# TV shows or movies with military characters **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549 "2006-12-17T22:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/21 "2006-12-18T17:22:37Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] **Battlestar Galactica** (both versions). The setting is a warship and most characters are in the Colonial Fleet. [/QUOTE] Hm, I haven’t seen much of the new show, but isn’t the military setting a rather central basis of the show? Or does more of it center around just day to day making do rather than doing military stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/22 "2006-12-18T19:26:55Z")
Consider also the movies based upon two of Pat Conroy’s best books, _The Great Santini_ (with Robert Duvall as an SOB Marine fighter pilot, and how his put-upon family deals with him) and _The Lords of Discipline_ (about the mid-1960s desegregation of a Southern military academy bearing an uncanny resemblance to The Citadel, Conroy’s own _alma mater_). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/23 "2006-12-18T19:52:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] The guys on the various incarnations of _Star Trek_ went out of their way on numerous occasions to say they _weren’t_ the military. In fact, offhand the only person I can think of who ever called Starfleet “the military” was David Marcus. [/QUOTE] They wear uniforms, have ranks like Commander and Lieutenant, wear sidearms, travel in massive ships with weapons that can obliterate cities and enforce Federation foreign policy. Sounds like military to me. Really a stupid concept. It would seem like the Enterprise would be a more effective warship if they replaced the daycare centers and labratories with extra photon torpedos and phasers or vice versus if you wanted to make a better research ship. In friends, Phoebe had a friend (with benefits) played by Charlie Sheen who was a Naval officer. For the most part, there is largely no point in making a character on a show part of the military other than to explain why we only see them once a season. The most obvious reason is that their military duties would generally require them to be somewhere other than sitting in the coffee shop, bar or friends appartment. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/24 "2006-12-18T20:11:54Z")
Danny McCoy on **Las Vegas** is a Marine (reserves or something). He was called to active duty over hiatus once. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/25 "2006-12-19T17:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=foolsguinea] Danny McCoy on **Las Vegas** is a Marine (reserves or something). He was called to active duty over hiatus once. [/QUOTE] Barely. They didn’t even give him a haircut when he was in uniform. No way a marine officer has hair like that. :dubious: On _Magnum PI_ the characters military service was mostly background. It was important background but still background. Was that the first show that had the main character be a Viet Nam vet? ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/26 "2006-12-19T18:20:14Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] In the shortlived Sixties TV drama _American Dreams_ [/QUOTE] …A show that was on for several seasons (3 do be exact) cannot be called shortlived. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/27 "2006-12-19T23:03:20Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Really a stupid concept. It would seem like the Enterprise would be a more effective warship if they replaced the daycare centers and labratories with extra photon torpedos and phasers or vice versus if you wanted to make a better research ship. [/QUOTE] To be fair, on Star Trek, we DO see ships that are dedicated research ships (ie the USS Oberth), and ships that are dedicated warships (ie: the USS Defiant). Ships like the Enterprise I think are intended to sort of be their own escort, carrying all the various research and crew support facilities needed for long-range peaceful exploration, and also carrying enough firepower to give would-be enemies second thoughts about starting something with the spandex-wearing weirdos. Even within Star trek, the Enterprise D and her sister ships were considered the exception rather than the rule, the Ent D once being refered to as “Flying Hotel” by the captain of an Excelsior class starship (which in TNG and DS9, is probably one of the most commonly seen Starfleet ships). Most of the ships just don’t carry civilians, and most of those that do don’t carry even the fairly modest number that the Enterprise D does (how many kids DID we see on the D? Maybe a dozen tops at any given time?). That said, it is mildly distressing to note how many times the Enterprise raced into battle without taking any apparent measures to ensure the safety of the civilians aboard. [QUOTE=Push You Down] …A show that was on for several seasons (3 do be exact) cannot be called shortlived. [/QUOTE] Depends on if you’re a Dr. Who fan or not, I guess. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/28 "2006-12-19T23:07:30Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] …and also carrying enough firepower to give would-be enemies second thoughts about starting something with the spandex-wearing weirdos. [/QUOTE] Sounds like something the average Star Trek _convention_ could use. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/29 "2006-12-19T23:13:13Z")
In the soap to end all soaps (_[Soap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_%28TV_series%29)_), the Major was a retired Major. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/30 "2006-12-20T17:57:44Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] On _Magnum PI_ the characters military service was mostly background. It was important background but still background. Was that the first show that had the main character be a Viet Nam vet? [/QUOTE] Steve McGarrett in _Hawaii Five-O_ was a U.S. Naval Intelligence officer during the Vietnam War, wasn’t he? Or maybe earlier, given the airdates of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/31 "2006-12-20T18:05:05Z")
_Twin Peaks_ had Don S. Dixon as “The Major”, and it was implied that the US Air Force was interested in the events in that town. Somehow. Because the Air Force is always called in when a serial killer who can transfer his consciousness to other bodies is on the loose. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/32 "2006-12-20T19:31:25Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] _Twin Peaks_ had Don S. Dixon as “The Major”, and it was implied that the US Air Force was interested in the events in that town. Somehow. Because the Air Force is always called in when a serial killer who can transfer his consciousness to other bodies is on the loose. [/QUOTE] Said like a man who doesn’t watch enough Stargate: SG1 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/33 "2006-12-20T20:44:43Z")
A few shows come to mind but the more recent ones have mostly been mentioned. I might suggest a few from the earlier days of television. Representing the U.S. Navy. McHales Navy - with Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Carl Valentine (or was it Balentine) The guy who was to become Captain Stubbings on Love boat was also on the show… Hennesy - with Jackie Cooper Don’t Go Near the Water - Didn’t last long so I don’t remember who was in it. The Wackiest Ship in the Army (or something like that - it was based on the Jack Lemmon, Rick Nelson film) - I don’t remember who was in it. CPO Sharkey - with Don Rickles In addition there was a show about submariners called the Silent Service. There was also a show called (if I remember correctly), Men of Annapolis about the Naval Academy. For the Army, the only ones I recall are: Combat - with Vic Marrow (sp?) The Rat Patrol - I am ashamed that I can’t remember who was in that one. I can see his face, but not recall his name. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/34 "2006-12-20T21:13:57Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Said like a man who doesn’t watch enough Stargate: SG1 😃 [/QUOTE] Well, I was glas to see The major get that long awaited promotion to general and get a decent command. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/35 "2006-12-21T01:21:17Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] Well, I was glas to see The major get that long awaited promotion to general and get a decent command. [/QUOTE] Heh.. wow… Meta-continuity there, huh? Having never seen Twin Peaks, I didn’t realize that the two characters were connected. 😃 But yeah, SG1 shows the Air Force getting involved in all sorts of places you wouldn’t expect it to get involved in, including hunting down rogue NID cells and crewing warships (flying warships, true, but still). I’m still waiting for the SGC to just open a wormhole to some enemy planet, lob a few missiles through to clear the way, and then just send a regiment of heavily armed Marines through with orders to shoot anyone dressed funny. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/36 "2006-12-21T01:55:27Z")
On _The Big Comfy Couch_, the letter carrier was a rumpled-haired fella named Major Bedhead. I guess he coulda been ex-military. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/37 "2006-12-21T02:01:17Z")
[QUOTE=TV time] The Rat Patrol - I am ashamed that I can’t remember who was in that one. I can see his face, but not recall his name. [/QUOTE] Christopher George, among others. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/38 "2006-12-21T03:04:12Z")
[QUOTE=TV time] A few shows come to mind but the more recent ones have mostly been mentioned. I might suggest a few from the earlier days of television. Representing the U.S. Navy. McHales Navy - with Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Carl Valentine (or was it Balentine) The guy who was to become Captain Stubbings on Love boat was also on the show.. Hennesy - with Jackie Cooper Don’t Go Near the Water - Didn’t last long so I don’t remember who was in it. The Wackiest Ship in the Army (or something like that - it was based on the Jack Lemmon, Rick Nelson film) - I don’t remember who was in it. CPO Sharkey - with Don Rickles In addition there was a show about submariners called the Silent Service. There was also a show called (if I remember correctly), Men of Annapolis about the Naval Academy. For the Army, the only ones I recall are: Combat - with Vic Marrow (sp?) The Rat Patrol - I am ashamed that I can’t remember who was in that one. I can see his face, but not recall his name. [/QUOTE] The OP asked _“Are there any shows where one or more of the main characters are in the armed forces, but it’s more of a background thing than a central thing?”_ In the ones you mention the military is central to the show. And under the army you left out _Tour of Duty_. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/39 "2006-12-21T05:05:46Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] They wear uniforms, have ranks like Commander and Lieutenant, wear sidearms, travel in massive ships with weapons that can obliterate cities and enforce Federation foreign policy. Sounds like military to me. [/QUOTE] You forgot that they are the primary defensive force against foreign invasions and other external threats, which is the basic fundamental role that military forces exist to fill. The idea that “Starfleet is not a military” is, as Eric Cartman would say, God-damn hippy crap. Remember, Star Trek is a product of the 60’s, when everybody knew that military forces are eeeeeeevil, and that soldiers are all bloodthirsty psychopaths who like nothing better than to burn down people’s houses and shoot women and children. And we can’t have our heroic space explorers associating themselves with that, can we? :rolleyes: Thus, they insist that that they are not a military force, no matter how nonsensical that claim may be. ---
**Author:** ![Dubious\_Weasle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b782af/32.png) [@Dubious\_Weasle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dubious_Weasle)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549/40 "2006-12-21T05:28:46Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] For the most part, there is largely no point in making a character on a show part of the military other than to explain why we only see them once a season. The most obvious reason is that their military duties would generally require them to be somewhere other than sitting in the coffee shop, bar or friends appartment. [/QUOTE] I think this is the main reason why you don’t see many military characters in shows that lack military settings. Unless it’s a character that’s going to pop in and out frequently during a season it’s just kind of awkward. Now admittedly most of the military works a pretty standard shift of some kind or another (either day job, swing shift etc) but interruptions are still pretty frequent. With this said, it wouldn’t be too hard to have a character in the military who had duties which allowed them to regularly show up at the bar, apartment complex, diner etc.. but really, what would be the point? Basically, unless there is a strong story-reason for the character to be in the militaryit just doesn’t make much sense. You force yourself to fight against audience expectations of what a military member _should_ be doing for minimal payoff. If the show is about their off-duty time it’s usually less hassle to pick another job. If the show spends time at their job setting then.. well you have a military setting. This is not to say you won’t see it from time to time but for the most part, the characters writers might plausibly place in the military for character reasons can just as easily be placed in the police force without being forced to shoulder the extra baggage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-or-movies-with-military-characters/384549.md?page=3)