."

Lenkov followed up the announcement with a statement to THR: "Now is the time to listen and I am listening. It's difficult to hear that the working environment I ran was not the working environment my colleagues deserved, and for that, I am deeply sorry. I accept responsibility for what I am hearing and am committed to doing the work that is required to do better and be better." In it's reporting, THR's sources reported that:

"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."

Lenkov would allegedly talk down the writers on a regular basis: "particularly women and people of color." According to once source associated with Hawaii Five-0 filming, "It was a hard place to be a woman on that set." Lenkov also allegedly attempted to have a writer fired after they objected to his mocking a disabled fan. As another source expressed, Lenkov was an equal-opportunity offender: "He isn't racist or sexist or classist singularly — it's all of it. 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."

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