''Major Dad'' is an American

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

television series created by Richard C. Okie and John G. Stephens, developed by

Earl Pomerantz Earl Pomerantz (February 4, 1945 – March 7, 2020) was a Canadian-born screenwriter, who spent almost the entirety of his career working in U.S. television comedy. He was born to a Jewish family. Career Pomerantz wrote a weekly column for the ' ...

, that originally ran from September 17, 1989, to May 17, 1993 on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

, starring

Gerald McRaney Gerald Lee McRaney (born August 19, 1947) is an American television and film actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows ''Simon & Simon'', '' Major Dad'', ''Promised Land'' and ''House of Cards''. He currently stars ...

as Major John D. MacGillis and

Shanna Reed Shanna Reed (born Shanna Herron; October 30, 1955) is an American dancer and television and movie actress. She is known for playing Polly Cooper McGillis on '' Major Dad''. One of seven siblings, she is the step-daughter of Tommy Reed, the jazz ...

as his wife Polly. The cast also includes

Beverly Archer Beverly Archer is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her television roles as Iola Boylen on '' Mama's Family'' and as Gunnery Sgt. Alva Bricker on ''Major Dad''. Career In addition to her roles as a regular member of the cas ...

Matt Mulhern Matt Mulhern (born July 21, 1960) is an American actor and historian who has starred in such films as '' One Crazy Summer'' and '' Biloxi Blues'', and such television series such as '' Major Dad'', '' JAG'', and '' Rescue Me'' (playing Lt. John ...

Jon Cypher Jon Cypher (born January 13, 1932) is an American actor and singer. He is best known as playing Chief of Police Fletcher Daniels in ''Hill Street Blues'' throughout the series' run. He is also known for his work in ''Cinderella'', ''As the World Tu ...

Marisa Ryan Marisa Ryan (born November 20, 1974) is an American actress, best known for her role as Nina Grabowski in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'', as Elizabeth Cooper-MacGillis in the CBS sitcom ''Major Dad'' (1989–1993), and as Abby Bernstein in ...

Nicole Dubuc Nicole Danielle Dubuc (born November 6, 1978) is an American actress and writer, known for her work on the ''Transformers'' franchise, including ''Transformers: Prime'', ''Transformers: Rescue Bots, Rescue Bots'', ''Transformers: Rescue Bots Acad ...

, and Chelsea Hertford.

Synopsis

The first season is set at the fictional Camp Singleton (meant to represent

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by Oc ...

), where hard-charging

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

Major John D. "Mac" MacGillis is commander of the infantry training school's acquisition division. MacGillis's life is changed when he falls in love with a liberal journalist, Polly Cooper. The show follows Mac in his work life, where he deals with Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (Matt Mulhern), Sgt. Byron James (Marlon Archey), and Merilee Gunderson (

Whitney Kershaw Whitney Kershaw (born April 10, 1962) is an American singer and actress, best known for her roles on television. Her most well known role was that of Merilee Gunderson during the first season of ''Major Dad'' in 1989 and 1990. Kershaw originated ...

), as well as his home life, as he learns to live with Polly's three daughters, Elizabeth, Robin, and Casey. At the beginning of the second season, the MacGillis family moves to Camp Hollister (based on

Marine Corps Base Quantico Marine Corps Base Quantico (commonly abbreviated MCB Quantico) is a United States Marine Corps installation located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly of southern Prince William County, Virginia, northern Stafford County, and southeaster ...

), where Mac must adapt to the role of staff secretary (or "staff weenie") and the crazy antics of Commanding (Brigadier) General Marcus C. Craig, Aide-de-Camp 1st Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (who transferred with Major MacGillis from Camp Singleton), and Gunnery Sgt. Alva "Gunny" Bricker, the General's secretary, a no-nonsense Marine, who despite her brusque nature and unprepossessing physical appearance, is the target of many enthusiastic (and unseen) suitors. Character development increased during the second season, such as the revelation that MacGillis is a former member of the

United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-man rifle platoon led by a Captain and Platoon Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Often referred to as The Marching Twenty-Four, the unit performs a unique silent precis ...

Cast

Episode guide

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* *{{epguides, id=MajorDad
''Major Dad'' introduction
(video clip) 1989 American television series debuts 1993 American television series endings 1980s American sitcoms 1990s American sitcoms CBS original programming English-language television shows Military comedy television series Television series by Universal Television Television shows set in California Television shows set in Virginia Television shows about the United States Marine Corps Television series about families 1980s American workplace comedy television series 1990s American workplace comedy television series