A Memorial Day list: the best military TV shows ever

May 24, 9:28 PMTV on DVD ExaminerSteve Marinucci

Previous Next

5 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the TV on DVD Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

There's no way we could hope to cover them all, but we thought we'd pay tribute to a few of the great military TV shows in TV history on this Memorial Day. The choices, by the way, are mine. Feel free to add any you thought we've left out.

• "Combat" (ABC, 1962-67): This '60s dramatic series starred Vic Morrow and Rick Jason as members of a World War II Army brigade. A very classy series. (Available on DVD.)

• "The Rat Patrol" (ABC, 1966-68):  Another World War II series, this one was set in North Africa. Christopher George and Gary Raymond starred as members of a combat force battling German Field Marshal Rommel. (Available on DVD.) 

• "J.A.G.": A military-legal drama (J.A.G. stands for Judge Advocate General), it started on NBC in 1995, but lasted only one season and was cancelled. CBS picked it up starting in 1997 and it did well enough that it continued until 2005, a total of 10 seasons. David James Elliott, Catherine Bell and Patrick Labyorteaux starred.  (Available on DVD.)

• "China Beach" (ABC, 1988-91): Set during the Vietnam War, this series starred Dana Delany, Nan Woods and Michael Boatman. It used popular music (The Supremes, Eric Burdon) for its opening theme. This one isn't available on DVD at the moment. (Not available on DVD legally, though there is discussion about its release here.) 

• "M*A*S*H" (CBS, 1972-83): All the previous shows have been dramatic series, but we couldn't put up a list of best military shows without including this one, which combined laughs and tears. It also left the critically acclaimed feature film of the same name in the dust, a rare occurrence for a TV series. Alan Alda, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, Gary Burghoff, Mike Farrell and Loretta Swit were some of the stellar cast. Burghoff was the only regular cast member to also have appeared in the film, released in 1970 and directed by Robert Altman. (Available on DVD.)
   



• "The Phil Silvers Show" (CBS, 1955-59):  This early comedy series was sparked by a superb cast, headed by Silvers, and sharp writing. The ensemble cast included Allan Melvin (later seen in "All in the Family" and "The Brady Bunch"), Harvey Lembeck, Maurice Gosfield (later the voice of Benny the Ball in the Silvers-inspired cartoon show "Top Cat") and Joe E. Ross (later Officer Toody in "Car 54, Where Are You?"). 

If you know anyone who loves TV on DVD, please let them know about us and suggest they subscribe!

  Recent TV on DVD Examiner columns:

• 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 2' on DVD announced
• 'House: Season 5' DVDs are coming
• Disney announces new version of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' on DVD, (first time) blu-ray
• New 'Raising the Bar,' 'Army Wives' DVD sets announced
• Fox to release seventh season of '24' on DVD Tuesday -- day after finale airs
• May 14, 1998: 'Seinfeld,' the series about nothing, goes out with a huge audience
• A timely tribute to TV moms -- and Moms everywhere
• If I could play genie, I'd make these TV DVDs magically appear
• Can 'Star Trek' go where it has gone before?
• Coming attractions -- a list of future TV DVDs you might want to own
• Hidden treasures are some of the best DVD releases