"Baa Baa Black Sheep" (1976) TV series 1976-1978

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Directors:

Alex Beaton
Robert Conrad

Writers:

Gregory H. 'Pappy' Boyington (book) and
Stephen J. Cannell (created for television by)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

21 September 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | War | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

Pappy Boyington is the squadron-leader of a group of fighter pilots stationed on an island in the Pacific...

Plot Keywords:

Fighters | Aviation | Jap Zeroes | Corsairs | WWII

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Ginty	...	Wylie / ... (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
Robert Conrad	...	Maj. Greg 'Pappy' Boyington / ... (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
W.K. Stratton	...	Lt. Larry Casey (28 episodes, 1976-1978)
John Larroquette	...	Anderson / ... (27 episodes, 1976-1978)
Simon Oakland	...	General Moore / ... (27 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dana Elcar	...	Colonel Lard / ... (27 episodes, 1976-1978)
Dirk Blocker	...	Lt. Bragg / ... (26 episodes, 1976-1978)
James Whitmore Jr.	...	Capt. Gutterman / ... (26 episodes, 1976-1978)
Jeff MacKay	...	French / ... (26 episodes, 1976-1978)
Larry Manetti	...	Boyle / ... (24 episodes, 1976-1978)
Joey Aresco	...	Sgt. John David 'Hutch' Hutchinson (22 episodes, 1976-1977)
Red West	...	Sgt. Macklin / ... (21 episodes, 1976-1978)

Also Known As:

Black Sheep Squadron (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

60 min (37 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Indian Dunes, California, USA

Company:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Trivia:

As, at the time, there were no genuine A6M "Zero" fighters in flyable condition (this has been rectified only in recent years), all of the Japanese Zeroes depicted were actually American AT-6 "Texan" trainer aircraft that were specially modified to resemble a Zero.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In several of the dogfight scenes, when there is a brief in-cockpit view of the pilot's hands dramatically pushing or pulling at the control stick, none of the (clearly visible) instruments ever move to indicate a climb, dive, or turn.

Quotes:

Major Greg 'Pappy' Boyington: The only way we're gonna win this war is if Tokyo is more fouled up than Washington.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Steve Martin/Kinky Friedman (#2.5)" (1976)

A viewer remembers

The tales of Boyington's Black Sheep may not have been the most historically accurate, best written, or even best acted WW II series on television.

What it WAS, however, was an entertaining hour in front of the tube, with a likable cast & easy to like/care about characters.

The Bellisaro hand in the casting in easy to see, with a number of familiar faces that returned to become regulars or recurring characters on Magnum P.I.

In short, a usually enjoyable show that never failed to deliver exactly what you expected from it.