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 - Make Room for Orvie
Season 3 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/1/1965
Binghamton pressures a young new member of the 73 crew into spying on McHale and the guys, to try to gather evidence of any shady activities. But the Captain's plan is foiled by another new member of the crew, who proves to be not only very intelligent, but an excellent sailor as well.
#3 - The Fugitive Ensign
Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/11/1966
Parker takes it on the lam after an accident with a machine gun has him thinking that he's killed the Captain. After the furious Binghamton orders an all-out search for Parker and offers a sizeable reward for his capture, McHale and the boys must first find him, then cook up a complicated plan to get him out of trouble.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - Who Was That German I Saw You With?
Season 4 - Episode 26 - Aired 3/15/1966
During an attempt to impress a famous War Correspondent, Binghamton is taken prisoner by a German patrol who have disguised themselves as American Sailors. After Parker is also captured, McHale and the guys come to the rescue and wind up having their picture on the cover of a popular magazine.
#7 - 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.
#8 - My Son, the Skipper
Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/1/1966
Thinking that McHale has been shipped out and fed up with the power-drunk Parker, Gruber, Virgil, Tinker, Christy, and Willy all put in for transfers. But when they find out that McHale's absence is only temporary, Parker and the crew must come up with a plan to get the Captain to tear up the transfer papers.
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - Little Red Riding Doctor
Season 4 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/8/1966
In the midst of the town's 500th anniversary celebration, Binghamton tries to arrange to have a visiting psychiatrist declare the 73 crew unfit for duty, forcing the newly-crowned 'King of The Festival' to come up with a plan to keep his crew together and turn the tables on the Captain.
Watch Now:Amazon
#10 - An Ensign's Best Friend
Season 4 - Episode 28 - Aired 3/29/1966
Concerned about Parker's unusual behavior, McHale and the guys investigate his situation, and are a bit shocked when they find that he's involved with a cute young thing named Angelina who happens to be in a family way.
Watch Now:Amazon
#11 - 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.
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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.
Watch Now:Amazon
#14 - 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.
#15 - 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.
#16 - Fire in the Liquor Locker
Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/4/1966
Gruber and the guys find a way to both make and deliver their homemade liquor when they build a mobile distillery in an old fire engine. But their scheme goes sour when Binghamton confiscates the old engine for the new Voltafiore Volunteer Fire Department, formed as a part of his new civic improvement program.
#17 - The Bald-Headed Contessa
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1965
After both Binghamton and Harrigan catch McHale and the guys having some unauthorized R&R in the home of an Italian Contessa, they have no choice but to go along with the plan of having Parker pose as the Contessa in order to try to fool General Bronson, and keep everyone out of trouble.
#18 - Laugh, Captain, Laugh
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/20/1964
After Parker nearly drowns Binghamton during an accident on the 73, the Captain calls for a Fitness Board Inquiry to determine Parker's fitness for duty. McHale and the boys then execute a clever plan involving nitrous oxide, or 'laughing gas', to help Binghamton to change his mind, which backfires when an Admiral from the board arrives early to investigate Parker's situation.
Watch Now:Amazon
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
Watch Now:Amazon
#22 - The Stool Parrot
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/5/1965
Binghamton’s “No-Fraternization” policy forces McHale and the boys to find a secret location for a big party they’ve planned with the Nurses. But Gruber’s pet parrot spills the beans to Binghamton.
#23 - The Great Necklace Caper
Season 3 - Episode 28 - Aired 3/30/1965
Binghamton panics when he learns that Naval Intelligence is on it's way to investigate the disappearance of a $1000 jade necklace, which he bought with funds 'borrowed' from the Officer's Club. Then, after the necklace turns up, Binghamton tries to frame McHale and his men with the crime in order to cover his tracks.
#24 - A Nip in Time
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1965
Gruber and the guys find that there is money to be made in the lucrative German war souvenir market, and after they, McHale, and Colonel Harrigan are all captured by a German patrol during a souvenir-hunting trip to an off-limits town, Parker and Fuji collaborate on a clever plan to rescue their comrades.
#25 - Piazza Binghamtoni
Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1965
After Binghamton throws Parker into the brig under several unfair charges, McHale and Mayor Lugatto must cooperate in a plan to turn the glory-hungry Binghamton into 'The Great Liberator', as part of a plan to get the Ensign out of the slammer.
Want to see the rest of the rankings?
Episode Ninja is a small business run by one person.
Pro memberships help fund servers and new feature development!