JAG

JAG is also a reference to the Judge Advocate General's Corps, the judicial branch of the United States Armed Forces

JAG (the acronym for "Judge Advocate General") is an American adventure drama television show, produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Television Network. Its current episodes are broadcast by CBS, but past episodes are shown in syndication on the cable and satellite network USA.

Note: All military ranks given for currently used characters are their ranks as of July 2004. For characters no longer on the series, ranks given are their last ranks on the series.

The ensemble cast currently centers on United States Navy Commander Harmon "Harm" Rabb, Jr., played by David James Elliott, and United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, played by Catherine Bell. Their obvious attraction to each other, which must not be allowed to interfere with their professional relationship, is a long-running thematic element.

Elliott has played the Rabb character since the start of the series in 1995. Rabb's original partner was Navy Lieutenant Meg Austin, played by Tracey Needham. Needham left the series in 1997 and was replaced by Bell.

Other members of the cast include Lieutenant Commander Bud Roberts, played by Patrick Labyorteaux, a junior lawyer, and his wife, Lieutenant Harriett Sims, played by Karri Turner, the administrative aide who holds the office together. Bud's clumsiness, both physical and verbal, and geeky interests (he's a Trekkie, fascinated by the paranormal, and a computer nerd), together with his wife's maternal nature, are a frequent source of comic relief. The Judge Advocate General himself, Rear Admiral (Upper Half) A.J. Chegwidden, is played by John M. Jackson. The actress Nanci Chambers, wife of David James Elliott, played Lieutenant Loren Singer. She portrayed a loathsome villain in this character to great acclaim. Singer was a sociopathic personality who schemed continually to further her ambitions at the expense of those around her. Especially praised was an episode in which Singer hurt fan-loved Harriet by using the death of her baby Sarah to discredit her testimony in court. In a later episode, however, Harriet got a measure of revenge by punching out Singer.

Recurring minor characters include Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez (Randy Vasquez), Petty Officer Jason Tiner (Chuck Carrington), Royal Australian Navy Commander Mic Brumby (Trevor Goddard), Congresswoman Bobbi Latham (Anne-Marie Johnson), Petty Officer Jennifer Coates (Zoe McLellan), CIA Special Agent Clayton Webb (Steven Culp), and others.

JAG is a popular show among military personnel and veterans because of its more-accurate-than-usual depiction of military life and the value its stories place on the virtues of integrity, loyalty, and leadership. However, some enlisted groups have criticized the show for its portrayal of enlisted men as drunks, wife beaters, and miscreants.

See the List of JAG episodes.