| At Ease | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | John Hughes |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Jack Elliott |
| Opening theme | Jack Elliott |
| Composer | Jack Elliott |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 (+1 Pilot episode) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Archie R. Dalzell |
| Editor | Samuel E. Beetley |
| Running time | 24 min. |
| Production company | Aaron Spelling Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | March 4 (1983-03-04) – June 10, 1983 (1983-06-10) |
At Ease is an American sitcom starring Jimmie Walker that aired for 14 episodes on ABC from March 4 to June 10, 1983, with reruns continuing until July 15, 1983.
Synopsis
The series, which has a similar premise to another classic show, Sgt. Bilko, follows the misadventures of a pair of conniving GIs – Sgt. Val Valentine and PFC. Tony Baker – stationed at Camp Tar Creek, an Army base, dealing with computers and computer logistics, located somewhere in Texas. It is run by Colonel Clapp, who can be somewhat dense and credulous.
Valentine and Baker, along with the rest of their outfit, Company J., which includes privates Cardinal, Maurice and the klutzy and always hungry Maxwell, attempt to outwit the Colonel's by-the-book chief of security Major Hawkins and his informant Cpl. Wessel (who is very derisively called "Weasel" by Baker and Valentine, due to his propensity to snitch on Valentine and Baker to Hawkins), and profit from their hitch in the army.
Hawkins always tries to shut down Valentine and Baker's schemes and shape the camp up to his high standards, but he usually ends up failing.
They are also assisted in their efforts by Baker's girlfriend, Cpl. Lola Grey, who serves as Clapp's secretary.
Cast
- Roger Bowen - Col. Clapp
- Jimmie Walker - Sgt. Val Valentine
- John Vargas - Cardinal
- Jourdan Fremin - Cpl. Lola Grey
- Richard Jaeckel - Maj. Hawkins
- Josh Mostel - Maxwell
- David Naughton - Pfc. Tony Baker
- George Wyner - Cpl. Wessel (aka "Weasel")
- Jeffrey Bannister - Maurice
US TV ratings
| Season | Episodes | Start Date | End Date | Nielsen Rank | Nielsen Rating | Tied With |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-83 | 14 | March 4, 1983 | June 10, 1983 | 67 | N/A | N/A |
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Tankful of Dollars" | Hy Averback | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | March 4, 1983 (1983-03-04) | |
| Baker and Valentine are disciplined for on-base gambling. | |||||
| 2 | "Chariots of Fear" | Bob Sweeney | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | March 11, 1983 (1983-03-11) | |
| 3 | "Computer Dating" | Bob Sweeney | Arthur Julian | March 18, 1983 (1983-03-18) | |
| Baker and Valentine plot to use the base's computer as a computer dating service. | |||||
| 4 | "Prairie Moon Over Texas" | Edward H. Feldman | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | March 25, 1983 (1983-03-25) | |
| Baker and Valentine get caught renting Army equipment to a nudist colony. | |||||
| 5 | "Murder on the Tar Creek Express" | Hy Averback | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | April 1, 1983 (1983-04-01) | |
| Colonel Clapp's new automated security system is sabotaged. | |||||
| 6 | "Love Sick" | Hy Averback | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | April 8, 1983 (1983-04-08) | |
| Baker pretends to be sick in order to be looked at by a pretty doctor. | |||||
| 7 | "The Marriage of the Figaros" | Hy Averback | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | April 15, 1983 (1983-04-15) | |
| Baker and Valentine rent the chapel to a couple wanting a military wedding. | |||||
| 8 | "The Ballad of Lucinda Ballard" | Hy Averback | Stephanie Garman & Hollace White | April 22, 1983 (1983-04-22) | |
| Corporal Grey bets Major Hawkins that there has been an American female war hero. | |||||
| 9 | "The Great Computer Robbery" | Bob Sweeney | Arthur Julian | April 29, 1983 (1983-04-29) | |
| After one insult too many, the soldiers get revenge on Major Hawkins by stealing his secret laser device. | |||||
| 10 | "A PFC and a Gentleman" | Bob Sweeney | Arthur Julian | May 13, 1983 (1983-05-13) | |
| Baker plans a romantic evening with Lola, but is ordered on a mission. | |||||
| 11 | "A Tar Creek Sting" | Edward H. Feldman | Tom Biener & Ron Landry | May 20, 1983 (1983-05-20) | |
| The soldiers force Corporal Wessel to help them break up a gambling ring at the saloon. | |||||
| 12 | "Valentine's Day" | Bob Sweeney | Arthur Julian | May 27, 1983 (1983-05-27) | |
| A Texas state police officer comes to the base believing that Valentine is seeing his girlfriend. | |||||
| 13 | "Maxwell's People" | Bob Sweeney | Arthur Julian | June 3, 1983 (1983-06-03) | |
| A Russian spy is working at Tar Creek and the Pentagon thinks one of the soldiers is providing her with information. | |||||
| 14 | "The Tar Creek Chronicles" | Hy Averback | John Hughes | June 10, 1983 (1983-06-10) | |
| A former All-American football player arrives at Tar Creek and Colonel Clapp wants to play him against Navy. (Note: this was the original pilot film for the series, featuring a slightly different cast and setting. A different opening and closing sequence was used for the pilot.) | |||||
References
- ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1982-83 Ratings History -- Soap Bubbles Rise, Several Veterans Part and NBC Renews Poorly Rated Masterpieces". Archived from the original on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
External links
Categories:- 1983 American television series debuts
- 1983 American television series endings
- 1980s American sitcoms
- American English-language television shows
- Military comedy television series
- Television shows set in Texas
- Television series by CBS Studios
- Television series by Spelling Television
- American Broadcasting Company sitcoms