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

Christy has a chance to hear his little girl call him Daddy, courtesy of a ham radio operator (Phil Arnold) in the States. When Binghamton denies the use of the base radio, McHale and the boys have to come up with a plan where they can get into the guarded radio hut to listen to the transmission. Things do not go as planned and Christy does not hear his daughter’s words. With the Japanese jamming the frequency there is little hope that the transmission will continue. Binghamton orders all the PT crews out looking for the jamming devices. The 73 crew find the radio jamming devices but instead of destroying the radio, they take the radio back to their island so they can transmit to the states. But when they start transmitting, Binghamton gets a call from the Admiral that the jamming device is on McHale’s island. Binghamton sets out to arrest the crew of the 73. But when the baby talks, even Binghamton gets into the spirit of things. Cindy Robbins appears as Christy’s wife.

Note: This episode marks the final appearance Gavin MacLeod as Happy.

McHale’s Navy Series

You can find a full index and overview of McHale’s Navy here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 19 May 1964.
• Rating: TV-PG/TV-G.
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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