ComedyWar & Politics1962–1966ABC

The Best Episodes of McHale's Navy

Every episode of McHale's Navy ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of McHale's Navy!

Best episode
S1E11 The Day They Captured Santa Claus
7.988 votes
Worst episode
S3E7 Will the Alligator Take the Stand?
6.354 votes
Top season
Season 1
7.5avg
Binge time
2d 21h
138 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 11 - The Day They Captured Santa Claus
    7.9/10(88 votes)

    S1:E11

    Mchale decides for Christmas he and the crew of PT-73 will pay a visit to the Sister Monique and the children dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit and elf outfits. Mchale would parachute from a plane first and meet the kids and PT-73 would follow a little while after. Mchale jumps in his Santa outfit but when he lands he finds the island was overtaken by Japanese and was captured. Mchale as usual cons he's why through the itterogation and he claims that a new secret weapon is on it's way, just then PT-73 arrives singing Christmas carrols and dressed in elf outfits. The Japanese commander becomes scared fearing that this was some kind new of physcological warfare and he surrenders.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Larry Markes

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  2. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 31 - Alias Captain Binghamton
    7.9/10(75 votes)

    S1:E31

    The 73 gets a new crew member, who turns out to be a trouble-maker. McHale and the 73 crew cook up a wild plan to get rid of him, but, when their plan backfires, they find themselves in hot water again. So, they turn to their new Crewman, and use his special physical qualities to their advantage.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 28 - Portrait of a Peerless Leader
    7.9/10(70 votes)

    S1:E28

    A Naval Personnel Officer is coming to check out McHale for a stateside training position. Binghamton leads McHale and his crew to believe that the Officer is coming to check out Binghamton for a promotion, and transfer, so they shape up, so that Leadbottom will ship out. But, when McHale finds out the real reason for the Officer's visit, he and his crew cook up a plan, to get him off the hook.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 24 - One Enchanted Weekend
    7.8/10(75 votes)

    S1:E24

    Lovely Yvette Gerard has invited Parker to join her for a weekend at her island home. When Binghamton denies him leave, McHale works up a plan for Parker to have a ‘working vacation' on the island, which winds up with an unexpected bonus.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 17 - The Big Raffle
    7.7/10(82 votes)

    S1:E17

    Christy finds out he's about to become a Father, so, while McHale is away in New Caledonia, Parker and the boys come up with a plan to raise money for expenses.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. McHale's Navy Season 2 Episode 2 - The Binghamton Murder Plot
    7.7/10(73 votes)

    S2:E2

    After laying some unusually harsh punishments on McHale and the 73 Crew, Binghamton mistakenly gets the impression that McHale and his men are out to kill him.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. McHale's Navy Season 2 Episode 3 - McHale and His Schweinhunds
    7.7/10(69 votes)

    S2:E3

    Parker is feeling somewhat depressed, after getting scared during a chase after a Japanese patrol boat, especially after Binghamton accuses him of cowardice. But Binghamton changes his mind, when Parker – During a test run, on the 73 – Spots a German U-Boat, and goes after it.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 25 - The Mothers of PT 73
    7.7/10(64 votes)

    S1:E25

    Trouble ensues, when Parker inadvertently invites three of the 73 Crew's Mothers – Including his own – To visit Taratupa for Mother's Day.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Larry Markes

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  9. McHale's Navy Season 4 Episode 23 - 36-24-73
    7.7/10(52 votes)

    S4:E23

    A regulation-quoting lady Ensign tries to help McHale and the Crew make some much-needed money, by providing the participants for a beauty contest, and winds up helping them bag a German submarine, in the bargain.

    Director:Hollingsworth Morse
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. McHale's Navy Season 2 Episode 33 - Carpenter in Command
    7.7/10(50 votes)

    S2:E33

    In temporary command of the base, while Binghamton recovers from a broken leg, and drunk with power, Carpenter gets the goods on The Crew, and has them up for Court Martial on several serious charges. McHale and Parker must then scheme to get Binghamton back in command, and The Boys off the hook.

    Director:Hollingsworth Morse
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 4 - PT 73, Where Are You?
    7.6/10(88 votes)

    S1:E4

    Binghamton grants McHale and the 73 Crew a week's liberty in New Caledonia, but they must postpone their trip, when the 73 turns up missing, and they have to scheme to get a replacement.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 7 - Who Do the Voodoo?
    7.6/10(83 votes)

    S1:E7

    Chief Urulu demands monetary compensation from the Navy, for destroying the coconut trees on his island, and puts a curse on Binghamton, when he refuses to pay.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Gene L. Coon

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  13. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 13 - The Captain's Mission
    7.6/10(77 votes)

    S1:E13

    Binghamton's reputation as a ‘desk jockey' brings on a desire for some real combat experience, so, while McHale is away at New Caledonia, he assumes command of the 73, and goes out looking for action, with disappointing results.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writers:Jerry Davis, Danny Simon

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  14. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 10 - The Battle of McHale's Island
    7.6/10(76 votes)

    S1:E10

    McHale and the boys cook up a scheme to keep Binghamton from building a new Officer's Club on McHale's island.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 18 - One of Our Engines Is Missing
    7.6/10(71 votes)

    S1:E18

    The 73's engines are dying, and Binghamton uses the situation as an excuse to have McHale and his Crew reassigned. So McHale and the boys must scheme, to try to make the 73 healthy again.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 23 - Nippon Nancy Calling
    7.6/10(71 votes)

    S1:E23

    When a Japanese radio announcer broadcasts details about Captain Binghamton that only someone close to him would know, Binghamton immediately suspects McHale and The 73 Crew, and enlists Parker's aid in nailing the traitor.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Danny Arnold

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  17. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 36 - Uncle Admiral
    7.6/10(70 votes)

    S1:E36

    An Admiral from Naval Operations “ Who just happens to be a ranking member of the Promotions Board“ Is stopping in, briefly, at Taratupa, and Captain Binghamton dreams of Admiral's stars, especially when he learns that the Admiral has a very close relative stationed on Taratupa.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 22 - Washing Machine Charlie
    7.6/10(69 votes)

    S1:E22

    A pesky Japanese Pilot – Whom the base personnel have dubbed ‘Washing Machine Charlie' – Is wreaking havoc, with his daily strafing runs on Taratupa, and McHale and the 73 Crew have an incentive to bring him down.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Myles Wilder

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  19. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 30 - Camera, Action, Panic
    7.6/10(68 votes)

    S1:E30

    A Combat Photographer comes to Taratupa, to film a P.T. crew in action. But trouble erupts, when Gruber swipes the Photographer's movie camera, for a little private enterprise. McHale and the 73 crew then have to scheme, to cover their own behinds, as well as the Photographer's.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 27 - A Wreath for McHale
    7.6/10(67 votes)

    S1:E27

    McHale and the 73 Crew are missing, and presumed dead, and Binghamton uses the situation for attention from a visiting War Correspondent.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. McHale's Navy Season 2 Episode 7 - Today I Am a Man!
    7.6/10(66 votes)

    S2:E7

    Parker requests a transfer, when a cute blonde Nurse he's involved with unintentionally demoralizes him. So, McHale, The Crew, and the Nurse work out a plan to make him feel better about himself.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. McHale's Navy Season 3 Episode 4 - McHale, the Desk Commando
    7.6/10(62 votes)

    S3:E4

    Binghamton fakes an illness, and checks into the base hospital, appointing McHale as temporary Base Commander, to face an unscheduled inspection by a tough Admiral. But Binghamton's plan backfires, when McHale and The Crew manage to make it through the inspection, and turn the tables on The Captain.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. McHale's Navy Season 2 Episode 21 - The Great Impersonation
    7.6/10(56 votes)

    S2:E21

    Parker - A dead-ringer for an important British General - Agrees to put his life on the line, by posing as The General, to divert the attention of spies, in New Caledonia, while the real General carries out a crucial invasion of a Japanese-held island.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. McHale's Navy Season 3 Episode 23 - The Seven Faces of Ensign Parker
    7.6/10(53 votes)

    S3:E23

    After the guys swipe Binghamton's dictation machine, Parker is nailed for the crime, while in the process of returning it, and The Captain throws him into the brig, pending Court Martial. Parker must then work with McHale and the boys in a complicated plan to try to make Binghamton drop the charges, by making him think he's losing his mind.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. McHale's Navy Season 1 Episode 9 - McHale's Paradise Motel
    7.5/10(77 votes)

    S1:E9

    Binghamton sends McHale and The 73 Crew on a recon mission to a supposedly deserted island, where they make a ‘Home away from home' to enjoy themselves, away from the base. But, the U.S. Navy, as well as the Japanese, become suspicious, when they observe unusual activity on the island.

    Director:Sidney Lanfield
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Day They Captured Santa Claus" is the best rated episode of McHale's Navy. It scored 7.9/10 from 88 votes. Directed by Sidney Lanfield and written by Larry Markes, it aired on December 27, 1962.

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