The BEST episodes of McHale's Navy season 1
Every episode of McHale's Navy season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of McHale's Navy season 1!
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 - 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.
#3 - 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.
#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 - 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 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#10 - 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.
#11 - Uncle Admiral
Season 1 - Episode 36 - Aired 6/27/1963
An Admiral from Naval Operations “ Who just happens to be a ranking member of the Promotions Board“ Is stopping in, briefly, at Taratupa, and Captain Binghamton dreams of Admiral's stars, especially when he learns that the Admiral has a very close relative stationed on Taratupa.
#12 - The Big Raffle
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/7/1963
Christy finds out he's about to become a Father, so, while McHale is away in New Caledonia, Parker and the boys come up with a plan to raise money for expenses.
#13 - The Natives Get Restless
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/21/1963
Some local natives - who depend on McHale and his men for their income - are up in arms over Binghamton's having made their village off-limits to McHale and his Crew. But Binghamton must re-establish good relations with them, for the upcoming inspection tour of The Undersecretary Of The Navy.
#14 - The Mothers of PT 73
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/4/1963
Trouble ensues, when Parker inadvertently invites three of the 73 Crew's Mothers - including his own - to visit Taratupa for Mother's Day.
#15 - A Wreath for McHale
Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 4/18/1963
McHale and the 73 Crew are missing, and presumed dead, and Binghamton uses the situation for attention from a visiting War Correspondent.
#16 - Parents Anonymous
Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/23/1963
McHale and the 73 crew return from a mission, to find that a young Asian orphan girl has taken up residence on their island. They decide to keep her on the island, and go all out to make a happy home for her, and to keep her a secret from Binghamton. But Binghamton becomes suspicious, when he observes the crew's unusual behavior.
#17 - Instant Democracy
Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 5/2/1963
Gruber does some shady trading with Chief Urulu involving Navy property, and McHale is arrested, and threatened with court martial. But Binghamton drops the charges, when he finds he needs help from Urulu and his tribe.
#18 - Washing Machine Charlie
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/14/1963
A pesky Japanese Pilot - whom the base personnel have dubbed "Washing Machine Charlie" - is wreaking havoc, with his daily strafing runs on Taratupa, and McHale and the 73 Crew have an incentive to bring him down.
#19 - The Ensign Gets a Zero
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/31/1963
Complications arise, when Gruber falsifies Parker's gunnery score to keep Parker from being shipped out.
#20 - One of Our Engines is Missing
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/14/1963
The 73's engines are dying, and Binghamton uses the situation as an excuse to have McHale and his Crew reassigned. So McHale and the boys must scheme, to try to make the 73 healthy again.
#21 - Six Pounds from Paradise
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/7/1963
The Navy has issued a directive stating that all overweight Combat Officers will be shipped out, and, when Binghamton goes all out to see that McHale goes over the weight limit, the boys cook up a plan to keep him with them.
#22 - The Captain Steals a Cook
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/24/1963
Another of Gruber's shady enterprises backfires, when Binghamton gets a taste of the delicious Polynesian cuisine that Fuji has been cooking up, for sale to the base personnel.
#23 - Send Us a Hero
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/17/1963
A U.S. Congresswoman comes to Taratupa, to find a War Hero to take on a Stateside War Bond tour, and Parker and the boys help McHale to get chosen for the job, thinking that they will be going along.
#24 - The Captain's Mission
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/10/1963
Binghamton’s reputation as a “desk jockey” brings on a desire for some real combat experience, so, while McHale is away at New Caledonia, he assumes command of the 73, and goes out looking for action, with disappointing results.
#25 - Beauty and the Beast
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/3/1963
A Photo Journalist for the Office of War Information - an extremely unpleasant person, with whom McHale is familiar - is sent to Taratupa to do a story on PT Boats and their Crews. Through a case of mistaken identity, McHale and the boys are stuck with her, and must scheme to try to get rid of her.