JAG (TV Series) Skeleton Crew (1996) User Reviews

Sets up the scene for an NBC "Season Two" which would never be made

[hindsonevansmike · 8/10 · 2 July 2018]

This was meant to bring down the curtain on NBC Season One and set up a cliff-hanger to retain interest into NBC Season Two in later 1996.

The episode was filmed as a complete episode, but it stands in the memory as being the first half of a planned two-parter which would span the summer of 1996, launching into Season Two around September of 1996. Except that THAT Season Two was never made; the NBC contract for the season was not renewed, so CBS picked up the Bellisarius product and dumped the "Skeleton Crew" cliff-hanger conclusion. Obviously the cast knew, by this point, that NBC had dropped the show - there is pathos when Meg Austin asks Harm (in the "shower scene") "what if you don't come back?"

Despite this, the cast deliver a creditable episode of murder investigation on an aircraft carrier.

Essentially, "part two" never happened (viewing this again in 2021, the episode is, accurately, entitled as simply "Skeleton Crew").

As a result, the "JAG" which we know and admire (seasons two through ten inclusive) was born. The short (13-episode) Season two began in the White House Rose Garden and the Harm-Mac working partnership was born, running Jan1997 to April2005.

The new (CBS) season two continued without characters such as Bud Roberts (he had picked up another contract), Andrea Parker (ditto - had secured a resounding role on "The Pretender" which ran for 86 episodes 1996-2000), Tracy Needham ("Meg Austin" - probably fed up with being the "damsel in distress", or the producers didn't like her character) and Andrea Thompson (who played "Alison Krennick" in the back half of Season One).

This material of this final Season One episode wasn't wasted however; apart from appearing on complete box sets, the episode was sampled in the S03EP19 story "Death Watch" - where Mac learns more about Lt (jg) Diane Schonke, who (in season 1) looked so much like her. She finally understands why Harm looked like he had "seen a ghost" in the Rose Garden scene which opened the CBS Season Two when the character of "Mac" was first introduced, thereby closing the Diane/Mac arc.

What is also noticeable, viewed from 22 years later (2018) is how far video recording and picture quality has advanced since this 1995-96 vintage episode was "filmed". The story-line remains crucial to the development of the "back-story" of the Harmon Rabb character.

Ending

[talk_chic34 · 8/10 · 4 April 2008]

I recently starting watching the JAG series on USA. I got hooked when I saw the episode where NCIS started. I LOVE that show!! (Sidebar: Mark Harmon is just so sexy.) Anyway back to the original point, I recently purchased Seasons 1-5, because I can't wait for them to all start over on USA at the end of the month. Yesterday, I got to see the Pilot episode for the first time. Then I skipped to the infamous "Skeleton Crew" episode where Catherine Bell portrayed Diana, the murdered woman that Harm loved from as far back as when he was in the academy. I was so PI**ED when I went from Season 1 cliffhanger ending to the beginning of Season 2. I kept thinking what did I miss. Why didn't they tell us what happened? Who killed Diane? How did Harm get off? So, I went searching in my discs - - for most of the answers see Season 3, Episode titled "Death Watch". (FYI - - Contains the clip that you always see Harm kiss Mac in Navy uniform and says "I know . . . you were kissing her") REALLY good episode that links back to the "Skeleton Crew" episode several times to make a good episode. Hope this has been helpful.

Continuity

[estevensmith · 7/10 · 4 September 2019]

> Why when CBS picked this show up didn't they continue the story line?

There was no story line to continue because "Skeleton Crew" was never aired by NBC. So besides the problems presented by the network switch (actors leaving the cast, etc.), there would have been no sense in creating a "conclusion" to a story which no one had seen.

Skeleton Crew Pt II never existed.

[hannon-8 · 22 August 2007]

After viewing the DVDs of both Seasons 1 and 2 including the special features, I think I can piece together what happened.

Season 1 was on NBC who canceled it, and I think the episode was written as a season ending cliffhanger. When CBS decided to pick up the series, the network ordered some changes which included replacing the character of Meg with another actress who would be equal to Harm in rank and experience. Making the character a Marine instead of a naval officer added an additional level of conflict between them. According to statements made by Catherine Bell on Season 2's DVD, she heard about the changes and contacted David Bellasario for a chance at the role. To explain her resemblance to the dead officer from last season, they came up with the deja vu moment. The only reason I can come up with for not concluding Skeleton Crew was CBS would not want to air an episode that was started on another network, not only be due to competition, but half a story would be worthless in repeats. Somewhere in someone's computer there is probably a story treatment or even a script for the lost episode, but we'll probably never know.

Skeleton Crew

[Old-Flyboy · 10/10 · 30 May 2007]

As an ex-military flyer, I am a big admirer of JAG - not just for the flying scenes, but the high drama and cast characterisations. Real drama! I never watched the original show; my viewing has been via the History Channel reruns, and the first 3-season DVDs.

Like a previous reviewer, I'm really p**ssed that the closing part of the Skeleton Crew episode was missing, and curious as to its history. What happened to Meg (loved her character!)and Commander Krennick? As things stand now, there's no closure on these important characters.

The big question is: Was the second part EVER filmed? I've checked news headlines, and the DVD commentary, but no clues are given. If it wasn't, which would seem to be the case, what was the public reaction to the "missing ending"?

"Skeleton Crew"

[allmoviesfan · 9/10 · 4 May 2023]

The rarely-seen JAG season one finale that wasn't even aired at first on NBC sees Harm charged with the murder of an old Academy friend of his, Lieutenant Schonke, (played by Catherine Bell, soon to find fame as Mac on JAG), for whom he may or may not have had feelings.

What else? Krennick appears. There's an NCIS agent with an interesting last name, we see Bud Roberts again (like Catherine Bell, Patrick Labyorteaux would become a beloved member of the JAG cast for the rest of the show's run) and it is Meg's final

The cliff-hanger - a cliff-hanger in the truest sense of the word - lasts through the season three episode "Death Watch". I really wish we could have seen how the writers intended to originally resolve the mystery.

Alas, the "Skeleton Crew" sequel, along with the character of Lieutenant Meg Austin (and, largely, Commander Krennick as well) were casualties of NBC's decision to not bring JAG back for a second season, and it's move to CBS, where it would run a further nine seasons.

I wonder if the Peacock network wishes they could have had their time over again, given JAG ran ten years and has spawned the NCIS franchises as well?

This episodes cliffhanger is resolved in season 3 episode 19 Deathwatch.

[brittonwayne-287-425268 · 10/10 · 22 April 2021]

Really good cliff hanger that does not get a resolution until the 19 episode of season 3. Because of the network change it took some doing but resolving an issue when the cast had changed took some doing but is one of the better storylines of the series.

Unbelievable!

[SlimJim39 · 1/10 · 12 June 2019]

Why when CBS picked this show up didn't they continue the story line? I guess they never heard of "continuity". Another stupid mistake, blunder, screw up. Why did they get rid of Meg? I liked her. Albeit Catherine Bell did a good job. Just wish they would have continued the story line.

Reply to Rwallingus

[la-mtn-man · 27 July 2008]

Hopefully, as Rwallingus added seasons to his collection, he learned that the open loop started in Skeleton Crew (last episode of season 1) was finally closed in episode 56: Death Watch.

The reason that he did not see part 2 of Skeleton Crew as the opener of season #2 is that Season #1 was bought by NBC and canceled by NBC after the part 2 had been filmed but not shown. When CBS picked up JAG, they began with new plot lines since they couldn't touch un-shown episodes.

The NBC/CBS split also accounts for some plot inconsistencies. The writers felt that they had to deal with her one-minute roll as Lt. Schonke but didn't feel the need to explain how Harm was no longer arrested or even a suspect.

What a disappointment

[sherrymeltzer · 1/10 · 7 July 2019]

I spent 10 minutes looking for season 1 esp 23 which should have been Skeleton crew Part II OK...switching networks means the show shouldn't have continuity? I forgot why I stopped watching it for the first couple years! I remember now. Well at least NCIS was a positive spinoff. I watch them all!

Skeleton Crew part 2

[keengamer101 · 13 June 2007]

Yes the second part to that episode was never written and never filmed. The reason for this was that Jag originally got canceled (hence the lack of 24 episodes in it's debut season) toward the end of Season 1 (so I've read, not 100% sure on this but it explains a few things) and was later picked up again, resulting in an additional 9 seasons. Another reason for not continuing with that episode was that Catherine Bell starred in the teaser portion of the episode and her character Diane was murdered, having her suddenly come back to life in Season 2 was a bit odd so the writers covered it up with Deja Vu from Rabb in the 1st episode of Season 2 and again some flashbacks of this particular episode are referred to in Season 3 if my memory serves me well. (I got most of this information from TV.com and the rest are just my assumptions.)

The show is great though and I'm a big fan...and I'm glad it went on to do as well as it did.

2nd part of the episode of Skeleton Crew

[rwallingus · 27 January 2007]

I bought the complete 1st season of Jag and was disappointed that the 2nd part of skeleton crew was not on it nor is it on the complete 2nd season. Can anyone tell me why? I hate cliffhangers with no ending. I love the show and will eventually buy the every season. Even the last show in the last season ended with not knowing what happened between Harm and Mac. I thought that when CBS moved the show to Friday nights it was a big mistake. I knew it would lose ratings. Friday night is never a good night for television anyway. A lot of people go out on Friday. Any good television show that moves to Friday from earlier in the week will most likely do poorly.