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Series · 2002 – 2007 · Documentary

Mail Call

★7.2 2002 – 2007 8 Seasons TV-MA

Mail Call was a television program that appeared on the History Channel and hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant,. The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the 'Fighting Fridays' lineup. Most episodes were 30 minutes, but from 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 broadcast from a set resembling a military outpost, including a tent, a Jeep, and various other pieces of military gear which changed throughout the series. At times, he would also have a bulldog - usually symbolic of Marines, especially drill instructors - on his show as well. Comic relief was provided as Ermey inflicted DI-style verbal abuse on his viewers or tests the effects of various weapons on watermelons 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 and not the military special guests. Older viewers might compare him to Sergeant Vincent Carter, a character in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. television program.

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Seasons & episodes

8 seasons · 105 episodes

Tank; Gatling Gun; Samurai Sword

Episode 01

Tank; Gatling Gun; Samurai Sword

Aug 4, 2002 · 30 min

Steering a World War II tank; Gatling gun's speed; power of the samurai sword.

Knight's Armor; WWI Backpack; Landmine

Episode 02

Knight's Armor; WWI Backpack; Landmine

Aug 11, 2002 · 30 min

Parts of 15th-century armor; World War I infantry backpack; ingredients of a land mine.

Flak Vest; Medieval Crossbow; WWI Pilots

Episode 03

Flak Vest; Medieval Crossbow; WWI Pilots

Aug 18, 2002 · 30 min

Body armor; accuracy of a medieval crossbow; how World War I pilots shot through their propellers.

Civil War Cannoneers; Night Vision; Clearing a Minefield

Episode 04

Civil War Cannoneers; Night Vision; Clearing a Minefield

Aug 25, 2002 · 30 min

Aiming Civil War artillery pieces; how night-vision technology works; how to clear a minefield.

Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC); U.S. Cavalry Saddles; Gas Masks

Episode 05

Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC); U.S. Cavalry Saddles; Gas Masks

Sep 1, 2002 · 30 min

Operating the LCAC; cavalry saddles used in the Old West; how gas masks work.

Mortar; WWII GIs' Personal Items; Native-American Arrows

Episode 06

Mortar; WWII GIs' Personal Items; Native-American Arrows

Sep 8, 2002 · 23 min

Maneuverable artillery; musket; Navy airships; precision flying team; pirates; depth charges

Re-Fueling a Fighter Jet; Naval Signal Flags; GI Chow

Episode 07

Re-Fueling a Fighter Jet; Naval Signal Flags; GI Chow

Sep 15, 2002 · 22 min

How to refuel a fighter jet in mid-air; how ships send messages using signal flags; what soldiers eat.

Revolutionary WarMusket; Jousting; Foxholes

Episode 08

Revolutionary WarMusket; Jousting; Foxholes

Sep 22, 2002 · 30 min

How fast a Revolutionary War soldier could fire a musket; jousting; how to dig a foxhole.

The Pilum; WWII Radios; First Rockets

Episode 09

The Pilum; WWII Radios; First Rockets

Sep 29, 2002 · 30 min

The ancient Roman pilum is designed to penetrate armor; World War II army radios; how rockets were first used on the battlefield.

Ninja Weapons; Flamethrower; Military Dogs

Episode 10

Ninja Weapons; Flamethrower; Military Dogs

Oct 5, 2002 · 30 min

The weapons of the Japanese Ninja; how flamethrowers work; what military dogs do.

Grenades; Dog Tags; Dinner in a Pouch

Episode 11

Grenades; Dog Tags; Dinner in a Pouch

Oct 7, 2002 · 30 min

No description available.

The Jeep; HIMARS; Hurricanes

Episode 12

The Jeep; HIMARS; Hurricanes

Oct 21, 2002 · 30 min

No description available.

Future Gear; Marine Camouflage; Army's New Armored Vehicle

Episode 13

Future Gear; Marine Camouflage; Army's New Armored Vehicle

Oct 28, 2002 · 30 min

Possible gear for troops on tomorrow's battlefields; Marines design their new camouflage pattern; the Stryker.

About the series

Mail Call poster
Audience score
★ 7.2 /10

based on 6 votes

Synopsis

Mail Call was a television program that appeared on the History Channel and hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant,. The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the 'Fighting Fridays' lineup. Most episodes were 30 minutes, but from 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 broadcast from a set resembling a military outpost, including a tent, a Jeep, and various other pieces of military gear which changed throughout the series. At times, he would also have a bulldog - usually symbolic of Marines, especially drill instructors - on his show as well. Comic relief was provided as Ermey inflicted DI-style verbal abuse on his viewers or tests the effects of various weapons on watermelons 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 and not the military special guests. Older viewers might compare him to Sergeant Vincent Carter, a character in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. television program.

Documentary

Cast

1 principal cast

R. Lee Ermey

R. Lee Ermey

Where to watch Mail Call

Mail Call is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The documentary has 8 seasons and 105 total episodes, rated 7.2/10 by 6 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Mail Call have?

Mail Call has 8 seasons with 105 episodes in total.

Is Mail Call still on the air?

Mail Call has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Mail Call?

Mail Call airs on History.

When did Mail Call first air?

Mail Call first aired on August 4, 2002.

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