The BEST episodes of McHale's Navy
Every episode of McHale's Navy ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of McHale's Navy!
A lively, light-hearted romp through the Pacific Theater of operations An experienced South Pacific Sea Dog by the name of Quinton McHale, was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander into the U.S. Navy Reserve at the start of World War II, and made the Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed at the U.S. Naval Installation on the island of Taratupa in the Southwest Pacific. Assigned to his command were 6 free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies who loved to have fun, but who, though they usually ignored Navy regulations, did their jobs and did them well when duty called. The 73 'Family' included, among others, a con man and amateur Magician, a womanizing hunk, a dedicated Family man, a guitar-playing, moonshine-making Tennessee good ol' boy, and even a deserter from the Japanese Navy, who was an excellent cook. Second in command was Ensign Charles Parker, a young spit-and-polish, by-the-book Officer from Chagrin Falls Ohio, who was somewhat of a klutz.
#1 - H.M.S. 73
Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 4/11/1963
Binghamton schemes to get McHale chosen for a Liaison Officer's position, in Sydney, Austrailia. But, when McHale finds out that he will be going alone, and for the duration, he and his crew cook up a plan to get him off the hook.
#2 - Portrait of a Peerless Leader
Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 4/25/1963
A Naval Personnel Officer is coming to check out McHale for a stateside training position. Binghamton leads McHale and his crew to believe that the Officer is coming to check out Binghamton for a promotion, and transfer, so they shape up, so that Leadbottom will ship out. But, when McHale finds out the real reason for the Officer's visit, he and his crew cook up a plan, to get him off the hook.
#3 - One Enchanted Weekend
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/28/1963
Lovely Yvette Gerard has invited Parker to join her for a weekend at her island home. When Binghamton denies him leave, McHale works up a plan for Parker to have a "working vacation" on the island, which winds up with an unexpected bonus.
#4 - Alias Captain Binghamton
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 5/16/1963
The 73 gets a new crew member, who turns out to be a trouble-maker. McHale and the 73 crew cook up a wild plan to get rid of him, but, when their plan backfires, they find themselves in hot water again. So, they turn to their new Crewman, and use his special physical qualities to their advantage.
#5 - The Monster of McHale's Island
Season 1 - Episode 35 - Aired 6/13/1963
A Navy transport plane develops engine trouble, and is forced down at Taratupa. One of its passengers is an Admiral's Son, and a strict, by-the-book disciplinarian, as well as a spoiled brat. Binghamton sees to it that the kid is quartered on McHale's island, where he and his "little black book" cause quite a bit of trouble for McHale and his Crew. But McHale is soon fed up with the brat and takes matters into his own hands.
#6 - Reunion for PT 73
Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/14/1965
Binghamton has the evidence he needs to court martial McHale and the 73 crew and has summoned the Judge Advocate General to present it. McHale and the crew must then execute a very complicated plan to get Binghamton to reveal the whereabouts of the evidence, so that they can get rid of it before the JAG arrives.
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#7 - McHale's Floating Harem
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/1964
Ordered to provide a safe haven for a Sultan and his three daughters, Binghamton is forced to send McHale and the 73 Crew to rescue the royal family and bring them to Taratupa. But when Virgil sneaks one of the Princesses away for a romantic boat ride, Parker must become her stand-in while the guys hustle to return the real princess before the Sultan and the captain discover that she's missing.
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#9 - The Day They Captured Santa Claus
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/27/1962
Mchale decides for Christmas he and the crew of PT-73 will pay a visit to Sister Monique and the children dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and elf outfits. Mchale would parachute from a plane first and meet the kids and PT-73 would follow a little while after. Mchale jumps in his Santa outfit but when he lands he finds the island was overtaken by Japanese and was captured. Mchale as usual cons his way through the interrogation and he claims that a new secret weapon is on it's way, just then PT-73 arrives singing Christmas carols and dressed in elf outfits. The Japanese commander becomes scared fearing that this was some kind new of physiological warfare and he surrenders.
#10 - Movies Are Your Best Diversion
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/8/1962
When McHale and his men are assigned the duty of averting a Japanese attack on a US convoy, they use the soundtracks of movies starring John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, and Errol Flynn to confuse the enemies.
#11 - The Balloon Goes Up
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/14/1964
Binghamton is offered a promotion and transfer up to Fleet HQ, but must first reconcile a shortage in the base's equipment inventory. After all is accounted for, except for one item, a barrage balloon, McHale and the crew must race against time in order to locate it and bring it in, in time for Binghamton to be shipped out.
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#12 - The Battle of McHale's Island
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/1962
McHale and the boys cook up a scheme to keep Binghamton from building a new Officer's Club on McHale's island.
#13 - The Confidence Game
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/28/1963
Parker requests a transfer, when he feels he's not getting the respect he deserves. So, to change his mind, and build up his self-confidence, McHale puts him in charge of an important test mission.
#15 - Return of Big Frenchy
Season 2 - Episode 28 - Aired 3/24/1964
The French thief and con-artist first talks Binghamton out of a load of Navy supplies, then cons Parker into helping him get them to New Caledonia. McHale and the guys must then follow, rescue Parker, and recover the supplies.
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#16 - Senator Parker, Suh!
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1964
After Parker is passed over again for a promotion, Gruber devises a way for him to vent his frustrations, which winds up landing the Ensign in the brig, pending Court Martial. Then when they find out about an upcoming visit by the head of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, whose name just happens to be Parker, McHale and the boys work up a scheme to get their XO off the hook.
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#17 - Wally for Congress
Season 4 - Episode 30 - Aired 4/12/1966
A big-shot Washington Political Boss, with a reputation for turning war heroes into politicians, is about to pay a visit, and Binghamton must quickly change from a 'desk jockey', into a fearless, battle-hardened Commander in order to try to become the Boss's next project after the war.
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#18 - A Purple Heart for Gruber
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/1962
Lester Gruber has been given the job of laundering Captain Binghamton's uniforms. When a Japanese sub fires on the PT 73, the uniforms are destroyed, and Lester's finger is scratched, prompting him to put in for a Purple Heart.
#19 - McHale's Millions
Season 1 - Episode 33 - Aired 5/30/1963
The 73 Crew investigates the crash site of a Japanese transport plane, which is loaded with 4 million dollars' worth of American currency. McHale convinces the boys that the bills are counterfeit, and, later, Gruber trades the supposedly phony money to Urulu, for some island trinkets. But when they find out that the money is real, McHale and The Crew must scheme to get it back.
#20 - Camera, Action, Panic
Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 5/9/1963
A Combat Photographer comes to Taratupa, to film a P.T. crew in action. But trouble erupts, when Gruber swipes the Photographer's movie camera, for a little private enterprise. McHale and the 73 crew then have to scheme, to cover their own behinds, as well as the Photographer's.
#21 - The Great Impersonation
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/4/1964
Parker, a dead-ringer for an important British General, agrees to put his life on the line by posing as the General, to divert the attention of spies in New Caledonia, while the real General carries out a crucial invasion of a Japanese-held island.
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#22 - The Hillbillies of PT 73
Season 1 - Episode 34 - Aired 6/6/1963
Willy is devastated when he gets a letter from his best girl “ Back home, in the hills of Tennessee“ Informing him that she's marrying another man. So, McHale and the 73 Crew go all out to pick up his spirits. But Captain Binghamton wants everyone on their best behavior for the upcoming inspection tour of a certain budget-conscious V.I.P.
#23 - McHale's Paradise Motel
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/1962
Binghamton sends McHale and The 73 Crew on a recon mission to a supposedly deserted island, where they make a "home away from home" to enjoy themselves, away from the base. But, the U.S. Navy, as well as the Japanese, become suspicious, when they observe unusual activity on the island.
#24 - Nippon Nancy Calling
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/21/1963
When a Japanese radio announcer broadcasts details about Captain Binghamton that only someone close to him would know, Binghamton immediately suspects McHale and The 73 Crew, and enlists Parker's aid in nailing the traitor.
#25 - The Truth Hurts
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/19/1965
In an effort to get the goods on the 73 crew, Binghamton lures the boys into the hospital under false pretenses, and has them injected with sodium pentothal, or 'truth serum', which causes them to tell him everything he wants to know. McHale and Parker must then work up a plan to get them off the hook, by literally giving Binghamton a dose of his own medicine.
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