"F Troop" (1965)TV series 1965-1967

Creator:

Richard M. Bluel

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

8 September 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | War | Western

Plot:

Becoming a hero by accidentally leading a cavalry charge the wrong way, Lieutenant Wilton Parmenter is given command of Fort Courage...

Plot Keywords:

Old West | Hekawi Tribe | Native American Chief | Army Life | Army

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Forrest Tucker	...	Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Larry Storch	...	Cpl. Randolph Agarn / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ken Berry	...	Capt. Wilton Parmenter / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Melody Patterson	...	Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
James Hampton	...	Trooper Hannibal Dobbs / ... (65 episodes, 1965-1967)
Frank DeKova	...	Chief Wild Eagle / ... (63 episodes, 1965-1967)
Bob Steele	...	Trooper Duffy (63 episodes, 1965-1967)
Don Diamond	...	Crazy Cat / ... (50 episodes, 1965-1967)
Joe Brooks	...	Trooper Vanderbilt / ... (48 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ivan Bell	...	Trooper Duddleson / ... (41 episodes, 1965-1967)
Ben Frommer	...	Smokey Bear / ... (30 episodes, 1965-1967)

Runtime:

30 min (65 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Filming Locations:

Kanab Movie Ranch - 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Trivia:

The group playing The Bedbugs in the episode "That's Showbiz" was a group known as The Factory. Their frontman, Lowell George, would later gain fame with Little Feat and as a songwriter for other artists.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There is basically a time-line from 1865 to 1867 in both seasons and the flag that is displayed on the flagpole has 37 stars on it. But the 37th state wasn't entered into statehood until Friday, March 1, 1867 meaning the flag was incorrect during the run of the series

Quotes:

Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke: F Troop just wouldn't be the same without the Old Man, sir.
Captain Wilton Parmenter: What Old Man?
Sergeant Morgan O'Rourke: Why, you, sir. You're the Old Man.
Captain Wilton Parmenter: That's right. I keep forgetting I'm the Old Man around here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: T-R-A Something, Something Spells Tramp (#7.2)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

F Troop

Shtick, shtick, shtick

I watched this in re-runs throughout the '70s. The "Old West" setting is just that - a setting. The real laughs are how they put in 20th-century gags ranging from old showbiz groaners to mid-'60s topical events like the Playbrave Club and a rock group called - wait for it - "The Bedbugs" (don't ask where they got the electric guitars.)

The show ran on ABC for only 2 years, one in b/w, one in color; even so, it's still better than 90% of what's been aired as "comedy" since then. I wish somebody would put it out on video.