McHale's Navy
The Return of Big Frenchy
TV Flash files “The Return of Big Frenchy” as hour 64 of 138 in the TV Flash guide — McHale's Navy (1962–1966) on ABC, season 2, episode 28, aired 1964-03-24, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E28: listed hour 64 of 138 in the McHale's Navy guide, hour 28 of 36 in season 2. It aired 1964-03-24 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Comrades of PT 73” (S02E27). Next is “Alias PT 73” (S02E29).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
The French con man is back, this time to steal thousands of dollars worth of Naval supplies.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Return of Big Frenchy sit in the McHale's Navy guide?
S02E28 is listed hour 64 of 138 — hour 28 of 36 in season 2, season 2 episode 28.
When did McHale's Navy S02E28 air?
The Return of Big Frenchy aired 1964-03-24 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…