The BEST episodes of Major Dad

Every episode of Major Dad ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Major Dad!

The first season is set at the fictional Camp Singleton (meant to represent Camp Pendleton) where hard-charging United States Marine Corps Major John D. “Mac” MacGillis is commander of the infantry training school. MacGillis's life is changed when he falls in love with a liberal journalist, Polly Cooper. At the beginning of the second season, the MacGillis family moves to Camp Hollister (based on Marine Corps Base Quantico) where Mac must adapt to the role of Staff Secretary (or, “Staff Weenie”) and the crazy antics of Commanding General Marcus C. Craig, Aide-de-Camp 1st Lt. Eugene Holowachuk, and Gunnery Sgt. Alva "Gunny" Bricker.

Last Updated: 11/14/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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star
7.50
6 votes

#1 - Face the Music ... and Dance (1)

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/14/1990

Broadsided by budget cuts, Mac must keep his career afloat, and he has to choose between shipping the family to a base in the East or retiring from the Corps.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.20
5 votes

#2 - Face the Music ... and Dance (2)

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/21/1990

When Major MacGillis resigns from the Marine Corps and takes a job in the private sector, his family tries to help him make the transition to civilian life in the second part of a two-part episode.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Lisa Albert
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.14
7 votes

#3 - Twinkle

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/16/1989

Polly asks the Major to straighten things out when Elizabeth falls for Lt. Holowachuk.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.13
8 votes

#4 - Rescue Mission

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/25/1989

Major Smiley, an old pal, tries to dissuade the Major from marriage.

Directors: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Janet Leahy
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.04
27 votes

#5 - Major Dad

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/17/1989

Polly writes a distressing article on the Marines. The Major sets out to prove her wrong, and they fall in love.

Directors: Will Mackenzie
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
6 votes

#6 - Standing Tall

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/1990

Casey takes the Major's advice on how to handle a bully.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.88
8 votes

#7 - Robin's Awakening

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/6/1989

A long-distance chess match comes to town for the final battle and it turns out that a young teen sparks an interest in boys for Robin.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.86
7 votes

#8 - Wetting Down

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1990

In opposition to Marine traditions, Holowachuk does not want alcohol at his wetting down to celebrate making 1st Lieutenant. The Major tries to find a solution.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.83
6 votes

#9 - Major Mom

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/13/1989

Polly goes to jail to protect a news source.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
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star
6.83
6 votes

#10 - Discipline

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/11/1989

The Major and Polly think of how to punish Casey for losing one of The Major's medals.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.83
6 votes

#11 - Lemon

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/1/1990

Clashing lifestyles send the family to a counselor after the Major dumps the girls' dead pet bird.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.83
6 votes

#12 - Not with My Daughter You Don't

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1990

The Major becomes an overprotective father when Elizabeth's new boyfriend Chip becomes more serious.

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star
6.83
6 votes

#13 - All Quiet on the Home Front (2)

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/9/1990

The Major's family welcomes him back, but he thinks they resent his job.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Writer: Rick Hawkins
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.80
5 votes

#14 - That Connell Woman

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/8/1990

An old girlfriend and Lt. Colonel has romantic designs on the Major.

Writer: Lisa Albert
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.80
5 votes

#15 - Colonel of Truth

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/12/1993

After being denied a promotion, the Major considers leaving the Marines.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Jim Evering
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.80
5 votes

#16 - All Quiet on the Home Front (1)

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/2/1990

The Major is put on alert for a top-secret mission

Writer: Lisa Albert
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star
6.75
8 votes

#17 - Jane Wayne Day

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/23/1989

Polly endures a survival-training day for Marine wives.

Directors: Linda Day
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star
6.73
15 votes

#18 - Just Polly & Me, and the Kids Make Five

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/18/1989

The Major proposes, but Polly's daughters must approve.

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star
6.71
7 votes

#19 - Boxer Rebellion

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/4/1989

The Major and Polly disagree about the dress code at Elizabeth's school. The Major says change the schoolboard, and Polly says change the rules and she helps Elizabeth protest.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.71
7 votes

#20 - Get a Job

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1990

Polly gets a job at a newspaper on the base, "The Bulldog," writing the human interest stories.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Barry Gold
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.71
7 votes

#21 - Flying Solo

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1991

The Major anticipates a relaxing weekend when Polly takes the girls shopping.

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star
6.71
7 votes

#22 - Valentine's Day

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/11/1991

The Major is embarrassed by Polly's valentine tribute to him in the base newspaper when it reveals his romantic side in the article; Elizabeth finally agrees to a date with Jesse.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.67
9 votes

#23 - Wedding

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/2/1989

An alert on the base interrupts the Major and Polly's wedding day.

Directors: Will Mackenzie
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.67
6 votes

#24 - Gunny Gets Robbed

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/12/1993

Gunny's apartment is robbed.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.63
8 votes

#25 - Wish You Were Here

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/12/1990

The Major tries to be spontaneous by taking the family on a last-minute trip to Hawaii.

Directors: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Barry Gold
Watch Now:Amazon