Country of origin United States Original network NBC | No. of episodes 22 | |
Starring David James Elliott
Tracey Needham
Andrea Parker Original release September 23, 1995 (1995-09-23) – May 22, 1996 (1996-05-22) | ||
The first season of JAG premiered on NBC on September 23, 1995, and concluded on May 22, 1996. The season, starring David James Elliott and Tracey Needham, was produced by Belisarius Productions in association with NBC Productions.
Contents
Plot
Lieutenant Harmon Rabb, Jr. (David James Elliott), a former aviator, is employed by the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps, the elite legal division of the United States Navy. In Washington, D.C., Harm is partnered with Lieutenant Meg Austin (Tracey Needham), a junior officer with drive and determination. Together, Harm and Meg work alongside Commander Alison Krennick (Andrea Thompson), Admiral A.J. Chegwidden (John M. Jackson), Ensign Bud Roberts (Patrick Labyorteaux), and Lieutenant Caitlin Pike (Andrea Parker), as they prosecute and defend the laws of the sea. This season, the team investigate the murder of a female fighter pilot ("A New Life"), the death of a civilian contractor ("Shadow"), a training mishap ("Desert Son"), serial killings at a cemetery ("Déjà Vu"), and a murder at a Peruvian embassy ("War Cries"). Also this season, Harm suffers personal losses when his best friend ("Pilot Error") and girlfriend ("Skeleton Crew") are both killed, Meg faces death when she is critically wounded by an assassin ("Hemlock"), and Harm is promoted to Lieutenant Commander ("Defensive Action").
Production
In Spring 1996, NBC announced that they were not commissioning JAG for a second season. Donald P. Bellisario states that he had already received offers from CBS and ABC to pick up the series. Bellisario also credits the cancellation with allowing him to create "the show he'd always wanted to make", as NBC had "wanted action, and [he had] wanted a mix of legal [drama] and action".