(012) The Celebrity

SYNOPSIS:

The squad is pulled back from the front for a well-deserved rest in the destroyed town of Avranche. The squad conman, Kelly, discovers that King Company’s new replacement is famous baseball pitcher Del Packer. His squad members are awe struck at having the baseball star among them, unaware of his crippling fear that he might get a million-dollar-wound that sends him home and destroys his million-dollar-arm. That fear causes him to freeze when Saunders orders him to protect a buddy’s flank, and Billy winds up paying the price for Del’s fears.

ABOUT FILMING THE EPISODE:

Tom Lowell auditioned for Combat! during his lunch break from filming an episode of "The Twilight Zone." He said, "There’s nothing better for an actor than to do in makeup and costume. It makes them feel that this guy’s a working actor, we don’t have to teach him anything. I went over and met with Bob Blees and Burt Kennedy. I felt this automatic rapport when I walked in, especially with Burt Kennedy. Burt was a delight to work with, charming man. I just knew that I had the part the minute I walked out the door. [...] I was Billy Nelson. I was nineteen years old when I got the part. I was terribly naive, not only about show business but about life in general. Dick loved to tease me. But he also respected my intellect and the discipline I had as an actor. We got along famously from day one."

REVIEW:

Burt Kennedy, in his first script written for Combat!, redefined the characters and the series. In "The Celebrity," thought battles feature prominently in the story, the action and real struggle is within the soul of a man, not on the battlefield. Del Packer comes to realize that the enemy is himself and his own fear. He’s got a private war to fight and it’s not with the Germans. The strong script, aided by Kennedy’s deft direction, reveals the dark terror of a new recruit, provides human details that round out the regular characters, and introduces Billy Nelson into the Squad.

Tab Hunter and Joby Baker shine in this episode about a major-league pitcher terrified that he'll be maimed for life. This is Joby Baker’s second appearance as smart-alecky Private Kelly.

This episode provides solid entertainment, acting, and direction throughout and new insights into the characters. Defining moments include: Saunders reacting to his own self-doubt and recriminations; Hanley’s great PPT (recycling Saunders’ own PPT back to him); and the first hints of a charming personal relationship between Littlejohn and Billy. The show lets the audience learn quite a bit about Billy Nelson: that he has a kid brother and mother waiting for him at home, that his father died recently (rather odd, since his father is writing to him the following season in "Bridgehead"), and that Billy apparently has nine lives. Though his character seems to die in the episode, the actor had filmed several more episodes as Billy by the time "The Celebrity" aired.

The scene between Saunders and Hanley where the Sergeant confesses to his misjudgment about Packer captures the essence of the series. In simple, unvarnished words and in words not said, the fear of men fighting on the front is revealed, fears that a man’s decisions made under fire could cost both his own life and the lives of the men he leads. The response of the Lt. Hanley, though cold comfort, is the only comfort that war offers.

NOTES, ODDITIES, AND BLOOPERS:

CAST: