Introduction

Operation Petticoat is an American sitcom that was based on the 1959 film by the same name.

It was broadcast on ABC for two seasons, from 04 September 1977 until 06 July 1979.

Also known as Life in the Pink and the Petticoat Affair.

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Outline

It is hijinks on the high seas when a US submarine has to take on a collection of female nurses. Somehow or another, the sub gets painted pink in the process.

Cast

• John Astin as Lieutenant Commander Matthew Sherman (season 1).
• Melinda Naud as Lieutenant Dolores Crandall.
• Yvonne Wilder as Major Edna Howard (season 1).
• Richard Gilliland as Lieutenant Nick Holden (season 1).
• Dorrie Thomson as Lieutenant Ruth Colfax (season 1).
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Lieutenant Barbara Duran (season 1).
• Bond Gideon as Lieutenant Claire Reid (season 1).
• Jim Varney as Seaman Broom.
• Don Sparks as Seaman Horner.
• Richard Brestoff as Yeoman Alvin Hunkle.
• Randolph Mantooth as Lieutenant Mike Bender (season 2).
• Jo Ann Pflug as Lieutenant Katherine O’Hara (season 2).
• Fred Kareman as Doplos (season 2).
• Scott McGinnis as Seaman Dixon (season 2).
• Robert Hogan as Lieutenant Commander Sam Haller (season 2).
• Warren Berlinger as Chief Engineer Stanley Dobritch (season 2).
• Hilary Thompson as Lieutenant Betty Wheeler (season 2).

Production

Initially starring John Astin as Lieutenant Commander Sherman, the role Cary Grant played in the 1959 film, the television series also cast Tony Curtis’ daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis, as Lieutenant Duran.

Most of the show’s cast was replaced for the show’s second season.

Trivia

• Melinda Naud, Richard Brestoff and Jim Varney were the only actors from season one that were rehired for season two.
• The original plan was for Operation Petticoat to run as a one-hour series.
  • They shot a 2-hour pilot movie, and several one-hour scripts were written.
  • Then ABC had second thoughts and decided it would work better in a half-hour format.
  • The first script (after the pilot) was shot as written and shown in two parts, allowing time for the other scripts to be rewritten.
• The first network television series to have bleeped dialogue, although this was done strictly for a comedic effect.
• This series was produced by Universal, which distributed the original film, although by the time the series premiered Universal no longer had rights to the film.

Operation Petticoat Series

• Operation Petticoat (1997):
  • 2-hour Pilot Movie.

• Series 01 (1977-1978):
  • Episode 01: Yeoman Hunkle, Yeoman Hunkle, Part 01.
  • Episode 02: Yeoman Hunkle, Yeoman Hunkle, Part 02.
  • Episode 03: Dooley is a Daddy.
  • Episode 04: Operation, Operation.
  • Episode 05: And Out of the Sea Came a Marine.
  • Episode 06: A Party for the Captain.
  • Episode 07: And Baby Makes 33.
  • Episode 08: We’ve No Business in Show Business.
  • Episode 09: Grey is Beautiful.
  • Episode 10: Dear Molumphrey.
  • Episode 11: On a Clear Day You Can See a Bulkhead.
  • Episode 12: I’m Dreaming of a Pink Christmas.
  • Episode 13: Bless You, My Sub.
  • Episode 14: The Instant Ensign.
  • Episode 15: Down to the Sea in Slips.
  • Episode 16: The Best of Enemies.
  • Episode 17: General Who?
  • Episode 18: Tostin Times Two.
  • Episode 19: Gallardo Joins Up.
  • Episode 20: In Gossett We Trust.
  • Episode 21: Matt on a Hot Pink Tub.
  • Episode 22: Claire Voyant.

• Series 02 (1978-1979):
  • Episode 01: Operation Spleen.
  • Episode 02: The Hunkle-Crandell Affair.
  • Episode 03: Matters of Honour.
  • Episode 04: Cram Course.
  • Episode 05: Don’t Drink the Shimbakka.
  • Episode 06: You Owe Me One.
  • Episode 07: Sub-Down.
  • Episode 08: Big Deal on Kaloa Street.
  • Episode 09: Talent Show.
  • Episode 10: Hail to the Chief.

According to various sources, episodes 5 to 10 of season 2 where either unaired or shown in 1979 (there is also debate between the sources on the running order of episodes and their air dates).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Hollingsworth Morse … (16 episodes, 1977-1979).
  • Alan Bergmann … (4 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Norman Abbott … (4 episodes, 1977).
  • William Asher … (4 episodes, 1977).
  • John Astin … (3 episodes, 1977).
  • Gene Nelson … (2 episodes, 1979).
  • Bernie Kukoff … (1 episode, 1979).
  • Bruce L. Shurley … (1 episode, 1979).
• Producer(s):
  • Leonard Stern … executive producer (17 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • David J. O’Connell … producer (16 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Jeff Harris … executive producer (9 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Bernie Kukoff … executive producer (9 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Caryn Mandabach … associate producer / producer (8 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Michael Rhodes … producer (8 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Si Rose … producer (7 episodes, 1977).
• Writer(s):
  • Joshua Brand … (1 episode, 1977).
  • Jim Brecher … (1 episode, 1978).
  • Jennie Elford … (1 episode, 1978).
  • Gil Grant … (14 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Jeff Harris … (5 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Terry Hart … (1 episode, 1979).
  • Jim Henry … (1 episode, 1979).
  • Coslough Johnson … (2 episodes, 1977).
  • Bryan Joseph … (11 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Paul King … (33 episodes, 1977-1979).
  • Bernie Kukoff … (5 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Michael Morris … (1 episode, 1977).
  • John Fenton Murray … (11 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Jerry O’Flanagan … (1 episode, 1978).
  • John Steven Owen … (2 episodes, 1979).
  • Rita Sedran Rose … (1 episode, 1977).
  • Si Rose … (7 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Martin Roth … (2 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Leonard Stern … (8 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Joseph Stone … (33 episodes, 1977-1979).
  • Arne Sultan … (1 episode, 1978).
• Music:
  • Peter Matz … (10 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Hal Mooney … (9 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Artie Butler … (7 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Scott Lipsker … (1 episode, 1977).
• Cinematography:
  • Seymour Hoffberg … (16 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Frederick Gately … (10 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Frank Thackery … (uncredited) (unknown episodes).
• Editor(s):
  • Clay Bartels … (7 episodes, 1977-1978).
  • Tim Shoemaker … (5 episodes, 1978).
  • Sam E. Waxman … (3 episodes, 1977).
  • Larry Strong … (3 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Domenic Dimascio … (2 episodes, 1977).
  • Frederic L. Knudtson … (2 episodes, 1978-1979).
  • Earle Herdan … (1 episode, 1977).
  • Edwin F. England … (1 episode, 1978).
  • John F. Schreyer … (1 episode, 1979).
  • Lawrence J. Vallario … (1 episode, 1979).
• Production:
  • Boiney Stoones Productions (season 2) (as A Kukoff-Harris Boiney Stoones Production).
  • Heyday Productions (season 1).
  • Universal Television.
• Distributor(s):
  • American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1977-1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing).
  • CIC Video (West Germany) (VHS) (pilot).
  • Studios USA Television (all media).
  • Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1978-) (Netherlands) (TV).
• Release Date: 04 September 1977 to 06 July 1979.
• Running Time: 30 minutes.
• Rating: U.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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