Major Dad

Last updated

Major Dad
Major dad.jpg
The cast of Major Dad.
Genre Sitcom
Created byJohn G. Stephens
Richard C. Okie
Developed by Earl Pomerantz
Starring Gerald McRaney
Shanna Reed
Beverly Archer
Jon Cypher
Nicole Dubuc
Chelsea Hertford
Matt Mulhern
Marisa Ryan
ComposersRoger Steinman
Steve Dorff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes96 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersRick Hawkins
Gerald McRaney
Richard C. Okie
Earl Pomerantz
ProducersJim Evering
Barry Gold
Janet Leahy
Liz Sage
Todd Stephens
EditorsSkip Collector
John William Heath
Augie Hess
Camera setup35mm Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesS.B.B. Productions
Spanish Trail Productions
Universal Television
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseSeptember 17, 1989 (1989-09-17) –
May 17, 1993 (1993-05-17)

Major Dad is an American sitcom television series created by Richard C. Okie and John G. Stephens, developed by Earl Pomerantz, that originally ran from September 17, 1989, to May 17, 1993, on CBS, starring Gerald McRaney as Major John D. MacGillis and Shanna Reed as his wife Polly. The cast also includes Beverly Archer, Matt Mulhern, Jon Cypher, Marisa Ryan, Nicole Dubuc, and Chelsea Hertford.

Contents

Synopsis

The first season is set at the fictional Camp Singleton (meant to represent Camp Pendleton),[ citation needed ] where hard-charging United States Marine Corps Major John D. "Mac" MacGillis is commander of the infantry training school's acquisition division. MacGillis's life is changed when he falls in love with a liberal journalist, Polly Cooper. The show follows Mac in his work life, where he deals with Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (Matt Mulhern), Sgt. Byron James (Marlon Archey), and Merilee Gunderson (Whitney Kershaw), as well as his home life, as he learns to live with Polly's three daughters, Elizabeth, Robin, and Casey.

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 (Brigadier) General Marcus C. Craig, Aide-de-Camp 1st Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (who transferred with Major MacGillis from Camp Singleton), and Gunnery Sgt. Alva "Gunny" Bricker, the General's secretary, a no-nonsense Marine, who despite her brusque nature and unprepossessing physical appearance, is the target of many enthusiastic (and unseen) suitors. Character development increased during the second season, such as the revelation that MacGillis is a former member of the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.

Major Dad incorporated the 1991 Persian Gulf War into storylines, depicting Mac staying stateside instead of going to Saudi Arabia as he wanted. Scenes with Polly writing in her diary were shot as late as possible to incorporate breaking news. [1] After rewriting the last six episodes of the 1990-1991 season because of the war, the show had to again modify episodes because the war ended sooner than expected. [2]

Cast

Episode guide

SeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedRankRating
First releasedLast released
1 26September 17, 1989 (1989-09-17)May 21, 1990 (1990-05-21)39 [3] 13.2 [4]
2 24September 17, 1990 (1990-09-17)May 13, 1991 (1991-05-13)2114.9
(Tied with In the Heat of the Night )
3 24September 16, 1991 (1991-09-16)May 11, 1992 (1992-05-11)916.8
4 22September 25, 1992 (1992-09-25)May 17, 1993 (1993-05-17)69 [5] 9.8 [6]

Scheduling

In its first three seasons, the show aired on Monday nights, where it attained solid ratings for most of its run, ultimately peaking at #9 in its third season. But for the fourth season, CBS moved Major Dad to Friday nights where ratings sagged, leading to its cancellation.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardResultCategoryRecipient
1992 BMI Film & TV Award WonBMI TV Music AwardSteve Dorff
1992 Emmy Award NominatedOutstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme MusicSteve Dorff
1990 Young Artist Awards NominatedBest Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesChelsea Hertford
WonBest New Television Series
-
1991NominatedBest Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesMarisa Ryan
Best Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesChelsea Hertford
Best Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesNicole Dubuc
Best Young Actor Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV SeriesChance Michael Corbitt
1992NominatedBest Young Actress Starring in a Television SeriesMarisa Ryan
1993NominatedOutstanding Actress Under Ten in a Television SeriesChelsea Hertford

References

  1. ↑ Tucker, Ken (February 22, 1991). "The War and 'Major Dad'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ Herbert, Steven (March 11, 1991). "'Major Dad' Gets a Change of Orders : Television: The end of the Gulf War forces the CBS military sitcom to revise episodes that were altered when war began". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  3. ↑ "The TV Ratings Guide: 1989-90 Ratings History".
  4. ↑ "The TV Ratings Guide: 1989-90 Ratings History".
  5. ↑ "The TV Ratings Guide: 1992-93 Ratings History".
  6. ↑ "The TV Ratings Guide: 1992-93 Ratings History".
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