- Mail Call
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Mail Call 
Mail Call Season 2 DVD coverFormat Reality Starring R. Lee Ermey Country of origin United States Language(s) English Production Executive producer(s) Robert Kirk & Rob Lihani Running time 30 to 60 minutes Broadcast Original channel History Original run August 4, 2002 – 2009 External links Website Mail Call was a television program appearing on the History Channel and hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant, (given the honorary rank of Gunnery Sergeant in May 2002). The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the 'Fighting Fridays' lineup. Most episodes were 30 minutes, but 2007 through the show's end in 2009 some episodes were 60 minutes.
During each episode, Ermey read and answered questions submitted by viewers regarding weapons and equipment used by all branches of the U.S. military now or in the past, as well as by other armed forces in history. Ermey often took his viewers on location to military training areas to film demonstrations. When not on location, Ermey broadcasted from a set resembling a military outpost, including a tent, a Jeep, and various other pieces of military gear which have changed throughout the series.
Comic relief was provided as Ermey inflicted DI-style verbal abuse on his viewers or tested the effects of various weapons on watermelons (the host's "sworn enemy") and paint cans, as well as occasional appearances of "Mini-Lee", an action figure styled in Ermey's likeness, often seen berating a luckless G.I. Joe figurine. His demeanor as host was similar to the character "Gunnery Sergeant Hartman" portrayed by Ermey in the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket, though this attitude was shown only towards his viewers (e.g., insisting that his viewers return after a commercial break) and not the military special guests. Older viewers might have compared him to Sergeant Vincent Carter, a character in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. television program.
The program had had several DVD video releases, including episodes from seasons one through seven, as well as a blooper video called Mail Call: S.N.A.F.U..
Contents
Production
"Mail Call" was produced by Digital Ranch in Sherman Oaks, CA, for A&E Networks. Key production staff include:
- Rob Kirk - Executive Producer
- Rob Lihani - Executive Producer
- Bill Rogin - Executive Producer
- Rob Beemer - Supervising Producer
- Keith Guinto - Coordinating Producer
- Harlan Glenn - Director / segment producer
- Susan Michaels - Writer
- Tony Long - Writer
- David Aykens - Director/segment producer
- David Cargill - Producer
- David Connelly - Coordinating producer
- Scott Corburn - Co-producer / Segment producer
- Ann Hackett - Supervising producer
- Mike Phillips - Co-producer
- Mike Vincenti - Co-producer
- Martha Sloan - Co-executive producer
Radio
"Mail Call" also was the name of a popular World War II-era radio program. It was created by the Armed Forces Radio Service and debuted August 11, 1942. It featured celebrities of the day and was meant as entertainment for American overseas forces featuring music, comedy and sketches. Command Performance, G.I. Journal, Jubilee and G.I. Jive are similar WWII era radio variety programs.
Mail Call Origin
"Mail Call" is drawn from the military practice of the same name where soldiers assemble to receive mail from a designated person, who will call each soldier's name in turn to pick up their mail.
See also
- Lock N' Load with R. Lee Ermey, a show with a similar premise also hosted by Ermey
External links
- Official website for Mail Call
- Official website for R. Lee Ermey
- Official website for Gunny Ermey's Mail Call Forum
- Gunny Ermey's Gunny Approved websites
- Mail Call at the Internet Movie Database
Categories:- History (TV channel) original programs
- Military history of the United States
- Military television series
- 1940s American radio programs
- United States Marine Corps in popular culture
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