Television has long been one of America's favorite activities. Families used to gather around the set to enjoy an evening of their favorite shows. Now, everyone has the ability to tailor programing to their specific interests. Yet, people connect through mutually enjoyed shows and have the chance to experience different adventures through the characters on screen. Some of television's most loved programs depict military life. Let's take a look at some of the the best shows that were inspired by servicemembers and the military.
1. "MASH"
This popular comedy starring Alan Alda ran from 1972 to 1983. The array of beloved characters took viewers through the highs and lows of life at a mobile medical hospital during the Korean War. People tuned in every week to see what hijinks Hawkeye and Trapper John, or in later seasons BJ, would get into. They empathized with Radar's naivety and Hot Lips' commitment to service. "MASH" was one of the most viewed television shows to take audiences inside the life of a servicemember.
2. "China Beach"
Another military medical program was "China Beach." Where "MASH" dealt with the issues of war with a comedic approach, "China Beach" was more for the drama-lovers. This show's three-year run focused on Nurse Colleen McMurphy experiences during the Vietnam War. In four seasons, this show drew inspiration from the book "Home Before Morning," which was written by a U.S. Army Nurse Lynda Van Devanter.
3. "Hogan's Heroes"
This hilarious sitcom ran for six seasons and brought many laughs to the viewing population. Centered around the clumsy Hogan and his crew at a Prisoners of War {camp?} during World War II, "Hogan's Heroes" was one of the earliest regular programs that depicted military life. The comedic situations and Col. Klink's avoidance of the frontlines was something that families could enjoy together week-after-week. Though the show was meant to be a farce, its six-year run drew attention to military life.
4. "JAG"
Approaching military life from a legal perspective, "JAG" gave viewers a chance to witness military laws in action. The show focused on Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr., a former pilot who later became the Judge Advocate General. The show was canceled by NBC after its first season, but viewers loved it so much that it was picked up by CBS, where it went on to have nine successful seasons. Anyone who tuned into JAG from 1995 to 2005 was treated to an in-depth look at the process of prosecuting military crimes. This show also served as the driving point for shows like "NCIS."
5. "Army Wives"
Lifetime network took a whole new approach to military-based programming with this show. Instead of focusing on servicemembers, "Army Wives" focuses on the spouses and families of soldiers. It showed the rest of the world what it meant to be married to a servicemember. Viewers tuned in to watch the lives of four Army wives and one Army husband on a Charleston, South Carolina, base. "Army Wives" was based on Tanya Biank's nonfiction book "Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives."
From sitcoms to dramas, television gives audiences the chance to escape their everyday lives and experience something they would not have had the opportunity to otherwise. Since the first programs were released, networks have aired a variety of military inspired shows. The lovable characters of "MASH" made the horrors of working in a military medical hospital a little more bearable while "JAG" educated people on the legal processes of the service. Television shows have made military service and the plights of servicemembers more relatable to audiences.