11 – At Ease (1983)

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At Ease was writer/director John Hughes’ first and last television series as creator. Though Hughes would get his start on the short-lived Delta House, At Ease was his creation… or at least parts of it were.

This episode was recorded after watching all but one episode of At Ease. YouTube hosts 13 of the 14 episodes. Unfortunately, the fourth episode “Prairie Moon Over Texas,” is currently unavailable. Find the rest of the episodes here.

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Synopsis

The series, set at Camp Tar Creek, an Army computer base in Texas, follows the misadventures of Sergeant Tyrone Valentine and Private Tony Baker, a pair of conniving GI’s, attached to Company A, as they attempt to outwit Major Hawkins, their by-the-books commander, and profit from their hitch in the army. An updated version of the Phil Silvers “Sergeant Bilko” series. See full episode descriptions below.

Select Cast, Guest Stars & Crew

• Roger Bowen … Col. C. Clapp (14 episodes)
• Jourdan Fremin … Cpl. Lola Grey (14 episodes)
• Richard Jaeckel … Maj. Hawkins (13 episodes)
• Josh Mostel … Maxwell (14 episodes)
• David Naughton … Pfc. Tony Baker (13 episodes)
• John Vargas … Cardinel (14 episodes)
• Jimmie Walker … Sgt. Tyrone “Val” Valentine (14 episodes)
• George Wyner … Cpl. Wessel (13 episodes)
• Ray Girardin … Maj. Buck (1 episode, “The Tar Creek Chronicles”)
• Paul Kreppel … Ridley (1 episode, “The Tar Creek Chronicles”)
• Chris MacDonald … Pfc. Jeff Keene (1 episode, “The Tar Creek Chronicles”)
• Phil Rubenstein … Leon Boyle (1 episode, “The Tar Creek Chronicles”)

• Barney Martin … Col. Whatley (1 episode, “The Ballad of Lucinda Ballard”)
• Fred McCarren … Jerry Gilmore (1 episode, “A Tankful of Dollars”)
• Tim Robbins … Medic (1 episode, “A Tankful of Dollars”)
• Bob Saget … Solider #1 (1 episode, “Chariots of Fear”)

• Hy Averback … producer/director (6 episodes)
• Aaron Spelling … executive producer (1 episode, “A Tankful of Dollars”)
• E. Duke Vincent … supervising producer (1 episode, “A Tankful of Dollars”)
• Jack Elliott … Series Music (13 episodes)
• Charles Fox …Series Music (1 episode, “The Tar Creek Chronicles”)

Episodes (descriptions from TV listings)

• S1, Ep1 … Tankful of Dollars … Air Date: 4 March. 1983 … Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Two soldiers at Camp Tar Creek rent out the entire base and its men to an advertising agency making a commercial for Commando Cologne.
• S1, Ep2 … Chariots of Fear … Air Date: 11 March. 1983 … Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Major Hawkins lays it on the line when Gls like Valentine, might turn his military base into a gambling casino. This episode was originally slated to be the premiere, but was swapped out days before airing.
• S1, Ep3 … Computer Dating … 18 Mar. 1983… Written by Arthur Julian
  Baker and Valentine plot to use the base’s computer as a computer dating service.
• S1, Ep4 … Prairie Moon Over Texas … 25 Mar. 1983… Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Baker and Valentine get caught renting Army equipment to a nudist colony. Unfortunately, not online.
• S1, Ep5 … Murder On the Tar Creek Express … 1 Apr. 1983… Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Colonel Clapp’s new automated security system is sabotaged.
• S1, Ep6 … Love Sick … 8 Apr. 1983… Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Baker pretends to be sick in order to be looked at by a pretty doctor.
• S1, Ep7 … The Marriage of the Figaros … 15 Apr. 1983… Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  Baker and Valentine rent the chapel to a couple wanting a military wedding.
• S1, Ep8 … The Ballad of Lucinda Ballard … 22 Apr. 1983… Written by Stephanie Garman, Hollace White
  Corporal Grey bets Major Hawkins that there has been a American female war hero.
• S1, Ep9 … The Great Computer Library … 29 Apr. 1983… Written by Arthur Julian
  After one insult too many, the soldiers get revenge on Major Hawkins by stealing his secret laser device.
• S1, Ep10 … A PFC and a Gentleman … 13 May 1983… Written by Arthur Julian
  Baker plans a romantic evening with Lola, but is ordered on a mission.
• S1, Ep11 … The Tar Creek Sting … 20 May 1983… Written by Tom Biener, Ron Landry
  The soldier force Corporal Wessel to help them break up a gambling ring at the saloon.
• S1, Ep12 … Valentine’s Day … 27 May 1983… Written by Arthur Julian
  A Texas state police officer comes to the base believing that Valentine is seeing his girlfriend.
• S1, Ep13 … Maxwell’s People … 3 Jun. 1983… Written by Arthur Julian
  A Russian spy is working at Tar Creek and the Pentagon thinks one of the soldiers is providing her with information.
• S1, Ep14 … The Tar Creek Chronicles … 10 Jun. 1983… Written by John Hughes
  Colonel Clapp has visions of whipping the Navy football team when a former All American is transferred to Tar Creek. This episode features material from the original un-aired pilot.

Visuals

Episode artwork is adapted from an advertisement (artist unknown).

Phil Silvers as Sgt. Bilko in The Phil Silver’s Show (left); Roger Bowman as Col. C. Clapp in At Ease (right)

AT EASE, George Wyner, Richard Jaeckel, Jimmie Walker, Steve Nevil, (‘Chariots of Fear,’ season 1, episode 1, aired March 4, 1983), 1983, © ABC

Credits

Theme music by Bradley Davis (Fresh Snow) with some incidental music by Chris Storrow.

With sound effects by Club-Sound, Kinoton, Nicstage, Raymonster, Panzen, PHMiller42, from freesound.org.

Episode sources can be found here.