Series synopsis
McHale's Navy is an American comedy war & politics television series that premiered on ABC on October 11, 1962. It ended on April 12, 1966. It stars Ernest Borgnine, Joe Flynn, Tim Conway and Carl Ballantine.
An experienced South Pacific Sea Dog by the name of Quinton McHale, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander into the U.S. Navy Reserve at the start of World War II.
McHale was made the Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed at the U.S. Naval Installation on the island of Taratupa in the Southwest Pacific.
The 73 'Family' included, among others, a con man and amateur Magician, a womanizing hunk, a dedicated Family man, a guitar-playing, moonshine-making Tennessee good ol' boy, ...
Premise
An experienced South Pacific Sea Dog by the name of Quinton McHale, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander into the U.S. Navy Reserve at the start of World War II.
McHale was made the Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed at the U.S. Naval Installation on the island of Taratupa in the Southwest Pacific.
The 73 'Family' included, among others, a con man and amateur Magician, a womanizing hunk, a dedicated Family man, a guitar-playing, moonshine-making Tennessee good ol' boy, and even a deserter from the Japanese Navy, who was an excellent cook.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Ernest Borgnine as Quinton McHale
- Joe Flynn as Captain Wallace B. Binghamton
- Tim Conway as Ensign Charles Parker
- Carl Ballantine as Lester Gruber
- Gary Vinson as George Christopher
- Billy Sands as 'Tinker' Bell
- Edson Stroll as Virgil Edwards
- John Wright as Willy Moss
Supporting cast
- Yoshio Yoda as Fuji Kobiaji
- Gavin MacLeod as Happy
- Bob Hastings as Lt. Elroy Carpenter
- Roy Roberts
- Dale Ishimoto
- Andy Romano
- Olan Soule
- Jerry Dexter
- Bob Okazaki
- Betsy Jones-Moreland
- Don Kennedy as The 2nd Sailor
- Yvonne Craig
Guest cast
- Bob Hastings as Lt. Elroy Carpenter
- Roy Roberts
- Dale Ishimoto
- Andy Romano
- Olan Soule
- Jerry Dexter
- Bob Okazaki
- Betsy Jones-Moreland
- Don Kennedy as The 2nd Sailor
- Yvonne Craig
- Lloyd Kino
- Marissa Mathes as Sofia
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 138 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 36 | October 11, 1962 | June 27, 1963 |
| Season 2 | 36 | September 17, 1963 | May 19, 1964 |
| Season 3 | 36 | September 15, 1964 | June 1, 1965 |
| Season 4 | 30 | September 14, 1965 | April 12, 1966 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
An Ensign for McHale Ensign Charles Parker reports for duty as the new Executive Officer of the PT 73, to a not-so-warm welcome from McHale and The Crew. But McHale is soon impressed by the Ensign, and persuades the boys to shape up, so that Parker can stay on as XO. |
October 11, 1962 |
| 2 |
A Purple Heart for Gruber Lester Gruber has been given the job of laundering Captain Binghamton's uniforms. When a Japanese sub fires on the PT 73, the uniforms are destroyed, and Lester's finger is scratched, prompting him to put in for a Purple Heart. |
October 18, 1962 |
| 3 |
McHale and His Seven Cupids McHale decides that what Ensign Parker really needs is a girl friend. He convinces Parker that he is suffering from an advanced case of battle fatigue so that he can be sent to the hospital, where McHale hopes that he will find Nurse Casey Brown to his liking. |
October 25, 1962 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Day the War Stood Still During a search for some stolen goods, while McHale and the 73 Crew are out on a recon mission, Binghamton catches Fuji, and holds him as a spy. McHale and the boys then cook up a complicated plan to spring him. |
September 17, 1963 |
| 2 |
The Binghamton Murder Plot After laying some unusually harsh punishments on McHale and the 73 Crew, Binghamton mistakenly gets the impression that McHale and his men are out to kill him. |
September 24, 1963 |
| 3 |
McHale and His Schweinhunds Parker is feeling somewhat depressed, after getting scared during a chase after a Japanese patrol boat, especially after Binghamton accuses him of cowardice. But Binghamton changes his mind, when Parker – During a test run, on the 73 – Spots a German U-Boat, and goes after it. |
October 1, 1963 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Ghosts of 73 When Binghamton discovers how superstitious McHale and The Crew are, he devises a plan to scare them into transferring out. But, when McHale and The Boys find that they've been duped, they cook up their own plan to scare Binghamton into canceling their transfers. |
September 15, 1964 |
| 2 |
Lester, the Skipper With his letters home, Gruber has led his girlfriend to believe that he's a Lieutenant Commander, and, when the girl pays a surprise visit to Taratupa, McHale reluctantly agrees to help him save face, by allowing him to act out the part. The charade almost gets them into big trouble, but winds up working out for the good, when it helps foil Binghamton's plan to have McHale assigned to a British Liaison's position. |
September 22, 1964 |
| 3 |
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad War Left alone on the 73, in New Caledonia, while McHale attends a staff meeting, and the Crew are on an unauthorized liberty, Parker receives the order from Binghamton to pick up the base payroll. After he's robbed of the $62,000, McHale and the guys frantically try to locate the cash, before Binghamton can accuse them of the theft. |
September 29, 1964 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
War, Italian Style McHale, the 73 Crew, Captain Binghamton, and Lieutenant Carpenter have all been transferred to a base in the little coastal town of Voltafiore, Italy, and soon find themselves dealing with the town's crooked, money-hungry Mayor. |
September 14, 1965 |
| 2 |
The Bathtub Thief While in search of a hot shower, McHale, Parker, Gruber, and Tinker are trapped by a German patrol, behind enemy lines, and must masquerade as an Italian family, in order to save themselves, as well as The Captain and Lieutenant Carpenter. |
September 21, 1965 |
| 3 |
Marriage, McHale Style Binghamton angers the local Italians, after forbidding their fraternization with Naval personnel, but must quickly make amends with them, in order to please a certain VIP, due soon, for a visit. So, he reluctantly allows McHale and the townsfolk to throw a big wedding bash for a young Italian woman, and her fiancée - A soldier in the Italian Army. |
September 28, 1965 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 11, 1962 |
| Last aired | April 12, 1966 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 20:30:00 |