"McHale's Navy" (1962)TV series 1962-1966

Writers:

Ray Brenner (writer)
John C. Champion (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

11 October 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War

Plot:

The misadventures of a misfit PT Boat crew during World War II.

Plot Keywords:

Patrol Boat | Military | Navy | Con Artist | Cult Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ernest Borgnine	...	Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Tim Conway	...	Ensign Charles Parker (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Carl Ballantine	...	Lester Gruber (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Gary Vinson	...	George 'Christy' Christopher / ... (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Billy Sands	...	Harrison 'Tinker' Bell / ... (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Edson Stroll	...	Virgil Edwards (46 episodes, 1962-1966)
Joe Flynn	...	Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton / ... (45 episodes, 1962-1966)
Yoshio Yoda	...	Fuji Kobiaji (44 episodes, 1962-1966)
Gavin MacLeod	...	Joseph 'Happy' Haines / ... (40 episodes, 1962-1964)
John Wright	...	Willy Moss / ... (36 episodes, 1962-1966)
Bob Hastings	...	Lt. Elroy Carpenter (34 episodes, 1962-1966)

Also Known As:

McHale's Men (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (138 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios/CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Sto-Rev-Co Productions

Trivia:

The name of the town where McHale and his men were stationed at in Italy was Volta Fiore.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Capt. Binghamton: What is it McHale, what do you want what, what, what?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (#3.4)" (1990)

Guilt-Free Fun !

"McHale's Navy" manages to present THE PERFECT take on "War-Time Comedy", (eclipsed only by "M*A*S*H"). Some may point to "Hogan's Heroes" as being superior, but while I enjoyed that as a kid, nowadays I cannot get past "Hogan's Heroes"' simple-minded take on The Nazis and sugar-coated fantasy prison camp setting. The Nazis were NOT simple-minded, easily-fooled buffoons, and "Hogan's Heroes" is an insult to the ordeals endured by every Allied POW in WW2.

McHale's Navy" on the other hand,never insults the intelligence of The Viewer by taking too many broad liberties with history. The Japanese in Mchale's Navy are a serious enemy,(save for the harmless "Fuji" the escaped POW given shelter by McHale and Crew).

In "McHale's Navy", The REAL Enemy is..... THE BRASS!

That's where honest War-Time Comedy is meant to derive from,and where it is at it's best. When you spotlight the overly- officious asininity of The Higher Ranks, you get Genuine Comedy. It's a Truth that Ernie Pyle, Bill Mauldin, Floyd Gibbons and Richard Hooker understood; and that Truth is showcased no where better than in "McHale's Navy".