Introduction
McHale’s Navy is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from 11 October 1962 to 12 April 1966 on the ABC television network.
The series was filmed in black and white and originated from a one-hour drama titled “Seven Against the Sea”, broadcast on 03 April 1962. The ABC series spawned three feature films: McHale’s Navy (1964); a sequel, McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force (1965); and a 1997 sequel-remake of the original series. A documentary, McHale’s Navy: The Crew Remembers, was aired in 2007.
Producer Edward Montagne set up a female version of McHale’s Navy entitled Broadside, which ran for 32 episodes in the 1964-1965 ABC season.
Background
A new Navy directive states that all overweight combat officers are to be shipped out. This prompts Binghamton to see that McHale puts on an extra 6 pounds – enough to put him over the limit. A sneaky Binghamton tells McHale that he wants to be friends with him. Binghamton invites McHale to dinner parties, beer drinks and even dessert trays. By the time McHale finds out about the physical he is over the weight limit. But the crew from PT 73 has a plan. Tom Brown appears as The Chief Medical Officer.
Note: Bob Hastings (Carpenter) does not appear in this episode.
McHale’s Navy Series
You can find a full index and overview of McHale’s Navy here.
Production & Filming Details
- Release Date: 07 March 1963.
- Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
- Running Time: 60 minutes.
- Country: US.
- Language: English.
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