Mail Call - The Best of Season 1 (History Channel)
Listen up, you maggots! From the moment it premiered on the History Channel in August 2002,Mail Callwas must-see viewing for patriots, defense experts, war buffs, history buffs, weekend warriors, and even peaceniks who want to know how their fighting countrymen get the job done. Coincidentally appearing as war flared up in Iraq, this informative TV series pays reverent respect to armed service everywhere, throughout history, by acknowledging the combination of courage, engineering, and expertise that go into all varieties of firepower and military equipment, and that well-earned respect is appropriate no matter what your political views may be. In terms of loud-barking gung-ho attitude, lifelong Marine, Vietnam veteran, actor, and former Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee. Ermey--the formidable drill sergeant fromFull Metal Jacket--is the perfect host: He's tough as nails, frequently hilarious (the writers play to his strengths), knowledgeable, sarcastic, and clearly delighted to be showing off so much deadly hardware. How did the bazooka get its name? How did WWI pilots shoot machine guns through their propellers? How accurate were medieval crossbows? What's an MRE (and does it taste good)? Ermey answers these and many more viewer questions (e-mailed to the show) with gusto to spare, and each episode is thoroughly researched with an emphasis on military detail and historical perspective. The series is so well done that a full-season package would be preferable to this seven-show "best-of" compilation, butMail Callstill deserves a big "'Oo-rah!" Semper Fi, Gunny Lee!--Jeff Shannon