Tour of Duty ( TV series ) - wikipedia Tour of Duty ( TV series ) This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2009 ) Tour of Duty Title card ( Seasons 2 -- 3 ) Created by Steve Duncan L. Travis Clark Starring Stephen Caffrey Terence Knox Kim Delaney Tony Becker Miguel A. Núñez Jr. Ramón Franco Stan Foster Music by Joseph Conlan Country of origin United States Original language ( s ) English No. of seasons No. of episodes 58 ( list of episodes ) Production Producer ( s ) Zev Braun Running time 47 minutes Production company ( s ) Braun Entertainment Group New World Television Distributor Columbia Pictures Television ( 1991 - 1995 ) Columbia TriStar Television ( 1995 - 2002 ) Sony Pictures Television ( 2002 - present ) Release Original network CBS Audio format Mono Original release September 24, 1987 -- April 28, 1990 Tour of Duty is a U.S. television series from 1987 -- 1990, based on events in the Vietnam War, with rebroadcasts in syndication over 30 years from initial airing on CBS. The series ran for three seasons, from September 1987 to April 1990, for a total of 58 one - hour episodes. The show was created by Steve Duncan and L. Travis Clark and produced by Zev Braun. The show follows an American infantry platoon on a tour of duty during the Vietnam War. It was the first television series to regularly show Americans in combat in Vietnam and was one of several similarly themed series to be produced in the wake of the acclaimed Oliver Stone film Platoon. The series won an Emmy Award in 1988 for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series, and it was nominated again in 1989 and 1990. Contents 1 Overview 2 Characters 3 Awards 4 International broadcasts 5 Music 5.1 The original soundtrack albums 5.2 Compilation soundtrack CDs 6 DVD releases 7 References 8 External links Overview Not simply an action program, Tour of Duty was also groundbreaking as it addressed the issues of politics, faith, teamwork, racism, suicide, fragging, terrorism, civilian deaths, sexuality, drug abuse, and the shattered lives and confused feelings of those troops who finally made it home alive. The story focused mainly on Bravo company 's second platoon under the command of 2nd Lieutenant ( 1st Lieutenant from the start of season 2 ) Myron Goldman ( Stephen Caffrey ) and Staff Sergeant ( later Sergeant First Class ) Zeke Anderson ( Terence Knox ). The first season was filmed on location in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks. For the second and third seasons, the series was filmed around Los Angeles, California in order to reduce costs. This also enabled the producers to re-dress a studio backlot as Saigon. The move also meant reusing the same locations, notably a small river with grass on one bank and woods on the other which turns up in a number of episodes. A lot of filming was undertaken on the old set of M * A * S * H. Helicopter scenes with 1st Lt. McKay were filmed on the ground with the rotors running. The first season opens in 1967 and follows a standard light infantry platoon. In the second season, the troops found themselves relocated to a base near Saigon while conducting the typical `` search and destroy '' missions. Production staff interviewed in VIETNAM Magazine cited this change as a change in premise that doomed the series, as female characters were also introduced ( in hopes of gaining more female viewership and because of the premiere of the ABC Vietnam Army Nurses drama China Beach, which was aimed at a more female audience ), and the show ceased to be a realistic chronicle of life in the field for the average line infantryman in favor of being more romance - and action / adventure - oriented. In the third season, the remaining female character was killed off, and the platoon was transferred to a SOG ( Studies and Observation Group ) unit under the command of Colonel Brewster ( played by Carl Weathers ), conducting covert operations in Vietnam and in Cambodia, culminating in the fictional version of the raid on Son Tay Prison. The third season was the show 's last. In its third season, CBS moved the show to the Saturday 9 : 00 p.m. time slot. Being forced to compete with NBC 's The Golden Girls and Empty Nest, the show 's ratings dropped, and the show was canceled at the end of the season. Besides Carl Weathers, notable guest stars include Lee Majors, James Hong, Mako, Greg Germann, Kelly Hu, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, Melora Hardin, Scott Lawrence, and Patrick Kilpatrick. Characters Character Actor Rank ( s ) / Job Seasons Clayton Ezekiel `` Zeke '' Anderson Terence Knox Staff Sgt. / Sgt. 1st Class Main Cast Myron Goldman Stephen Caffrey 2nd Lt. / 1st Lt. Main Cast Daniel `` Danny '' Percell Tony Becker PFC. / Cpl. / SP4. Main Cast Alberto Ruiz Ramón Franco Pvt. / PFC. / SP4. Main Cast Marcus Taylor Miguel A. Núñez Jr. Pvt. / PFC. / SP4. / Sgt. Main Cast Marvin Johnson Stan Foster SP4. / Sgt. Main Cast Main Cast ( 11 episodes ) Scott Baker Eric Bruskotter Pvt. / SP4. Main Cast Guest Star ( 1 episode ) Roger Horn Joshua D. Maurer Pvt. / PFC. / SP4. Main Cast Randy `` Doc '' Matsuda Steve Akahoshi SP4. Main Cast ( 13 episodes ) Rusty Wallace Kevin Conroy Captain Main Cast ( 11 episodes ) Nikki Raines Pamela Gidley 2nd Lt. Recurring Guest Star Dalby Bruce Gray Lt. Col. Recurring Guest Star Johnny McKay Dan Gauthier 1st Lt. Main Cast Alex Devlin Kim Delaney Reporter Main Cast Main Cast ( 2 episodes ) Dr. Jennifer Seymour Betsy Brantley Civilian Contracted Psychiatrist / then Major U.S. Army Medical Corps Recurring Guest Star Darling Richard Brestoff Major Also Starring Marion Hannegan / Putman Charles Hyman Master Sergeant ( as Hannnegan ), SFC ( as Putnam ) Recurring Guest Star Francis `` Doc Hock '' Hockenbury John Dye PFC. / SP4. Main Cast Carl Brewster Carl Weathers Colonel Special Guest Star Thomas `` Pop '' Scarlett Lee Majors Private Special Guest Star William Griner Kyle Chandler Pvt. Recurring Guest Star Duke Fontaine Patrick Kilpatrick CIA Agent Recurring Guest Star Joseph `` Skip '' Beller Greg Germann 1st Lt. Recurring Guest Star Mike Duncan Michael B. Christy Major Also Starring Sister Bernardette Maria Mayenzet Nun ( Civilian ) Also Starring Stringer Alan Scarfe Colonel Also Starring Jack Elliot Peter Vogt General Also Starring Edward Higgins Michael Fairman Major General Also Starring Awards The series won an Emmy Award in 1988 for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series, and it was nominated again in 1989 and 1990. Emmy Award nominations : 1989 : Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series ( for `` I Wish it Could Rain '' ) 1990 : Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series ( for `` And Make Death Proud to Take Us '' ) Eddie Award nominations 1988 : Best Edited Episode from a Television Series ( for the pilot episode ) International broadcasts In Argentina, it was broadcast by Telefe as `` Nam : Primer Pelotón '' ( Nam : First Platoon ). In Australia, Network Ten originally aired the series at 7 : 30 pm. In recent years, repeats have returned to Australian television with the Seven Network repeating the series in 2006 in late night Thursday timeslots airing at 11.30 pm then later bumped to 12 : 00 midnight. Repeats also returned with Channel Ten repeating the series in 2010 in late Sunday nights airing at 1.30 am. FOX Classics started airing the first series on the 17 September 2012. In Brazil, the show was broadcast by SBT with the title `` Combate no Vietnã '' ( Combat in Vietnam ). In Chile and Colombia, the show was aired with the title `` Misión del Deber '' ( Duty Mission ), based on the Mexican dub of the series. In Dominican Republic, the show was aired with the title `` Misión del Deber '' in channel 11. In Costa Rica, it was aired by channel 9 and then by channel 7 as `` Misión Vietnam '' ( Mission Vietnam ). In Denmark, the show was broadcast in the 1990s as `` Platoon B '' on various local - TV networks, mainly on Kanal 2. In France and the Canadian province of Québec, the French - speaking version was called `` L'Enfer du devoir '' ( The Hell of duty ) and aired on La Cinq in France, and on the Historia channel in Québec Monday through Thursday at 5 PM in July and August 2005. In Germany, the show was aired by RTL with the title `` NAM -- Dienst in Vietnam '' ( NAM -- Service in Vietnam ). In Israel, the show aired in the mid-2000s on the now - defunct local version of the AXN cable channel under the name `` Sherut Kravi '' ( Combat Service ). It was also previously broadcast on the METV channel. In Italy, the show was aired by a local TV Network Italia7 with the title `` Vietnam Addio '' ( Goodbye Vietnam ) in the form of a TV - movie. It was also aired on the national network Italia1. In Japan, the show with the title `` Good Luck Saigon '' was aired through the Wowow, a paid satellite broadcast around 1991. For this reason, the show is least known by the Japanese public. In Mexico, it was aired by Televisa 's Canal 5 as `` Misión del Deber '' ( Duty Mission ). In the Netherlands, it was broadcast by Veronica on the national television network. In New Zealand, the show was aired by TVNZ. It was a very popular show in New Zealand and re-runs were also shown on the Orange TV network throughout the 1990s. In Norway, the show was broadcast with the title `` Pliktløpet '' ( Run of duty ) by TV Norge in the 1990s. In the Philippines, it was weekly aired in English on GMA 7 every Monday night at 9 : 00 pm. The American service members stationed in the Philippines routinely watched it on the local network because the episodes were newer than the ones on Armed Forces Radio and Television Service 's Far East Network. In Poland, the show was never aired, but there was a VHS release with the title `` Rok w Piekle '' ( Year in Hell ). In Saudi Arabia, it was ( as of July 2013 ) being shown with the original title and in English with Arabic subtitles. It is broadcast on the MBC Action channel. In South Africa, the show was aired with the title `` Sending Vietnam '' ( Mission Vietnam ) in Afrikaans by the SABC. In South Korea, the show was aired with the title `` 머나 먼 정글 '' ( Faraway Jungle ) by MBC from 1990. It was initially aired at 11 : 00 PM Monday but due to popularity it moved to 6 : 00 PM Saturday. In Spain, the show aired as `` Camino del Infierno '' ( Road of Hell ) on Telecinco in late night hours Wednesday and later on C+ as Tour of Duty at 12.00 M. In Sri Lanka, the show has been aired at least twice, once in 1990s and once in 2007 / 8 by MTV. In Sweden, the show was originally scheduled by the public service SVT network as `` Pluton B i Vietnam '' ( Platoon B in Vietnam ), but only the pilot episode was broadcast followed by a massive media outcry for the heavy violence in the show. In the late 1990s, the show was picked up by Kanal 5 under the same name. In Taiwan ( Republic of China ), the show has been aired on China Television Company, Ltd. ( CTV ) as 霹靂 神 兵. The Ministry of National Defense ( Republic of China ) also purchased the series, renamed 天 降 神 兵 and aired it on Chinese Television System ( CTS ) and CTS Education and Culture. In the United Arab Emirates, it was aired on Dubai Channel 33. In the United Kingdom, Tour of Duty was screened on ITV on Friday nights at various times, usually around midnight. It was later broadcast on the FX channel. In Zimbabwe, the show was broadcast in the early 1990s, showing on the national television channel ZBC TV1 ( Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television 1 ) at nine o'clock pm on Thursdays and developed a cult following, becoming a hit television series throughout its screening. Music The opening theme song was an abbreviated version of The Rolling Stones hit `` Paint It, Black '' that had featured in the end titles of the 1987 Vietnam War film Full Metal Jacket ; this was removed for the US DVD release. The closing consisted of an instrumental, synthesized tune with a distinctive Asian sound mixed in with acoustic guitar ; it was performed by Joseph Conlan, and was never released for public consumption other than in the series. That music was used as background music for most of the series. On the US release DVD most of the Vietnam War era popular music was replaced by instrumental bits to cover the blank spots of music. All three seasons that have been released in the United Kingdom, has the complete original soundtrack including `` Paint It, Black ''. The show was known for its classic American rock soundtrack including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, and Jefferson Airplane. One first - season episode, `` USO Down '', used `` live '' versions of `` Wooly Bully '', and `` We Gotta Get Out of This Place '' as performed by a USO band, the latter song being used also for ironic comment. The songs in this episode were retained in the DVD soundtracks. But for copyright reasons, the VHS and DVD soundtracks of the majority of episodes were replaced with sound alikes ( the music played but there were no voices ) -- a move which was widely protested by buyers, and resulted in a significantly lower sales volume for the third - season DVD set than for the first two. In the Netherlands, amongst other European nations, a total number of seven albums were released, containing most of the songs featured on the show. As a result, `` Paint It, Black '' was re-released as a single, again hitting the number 1 position in the Dutch top 40 popchart in May 1990. The original soundtrack albums The Tour of Duty television series soundtrack was released by CBS on Columbia Records as four different compilation albums during 1988 and 1989. The original albums are now out of print. Their track listings are as follows : Tour of Duty Soundtrack, Volume 1 ( 1988 ) `` Baby Love '' -- Diana Ross and The Supremes `` Here Comes The Night '' -- Them `` We Gotta Get Out Of This Place '' -- The Animals `` A Whiter Shade Of Pale '' -- Procol Harum `` Itchycoo Park '' -- Small Faces `` All Along The Watchtower '' -- Jimi Hendrix `` Hurdy Gurdy Man '' -- Donovan `` Time Of The Season '' -- The Zombies `` And When I Die '' -- Blood, Sweat & Tears `` War '' -- Edwin Starr `` Ball Of Confusion '' -- Temptations `` What 's Going On '' -- Marvin Gaye `` Time Has Come Today '' -- Chambers Brothers `` I Want To Take You Higher '' -- Sly & The Family Stone `` Groovin ' Is Easy '' -- The Electric Flag `` Oye Como Va '' -- Santana `` Ball And Chain '' -- Janis Joplin `` Ballad Of Easy Rider '' -- The Byrds Tour of Duty Soundtrack, Volume 2 ( 1988 ) `` Paint It Black '' -- Chris Farlowe `` Tin Soldier '' -- Small Faces `` Stone Free '' -- The Jimi Hendrix Experience `` Sunshine Of Your Love '' -- Cream `` Born To Be Wild '' -- Steppenwolf `` Reach Out I 'll Be There '' -- The Four Tops `` People Get Ready '' -- The Impressions `` Jennifer Juniper '' -- Donovan `` Your Precious Love '' -- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell `` Groovin ' '' -- The Rascals `` Eight Miles High '' -- The Byrds `` Cloud Nine '' -- The Temptations `` I Heard It Through The Grapevine '' -- Gladys Knight & The Pips `` Piece Of My Heart '' -- Janis Joplin `` It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry '' -- Al Kooper & Stephen Stills `` Ring Of Fire '' -- Eric Burdon & The Animals `` Spinning Wheel '' -- Blood, Sweat & Tears `` Bridge Over Troubled Water '' -- Aretha Franklin Tour of Duty Soundtrack, Volume 3 ( 1989 ) `` White Room '' -- Cream `` Highway Chile '' -- Jimi Hendrix `` Lazy Sunday '' -- Small Faces `` Gloria '' -- Them `` Sky Pilot '' -- Eric Burdon & The Animals `` Natural Born Bugie '' -- Humble Pie `` White Rabbit '' -- Grace Slick & The Great Society `` The Weight '' -- The Band `` Go Now '' -- The Moody Blues `` San Francisco '' -- Scott McKenzie `` Draft Morning '' -- The Byrds `` Evil Ways '' -- Santana `` Dance To The Music '' -- Sly & The Family Stone `` Tell Her No '' -- The Zombies `` Barabajagal '' -- Donovan `` Killing Floor '' -- The Electric Flag `` Black Night '' -- Deep Purple `` Paranoid '' -- Black Sabbath Tour of Duty Soundtrack, Volume 4 ( 1989 ) `` This Wheel 's On Fire '' -- Julie Driscoll `` Rag Mama Rag '' -- The Band `` On The Road Again '' -- Canned Heat `` Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is ? '' -- Chicago `` American Woman '' -- Guess Who `` Race With The Devil '' -- The Gun `` Down The Dustpipe '' -- Status Quo `` Living In The Past '' -- Jethro Tull `` Bird On The Wire '' -- Leonard Cohen `` Tears Of Rage '' -- Bob Dylan `` Save The Country '' -- Laura Nyro `` To Love Somebody '' -- The Bee Gees `` There Wo n't Be Many Coming Home '' -- Roy Orbison `` Melting Pot '' -- Blue Mink `` Hi De Ho '' -- Blood, Sweat & Tears `` Chestnut Mare '' -- The Byrds `` Sweet Baby James '' -- James Taylor `` Listen To The Music '' -- The Doobie Brothers Compilation soundtrack cds In 1992, Sony Music released a compilation CD titled The Best of ' Tour of Duty '. It contains only twenty of the songs featured in the four original Tour of Duty Soundtrack albums. The Best of Tour of Duty ( 1992 ) `` Born To Be Wild '' -- Steppenwolf `` Tin Soldier '' -- Small Faces `` This Wheel 's On Fire '' -- Julie Driscoll `` Barabajagal '' -- Donovan `` Time Of The Season '' -- The Zombies `` The Weight '' -- The Band `` Get Together '' -- The Youngbloods `` Chimes Of Freedom '' -- The Byrds `` A Whiter Shade Of Pale '' -- Procol Harum `` Piece Of My Heart '' -- Janis Joplin `` Evil Ways '' -- Santana `` 25 Or 6 To 4 '' -- Chicago `` Killing Floor '' -- The Electric Flag `` Dance To The Music '' -- Sly & The Family Stone `` And When I Die '' -- Blood, Sweat & Tears `` On The Road Again '' -- Canned Heat `` American Woman '' -- The Guess Who `` Race With The Devil '' -- The Gun `` Shapes Of Things '' -- The YardBirds `` Sky Pilot '' -- Eric Burdon & The Animals Tour of Duty Top 100 ( 2008 ) Disc 1 `` I Can Hear Music '' -- The Beach Boys `` White Room '' -- Cream `` Are You Ready '' -- Pacific Gas & Electric `` Eight Miles High '' -- The Byrds `` Hush '' -- Deep Purple `` Have You Ever Seen the Rain ? '' -- CCR `` Question '' -- The Moody Blues `` Reflections -- Diana Ross & The Supremes `` Here Comes the Night '' -- Them `` Son of a Preacher Man '' -- Dusty Springfield `` Lady Willpower '' -- Gary Puckett & The Union Gap `` Black Magic Woman '' -- Santana `` Death of a Clown '' -- Dave Davies `` It 's the Same Old Song '' -- The Four Tops `` You Wear It Well '' -- Rod Stewart `` Mannish Boy '' -- Muddy Waters `` I 'd Rather Go Blind -- Chicken Shack `` All Right Now '' -- Free `` Roll Over Beethoven '' -- The Electric Light Orchestra `` Papa 's Got a Brand New Bag ( Parts 1 & 2 ) '' -- James Brown Disc 2 DVD releases Sony released all 3 seasons in the USA for the very first time in 2004 - 2005. All original music was replaced with sound - alike versions. These releases have been discontinued and are out of print. On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including Tour of Duty. They subsequently re-released the first season on DVD on September 16, 2014. On April 21, 2015, Mill Creek released a budget priced complete series set, an eleven - disc set featuring all 58 episodes of the series. On November 7, 2011 Fabulous Films ( licensed from Fremantle Home Entertainment ) in the United Kingdom released the complete first season as a region 2 PAL boxed set. This release has improved sound and picture quality and the complete original soundtrack, including `` Paint It, Black ''. The release consists of 5 DVDs covering all 21 episodes. The fifth disc contains extras including hundreds of behind the scenes stills and images and a brand new documentary that runs for 55 minutes. Fabulous Films filmed a series of interviews in Los Angeles in July 2011 with 7 of the key cast : Terence Knox, Josh Maurer, Steve Akahoshi, Tony Becker, Eric Bruskotter, Kevin Conroy and Miguel A Nunez Jr. and key members of the production crew that included Zev Braun ( producer ) Bill Norton ( writer / director ), Steve Smith ( writer / producer ), Steve Duncan ( creator ) and Paul Sinor ( military advisor ). Additional documentaries are being produced for the season 2 and 3 releases. The complete second season was released on May 14, 2012 in the UK. Featuring a brand new making of documentary ' The Story of Tour Of Duty ' Part 2 ( 30 mins ) featuring Cast and Crew, Character Biographies, Original Cast Biographies, Original Crew Biographies, Action Stills, Behind The Scenes Stills, Publicity Stills, Synopses and Glossary of Tour of Duty Military Terms. On November 26, 2012, Fabulous released the complete third season on DVD in the UK, along with the complete series set which was released simultaneously. The third instalment of the documentary features Dan Gauthier AKA Lt. Johnny McKay References Jump up ^ `` Mill Creek Licenses 52 TV Shows from Sony for Low - Cost DVD Release ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tour of Duty DVD news : Re-Release for Tour of Duty - Season 1 ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tour of Duty DVD news : Re-Release for Tour of Duty - The Complete Series ''. tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` Tour of Duty -- The Complete Second Season ''. Amazon. Retrieved 2012 - 02 - 07. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Tour of Duty Tour of Duty on IMDb Tour of Duty at TV.com Official Tour of Duty UK Fanhub HUM90 Tour of Duty fanpage Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tour_of_Duty_(TV_series)&oldid=843151696 '' Categories : 1980s American television series 1987 American television series debuts 1990 American television series endings CBS network shows English - language television programs Military television series Television series by New World Television Television series by Sony Pictures Television Television series set in the 1960s Vietnam War fiction Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from July 2009 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2009 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Čeština Deutsch Español Français 한국어 Italiano Nederlands Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 27 May 2018, at 07 : 02. 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Question: what was the theme song for tour of duty
Answer: an abbreviated version of The Rolling Stones hit "Paint It, Black" that had featured in the end titles of the 1987 Vietnam War film Full Metal Jacket