At Ease (TV series)

At Ease is an American sitcom starring Jimmie Walker that aired for 14 episodes on ABC from March 4 to June 10, 1983, with reruns continuing until July 15, 1983.^[1]

At Ease
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	John Hughes
Written by	Tom Biener Ron Landry Arthur Julian John Hughes
Directed by	Bob Sweeney Hy Averback Edward H. Feldman
Starring	Roger Bowen Jimmie Walker John Vargas Jourdan Fremin Richard Jaeckel Josh Mostel David Naughton George Wyner
Theme music composer	Jack Elliott
Opening theme	Jack Elliott
Composer	Jack Elliott
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	14 (+1 Pilot episode)
Production
Executive producers	Aaron Spelling Douglas S. Cramer
Producers	Hy Averback Jim Mulligan
Cinematography	Archie R. Dalzell
Editor	Samuel E. Beetley
Running time	24 min.
Production company	Aaron Spelling Productions
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	March 4 (1983-03-04) – June 10, 1983 (1983-06-10)

Synopsis

The series, which has a similar premise to another classic show, Sgt. Bilko, follows the misadventures of a pair of conniving GIs – Sgt. Val Valentine and PFC. Tony Baker – stationed at Camp Tar Creek, an Army base, dealing with computers and computer logistics, located somewhere in Texas. It is run by Colonel Clapp, who can be somewhat dense and credulous.

Valentine and Baker, along with the rest of their outfit, Company J., which includes privates Cardinal, Maurice and the klutzy and always hungry Maxwell, attempt to outwit the Colonel's by-the-book chief of security Major Hawkins and his informant Cpl. Wessel (who is very derisively called "Weasel" by Baker and Valentine, due to his propensity to snitch on Valentine and Baker to Hawkins), and profit from their hitch in the army.

Hawkins always tries to shut down Valentine and Baker's schemes and shape the camp up to his high standards, but he usually ends up failing.

They are also assisted in their efforts by Baker's girlfriend, Cpl. Lola Grey, who serves as Clapp's secretary.^[1]

Cast

• Roger Bowen - Col. Clapp
• Jimmie Walker - Sgt. Val Valentine
• John Vargas - Cardinal
• Jourdan Fremin - Cpl. Lola Grey
• Richard Jaeckel - Maj. Hawkins
• Josh Mostel - Maxwell
• David Naughton - Pfc. Tony Baker
• George Wyner - Cpl. Wessel (aka "Weasel")
• Jeffrey Bannister - Maurice

US TV ratings

Season	Episodes	Start Date	End Date	Nielsen Rank	Nielsen Rating	Tied With
1982-83	14	March 4, 1983	June 10, 1983	67[2]	N/A	N/A

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"A Tankful of Dollars"	Hy Averback	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	March 4, 1983 (1983-03-04)
Baker and Valentine are disciplined for on-base gambling.
2	"Chariots of Fear"	Bob Sweeney	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	March 11, 1983 (1983-03-11)
3	"Computer Dating"	Bob Sweeney	Arthur Julian	March 18, 1983 (1983-03-18)
Baker and Valentine plot to use the base's computer as a computer dating service.
4	"Prairie Moon Over Texas"	Edward H. Feldman	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	March 25, 1983 (1983-03-25)
Baker and Valentine get caught renting Army equipment to a nudist colony.
5	"Murder on the Tar Creek Express"	Hy Averback	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	April 1, 1983 (1983-04-01)
Colonel Clapp's new automated security system is sabotaged.
6	"Love Sick"	Hy Averback	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	April 8, 1983 (1983-04-08)
Baker pretends to be sick in order to be looked at by a pretty doctor.
7	"The Marriage of the Figaros"	Hy Averback	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	April 15, 1983 (1983-04-15)
Baker and Valentine rent the chapel to a couple wanting a military wedding.
8	"The Ballad of Lucinda Ballard"	Hy Averback	Stephanie Garman & Hollace White	April 22, 1983 (1983-04-22)
Corporal Grey bets Major Hawkins that there has been an American female war hero.
9	"The Great Computer Robbery"	Bob Sweeney	Arthur Julian	April 29, 1983 (1983-04-29)
After one insult too many, the soldiers get revenge on Major Hawkins by stealing his secret laser device.
10	"A PFC and a Gentleman"	Bob Sweeney	Arthur Julian	May 13, 1983 (1983-05-13)
Baker plans a romantic evening with Lola, but is ordered on a mission.
11	"A Tar Creek Sting"	Edward H. Feldman	Tom Biener & Ron Landry	May 20, 1983 (1983-05-20)
The soldiers force Corporal Wessel to help them break up a gambling ring at the saloon.
12	"Valentine's Day"	Bob Sweeney	Arthur Julian	May 27, 1983 (1983-05-27)
A Texas state police officer comes to the base believing that Valentine is seeing his girlfriend.
13	"Maxwell's People"	Bob Sweeney	Arthur Julian	June 3, 1983 (1983-06-03)
A Russian spy is working at Tar Creek and the Pentagon thinks one of the soldiers is providing her with information.
14	"The Tar Creek Chronicles"	Hy Averback	John Hughes	June 10, 1983 (1983-06-10)
A former All-American football player arrives at Tar Creek and Colonel Clapp wants to play him against Navy. (Note: this was the original pilot film for the series, featuring a slightly different cast and setting. A different opening and closing sequence was used for the pilot.)

References

1. Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
2. Lina. "The TV Ratings Guide: 1982-83 Ratings History -- Soap Bubbles Rise, Several Veterans Part and NBC Renews Poorly Rated Masterpieces". Archived from the original on 2018-03-18. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

External links

• At Ease at IMDb
• At Ease on film.com