You are right, it was an awesome show (or a great one if you wish to call it that). I watched it regularly on ABC in prime time from 1988 when it began until the summer of 1990. And its first two seasons, set in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 during the height of the Vietnam War for this country, were absolutely wonderful, and it became my 6th favorite television show of all time. And of my top ten TV shows of all time, it is the only one that is really heavy and dramatic (eight are half hour sitcoms, one is light adventure). But China Beach was anything but light or a comedy, it was a eavy drama, on the realities of war, family tragedy, and life and death. And it was pure adult material, and not something to watch lightly. And it was very appropriately on from 10 to 11 o'clock. But for those that did watch it then, they may have been disturbed at times, but were never regretful. I myself was 20 when it premiered, and having been born on March 5, 1968 that put me just a little over a month younger than the Tet Offensive, which this show had an episode about (maybe I was predestined to like things about the Vietnam War). Anyway, I remember the Emmys it won in 1989 and 1990, and I thought the time pieces, set locations, scripts, direction, and implemenation of the Vietnam War were all first rate on it. And I thought the cast was very good as well, especially Dana Delaney as head nurse and character Coleen McMurphy (beautiful and great acting). I only watched two episodes of the final season (1990-91), as I did not like the flash foward to the 1980s-1990s and the characters being back home and reminicsing that much. But I do hope the etire three seasons come out on DVD if they are not already, as I'll definitely watch the first two, and likely the third as well. I also rented out and watched the two hour MTV movie China Beach, which preceded this series in September, 1988, in August, 1989, and also liked it just like I did the series (it was really a double episode of it). But with the 40th anniversaries of the major events of the Vietnam War now here, it would be the perfect time to do something with China Beach. In addition, Sunday was the 20th anniversary of the American release of Platoon (December 24, 1986), which is the only thing on the Vietnam War I have ever seen that I think is better than China Beach (people interested in it could watch them back to back).
"I happen to be a vegetarian". Lex, from Jurrasic Park
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SoApStAr07
17 years ago
There was a "China Beach" movie on MTV after the series was over and done with? What exactly was it all about, and how come I have never heard of it before until now anyway? Just wondering, of course. I have always thought about trying to write at least some type of reunion movie, but mine would be centered around Boonie and KC finally getting back together and getting the happy ending that they deserved together though. Of course, I would obviously do without some of the fourth season stuff, because no one really looks like they did back then today, twenty years later. Besides, no one was ever with the right person anyway, minus Sargeant Pepper and Lila Garreau (Pepper).
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too_beaucoup
17 years ago
I don’t know where the idea of an MTV China Beach movie comes from. As far as I know, China Beach has never appeared on MTV, period. After its initial ABC run, it was rerun for a while on Lifetime, later on The History Channel, still later on American Life channel.
China Beach’s pilot could be regarded as a movie; it ran two hours (including commercials) and was available for years on legit prerecorded VHS (I am still kicking myself for not ordering it then). I believe this would be what the earlier post was referring to.
The final episode, also, was initially broadcast as a two-hour episode (again including commercials), but I do not believe it has ever been offered to the home video market in any legitimate form.
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