Major Dad

After Major John MacGillis gives an interview to newspaper reporter Polly Cooper, the results are less than desired, so he tries again, only things go further than just a positive newspaper article.

Polly lets her kids in on the decision on whether or not to marry McGillis, and it proves to be one of his toughest battles.

An old friend of McGillis takes him out for a special night out before the wedding, but when McGillis shows up far later than expected, a wedge is put between him and Polly, making both question whether or not to marry.

McGillis and Polly try to get married through some setbacks, including an unknown base intruder.

The Major and Polly have trouble finding time together because of their busy schedules.

After Elizabeth's date for a concert cancels, Elizabeth seeks somebody to go with her, and MacGillis asks Lt. Holowachuk to tag along with her. After the concert Elizabeth has developed a crush on Lt. Holowachuk, which Polly goes nuts over and must do something about.

Polly is reluctantly initiated into the Marine wives club by joining a group of them for Jane Wayne Day -- a day each year where they get to experience a little of what Marine training is like.

MacGillis finally meets the man he's been playing chess with via mail for years -- a 12 year-old boy, and his inability to beat the kid drives him crazy. Robin has her first crush, on MacGillis' young opponent.

Polly refuses to give up her source on a news story of shady construction practices so the judge sentences her to a day in jail. MacGillis must play Major and mom for the day.

Sgt. James decides to pursue a career as a radio personality instead of re-enlisting.

When MacGillis gets grounded during a new hand to hand training exercise, he realizes he needs to get into better shape.

Elizabeth has been wearing boxer shorts to school and is told that it's not allowed. Eventually she decides to write a paper on the injustice of it. The school is considering sanctions against her, so they ask for a parent to come in for a meeting. When Polly is unavailable, the Major offers to go but Elizabeth is worried cause he doesn't support her.

Sgt. James gets in a bar fight and MacGillis must come up with a punishment. Casey wears MacGillis' father's Purple Heart out of the house without permission, and loses it. He wants to spank her, and Polly is against spanking.

The children's pet bird, Lemon, dies while they are gone and MacGillis throws it away. Accused of being insensitive, he and the family see a therapist. Lt. Holowachuk tries his best to be his best, in hopes of his possible promotion.

An old fling of MacGillis shows up expecting to pick up where they left off, but is surprised to find out he's now married. Things don't get any better when Polly realizes Maggie still wants her husband.

Polly may be pregnant and MacGillis is excited and strutting over it. Lt. Holowachuk brings a young family member to tour the Marine base.

Hard feelings arise after Polly asks the Major to coach Robin's basketball team. Lt. Holowachuk buys an expensive camera from a beautiful woman and the Major suspects she is a con artist.

MacGillis wants to spend some more time with the family so they go camping. Things are far from what he hoped, but when the power goes out in the area, a chance for the bushmaster to experience something closer to real camping and bring them closer together, is had.

The son of an old friend of MacGillis' moves into town, Chip. Chip and Elizabeth quickly become involved, much to the displeasure of MacGillis.

Holowachuk is disciplined and must miss the surprise birthday party he has arranged for the Major

The Major prepares to leave at a moment's notice on a top secret mission to Central America.

MacGillis is back from deploy and the family is being overly polite and walking on tip toes for some reason.

Two weeks after returning from deploy, Lt. Holowachuk is still antsy for more action. MacGillis wants a big truck called a Mud Monster, after being told he's old.

A new kid in school has turned out to be a bully toward Casey, which she solves in a way that gets her in trouble. Lt. Holowashuk wants to go to Vegas for the weekend, but is so worried about what MacGillias wants, that he changes his mind to stay and pull non-ordered duty.

Budget cuts force MacGillis to reassess his career in the Marines, when it comes down to either a promotion -- which means moving elsewhere -- or retiring. MacGillis and Elizabeth go to a father/daughter dance.

The Major leaves the Marine Corps and takes a job in the private sector.

The MacGillis family moves to Virginia where they must adjust to life on a Marine base. The General's grandson takes pictures of Polly.

Three days into the move and the family is still adjusting, and the moving truck with their belongings are still M.I.A. General Craig makes everybody run around and prepare a surprise greeting for Vice President Dan Quayle, whose plane is stopping for refueling.

Polly gets a new job as editor of the base newspaper, but it creates tension between the two when MacGillis worries about what she might write and what General Craig might think.

Robin is mistakenly seen as the girl who lost the baseball game on the team she now plays on. And as her team was the base team, nobody is happy about it.

Polly and MacGillis try to plan a special day for their first anniversary, but things keep getting in the way. The kids are surprised to find Gunny will be their babysitter.

Lt. Holowachuk gets promoted, but a secret may keep his Wetting Down from being all it can be. Robin gets B's on her report card, lower than past report cards from before the move.

Lonely and wishing the Major had more time for her, Casey pretends to be a Marine.

The major needs a guest of honor for a base celebration of the Corps' 215th anniversary, and Vice President Dan Quayle (appearing as himself) responds to the invitation. However, November 10th is also Elizabeth's 16th birthday, and she feels neglected.

The Major tries to be spontaneous by taking the family on a last minute trip to Hawaii.

After being dumped by his girlfriend back home, Lt. Holowachuk's work becomes sloppy, and once Polly finds out, she sets him up on a blind date. Elizabeth and Robin enter a contest to win a mountain bike.

MacGillis ends up having to go to the hospital after an old knee injury acts up during Operation Fun Run -- a fund-raising event General Craig has him putting together.

Mac tries to encourage Casey's belief in Santa, which is no small task as she asked for a hard to find toy. By chance the Major obtains it, but it gets mistaken as a donation to Toys for Tots. Casey's faith in Santa comes through in a way not even Polly or the Major can understand.

After the family takes a day off shopping in another town without MacGillis and come back to find a strange women in the house wearing one of his shirts, he must explain to Polly and the girls what happened in the 24 hours they were gone.

The Major wants Gunny to express her anger after he accidentally destroys her favorite possession, a ceramic eagle once owned by the Corps' most decorated Marine.

When Polly backs out of giving Elizabeth driving lessons, the Major steps in. Right after getting her license, Elizabeth hits the General's antique MG.

The Persian Gulf War has started and Hollister is on alert. MacGillis wants to join his fellow Marines in Iraq, and Polly is worried what will happen.

The Major is embarrassed by Polly's valentine tribute to him in the base newspaper when it reveals his romantic side in the article; Elizabeth finally agrees to a date with Jesse.

The Major tries to make amends for stealing a watch as a boy.

The base holds its annual talent show, but very few people participate, and MacGillis must try to keep General Craig from embarrassing himself with his terrible comedy act. Robin runs for student council president.

The Major is dealing with a private who's misbehaving. He tells the private to blow off some steam. Elizabeth is dating a guy who's a roadie with a rock band. When she brings him home and the Major and Polly catch them and it's the private. It seems that he and Elizabeth have not exactly been honest with each other. But they still want to see each other so the Major and Polly have to figure out what to do.

Mac is worried when Polly is asked to collaborate on a photography book with her former wild and woolly boyfriend, Evan Charters.

When the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team comes to perform, MacGillis reveals he was once a Silent Drill Team member, but never got to perform. But when General Craig arranges for him to do so, it's make or break time for the Major.

Gunny reluctantly dog sits a homeless puppy the Major hopes to adopt for Casey but becomes attached to it.

The Major is charged with writing a speech welcoming troops home from Saudi Arabia. He also decides he wants to adopt Polly's kids, but Elizabeth is reluctant.

Defense budget cutbacks have Hollister targeted for possible shutdown. MacGillis is put in charge of firing civilian staff.

Needing a new washing machine and not having the money and refusing to put anything on credit, MacGillis moonlights with Holowachuk at a rest stop station, where Gene is the manager and John is the assistant manager.

When a sailor whom Robin has been writing to as part of a military pen pal program comes seeking a serious relationship, Polly and the Major try to get to the bottom of it. Apparently, Robin has been lovesick and writing romantic letters to the Navy man, whilst including a picture of Polly as herself.

In order to promote a better image and keep Camp Hollister from closure, General Craig chooses the Major to represent Camp Hollister on a calendar depicting ideal servicemen.

Worried about bickering in various departments because of budget cuts, General Craig tries to bolster camp comradery with games.

A perky but secretly self-serving sergeant is superb as the new secretarial assistant. So good, in fact, that she upstages Gunny who is not pleased.

Casey has been selected to test for an accelerated learning school, and both Polly and MacGillis unknowingly put too much pressure on her to get in.

When Elizabeth is hired as a waitress, Polly and the Major object to her provocative uniform which leads Elizabeth to organize a revolt at work.

When General Craig forgets his wife's birthday, he takes MacGillis' advice and owns up to it, but Mimzy locks him out of the house, so they must take him in during the spat.

The Major tangles with activist Pookie Pond over potential layoffs. When Polly meets her, however, she finds her to be a peach.

Camp Hollister Marines must do double duty after the civilian workforce strikes over lay offs and budget cuts. After Polly finds a 900 number on the phone bill and the number is no longer in service, she tries to find out who did it and why.

A land developer has his eye on Camp Hollister so a mall can be built, but the Major discovers a turtle living under the house which may be endangered, thus preventing Hollister from closure.

Gunny dyes her hair blond after the bill allowing women to be in combat fails; Lt. Holowachuk spruces up his "space."

The Major orders Gunny and Holowachuk to settle their dispute over pool by playing a game in the officers club after hours.

The Major unintentionally steals the boy Casey likes, causing trouble. There's a big rat on the loose in the office.

Gunny, Holowachuk, and the Major are assigned to a court martial panel but have different opinions about the case. Meanwhile, General Craig is having difficulty with his temporary secretary.

The Major accompanies Polly when she attends a group therapy weekend as research for an article.

After being unknowingly entered into the Outstanding Armed Services Family of the Year competition and getting picked, the Major refuses to do it, but the family wants to. Things get heated as a rude family is competing against them.

Gunny gives successful investment tips to Elizabeth, who then becomes concerned only with making money.

Elizabeth falls for her tutor. Gunny's new boyfriend says something that puts the relationship in trouble.

The Major helps a sick Polly finish an article in time to meet her deadline. Holowachuk accidentally crumples up and ruins General Craig's photo of the Rat Pack, signed by all the members.

Polly is out of town for a writing conference and the Major must pull double parenting duty. Holowachuk, out of loneliness, joins the Adopt-a-Marine program, but the woman whom adopts him turns out to be possessive.

General Craig prepares the base for inspection by the closure committee.

Polly makes a video documentary of the staff in lieu of the decision to close Camp Hollsiter. Everybody is mourning the closure until Polly thinks she may have discovered something that may keep it open, and it's not a turtle.

Mac's father comes to visit, but things are uneasy and it seems his father is always disappointed and putting him down. Polly is asked to run for Mayor.

The Major's dad turns out to have not left town quite yet, giving them both a chance to hopefully work out their differences.

Polly's campaign for Mayor hits a snag when her opponent claims to have discovered that Polly posed for a gentlemen's magazine. Holowachuk gets his first ticket after going over the speed limit at General Craig's request.

Elizabeth tries to talk MacGillis into letting her cater the private party General Craig is throwing for visiting Gen. Louis H. Wilson, but Polly and the Major are worried they will have to bail her out as usual.

The effects of too much Halloween have gotten to Casey where she has nightmares that her sisters have zombified, then sees Lt. Howlachuck as Frankenstein's monster, Gunny as the Wicked Witch of the West and General Craig as the Phantom of the Opera. She is told it is not real by the Major, only to have him become a werewolf. Casey then wakes up with her family by her bed, realizing she only hallucinated from a bad fever.

MacGillis is starting to tire of going out every night on the campaign trail with Polly, but sticks with it as election night draws near. Gunny, Holowachuk, and General Craig deal with a huge overstock of rations while the Major is out.

Worried over a threat on his life, the Secret Service drafts Gunny to protect the Emir of Katodd on his unscheduled refueling stop at Camp Hollister. To top things off, Polly is outside with animal rights activists, protesting the Emir, as he is claimed to be a camel killer.

Elizabeth gets her first car and the Major is sad he wasn't there for the milestone. Things go well until a friend of hers is in a car accident; now Elizabeth is afraid to drive. General Craig is out of the wheelchair and now on crutches, and try as he might, he can't stop breaking windows.

Worried about the Major's health, Polly asks him to stay out of other people's business and relax more, which is complicated by General Craig announcing he's the landlord of rental housing property that Holowachuk lives in and manages.

Holowachuk switches desks with Gunny in order to make things easier. A couple of Polly's old protest friends come for a visit after several years and they appear to no longer the long haired hippies she knew.

Everybody in the office is surprised when General Craig suddenly leaves for a day to get some kind of surgery.

Polly is enlisted to be hostess of the '40s-themed USO ball, where new and old loves are sparked.

MacGillis and Craig take a business class at night school to keep their options open in case downsizing should claim their jobs. The Major takes the class seriously, but General Craig can't stop talking, distracting MacGillis, and has no ability to take the situation seriously.

The Major accidentally finds himself taking piano lessons after trying to convince Casey to go through with hers.

MacGillis, General Craig, Holowachuk, and Gunny are unsure of their future in the Marine Corps as downsizing could eliminate their jobs all together, and with that uncertainty, a hiring manager from a civilian company lures them into considering a career outside the Core.

With the man above him retiring, General Craig is next in line, but MacGillis is also a potential candidate. But when the list of potential candidates for promotion comes in, the Major's name isn't on there, prompting him to reconsider life in the Marine Corps, since it would be his second pass over for promotion.

A Russian major and his son visit from the new Russia, after the fall of the the U.S.S.R., and immediately they start butting heads over superiority which gets out of control when the MacGillis finds Elizabeth making out with the Russian major's son.

Holowachuk reluctantly agrees to be in a play with Polly that has a number of love scenes with her and it makes him uncomfortable and worried about the Major.

While at the office Gunny's apartment is robbed and she loses everything, including her eagle and gun collection. With the help of her friends at the office, she gets through it all.

The Major discovers the new young man on base Robin has a crush on, is being physically abused by his father.NOTE: Gerald McRaney and Nicole Dubuc provide a public service announcement about child abuse at the end of the episode.

General Craig and Lt. Holowachuck are transferred to the White House. The new general is a stern disciplinarian whose aide behaves sycophantically. The new base commander has no tolerance for the Major's easygoing style of leadership, and creates extra work for Gunny with such minute details as ordering she dispose of colored thumbtacks. The Major and Gunny realize it was a good environment under General Craig and would give anything to work with him again.NOTE: This was the last episode shot, but debuted out of order as the penultimate. As such, it is considered the series finale.

The Major gives Casey a Daisy Red Ryder air rifle for her tenth birthday, but Polly's liberal bias against guns sends her up the wall. As a present, Casey gets her own room when Robin moves into Elizabeth's bedroom. General Craig becomes paranoid Holowachuk is taking advantage of Mimzy's niece, Amanda, and becomes overly protective.