CHINA BEACH: BIG BANG (TV)

Summary

One in this drama series set during the Vietnam War, which focuses on the women stationed at China Beach, a combined U.S. Armed Forces hospital and USO recreational facility located near the South China Sea. This episode begins after the Vietnam War in 1985, as Boonie Lanier and his family make a surprise visit to Dr. Richard's home. The two veterans have not been in contact for years, and the visit arouses uneasy feelings and memories for both of them. Dr. Richard stays up late that night, poring over old photographs and reminiscing, and a flashback follows: McMurphy is the new nurse at China Beach and is trying to adjust to the brutality there, but her task is made difficult by Dr. Richard's constant harassment. Meanwhile, K.C. is establishing herself in her new digs with the help of her friends Lanier and Lt. Col. Mac Miller. One night, during a big goodbye party for Dr. Singer, the base falls under a Viet Cong attack. The dangerous situation throws McMurphy and Dr. Richard together, totally altering their relationship. Back in 1985, Dr. Richard is carried away by these memories and tries to call McMurphy; but, like Richard and Lanier, McMurphy is made uneasy by reminders of the war. The program concludes with scenes from the next week's episode, followed by an ABC Newsbrief with Judd Rose. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. Commercials include Gene Shalit for Subaru automobiles. This program is closed-captioned.

Cataloging of this program made possible by John Sacret Young, 1998.

Details

NETWORK: ABC
DATE: September 29, 1990 9:00 PM
RUNNING TIME: 0:58:50
COLOR/B&W: Color
CATALOG ID: T:19710
GENRE: Drama
SUBJECT HEADING: Vietnam War - Drama; African-American Collection - Drama
SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1988-1991
COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Desperate Hours" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - AT&T communications
- TV - Commercials - Big Red chewing gum
- TV - Commercials - Certs breath mints
- TV - Commercials - Cover Girl cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Dodge automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Energizer batteries
- TV - Commercials - Head & Shoulders shampoo
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - Listerine mouth wash
- TV - Commercials - Murphy Oil Soap
- TV - Commercials - Playtex Cross Your Heart brassieres
- TV - Commercials - Subaru automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Vidal Sassoon hair care products
- TV - Commercials - Wrigleys Doublemint gum
- TV - Commercials - Yoplait yogurt
- TV - PSA - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Promos - "ABC's Monday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Home Videos"
- TV - Promos - "America's Funniest People"
- TV - Promos - "Coach"
- TV - Promos - "Cop Rock"
- TV - Promos - "Life Goes On"
- TV - Promos - "MacGyver"
- TV - Promos - "Roseanne"
- TV - Promos - "Twin Peaks"

CREDITS

John Sacret Young … Executive Producer, Director, Created by, Writer
John Wells … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
Mimi Leder … Supervising Producer
Carol Flint … Producer, Writer
Lydia Woodward … Producer, Writer
Geno Escarrega … Line Producer
William Broyles … Created by
Paul Chihara … Music by
John Rubinstein … Theme Music by
Dana Delany … Cast, Nurse Colleen McMurphy
Michael Boatman … Cast, Pvt. Sam Beckett
Troy Evans … Cast, Sarge Pepper
Nancy Giles … Cast, Pvt. Frankie Bunsen
Jeff Kober … Cast, Dodger
Robert Picardo … Cast, Dr. Dick Richard
Concetta Tomei … Cast, Maj. Lila Garreau
Brian Wimmer … Cast, Boonie Lanier
Marg Helgenberger … Cast, Karen Charlene (K.C.) Koloski
Wings Hauser … Cast, Lt. Col. Mac Miller
Finn Carter … Cast, Linda Lanier
Christine Elise … Cast, Karen Lanier
Colleen Flynn … Cast, Colleen Richard
Scott Jaeck … Cast, Dr. Singer
Debra Striclkin … Cast, Jan Wyatt
Richard Green … Cast, the Third Doctor
David Hollander … Cast, Jake
Oscar Jordan … Cast, Grunt
Sean Doherty … Cast, the Kid
Shannon Farrara … Cast, Gillian
Coleby Lombardo … Cast, the Boy
Patrick Y. Malone … Cast, Nick Cheeks
Rick Marzan … Cast, the Sergeant
Phi Nguyen … Cast, the VC Woman
Sean B. Ryan … Cast, Adam