Throughout the years there have been many military-themed television series including both sit-coms and dramas. From groundbreaking to fantasy-based these military-themed shows run the gamut of perspectives from military medical personnel and dim-witted recruits to Army wives to portray aspects of military life. Here is a round-up of some of the best series.
1. MASH�"This medical drama/black comedy was inspired by the 1968 novel "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors" and by the 1970 film "MASH". The setting for the series is an U.S. Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) in the Korean War. The show followed key personnel through plot and character-driven episodes, which were mostly comedic but also included a serious and moralistic tone. "MASH" is one of the most successful television programs of all time, running on CBS from 1972-1983. The series finale was the most-watched American television episode in the history of television, with 105 million viewers. The show starred Alan Alda, William Christopher, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, McLean Stevenson and many more.
2. China Beach�"This award-winning drama is best known for its unique perspective of military and civilian women during the Vietnam War. Set in the Vietnam area of China Beach, the show followed characters serving as U.S. Army doctors, nurses, officers, soldiers and civilian personnel. The show used various story-telling methods and did not gloss over the horrific aspects of war. "China Beach" appeared on ABC, ran four seasons from 1988-1991 and starred Dana Delaney, Nan Woods, Marg Helgenberger and Michael Boatman.
3. Hogan's Heroes�"An award-winning sitcom, this satirical show ran from 1965-1971 on CBS. The show is set in a fictionalized German prisoner of war camp during World War II, in which the POWs used the camp as a base of operations and actively participated in the war. The show starred Bob Crane and Robert E. Hogan.
4. McHale's Navy�"This sitcom series ran on ABC for four years and starred Ernest Borgnine, William Bramley, Ron Foster and more. The show was filmed in black and white. The premise was the Pacific theater of World War II and focused on the crew of the PT-73 a torpedo boat.
5. JAG�"An action-legal drama, this series ran on NBC for one season starting in 1995 then on CBS from 1997 to 2005then went into syndication. JAG or Judge Advocate General, portrayed JAG officers' daily jobs and included components of real-life military goings-on in story lines. JAG starred David James Elliott, Catherine Bell, Patrick Labyorteaux among others. Notably the U.S. Department of Defense recognized the series as a positive influence and provided producers with access to military installations and equipment for filming purposes. It is the only television show to be endorsed by both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
6. Gomer Pyle, USMC�"This sitcom ran on CBS from 1964 to 1969 and was a spin-off of the popular series The Andy Griffith Show. The show featured the character of Gomer Pyle, a lovable but awkward guy who left the fictional town of Mayberry, the setting of The Andy Griffith Show, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Throughout the series the plot revolved around Pyle's disastrous adventurous with good humor. The cast included Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle and also featured Frank Sutton, Ronnie Schell, Roy Stuart and others.
7. Major Dad�"This family-friendly military-themed sitcom followed Gerald McRaney as "Major John D. McGillis," a Marine who falls in love with a liberal journalist and mother of three daughters. The series showed both the struggles (with hilarity) of the family adapting to military life and aspects of military work life. The series ran on CBS from 1989 to 1993.
8. Navy CIS�"This Emmy Award Nominated drama series portrays a fictional team of special agents from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps who investigate and solve crimes involving people and property associated with the Navy and Marine Corps. The concept and characters of Navy CIS were first introduced in a special two-part episode of JAG. Navy CIS debuted in 2003 on CBS and is currently scheduled for a sixth season for the 2008-2009 season. The show stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray and more.
9. Private Benjamin�"This short-lived television series came from the box office smash film of the same name starring Goldie Hawn. Both the film and show followed "Judy Benjamin," a spoiled widow who joins the Army believing it will be a glamorous career and quickly finds out it is not the pampered lifestyle she is used to. The series ran on CBS for two seasons and starred Lorna Patterson, Eileen Brennan, Hal Williams and more.
10. Army Wives�"This Lifetime Television drama series debuted in 2007 and became the network's largest premiere in 23 years and is now in its second season. The series follows the lives of four U.S. Army wives along with their families and an Army husband, whose wife is serving in the Army. The show is based on the non-fiction book "Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives" and stars Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Catherine Bell and others.
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Felicity Grant is a freelance writer in Atlanta.
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