McHale's Navy Hello, McHale? Colonna! (1962–1966) Online

I know this episode maybe aged for younger viewers but it is important to know who Jerry Colonna was to get the entire concept of this story. Jerry Colonna was a comedian that was a sidekick to Bob Hope. Jerry was famous on Bob Hope's radio show in the 30's and 40's and then on his TV show and specials throughout the 60's and early 70's. He was also a companion on Bob Hope USO tours to the troops in WWII and beyond. So in 1965, when this episode aired, most of the public was familiar with the work of Jerry Colonna.

Now as for this episode, McHale meets Jerry Colonna in New Caledonia and ask him if there was anyway possible he could come to Taratupa and put on a show. Of course he is willing but the regulations state, due to time restraints, that he can only come to a base that has hospital patients of at least 50 people. So McHale plans on making the entire base sick to get Jerry to perform.

Meanwhile, Captain Binghamton is being drilled by a medical Admiral named Henshaw. It seems that he has read some records and believe that some of the men at Taratupa are faking sickness. Binghamton, who is over on another island with the Admiral, orders Carpenter to have the hospital cleared but this is at the same time McHale is trying to fill the beds for the Colonna show. Something has to give.

For some that never got to see Jerry Colonna in action this may mean little interest to those people. But some of us that got to see him working with Bob Hope, it is a blessing to see the comedian preserved in film. This show did not even touch his greatness but was enough to make a person remember his youth and think back with heart-warming feelings. Yes, the story was rather lame but the result was still significant. Good watch.