# Major Dad

Major Dad is an American sitcom television series created by Richard C. Okie and John G. Stephens, developed by Earl Pomerantz, that originally ran from September 17, 1989, to May 17, 1993, on CBS, starring Gerald McRaney as Major John D. MacGillis and Shanna Reed as his wife Polly. The cast also includes Beverly Archer, Matt Mulhern, Jon Cypher, Marisa Ryan, Nicole Dubuc, and Chelsea Hertford.

## Synopsis

The first season is set at the fictional Camp Singleton (meant to represent Camp Pendleton), where hard-charging United States Marine Corps Major John D. "Mac" MacGillis is commander of the infantry training school's acquisition division. MacGillis's life is changed when he falls in love with a liberal journalist, Polly Cooper. The show follows Mac in his work life, where he deals with Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (Matt Mulhern), Sgt. Byron James (Marlon Archey), and Merilee Gunderson (Whitney Kershaw), as well as his home life, as he learns to live with Polly's three daughters, Elizabeth, Robin, and Casey.
At the beginning of the second season, the MacGillis family moves to Camp Hollister (based on Marine Corps Base Quantico), where Mac must adapt to the role of staff secretary (or "staff weenie") and the crazy antics of Commanding (Brigadier) General Marcus C. Craig, Aide-de-Camp 1st Lt. Eugene Holowachuk (who transferred with Major MacGillis from Camp Singleton), and Gunnery Sgt. Alva "Gunny" Bricker, the General's secretary, a no-nonsense Marine, who despite her brusque nature and unprepossessing physical appearance, is the target of many enthusiastic (and unseen) suitors. Character development increased during the second season, such as the revelation that MacGillis is a former member of the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.
Major Dad incorporated the 1991 Persian Gulf War into storylines, depicting Mac staying stateside instead of going to Saudi Arabia as he wanted. Scenes with Polly writing in her diary were shot as late as possible to incorporate breaking news. After rewriting the last six episodes of the 1990-1991 season because of the war, the show had to again modify episodes because the war ended sooner than expected.

## Cast

* Gerald McRaney as Maj. John D. "Mac" MacGillis
* Shanna Reed as Pollyanna "Polly" Esther Cooper MacGillis
* Marisa Ryan as Elizabeth Cooper MacGillis
* Nicole Dubuc as Robin Cooper MacGillis
* Chelsea Hertford as Casey Cooper MacGillis
* Matt Mulhern as Lt. Eugene "Gene" Holowachuk
* Marlon Archey as Sgt. Byron James (season one)
* Jon Cypher as Brig. Gen. Marcus C. Craig (seasons two-four)
* Whitney Kershaw as Merilee Gunderson (season one)
* Beverly Archer as GySgt. Alva "Gunny" Bricker (seasons two-four)
* Timothy Schnabel as Billy Sparling (some episodes)

## Episode guide

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally aired | Originally aired | Rank | Rating |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | Rank | Rating |
| 1 | 26 | 26 | September 17, 1989 (1989-09-17) | May 21, 1990 (1990-05-21) | 39 | 13.2 |
| 2 | 24 | 24 | September 17, 1990 (1990-09-17) | May 13, 1991 (1991-05-13) | 21 | 14.9 (Tied with In the Heat of the Night) |
| 3 | 24 | 24 | September 16, 1991 (1991-09-16) | May 11, 1992 (1992-05-11) | 9 | 16.8 |
| 4 | 22 | 22 | September 25, 1992 (1992-09-25) | May 17, 1993 (1993-05-17) | 69 | 9.8 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
| 1992 | BMI Film & TV Award | Won | BMI TV Music Award | Steve Dorff |
| 1992 | Emmy Award | Nominated | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music | Steve Dorff |
| 1990 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Chelsea Hertford |
| 1990 | Young Artist Awards | Won | Best New Television Series | - |
| 1991 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Marisa Ryan |
| 1991 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Chelsea Hertford |
| 1991 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Nicole Dubuc |
| 1991 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actor Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series | Chance Michael Corbitt |
| 1992 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series | Marisa Ryan |
| 1993 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Actress Under Ten in a Television Series | Chelsea Hertford |