BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP

Show Type: War Drama

First Telecast: September 21, 1976

Last Telecast: September 1, 1978

Technical Advisor: Gregory Boyinton

Broadcast History:

September 1976 - August 1977, Tuesday 8:00-9:00 on NBC

December 1977 - March 1978, Wednesday 9:00-10:00 on NBC

March 1978 - April 1978, Thursday 9:00-10:00 on NBC

July 1978, Wednesday 9:00-10:00 on NBC

August 1978 - September 1978, Friday 8:00-9:00 on NBC

Cast

Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington..... Robert Conrad

Col. Lard, USMC..... Dana Elcar

Capt. James W. Gutterman (1976-1977)..... James Whitmore, Jr.

Lt. Jerry Bragg..... Dirk Blocker

Lt. T.J. Wiley..... Robert Ginty

Lt. Bob Anderson..... John Larroquette

Lt. Lawrence Casey..... W.K. Stratton

Gen. Moore..... Simon Oakland

Hutch (1976-1977)..... Joey Aresco

Lt. Don French..... Jeff MacKay

Lt. Bob Boyle..... Larry Manetti

Sgt. Andy Micklin (1977-1978)..... Red West

Cpl. Stan Richards (1977-1978)..... Steve Richmond

Capt. Tommy Harachi (1977-1978)..... Byron Chung

Capt. Dottie Dixon (1977-1978)..... Katherine Cannon

Lt. Jeb Pruitt (1978)..... Jeb Adams

Nurse Samantha Green (1978)..... Denise DuBarry

Nurse Ellie (1977-1978)..... Kathy McCullen

Nurse Susan (1977-1978)..... Brianne Leary

Nurse Nancy Gilmore (1977-1978)..... Nancy Conrad

SYNOPSIS

Based loosely on the book, Baa Baa Black Sheep, by the World War II Marine Corps flying ace Gregory Boyington, this series was the story of a squadron of misfit fliers in the South Pacific.

Squadron 214 was composed of men who had been on the verge of court-martial before Boyington provided them with reprieves. They had been charged with everything from fighting with officers, to stealing booze, to being general nuisances and nonconformists. Pappy (he was so named because at age 35 "he was an old man" by the standards of his men) maintained almost no discipline, ignored military regulations, and did not care what his men did when they weren't on missions. As long as they could fly and do the job when necessary, nothing else mattered. Given this personal code, Pappy was completely at home with his men, whether they were chasing women, getting into brawls, conning the military hierarchy or civilian populations, or - in a more serious vein - intercepting the Japanese.

Baa Baa Black Sheep was dropped from the NBC lineup at the end of the 1976-1977 season, only to be revived in December 1977 when most of the new 1977-1978 series failed and the network ran short of programming. It was re-titled Black Sheep Squadron, and Capt. Dottie Dixon was added to the cast. She was in charge of the nursing force on Vella La Cava, the island where Pappy and his men were based, and her young charges were seemingly always available for fun and games with the men of the 214th Squadron. Four of the girls became regular cast members in early 1978. They were christened "Pappy's Lambs," perhaps as a parody of ABC's popular Charlie's Angels, who were scheduled opposite Black Sheep Squadron. One of the lambs, Nurse Nancy, was played by the daughter of Robert Conrad.

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