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The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV series)

American television series 1965-1966

The Wackiest Ship in the Army (TV series)
Summary

American television series 1965-1966

FieldValue
imageThe Wackiest Ship in the Army title card.PNG
genreComedy drama
creatorDanny Arnold
Herbert Margolis, based on the story "Big Fella Wash-Wash" by Herbert Carlson, in the July 1956 issue of Argosy
starringJack Warden
Gary Collins
Mike Kellin
Mark Slade
theme_music_composerHoward Greenfield
Jack Keller
Helen Miller
composerNelson Riddle
countryUnited States
languageEnglish
num_seasons1
num_episodes29
executive_producerHarry Ackerman
producerHerbert Hirschman
Joseph Dackow
runtime45–48 minutes
companyHerbert Margolis Productions
Joseph M. Schenck Productions
Screen Gems
channelNBC
first_aired
last_aired

Herbert Margolis, based on the story "Big Fella Wash-Wash" by Herbert Carlson, in the July 1956 issue of Argosy Gary Collins Mike Kellin Mark Slade Jack Keller Helen Miller Joseph Dackow Joseph M. Schenck Productions Screen Gems

Gary Collins]], left, and [[Jack Warden]] in ''The Wackiest Ship in the Army''.

The Wackiest Ship in the Army is an American comedy drama adventure television series that aired for one season on NBC between September 19, 1965, and April 17, 1966. Produced by Harry Ackerman and Herbert Hirschman, the series was loosely based on the 1960 film starring Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson, which itself was a fictionalized account of a real wartime vessel.

Although often referred to as a comedy series, the show violated three unwritten rules that unofficially defined TV sitcoms at the time: It was an hour in length (almost all comedy series were only a half-hour, and the few attempts at hour sitcoms were unsuccessful), it had no laugh track, and characters were sometimes killed in it.

Synopsis

The series is set in the Pacific theater of World War II and centers on the crew of the USS Kiwi, a leaky, wooden, twin-masted schooner whose mission is to carry out covert missions behind Japanese lines. Her old-fashioned, noncombatant appearance works in her favor, and she sails under false colors (the Swiss flag) when in enemy waters. The Kiwi is jointly commanded by United States Army Major Simon Butcher (Jack Warden), who is in charge of shore operations, and United States Navy Lieutenant (junior grade) Richard "Rip" Riddle (Gary Collins), who is in command of the vessel at sea. The crew consists of:

  • Mike Kellin: Chief Petty Officer Willie Miller (also in the 1960 film, and listed in the series opening credits)
  • Mark Slade: Radioman Third Class Patrick Hollis
  • Fred Smoot: Machinist Mate Third Class Seymour Trivers
  • Rudy Solari: Gunner's Mate Second Class Sherman Nagurski
  • Don Penny: Pharmacist Mate Third Class Charles Tyler, ship's cook

On the pilot episode Shakedown and The Stowaway, the crew featured one extra member, Seaman First Class Roger D. Finch played by stuntman Phil Adams who had also played a crew member in the original film.

Notable guest stars

Guest stars included:

  • James Hong: Agaki (three episodes)
  • Jill Ireland
  • Robert Loggia
  • Harry Morgan
  • Chips Rafferty (also in the 1960 film)
  • George Takei
  • Jack Soo

Production notes

The theme music and scoring were by Nelson Riddle.

Ship

The USS Kiwi was based on the real-life , a 40-year-old schooner (or scow) that the Government of New Zealand transferred to the United States Navy during World War II. The United States returned her to New Zealand in 1944. The Echo was broken up in 2015 due to her poor material conditioning following her use as a bar which had closed in 2013.

In other media

A paperback novelisation based on the series, by Lee Bergman, was released in 1965.

Broadcast history

The Wackiest Ship in the Army premiered on NBC on September 19, 1965. It lasted a single season, and the last of its 29 original episodes aired on April 17, 1966. Prime-time reruns of The Wackiest Ship in the Army followed in its regular time slot on NBC until September 4, 1966. The show aired at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday throughout its run.

Episode list

SOURCES

References

References

  1. "TV Tie-in Book Collection, 1945-1999".
  2. McNeil, Alex, ''Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming From 1948 to the Present, Fourth Edition'', New York: Penguin Books, 1996, {{ISBN. 0 14 02 4916 8, p. 889.
  3. Brooks, Tim, and Earle Marsh, ''The Complete Directory to Prime-Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–present (Sixth Edition)'', New York: Ballantine Books, 1995, {{ISBN. 0-345-39736-3, pp. 1102–1103.
  4. [http://ctva.biz/US/Military/WackiestShipInTheArmy.htm Classic TV Archive ''The Wackiest Ship in the Army'' (1965–66) Accessed 11 November 2021]
  5. [http://ctva.biz/US/Military/WackiestShipInTheArmy.htm Classic TV Archive The Wackiest Ship in the Army Accessed 10 November 2021]
  6. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19700124&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', September 18, 1965, p. 11.]
  7. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e01-shakedown/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E01 – Shakedown, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  8. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19650925&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', September 25, 1965, p. 20.]
  9. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e02-the-sisters/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E02 – The Sisters, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  10. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e03-goldbrickers/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E03 – Goldbrickers, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  11. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e05-the-colonel-and-the-geisha/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E05 – The Colonel and the Geisha, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  12. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19651030&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', October 30, 1965, p. 17.]
  13. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e07-the-stowaway/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E07 – The Stowaway, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  14. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19651106&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', November 6, 1965, p. 19.]
  15. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e08-boomer-mckye/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E08 – Boomer McKye, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  16. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e09-vive-la-kiwi/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E09 – Vive La Kiwi, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  17. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e10-the-lady-and-the-luluai/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E10 – The Lady and the Luluai, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  18. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19651127&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', November 27, 1965, p. 19.]
  19. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e11-a-shade-of-kaiser-bill/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E11 – A Shade of Kaiser Bill, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  20. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19651204&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', December 4, 1965, p. 13.]
  21. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e12-and-tyler-too/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E12 – …And Tyler Too, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  22. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19651211&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', December 11, 1965, p. 9.]
  23. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e13-last-path-to-garcia/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E13 – Last Path to Garcia, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  24. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1965-s01e14-ia-dreaming-of-a-wide-isthmus/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965): S01E14 – I’m Dreaming of a Wide Isthmus, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 10 November 2021]
  25. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e15-the-lamb-who-hunter-wolves-part-01/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E15 – The Lamb Who Hunted Wolves, Part 01, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  26. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e16-the-lamb-who-hunter-wolves-part-02/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E16 – The Lamb Who Hunted Wolves, Part 02, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  27. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e17-what-is-honor-a-word/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E17 – What is Honor – A Word, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  28. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e18-hail-the-chief/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E18 – Hail the Chief, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  29. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e20-my-fathers-keeper/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E20 – My Father’s Keeper, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  30. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e21-brother-love/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E21 – Brother Love, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  31. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e22-and-two-if-by-sea/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E22 – And Two if by Sea, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  32. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e23-the-ghost-of-lord-nelson-san/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E23 – The Ghost of Lord Nelson-san, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  33. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e24-voyage-to-never-never/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E24 – Voyage to Never Never, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  34. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e25-girl-in-the-polka-dot-swimsuit/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E25 – Girl in the Polka-Dot Swimsuit, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  35. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e26-chinese-checkers/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E26 – Chinese Checkers, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  36. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e27-my-island/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E27 – My Island, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  37. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19660409&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', April 9, 1966, p. 19.]
  38. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e28-fun-has-more-blondes/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E28 – Fun has more Blondes, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
  39. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ziW8EwMpto0C&dat=19660416&printsec=frontpage&hl=en ''Schenectady Gazette'', April 16, 1966, p. 6.]
  40. [https://militarygogglebox.com/2019/11/01/the-wackiest-ship-in-the-army-1966-s01e29-routine-assignment/ Marshall, Andrew, The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1966): S01E29 – Routine Assignment, Military Gogglebox, January 11, 2019 Accessed 11 November 2021]
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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