McHale's Navy was one of those shows one would watch, even if the plots were usually silly, because one couldn't but laugh at the predictable outcomes. Tim Conway's comedic genius became apparent in the Carol Burnett Show several years after this show went off the air. Ernest Borgnine went far from type, playing a scheming conniver and doing it perfectly; and Bob Hastings played the eternally put-upon aide to Captain Wallace B. ("Old Leadbottom") Binghamton...who'd been awarded a Purple Heart after having been shot in the behind in prior service. Binghamton was portrayed by Joe Flynn, an incredibly-underappreciated comic talent who'd toiled around Hollywood for years in minor bit parts. His big break was landing the part of Frank, the perpetually-unemployed (and proud of it) brother-in-law to Joey Bishop.
In the meantime, Ed Montagne and Si Rose were putting together a sitcom featuring a group of Navy misfits who were relentlessly tormented by their base captain. Casting the captain was a challenge. He was to be a short-fused, hot-tempered and perpetually exasperated officer. They considered actors such as Marty Engels and even Danny Thomas, without being sold on anyone. Enter Joey Bishop...his show's cast had been heavily re-worked, partly because Flynn got most of the laughs. He was let go just when the cast of McHale's Navy had been finalized, and when Montagne and Rose got wind of it they called Flynn in for a screen test. The rest, as is said, was history. Flynn was the perfect Captain Binghamton. Thanks, Joey!
In the meantime, Ed Montagne and Si Rose were putting together a sitcom featuring a group of Navy misfits who were relentlessly tormented by their base captain. Casting the captain was a challenge. He was to be a short-fused, hot-tempered and perpetually exasperated officer. They considered actors such as Marty Engels and even Danny Thomas, without being sold on anyone. Enter Joey Bishop...his show's cast had been heavily re-worked, partly because Flynn got most of the laughs. He was let go just when the cast of McHale's Navy had been finalized, and when Montagne and Rose got wind of it they called Flynn in for a screen test. The rest, as is said, was history. Flynn was the perfect Captain Binghamton. Thanks, Joey!