TV Pins a Medal on the Military

TV or not TV. . . .

FULL DRESS: TV images of the military during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars are as different as night and day.

During and after Vietnam, military characters were generally buffoons--or invisible--on TV series because of the nation’s agony over the conflict.

A notable TV exception, of course, was “MASH,” which was set in the Korean War but not-so-subtly presented, with its anti-war tone, apparent criticism toward involvement in Vietnam.

Overall, military uniforms were pretty much a no-no in casting offices.

Consider the hugely different public attitude throughout the Gulf War, when leaders such as Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Gen. Colin L. Powell, along with various military briefers and victorious troops in the field, were bathed in TV glory.

The military sitcom “Gomer Pyle” had died during the Vietnam War. Traditional military dramas such as “Combat” and “The Rat Patrol” faded away in the late 1960s.

Obvious anti-war series such as “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” blossomed, as did less obvious anti-war shows like “Laugh-In.”

Despite occasional TV programs glorifying the military, blockbuster shows lionizing the armed forces did not flower fully again until such entries as the miniseries “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” in the 1980s. But even they were set back in World War II, which many Americans recall with pride.

TV entertainment finally came to grips with Vietnam through such notable but heavy-hearted series as “China Beach” and “Tour of Duty,” both recently dropped from the schedule after trying vainly to win wide public acceptance.

But CBS’ “Major Dad,” a contemporary sitcom with a military central character, is increasing in popularity.

Whether TV’s positive--and controlled--images of the military during the Gulf War, plus the public’s overwhelming approval of the conflict, will result in new series with uniformed heroes remains to be seen. But the current popularity of the military on TV is clear. Late last Wednesday night, only hours after President Bush declared victory over Iraq, ABC reran--in its entirety--Schwarzkopf’s classic, one-hour military briefing of earlier that day, adding an introduction by Peter Jennings.

The Schwarzkopf rerun--which already had been broadcast in full by ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and C-SPAN--drew a strong 7 rating (one rating point equals 931,000 homes) and attracted 29% of the national audience. An ABC spokeswoman said that the Schwarzkopf repeat drew more than twice the normal audience for the time period--from 12:20 a.m. to 1:20 a.m.

MANEUVER: CBS reporter Bob Simon, freed Saturday by Iraq, had spoken of TV’s war imagery on the network’s “This Morning” show Jan. 11--before the outbreak of fighting in the Gulf, during which he was taken captive.

Simon suggested that the Administration wanted coverage “with F-15s taking off and landing, with aircraft carriers plowing the seas”--positive footage for “American television screens.”

With the overwhelming, U.S.-led triumph in the Gulf, and heavy public backing of the military, that will be standard operating procedure from now on in the age of live TV war.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: If the TV image of all those women war correspondents and women combat forces--including pilots--doesn’t open more high-level opportunities for women on the home front, I don’t know what will. One of the worst old boys’ networks is TV management, especially at local stations, and maybe the Gulf War will shake up that tired bastion of arrogant chauvinism.

PRO: Few TV voices spoke with as much authority during the war as NBC Pentagon correspondent Fred Francis. He also has a way with words. Shortly before the war’s end, he reported: “The profile of an Iraqi POW over the last several weeks is as follows: He is about 25 years old. He is getting by on about a cup or less of water a day. He is getting by on four tablespoons of rice a day. He’s been in a bunker for more than three weeks.”

WAR? WHAT WAR?: KABC Channel 7, which promoted the fearless report “In Support of Our Troops,” jumped back to regular show biz--”Inside Edition”--less than an hour after Bush’s victory announcement, when a major report really was called for.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Why were foreign reporters allowed to remain in Baghdad when Iraq was getting pummeled--a clear loser? Try this theory from David Miller, NBC director of foreign new: “Iraq thought it was going to win. Amazing. But you don’t invite newsmen to your house to see you defeated.”

TRUE GRIT: If there’s any meaning at all to the expression “grace under pressure,” then CNN’s Peter Arnett exemplifies it. Nick Nolte gets the part, right?

DECISION: NBC can’t really be wondering whether to renew “Law & Order.” It’s the best new series on the network--period. Easy call.

AND BABY MAKES TWO: Surely you know that Molly (Blair Brown) finally had her baby on Lifetime cable’s “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.” It’s a girl named Emily. Alas, the father, Molly’s police detective beau, Nathaniel, died a while back. Nice guy, too.

BOMB: Worst TV title segment of the Gulf War was NBC’s “Bombs Over Baghdad.” Sounded like a World War II B-movie with George Sanders.

Say good night, Gracie. . . .