KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: 'HAWAII FIVE-O's MICHELLE BORTH

In the navy! Danger and intrigue are all in a days work for Catherine Rollins (Michelle Borth) in HAWAII FIVE-O. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

No longer the sharp-suited, sometimes desk bound crusader of the original HAWAII FIVE-O, Steve McGarrett's re-birth as a modern action hero in the popular CBS series meant that his entire character and his inter-relationships with family, friends and crime busting buddies had to be re-imagined for new, younger audiences to enjoy alongside the series faithful old guard. And, in what little personal time he'd have outside of his career, it was a sure thing that any lady linked to his romantic life was definitely not going to be a shrinking violet. Enter the enthusiastic, shapely form of New Jersey-born actress Michelle Borth as Catherine Rollins, at first his on/off love interest, originally introduced in a few episodes of the shows premiere run as a guest star, before becoming a key player by the time of its make-or-break third season.

Serving aboard the USS Enterprise no less, Rollins is a Naval intelligence officer and specialist in technology and weapons, often helping Steve in key episodes on and off ship. It's a tom-boyish role with sex appeal greatly enjoyed by the actress, clearly diving in to the series constant physical aspects (in real-life she's a devoted motorcycle rider and skydiving fan). Soon proving herself a popular addition to the cast, her scenes with Aussie star Alex O'Louhglin would go on to show great on-screen chemistry.

Enjoying some surf time with partner Steve (Alex O'Loughlin)...

...then later putting in some undercover work as a roller derby player in the episode Na Ki'i.

Before the sun and beach blistering environs of Hawaii, though, Borth had also appeared in other, more grittier work, like the sadly short-lived detective drama, THE FORGOTTEN, alongside Christian Slater, the modern MASH now transferred to Afghanistan, COMBAT HOSPITAL, and HBO's TELL ME YOU LOVE ME, which certainly got her attention from male fans with her often very raunchy sex scenes in the serious, issue-led relationship/ therapy drama of 2007.

Currently involved in HAWAII FIVE-O plot lines linked to the protection of Steve's mysterious CIA spy/assassin mother, Doris, played by Christine Lahti (in what has very much been a hit-and-miss behind the scenes move by the show's writers), and with the emergence of the deadly criminal Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) in all their lives, we look forward to seeing what transpires next with Borth and her character for the upcoming Season Four. Wedding belles, perhaps?

BIG ISLAND CRIME WITH CLASSIC 'HAWAII FIVE-O'

Honolulu hero: Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett in HAWAII FIVE-O. Image: CBS PARAMOUNT.

It may not be the greatest of weather in the UK at the moment, but fans of classic TV can at least get a daily fix of warm tropical action and adventure set within the glorious sun and sandy beach confines of the Hawaiian paradise, as the original and best incarnation of HAWAII FIVE-O, featuring that formidable crime-busting detective, and Horatio Caine of his day, Steve McGarrett, played with steel-eyed determination and likable trust by the late Jack Lord- an instant icon with his impeccably styled coolness who put his individual stamp on the show over twelve years and helped to make Hawaii an even brighter commercial holiday hotspot for millions of worldwide viewers to discover.

Starting right from the beginning, in daily strips and weekend compilations on the UK’s CBS ACTION channel, these colourful early episodes are great fun: bright, breezy and with a very late sixties groove that makes them fascinating to watch, with Lord’s youthful no-nonsense character far more in the thick of the action than he would be in later years, backed up with his squad buddies Danny “Danno” Williams (James MacArthur), the bulky frame of islander Kono (played by Zulu) and the amiable Chin Ho Kelly (played by once real-life policeman Kam Fong) . Intriguingly, McGarrett’s relationship with his team in these raw days is often quite spiky when things fail to materialize the way he wants them, especially putting young Danny through some verbal biting. Though by episodes end, and the case firmly closed, he’s back to being chummy with them all with no harm done.

Titles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ9xfNn09eQ

Featuring tightly concentrated early episodes produced by MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE’s talented Joseph Gantman, notable guest stars investigated, pursued or caught up in the drama of the premiere year include some of the all-time greats of the small screen, like Ricardo Montalban, Simon Oakland, Yaphet Kotto, James Shigeta, Kevin McCarthy and the lovely Marj Dusay. Rapidly approaching like one of those famed big kahuna waves, how can we not mention Morton Stevens familiar and exciting main title theme, which upon hearing the first few notes makes you instantly think of the programme, nor the brilliant main title visualization work handled by regular series director Reza Badiyi-though, with this first season, there’s no sign yet of those end credits featuring the perpetually wave crunching islander boaters!

Early seasons of HAWAII FIVE-O are also available in restored quality on UK DVD from CBS PARAMOUNT:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawaii-Five-O-The-First-Season/dp/B000JU7M02/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1358771946&sr=8-3