MGM originally produced this service comedy pilot, The McGonicle, for NBC in 1958, but the network sat on it for 3 years before it finally hit the air on Westinghouse Preview Theatre in 1961. Mickey Shaughnessy has the title role as a scheming sailor with a merry band, a la Phil Silvers' Sgt. Bilko. Paul Picerni came over from The Untouchables to play Bottleneck, another sailor.
We'll look at Westinghouse Preview Theatre another time, but now, it's time to sail off with The McGonicle.
I think you can see why, despite the creative pedigree involved, including Bilko writers Ray Singer & Dick Chevillat, this ended up aground. Chevillat would resurface at Filmways (i.e. Green Acres) to greater success. The plot was recycled from Bilko, whose producer, Edward Montagne, would use a similar plot on McHale's Navy when it launched a year later.
Rating: B-.
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