JAG
The Prisoner
TV Flash files “The Prisoner” as hour 20 of 227 in the TV Flash guide — JAG (1995–2005) on NBC/CBS, season 1, episode 20, aired 1996-05-08, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E20: listed hour 20 of 227 in the JAG guide, hour 20 of 22 in season 1. It aired 1996-05-08 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Recovery” (S01E19). Next is “Ares” (S01E21).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Communist Chinese kidnap Rabb when he goes to Hong Kong; Rabb thinks a fellow prisoner may be his MIA father.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Prisoner sit in the JAG guide?
S01E20 is listed hour 20 of 227 — hour 20 of 22 in season 1, season 1 episode 20.
When did JAG S01E20 air?
The Prisoner aired 1996-05-08 and is listed at 60 minutes.
NBC or CBS?
Premiered on NBC in 1995, then thrived on CBS. The hop is the survival story; the long procedural life is the CBS chapter.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Navy lawyers with flight hours: uniforms, courtrooms, and a will-they that ran on protocol. The procedural that quietly built a franchise navy — Harm, Mac, and military legal comfort food that hopped from NBC to CBS and then spawned NCIS. Sincere, square, and sneakily durable if you like cases that salute before they cross-examine.
In medias res in a courtroom that still smells like jet fuel: Navy JAG officers investigating and prosecuting cases tied to the fleet, a will-they running on protocol. Donald P. Bellisario's procedural premiered on NBC in 1995 and thrived after hopping to CBS — handsome military legal comfort food that quietly became a franchise mothership. Max can keep his binge-and-bury navy; this is a network hop that saved a uniform. David James Elliott's Harm, Catherine Bell's Mac, Patrick Labyorteaux's Bud, John M.…
Filed against
- David James Elliott as Harm Rabb
David James Elliott’s Harm Rabb made JAG a uniform with flight hours — Navy lawyers, courtrooms, a will-they that ran on protocol, the procedural that quietly built a franchise navy and then spawned NCIS. NBC to CBS hop. TV Flash files…
- Catherine Bell as Sarah MacKenzie
Catherine Bell played Sarah MacKenzie on JAG — Navy lawyers with flight hours, uniforms, courtrooms, a will-they that ran on protocol. The procedural that quietly built a franchise navy, hopping from NBC to CBS. TV Flash files her as…
- Patrick Labyorteaux as Bud Roberts
Patrick Labyorteaux played Bud Roberts on JAG, the 1990s Navy-lawyer procedural of uniforms, courtrooms, and a will-they that ran on protocol. Harm, Mac, military legal comfort food that hopped from NBC to CBS and then spawned NCIS. TV…
- John M. Jackson as A.J. Chegwidden
John M. Jackson’s A.J. Chegwidden ran JAG like a protocol cathedral — Navy lawyers with flight hours, uniforms, courtrooms, a will-they on procedure. The procedural that quietly built a franchise navy, hopping NBC to CBS, then spawning…