The Wackiest Ship in the Army

Add this series to the list of TV series that deserved more than one season on air. Though loosely based on the movie of the same title that starred Jack Lemmon and Rick Nelson, this show had it's own near perfect cast with one of Jack Warden's finest characterizations, Mike Kellin reprising his role as "the Chief" from the movie, a letter perfect "crew" of young actors and comedians, and some of the nicest looking actresses of the day in continuing roles as the men's love interests. There was excellent writing all around, the seriousness of the war, the humor of the crew, and the constant good natured struggle for authority between Major Butcher and Lieutenant "Rip" Riddle. It was, like The Rogues the year before, another one season gem starring David Niven, Charles Boyer, Gig Young, and Robert Coote, canceled because it was beat out by the CBS powerhouse of Candid Camera and What's My Line who owned the time slot for many years. I was barely a teenager when this show came out, but I still remember being crushed when it was canceled, and to this day still bear a little bit of a grudge against CBS and the aforementioned shows!