Meg v Mac

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress, and not
just a pair of boobs.

Post by The Mullen
However, with this latest batch of episodes I've been viewing, Meg has
sort of grown on me. I just wondered what hardened JAG fans think..,
Meg or Mac?

Meg.

That lawyer was right... Mac should have stuck to lap dancing.

Post by The Mullen
P.S. In the really early episodes, was Bud trying to be a tough nut
with his Marine style haircut..., and am I imagining it, was there a
lot more action back then?

He was at sea... and a new Ensign...

Post by The Mullen
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?

Commander? He was a two-star...

Jonathan

Ann

2004-05-11 20:16:27 UTC

Post by The Mullen
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?

Commander? He was a two-star...

I think he means Lindsey - He was the Adm.'s assistant or something, and
maybe was in charge for a short time between the time that the first JAG
left and Chegs appeared, which was mid-1st season, IIRC.

I don't remember all the details, I've seen the eps on USA but probably
not in the right order, and it's been awhile, so I'm fuzzy. Maybe
someone else can clarify....

Virginia Taylor

2004-05-11 22:40:44 UTC

Post by Ann

Post by The Mullen
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?

Commander? He was a two-star...

I think he means Lindsey - He was the Adm.'s assistant or something, and
maybe was in charge for a short time between the time that the first JAG
left and Chegs appeared, which was mid-1st season, IIRC.
I don't remember all the details, I've seen the eps on USA but probably
not in the right order, and it's been awhile, so I'm fuzzy. Maybe
someone else can clarify....

No, it wasn't Lindsey. I can't remember if he was before or after
Lindsey, but he was in there somewhere and did seem more interested in
playing his clarinet than getting involved in JAG. I think he was
only around for an episode or two.

Jonathan

2004-05-11 22:45:27 UTC

Post by Ann

Post by The Mullen
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?

Commander? He was a two-star...

I think he means Lindsey -

I just watched the pilot last week... Lindsey wasn't playing the clarinet...
the JAG was, and he was a two-star.

Post by Ann
He was the Adm.'s assistant or something, and
maybe was in charge for a short time between the time that the first JAG
left and Chegs appeared, which was mid-1st season, IIRC.

I got the impression Lindsey was a runner for the JAG...

Oh, and he was a weasel... Good thing they threw his ass in prison.

Jonathan

Virginia Taylor

2004-05-11 22:38:05 UTC

On Tue, 11 May 2004 20:09:54 GMT, "Jonathan"

Post by The Mullen
However, with this latest batch of episodes I've been viewing, Meg has
sort of grown on me. I just wondered what hardened JAG fans think..,
Meg or Mac?

Meg.

This is a tough question. I just started watching JAG one or two
years ago. I think I've now seen them all on USA (and CBS, of
course), more than once.

I wondered what happened to Meg too and finally decided they felt they
needed a more "sultry" love interest for Harm and a tough lawyer to
boot (hence her marine designation).

I think when I started watching they were in the Mac series so in my
mind she was first although I figured out later that Meg actually most
likely started the series).

I believe the Mac character made it more of an adult show with the
opportunity for more variety (i.e., each show having more than one
case).

My main gripe? Mac's poor choice of men!!!! (except of Harm, of
course)

Brent McKee

2004-05-12 21:13:37 UTC

Post by Virginia Taylor
On Tue, 11 May 2004 20:09:54 GMT, "Jonathan"

Post by The Mullen
However, with this latest batch of episodes I've been viewing, Meg has
sort of grown on me. I just wondered what hardened JAG fans

think..,

Post by Virginia Taylor

Post by The Mullen
Meg or Mac?

Meg.

This is a tough question. I just started watching JAG one or two
years ago. I think I've now seen them all on USA (and CBS, of
course), more than once.
I wondered what happened to Meg too and finally decided they felt they
needed a more "sultry" love interest for Harm and a tough lawyer to
boot (hence her marine designation).
I think when I started watching they were in the Mac series so in my
mind she was first although I figured out later that Meg actually most
likely started the series).
I believe the Mac character made it more of an adult show with the
opportunity for more variety (i.e., each show having more than one
case).
My main gripe? Mac's poor choice of men!!!! (except of Harm, of
course)

I think there were a couple of major issues with the character of Meg.
First and foremost is that she seemed too young for Harm and too old
for Bud. I'm not talking about the actress but about the character.
I suspect that's one of the reasons why they introduced Commander
Krennick, except that she came off as too old and too "eager".
Krennick was most likely a stopgap measure to "sex the show up". If
they had really wanted to do that they'd have kept Andrea Parker's Lt.
Caitlin Pike from the pilot, but for whatever reason she was dumped.
I suspect that when the show switched networks Bellisario took the
opportunity to dump the two actors who weren't working in the show and
bring in Catherine Bell who could be portrayed as an equal and a
relationship possibility.
--
Brent McKee

To reply by email, please remove the capital letters (S and N) from
the email address

"If we cease to judge this world, we may find ourselves, very quickly,
in one which is infinitely worse."
- Margaret Atwood

"Nothing is more dangerous than a dogmatic worldview - nothing more
constraining, more blinding to innovation, more destructive of
openness to novelty. "
- Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002)

Ann

2004-05-13 19:47:31 UTC

Post by Brent McKee
I think there were a couple of major issues with the character of Meg.
First and foremost is that she seemed too young for Harm and too old
for Bud. I'm not talking about the actress but about the character.
I suspect that's one of the reasons why they introduced Commander
Krennick, except that she came off as too old and too "eager".
Krennick was most likely a stopgap measure to "sex the show up". If
they had really wanted to do that they'd have kept Andrea Parker's Lt.
Caitlin Pike from the pilot, but for whatever reason she was dumped.
I suspect that when the show switched networks Bellisario took the
opportunity to dump the two actors who weren't working in the show and
bring in Catherine Bell who could be portrayed as an equal and a
relationship possibility.

Isn't the story that after the pilot, NBC insisted on a blonde, so they
dumped Kate Pike and brought in Meg, and then when NBC dropped it and it
went to CBS Belisario got his brunette back, but in the form of Mac
because the actress that played Kate Pike wasn't available?

Or did I make that up? I don't think I did, though...

ldydrlng

2004-05-14 05:22:29 UTC

Post by Ann
Isn't the story that after the pilot, NBC insisted on a blonde, so they
dumped Kate Pike and brought in Meg, and then when NBC dropped it and it
went to CBS Belisario got his brunette back, but in the form of Mac
because the actress that played Kate Pike wasn't available?
Or did I make that up? I don't think I did, though...

Nope, I read that too. All except the part about bringing back the
Pike character. CB had been in the finale, the one we never see intact,
and DPB liked her.

marie

Brent McKee

2004-05-14 18:00:34 UTC

Post by ldydrlng

Nope, I read that too. All except the part about bringing back the
Pike character. CB had been in the finale, the one we never see intact,
and DPB liked her.

Typical decision during the NBC run. The real point is that replacing
as much as I love her, Meg wasn't exactly suited to bringing out the
sexual tension that most TV shows seem to need (or rather most TV
producers seem to want) with Harm, and the addition of Commander
Krennick was an attempt to "fix" that, an attempt that was a dismal
failure since it seemed to go beyond the bounds of sexual harassment.

I can just imagine the NBC meeting:

Suit 1: "Well we really blew it when we made Bellisario dump his
female lead -- the girl he picked has all the sexual chemistry with
Elliott of a comatose mackerel."

Suit 2: "You're right, but we can't admit it. That would mean that
the creative people would think they're right. That's not the NBC
way. Hell it's not the way on _any_ of the networks. Well maybe PBS
but most of their stuff is English and they're weird. So what do we
do?"

Suit 1: "How about we bring in another blonde? Someone closer to his
age. Make her a real hottie and someone who _really_ wants him."

Suit 2: "I've got just the girl."
--
Brent McKee

To reply by email, please remove the capital letters (S and N) from
the email address

"If we cease to judge this world, we may find ourselves, very quickly,
in one which is infinitely worse."
- Margaret Atwood

"Nothing is more dangerous than a dogmatic worldview - nothing more
constraining, more blinding to innovation, more destructive of
openness to novelty. "
- Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002)

Maureen Goldman

2004-05-12 01:27:47 UTC

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress, and not
just a pair of boobs.

I'm only watching first season episodes now, after beginning the
series when it transferred to CBS.

My reaction has been the opposite, that Meg seems entirely too fluffy.
She frowns a lot, but on the whole she just doesn't come across as
convincingly mature. I don't have any problem with Bell's performance,
but mostly it seems that Mac is supposed to be competent and cranky.

The Mullen

2004-05-12 17:24:27 UTC

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress, and not
just a pair of boobs.

I'm only watching first season episodes now, after beginning the
series when it transferred to CBS.
My reaction has been the opposite, that Meg seems entirely too fluffy.
She frowns a lot, but on the whole she just doesn't come across as
convincingly mature. I don't have any problem with Bell's performance,
but mostly it seems that Mac is supposed to be competent and cranky.

Yeah, but Meg is Lt jg. I think she plays it convincingly. Do you
rememeber how fluffy Bud and Harriet use to be?

Did Tracey Needham (Meg) exit when JAG changed networks? (sorry bit
fussy)

Jonathan

2004-05-12 19:29:29 UTC

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress, and not
just a pair of boobs.

I'm only watching first season episodes now, after beginning the
series when it transferred to CBS.
My reaction has been the opposite, that Meg seems entirely too fluffy.
She frowns a lot, but on the whole she just doesn't come across as
convincingly mature. I don't have any problem with Bell's performance,
but mostly it seems that Mac is supposed to be competent and cranky.

Yeah, but Meg is Lt jg. I think she plays it convincingly. Do you
rememeber how fluffy Bud and Harriet use to be?

Harriet has no redeeming qualities for me...

Jonathan

The Mullen

2004-05-13 14:20:07 UTC

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress,

and not

Post by Jonathan
just a pair of boobs.

I'm only watching first season episodes now, after beginning the
series when it transferred to CBS.
My reaction has been the opposite, that Meg seems entirely too fluffy.
She frowns a lot, but on the whole she just doesn't come across as
convincingly mature. I don't have any problem with Bell's performance,
but mostly it seems that Mac is supposed to be competent and cranky.

Yeah, but Meg is Lt jg. I think she plays it convincingly. Do you
rememeber how fluffy Bud and Harriet use to be?

Harriet has no redeeming qualities for me...
Jonathan

except her hooters surely? whoppers delight!

Jonathan

2004-05-14 01:25:05 UTC

Which is sad, because the woman who played Meg was a better actress,

and not

Post by Jonathan
just a pair of boobs.

I'm only watching first season episodes now, after beginning the
series when it transferred to CBS.
My reaction has been the opposite, that Meg seems entirely too fluffy.
She frowns a lot, but on the whole she just doesn't come across as
convincingly mature. I don't have any problem with Bell's performance,
but mostly it seems that Mac is supposed to be competent and cranky.

Yeah, but Meg is Lt jg. I think she plays it convincingly. Do you
rememeber how fluffy Bud and Harriet use to be?

Harriet has no redeeming qualities for me...
Jonathan

except her hooters surely? whoppers delight!

Here personality is such an off-the-chart negative for me, I don't even see
her as female.

Jonathan

Joe Davila

2004-05-16 17:07:44 UTC

Harriet is the girl I want to take home to meet mom.

Joe
USN (RET)

Post by Jonathan
Harriet has no redeeming qualities for me...
Jonathan

snort

2004-05-16 17:24:14 UTC

Post by Joe Davila
Harriet is the girl I want to take home to meet mom.

Harriet makes a good mommy type but I'll take Coates for a fun buddy.

Jonathan

2004-05-18 22:44:27 UTC

Post by Joe Davila
Harriet is the girl I want to take home to meet mom.

Yeah, but YOU have to live with her whining.

Jonathan

cein

2004-05-11 21:28:46 UTC

I thought Meg was okay, but seemed a little too junior to be paired with
Harm.
For the purposes of the show that is. Harm outranked Meg and as a result I
could never imagine Meg standing up to him if they had a disagreement. I
know that's sort of the way it'd work in real life JAG stuff, senior staff
would be paired with junior staff, but it didn't feel right for a TV series.
I just felt that once Mac showed up, she acted more equal to Harm and able
to stand her ground...and I also got the impression that she'd have been
able to do that regardless of how she and Harm were ranked.
(disclaimer - I don't know how the levels of Major and Commander would rank
with each other, as in which of them would be counted the senior officer)

I actually preferred Harm's first partner (Pike (?) ) to either Meg or Mac.

ceindreadh

Post by The Mullen
P.S. In the really early episodes, was Bud trying to be a tough nut
with his Marine style haircut..., and am I imagining it, was there a
lot more action back then?
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?
TM

LRod

2004-05-11 22:34:04 UTC

Post by cein
I don't know how the levels of Major and Commander would rank
with each other, as in which of them would be counted the senior officer)

Major and Lieutenant Commander are equivalent ranks (O-4). Lieutenant
Colonel and Commander are equivalent ranks (O-5). If both are the same
rank, the senior officer is generally determined by promotion date. I
think there are occasions where two officers of equivalent rank might
be assigned a task in which the senior one (by promotion date) might
be assigned to the subordinate position and the junior one would be in
charge.

An example; once Harm and Mac made O-5 (Mac got hers several weeks
before Harm and thus would be the senior of the two; I don't know who
made O-4 first), any time they worked a case as co-counsel and Harm
was assigned lead.

- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Ray Geneburn

2004-05-12 12:27:22 UTC

Meg -- no contest, as far as I'm concerned.

Post by The Mullen
P.S. In the really early episodes, was Bud trying to be a tough nut
with his Marine style haircut..., and am I imagining it, was there a
lot more action back then?

Don't know the answer to that one. It would still be a regulation cut, I
would think.

Post by The Mullen
Also one last question, what was the story with the clarinet playing
Commander? Wasn't he a bit too junior in rank to be head of JAG? How
was he written out?
TM

The guy playing the clarinet wasn't a commander. He was an Admiral (Al
Brovo) played by Kevin Dunn. As to why he was written out, he may have had
other obligations that precluded him continuing as Brovo. What you saw him
in was the two-part pilot episode.

Ray

Loyd

2004-05-12 12:51:22 UTC

Meg all the way. She had spunk. She really hit her stride the last few
episodes and I don't understand why they didn't keep her. She's the one
that should be on Cold Case instead of "Stinger" from Pensacoala: Wings of
Gold. Yes I stay up late .

Do you remember the 2nd season and Catherine Bell's fake sultry voice she
used. She's done a good job with the character the last few seasons though.

Virginia Taylor

2004-05-12 17:06:52 UTC

Post by Loyd
Meg all the way. She had spunk. She really hit her stride the last few
episodes and I don't understand why they didn't keep her. She's the one
that should be on Cold Case instead of "Stinger" from Pensacoala: Wings of
Gold. Yes I stay up late .

Meg was almost too pretty and too sweet. However, I don't understand
why she hasn't shown up on anything else (or have I missed it, if she
has?)

Post by Loyd
Do you remember the 2nd season and Catherine Bell's fake sultry voice she
used. She's done a good job with the character the last few seasons though.

Because I played catchup, I'm not sure which shows are what season
except for these last two. I don't recall a fake sultry voice, but
there's been a few occasions when she been little girlish and it's
been out of character. However that being said, I suspect every one is
playing their part as they are directed to.

Sc57

2004-05-12 17:39:03 UTC

Post by Virginia Taylor
Meg was almost too pretty and too sweet. However, I don't understand
why she hasn't shown up on anything else (or have I missed it, if she
has?)

Tracy Needham is still around. She was one of the main characters
on the Lifetime show "The Division" until she left the show earlier
this season. I most remember her as the hot older daughter on
"Life Goes On" back in the early 90s.

EC Smith

2004-05-13 12:59:39 UTC