'68 Whiskey' could be 'MASH' for millennials featuring gritty realism of US Army's medical team in Afghanistan
When you have a formula that works, even if it has been a while, you try it again. You definitely try it when it is topical. What are we talking about? '68 Whiskey', of course.
The upcoming show, produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is about a small team of medics during their deployment to an austere outpost in Afghanistan dubbed "The Orphanage".
War comedies have long been a thing ever since 'Catch 22' established the genre -- but more so in films. From 'Good Morning, Vietnam' and 'Full Metal Jacket' to 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb', or the more recent 'Tropic Thunder' or 'Inglourious Basterds'.
But on TV, the one show that set records for longevity and humor is 'M*A*S*H', also about army medics in the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. We haven't had a good war comedy on TV since after 9/11, which makes '68 Whiskey' a perfect entry point for the war humor genre for millennials, who are too young to remember 'M*A*S*H' but are old enough to have seen 9/11, and the wars in Afghanistan that invade the national consciousness.
The official synopsis of the show says the "multicultural" medic team on the show "endure a dangerous and Kafkaesque world that leads to self-destructive appetites, outrageous behavior, intense camaraderie and occasionally, a profound sense of purpose." While that sounds 'M*A*S*H'-esque, don't expect a dress-wearing Maxwell Klinger or any martini-swirling in the tents, even if there is some babysitting of a goat involved.
Ron Howard, in an exclusive behind-the-scenes video, has already said it will be an "honest, realistic look at a U.S. medical team in Afghanistan" embracing "the look, the grit, the feel" of the realities of war, despite being billed as a comedy. This involved building a humungous set for the base where most of the action will be filmed and a "cinematic" approach, including hiring real Black Hawk helicopters and attention to action sequences along with the comedy elements.
The show, based on popular Israeli series 'Charlie Golf One', originated with Israel’s Yes TV network, where 'Fauda' had also aired before being picked up by Netflix. Since the show is being adapted for American audiences, do expect a 'M*A*S*H' hangover in terms of absurdist humor. But '68 Whiskey' will also have the budget and source material to differentiate themselves from what we might have seen on our TV screens before this.
'68 Whiskey' premieres on January 15 at 10/9c on Paramount Network.