Ep 6. Laugh, Captain, Laugh

McHale's Navy season 3 episode 6, titled "Laugh, Captain, Laugh", follows the misadventures of Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale, his crew, and the goofy and often bumbling Captain Binghamton as they try to keep their PT boat afloat while defending a South Pacific island from the Japanese during WWII.

In this episode, Captain Binghamton receives a letter from his wife, who is upset that he has been neglecting her while on duty. As a result, Binghamton becomes determined to prove to his wife that he is still a fun-loving, carefree man. He decides to host a talent show on the island for the crew, with himself as the star act, in order to prove to his wife and crew that he is still young at heart.

The crew is tasked with preparing for the talent show, but they are skeptical of Binghamton's ability to be entertaining. Meanwhile, McHale begins to suspect that there may be a Japanese spy among the crew, and enlists the help of the island's native people to gather intel.

As the talent show nears, tensions rise as Binghamton's ego clashes with the crew's desire to put on a good show. The show itself is a disaster, with Binghamton's performance falling flat and the other acts being complete failures.

In the end, McHale discovers that there is indeed a spy among the crew, and manages to catch him with the help of the natives. This knowledge allows McHale and the crew to take action and foil the Japanese's plans, while also proving to Binghamton that being a good military leader is more important than being the life of the party.

Overall, "Laugh, Captain, Laugh" is a comedic episode with a serious message about the importance of leadership and teamwork in wartime. It showcases the unique personalities and relationships of the characters, while also providing a glimpse into the day-to-day challenges of defending a remote island during WWII.