Peter M. Lenkov

Summary

Peter M. Lenkov (born 9 May 1964) is a Canadian television and film writer, producer, and comic book author. He is best known as the developer and showrunner of the reboot series Hawaii Five-0, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I., all of which premiered on CBS until his firing in July 2020.[1]

Peter M. Lenkov
Lenkov in 2010
Born (1964-05-09) 9 May 1964 (age 59)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation(s)Writer, producer
Years active1990–present
Notable workHawaii Five-O
MacGyver
Magnum P.I.
SpouseAudie England
Children4

Early life edit

Lenkov was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1964 and he studied film at Concordia University in the 1980s. His family includes a younger brother, Jeff, who is a California-based lawyer, sports agent and professor.[2]

Career and awards edit

Lenkov's notable work includes the TV series La Femme Nikita, Hawaii Five-0, 24 and CSI: NY and films such as R.I.P.D., Demolition Man and Son in Law. In comics, he wrote R.I.P.D. and Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained, for which he was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative. In 2005, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on the hit TV series 24. In 2009, he wrote an episode of CSI: NY for which acclaimed actor Ed Asner was nominated for an Emmy for Guest Star. In 2011, Hawaii Five-0 was awarded Best New Drama at the People's Choice Awards. Other awards include a CAPE Award for Best Drama for Hawaii Five-0, a Media Access Award for his work on CSI: NY and a Huntington Disease Honor for an episode of The District.

In 2010, Lenkov launched his reboot of the long-running CBS series Hawaii Five-0, which formerly aired on CBS and in over 200 countries around the world. He also created "Metajets" and "Kung Fu Dino Posse", two new animated TV shows. Lenkov executive produced the NBC mini-series entitled XIII, based on the popular graphic novel and video game by the same name. XIII stars Stephen Dorff and Val Kilmer. The two part film served as a pilot for a cable TV series XIII which began airing in 2011.[clarification needed] In 2011, a feature film based on R.I.P.D. began shooting. R.I.P.D. starred Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Bacon, and was released by Universal in summer 2013. In 2011, he signed a deal with CBS TV Studios.[3]

In 2022 & 2023, Lenkov was the executive producer of four feature films: The Wind & The Reckoning, Shelter In Solitude, Marlowe and R.I.P.D. 2. Lenkov is also developing numerous properties, including writing a new graphic novel. A fifth film BANG will be released in 2024.

In 2021, Lenkov also purchased a minority interest in several minor league sports teams.

Allegations and termination edit

Lenkov was fired from his CBS shows on 7 July 2020 due to reports that he fostered a "toxic work environment".[4] MacGyver star Lucas Till reported being suicidal due to Lenkov's body shaming.[5][6]

Credits edit

Writer edit

Producer edit

TV edit

Writer/producer edit

Year Title Credited as Network
Creator Writer Executive

Producer

Producer
1990 Parker Kane No No No Yes N/A
1991 Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories No Yes No No CBS
UPN
1994 The Crow: Stairway to Heaven No Yes No No Syndication
1998 Ghost Stories No Yes No No The Family Channel
1999 The Hunger No Yes No No Showtime
1997 La Femme Nikita No Yes No supervising USA Network
2000 Level 9 No Yes No supervising UPN
2000 Tracker No Yes co-executive No N/A
2000 The District No Yes co-executive
supervising
No CBS
2004–2005 24: Day 4 No Yes co-executive No Fox
2005–2013 CSI: NY No Yes Yes No CBS
2010–2020 Hawaii Five-0 Yes Yes Yes No
2016–2020 MacGyver Yes Yes Yes No
2017–2018 Salvation No No Yes No
2018–2021 Magnum P.I. Yes Yes Yes No

Writer (animated) edit

Comics edit

  • Fort: Prophet of the Unexplained (with Frazer Irving, 4 part mini-series, Dark Horse Comics, 2003 ISBN 1-56971-781-8 Titan Books, 2003 ISBN 1-84023-579-9)
  • R.I.P.D. 2001

References edit

  1. ^ "'MacGyver,' 'Magnum P.I.' Boss Peter Lenkov Fired at CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  2. ^ Naylor, Dave (10 June 2019). "CFL hoping to sell Alouettes to California-based Lenkov brothers". TSN.
  3. ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (6 September 2011). "Peter Lenkov inks overall deal at CBS". Variety. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (7 July 2020). "'MacGyver,' 'Magnum P.I.' Boss Peter Lenkov Fired at CBS". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ Roberto, Melissa (21 July 2020). "'MacGyver' actor Lucas Till says he was suicidal due to showrunner Peter Lenkov's abuse". Fox News.
  6. ^ Ryan, Maureen (20 July 2020). ""This Was Abuse": The Fall of a CBS Showrunner". Vanity Fair.
  7. ^ III, Lee B. Golden (2 June 2014). "BALLISTIC CINEMATHEQUE: A Word With Wych Kaosayananda". FilmCombatSyndicate.com.

External links edit