South Pacific

As I said recently, we've been wanting to see McHale's Navy. As usual, the question is: "Is it as good as I remember?" We got lucky again - It is.

This 60's sit-com set in the South Pacific during WWII starred Ernest Borgnine as Cmdr Quint McHale, the renegade PT boat skipper, and a band of misfits, goldbricks and hustlers. Strait-laced Captain Binghampton (Joe Flynn) assigns by-the-book but incompetant Ensign Parker (Tim Conway) to be his second-in-command to rein him in. Unfortunately for naval discipline, McHale likes Parker's spunk, and the crew of the PT 73 take him under their wing.

Borgnine plays his role rather broadly - makes Alan Hale Jr.'s Skipper look subtle. Tim Conway goes overboard too (metaphorically - literally too, of course), but he has the comic chops for it. This is a great role for him. Joe Flynn is great as Captain Binghampton - Old Leadbottom - always fuming in a slow burn, unless he is shouting.

Carl Ballantine, our reason for being here, is as much fun as expected, always working an angle and fast-talking his way out of trouble. Billy Sands, as "Tinker" Bell hasn't had a good episode yet, but rounds out the comic ensemble well. The rest of the guys (including Gavin McLeod as Happy) seem to be around for beefcake - hunky, shrtless guys in navy caps.

So, it looks like all of the 60's TV I used to like really was that good. What do you know.