Which police TV series made “Book ’em, Danno” one of television’s best-known catchphrases?

Hawaii Five-O is the police television series that made “Book ’em, Danno” one of television’s best-known catchphrases. The original series premiered on CBS in 1968 and ran until 1980, making it one of the most familiar crime dramas of its era. Set in Hawaii, the show followed an elite state police unit led by Steve McGarrett, played by Jack Lord. The phrase was usually directed to Detective Danny “Danno” Williams, McGarrett’s trusted second-in-command, played in the early seasons by James MacArthur.

The line became closely tied to the show even though, like many famous catchphrases, it was not always used in exactly the same form every time. McGarrett would often wrap up an investigation by ordering Danno to book the criminal, and the wording “Book ’em, Danno” became the compact version that viewers remembered. “Book” in this context means to formally charge and process a suspect after an arrest. The phrase worked because it came at the moment of resolution, after the investigation had untangled the crime and the guilty person had been identified.

Hawaii Five-O stood out from many police shows of the period because of its setting. Instead of the usual mainland city streets, viewers saw beaches, volcanic landscapes, hotels, ports, highways, and government buildings in and around Honolulu. The show used extensive location filming, which gave it a distinctive look. For audiences watching in the late 1960s and 1970s, Hawaii still felt remote and exotic, especially in the years not long after it had become the 50th U.S. state in 1959. The title itself refers to Hawaii’s status as the fiftieth state, with “Five-O” becoming another phrase strongly linked to police work in American slang.

Jack Lord’s portrayal of Steve McGarrett helped make the line memorable. McGarrett was stern, polished, direct, and almost always in control. He was not a comic character, and the phrase was not originally meant as a joke. It became popular because Lord delivered it with authority at the end of dramatic episodes. Viewers came to expect that sharp final command as part of the show’s rhythm. Over time, the line took on a life of its own and was repeated in comedy sketches, casual conversation, and later references to police shows.

The series also benefited from one of the most recognizable opening themes in television history. Composed by Morton Stevens, the fast, brassy theme music became nearly as famous as the catchphrase itself. The opening sequence, with shots of crashing waves, Hawaiian scenery, and McGarrett turning toward the camera, helped establish the show’s identity before each episode even began. Together, the music, setting, lead performance, and closing command made Hawaii Five-O easy for viewers to remember.

James MacArthur’s Danny Williams was important to the phrase because “Danno” gave McGarrett’s order a personal touch. Rather than simply saying “book him,” McGarrett was speaking to a colleague whom the audience knew. That made the line sound specific to the show, not just like a generic police command. The partnership between McGarrett and Danno gave the series a stable center across many cases and guest characters.

The phrase remained strongly associated with Hawaii Five-O long after the original series ended. A modern reboot, titled Hawaii Five-0, premiered in 2010 and introduced the concept to a new generation, while still acknowledging the famous line and the legacy of the original. The continued recognition of “Book ’em, Danno” shows how a short, practical command from a police drama became part of popular culture.