Are you a crime-thriller-drama fan? If so, Mangum P.I. was likely on your radar, and if the raving reviews are anything to go by, this series was a big hit among a certain calibre of TV show fans.
Any way you look at it, Magnum P.I. was too short-lived—the series ended so abruptly that we didn’t get to explore every cast member’s storyline fully.
Suzy Madison is one of those whose story was left hanging and unfinished. The last time we checked, she was expecting a child. The next time, she was gone, and the series was cancelled for good.
Naturally, we are all wondering what happened to Suzy on Magnum PI. The real reason the beauty left the detective drama series will surprise you—read on for the juicy, behind-the-scenes story about Suzy Madison.
Who is Suzy on Magnum PI?
Portrayed by actress Betsy Phillips, Suzy Madison is a recurring character on the former NBC show Magnum PI.
We don’t see much of her between the first and third seasons of the series, but the show threw a major curveball when Suzy became the star of the fourth, fifth, and final seasons.
A former bartender at the fictional La Mariana, Suzy first appears in season 2 when Rick Wright, who had been crushing on her, finds her estranged father dead in a booth at Wright’s tiki bar.
The last words Justin Madison uttered had to do with wanting to return to Suzy. Rick wasted no time in locating Suzy to pass on the unfortunate news.
Although initially reluctant to get involved with anything to do with her father (he walked away from her and her mother), Suzy acquiesced when she found out her dad had named his boathouse after her and filled it with her pictures and artwork.
In season three, we witness the start of a blooming romance between Suzy and Wright. Wright commissions Suzy to paint a mural on a wall outside the bar and hires her as a bartender at the beachfront bar and restaurant.
The chemistry between the two is palpable, but Suzy insists they push their feelings to the back to avoid a workplace romance.
Here is a fun fact: Betsy Phillips and Zachary Knighton are husband and wife in real life, which probably explains the irresistible chemistry between them on set. They share two children, Bear and Bowen, at the time of writing.
So, What Happened to Suzy?
Suzy’s character takes center stage in season four through to Magnum PI’s season finale. At the season’s premiere, we see her excited about winning an art residency, allowing her to travel and live in San Diego for six months.
After handing out her notice to Rick, the couple releases their built-up sexual tension, after which Suzy jets off to California.
While she is away, Suzy learns that she is expectant and nervously shares the news with an excited Rick. When news of her pregnancy broke, Suzy became a regular cast member on Magnum PI.
Fast forward: we all thought Suzy would die from the severe birth complications that saw her lose much blood. As a first-time father, Rick was understandably frantic and set out to do everything possible to save his girlfriend’s life.
Fortunately, in the season’s final episode, quick medical attention saves Suzy’s life, and she gives birth to a healthy baby whom they name Joy.
Where Did Suzy Go To In Season 5?
Suzy’s absence in Magnum PI’s season finale was loud and very noticeable.
We expected that after the birth of their baby girl, we’d see more of Suzy and her boyfriend, Rick, in full-on parenting mode, but that was not the case.
After four seasons, CBS cancelled Magnum P.I., but to fans’ delight, the beloved series found a new home at NBC for the fifth season.
In season 5, we see a lot more of Rick and none of Suzy, despite them being in a cooperating arrangement. This left fans wondering where Suzy went in the season finale.
Well, Betsy’s absence from the crime drama series might have everything to do with her second pregnancy in real life.
In 2019, she announced she was pregnant with their first child, Bear. Fast forward to May 2021, when Betsy and her hubby again reveal their second pregnancy; their second son was born in November 2021.
In the series, Suzy exits in October 2021 after she and Rick agree to a co-parenting arrangement. Clearly, Suzy’s storyline on Magnum PI was scripted to fit Betsy’s real-life pregnancy, given that she gave birth to her second son in November 2021, just a month after leaving Magnum PI.
So, Suzy left Magnum P.I. to prepare for the real-life birth of her son, Bowen.
Why Was Magnum P.I. Cancelled?
There is no doubt that NBC’s announcement about the cancellation of Magnum P.I. left fans disappointed.
So, why was such a popular series cancelled?
According to the Economic Times, several may have contributed to the show’s cancellation. First, the writers’ strike in June 2023 cast a large shadow over the show’s production; NBC would not risk renewing the series for a sixth season while unsure when the strike would end and the implications.
The casts’ options were also set to expire on June 30, 2023. This was the same time a potential agreement between the AMPTP and SAF-AFTRA was expected.
Faced with these challenges, NBC had three options regarding Magnum P.I.: renew it for season six, extend the options, or let the actors go and cancel the series—they chose the latter. The network ended the actors’ options and cancelled the beloved crime drama.
Although fans are crossing their fingers for a surprise return of Magnum P.I., right now, there are no signs that the series will be back on our screens; neither FOX nor ABC is likely to pick it up, making it safe to say that Magnum P.I. might never return.
