JAG

A behind the Scenes look at JAG's first season.

Stars Donald P. Bellisario and Charles F. Johnson talk about how the Navy's reaction to the show's concept evolved. Originally they were not happy about the idea of having a show that focused on people in the Navy prosecuting their fellows for committing criminal acts. Their opinion, however, changed after J.A.G. got underway. Senior Military Advisor Matt Sigloch then details how accurate the show was in its representation of the Navy.

When a female F-14 Tomcat RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) goes missing from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Seahawk while stationed in the Adriatic Sea, the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral Al Brovo (Kevin Dunn), sends young Lieutenant Harmon Rabb with Lieutenant Junior Grade Caitlin Pike on Bastille Day 1995 out to the carrier where they must find out whether her death was accidental or intentional.

Harm & Kate continue to investigate the death of Lt. Angela Arutti, all the while the carrier remaining on combat status.

A civilian tech rep aboard a submarine seizes control of an experimental torpedo after its launch during an exercise. The rep threatens to sink a cruise ship and demands a ransom. Harm and Ltjg. Meg Austin go to the sub and save the day.

Harm teams up with Maj. Sarah MacKenzie and Lt. Roberts to investigate, together with Special Assistant Webb, the theft of the Declaration of Independence, which was stolen by Colonel O'Hara. O'Hara, who turns out to be Mac's uncle, claims he has taken control of it to remind the people - and especially the politicians - of its meaning and spirit. Locations: East of Yuma, Arizona; Red Rock Mesa; Washington, D.C.; Falls Church, Va.

The convicted spy Jason Magida successfully escapes from Groton brig and his way leads him straight to Adm. Chegwidden, who was involved in his court-martial back then. Magida takes Chegwidden, Mac and Bud hostage. Claiming he was framed, he insists the three officers retry him. Harm, in between trying from outside to solve this situation with Webb's help, calls in a SWAT team and then has his hands full of keeping the team from killing Magida. Locations: Groton, Conn.; Falls Church

Harm risks his life to prove that an F-14 squadron is not jinxed after there have been six fatal mid-air accidents, including one that killed his best friend. During Mac and Harm's investigation into the ""curse"" of the squadron, they learn that the rumor of a jinx stems from an accidental bombing of an Iraqi mosque during Desert Storm. Now only one of the fliers involved in the bombing is left, and Harm has no choice but to fly with him in order to restore the squadron's confidence. However, when a mid-air refueling goes awry and Harm is seriously injured, it seems that the squadron may be jinxed after all.

Harm discovers evidence that his father, an MIA from the Vietnam War, may be alive and under KGB control in Russia. Harm and Mac are investigating the murder of a Navy pilot whose body was found hidden aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier the USS Hornet. With help from a local police lieutenant, they discover a motive for the crime, which involves a list of MIAs and POWs supposedly still alive and under KGB control in Russia -- and the list includes Harm's father. But before Harm can act on the information, the book mysteriously disappears along with the helpful police lieutenant.

A top female helicopter pilot is accused of disobeying an order---to cease her affair with a married enlisted man, and a Congresswoman is determined to ensure the pilot's fair treatment as a potential court-martial looms.

When a Marine colonel defies orders from superiors, as well as the State Department, and rescues his men who are being held and tortured by a Haitian warlord, he is court-martialed. Harm and Mac are assigned as prosecutors and are shocked when they find they must go head-to-head with Chegwidden. Bud was put in a position to choose which side to go on. He choosed Admiral Chegwidden

Having been shot at by Russian fighters, Mac & Harm are forced to eject from their plane, which then noses into the bottom of a very deep lake. The Russians announce to the world that Harm & Mac have been killed, which is broadcasted back to the USA by ZNN reporter Chuck DePalma. Webb tries to convince the Admiral that they have been killed, but when A.J. learns their bodies haven't been found, A.J. becomes irate and vows to go to Moscow himself to look for them. The SecNav orders A.J. not to go, who replies that the SecNav doesn't want to try & stop him. In Russia, A.J. meets with DePalma who tells A.J. that he doesn't believe the Russians, that certain things in their story don't add up. In the woods, a husband & wife gypsies come across Harm & Mac. They are disappointed when they learn that Harm & Mac are not American Spies as at least the spies have gold coins to give to Russians that help them.

Harm and Mac use a party at the Sudanese Embassy as a cover for their investigation of a kidnapping, and they're literally caught by surprise when terrorists take the visiting dignitaries -- and Mac -- hostage. Meanwhile, Bud notices that Harriet seems to be suffering from more than just flu symptoms.

Harm and Mac must don their diplomatic hats when they're dispatched to Tokyo to represent an ensign accused of raping a young Japanese girl. Once the trial begins, the disparities between Japanese and American courtroom procedures put Harm at odds with the ensign's Japanese defense attorney, in turn putting US/Japanese relations at an all-time low. When what began as the trial of an ensign turns into a trial of the United States Navy, Harm and Mac realize that in order to defend the ensign from life in a Japanese prison, they must actually solve the rape case on foreign soil.

While patrolling the Mediterranean near Yugoslavia and against the orders of Harm, his division commander, Lt. Buxton fires on what he believes is a Serbian armored car about to attack Kosovar refugees. As Buxton and his pals are celebrating his victory back aboard the aircraft carrier, however, the grave news arrives: those ""Serbs"" Buxton attacked and killed were, in fact, Russian peacekeepers, and Buxton made the mistake while under Harm's command. Mac prosecutes what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a Marine weapons expert accused of reckless endangerment.

Unexpectedly, the wily Buxton demands that Harm and Brumby be his lawyers, thereby preventing Harm from testifying against him and forcing the two adversarial lawyers to work together. The contentious trial continues with Mac and Roberts prosecuting, and the pressure is enormous as the U.S. Navy and the Russian government vigilantly follow the trial to ensure that its own agendas are met. Meanwhile, the Navy has its own special plans for the troublesome Buxton.

Harms fitness report is coming up and the realization that maybe it really is too late to be a fighter pilot. During a dangerous mission over hostile Serbian territory, Harm's wingman's plane is shot up and Harm performs top-gun maneuvers to keep the disabled plane aloft until it's over friendly territory. Meanwhile, with a new Gunny in the office, Bud & Tiner fall over themselves as they compete against each other in an online auction to purchase tickets to a concert, in order to impress the Admiral. They end up looking foolish when it is discovered that the Gunny got the same tickets for free.

While Harm is sent to Russia to help the Russians find a better way to implement their military justice procedures, Mac and Bud remain behind to prosecute a Naval commander charged with selling military secrets to the Russians. Once in Russia, Harm becomes involved in investigating high level corruption in the military. Meanwhile, Mac is on the verge of making a deal with the traitorous Naval officer when he and his lawyer are murdered. Mac and Webb then discover that the traitor was linked to a Russian assassination plot. But Mac's attempts to alert Harm fail, and he is caught in an ambush with a Russian who reveals the life-changing secret to him.

Harm is distraught when his newly discovered half-brother, Sergei, is framed for a crime punishable by death, while Mac arrives in Russia to prevent a presidential assassination.

When the captain of a U.S. Navy frigate rescues a young girl in Cuban waters and sets off the beginnings of an international incident, Harm and Bud's investigation leads them to Cuba and a meeting with Castro.

Harm's chance of being rescued from the Atlantic Ocean hinges on Mac's psychic ability (first seen in Season Five's "Psychic Warrior"). However, Mac is trying to cope with her conflicting emotions for both Harm & Mic. On the edge of going unconscious from severe hypothermia, Harm's fires several warning shots which attracts the rescue helicopter. Back onboard the USS Patrick Henry, Harm's vital signs start to fade out, but Skates words help him pull through. Transferred to Bethesda Hospital, Renee learns that Harm has partial amnesia and doesn't remember them being a couple over the past year. Mac's indecision about the wedding drives Brumby back to Australia. When Harm tells Mac on the phone to come to his place so that she doesn't have to be alone, she arrives only to learn that Renee has beaten her to Harm's place with the news that her father has died. Mac ends up in the rain with no one around.

Unwilling to face her pain over Mic & Harm, Mac is granted temporary assignment on the carrier USS Guadalcanal (along with Gunny) when the staff JAG there disappears. Harm returns to active duty after returning from Renee's father funeral.

**June 20, 2001** Still aboard the USS Guadalcanal, Mac is called upon to prosecute a Major accused of negligent homicide by the ship's Captain. Much to Mac's surprise and dismay, Harm arrives on board to defend the Major and also try to clear the air with Mac regarding their relationship. But as they both become entrenched in the case in which the victim drowned during a nighttime exercise in extremely bad weather conditions, they're hard-pressed to find time to discuss their personal business. Meanwhile, Admiral Chegwidden has his hands full with his teenage goddaughter who has run away from home.

The episode starts with a short recap of where we left off last season: Bud & PO Coates walking along a dirt road enroute to attend the ground-breaking of the new school, when they spot a small boy playing in a field that had yet to be cleared of mines. As Coates runs for help, there is an explosion behind her. She turns in time to see Bud injured in the explosion and runs to his side. Coates insists that Bud must be transported on the helo that brought them in, that Bud won't be able to wait for the proper medevac chopper. Bud is airlifted to a field hospital, critical, but still alive. As luck would have it, ZNN reporter Stuart Dunston just happens to be at the base camp when Bud is brought it. Dunston reports the arrival of an injured JAG officer that was brought it, but does not report the name. Chegwiggen advises Harriet, but reminds her he is still on the Seahawk. She tries to contact him by instant messaging, but does not receive a reply.

Mac and Harm defend a Marine corporal (Steve Petrarca) who's charged with desertion. He claims that anti-Semitism drove him to leave the Corps and join the Israeli army, where he was awarded for heroism.

Harm defends a Marine gunnery sergeant who killed his wife, but claims it was self defense while he refuses to let his son testify on his behalf. Meanwhile, the JAG team bids farewell to Lt. Singer who is departing for the USS Seahawk.

The 9th season begins where last season left off, with Harm, Mac, Webb & Gunny still in Paraguay searching for the terrorist Sadik. Their search is complicated by Harm's feelings being tangled up which drove him to resign his commission & rush to South America in the first place.

Harm returns to Washington, DC and is shocked to discover that Admiral Chegwidden had actually processed his resignation through official channels. Also, a female petty officer listed as missing in action during Desert Storm is located in Iraq, married to a bedouin sheik. As a result, the Navy charges her with desertion.

Harm finds his first mission flying for the CIA takes him to the Phillipines where he must ""drop"" a limo. Back at JAG, ""Mikey"" Roberts calls on Mac to help him when he must act as a character witness in a honor code conflict.

Mac is unable to accept the news that Clayton Webb really is dead and ends up in possible danger looking into Webb's "death". With the retirement of Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden, Cmdr. Sturgis Turner is named Acting Judge Advocate General.

When a Marine is killed in Iraq as the result of ""friendly fire"", Harm & Mac investigation results in possible involvment by a private military contractor.

Harm is asked to re-open a 20yr old case of a seaman accused of murdering a prostitute. He doesn't deny stabbing her but he didn't murder her. Harm finds out that a similar crime was committed and uses this to free the seaman who has been wrongfully imprisoned.