McHale's Navy
The Day the War Stood Still
TV Flash files “The Day the War Stood Still” as a desk essential hour — McHale's Navy (1962–1966) on ABC, season 2, episode 1, aired 1963-09-17, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E01: listed hour 37 of 138 in the McHale's Navy guide, first listed hour of season 2. It aired 1963-09-17 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Uncle Admiral” (S01E36). Next is “The Binghamton Murder Plot” (S02E02).
Essential hour: “The Day the War Stood Still”. The Day the War Stood Still opens season two on a title that admits the farce: WWII as argument McHale keeps winning.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
The crew steals Binghamton's champagne to celebrate Fuji's one-year anniversary with them. But when Binghampton captures Fuji, the crew have to fake the end of the war to distract him so they can free their friend.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Day the War Stood Still sit in the McHale's Navy guide?
S02E01 is listed hour 37 of 138 — first listed hour of season 2, season 2 episode 1.
When did McHale's Navy S02E01 air?
The Day the War Stood Still aired 1963-09-17 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Where should I start?
McHale's crew versus Binghamton is the farce circuit: Borgnine's schemes, Flynn's apoplexy, Conway's ensign. PT-73 as sitcom playground.
In the series
Why this series still plays
McHale's Navy is WWII as PT-boat farce: Ernest Borgnine's sneaky skipper, Tim Conway's Ensign Parker, and Joe Flynn's apoplectic Captain Binghamton losing every argument with the crew of PT-73. Borgnine's post-Marty comedy turn is the engine. Service sitcom comfort with a movie star slumming gloriously — Pacific-theater hijinks that never let the war get in the way of the gag.
The flash is a movie star in the skipper's chair treating the Pacific as a punchline. McHale's Navy is WWII as PT-boat farce: Ernest Borgnine's sneaky skipper, Tim Conway's Ensign Parker, and Joe Flynn's apoplectic Captain Binghamton losing every argument with the crew of PT-73. ABC, 1962–1966 — four seasons, 138 episodes — from Edward Montagne. Borgnine's post-Marty comedy turn is the engine; Conway broke out as the ensign. **They are not amicable, the schemes and the spit-and-polish.** Pacific-theater hijinks…
Filed against
- Ernest Borgnine as Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale
Ernest Borgnine’s Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale made McHale’s Navy a PT-boat farce with a movie star’s grin — 1960s catalog WWII as sitcom, then Airwolf stretching the hangar-dad warmth around a black supercopter. TV Flash files him as the…
- Joe Flynn as Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton
Joe Flynn’s Capt. Wallace B. Binghamton lost every argument with PT-73 on McHale’s Navy — WWII as PT-boat farce, Ernest Borgnine’s sneaky skipper, Tim Conway’s Ensign Parker, and Flynn’s apoplexy as the weekly punchline. Service sitcom…
- Tim Conway as Ensign Charles Parker
Tim Conway’s corpse-making ad-libs detonated The Carol Burnett Show — eleven CBS seasons, movie parodies, the charwoman, Korman trying not to go — after McHale’s Navy’s Ensign Parker drove Joe Flynn apoplectic on PT-73. Sketch variety at…