"Ghosts of Christmas Past" is an episode of JAG that first aired on December 14, 1999. Directed by Alan J. Levi. Teleplay by Ed Zuckerman and John Schulian, based on a story by Donald P. Bellisario.
On Christmas Eve 1999, Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. visits the Vietnam Memorial, as is his custom. By coincidence, Jenny Lake is also there, who claims to have known Rabb's father. For the rest of the episode, Jenny reminisces about her time aboard the USS Ticonderoga as part of Bob Hope's USO troupe around Christmastime thirty years ago.
David James Elliott plays Lt. Harmon Rabb, Sr. in the flashbacks, Catherine Bell plays the young Jenny Lake, and other JAG regulars and recurring characters are similarly reassigned.
Jenny thought about committing suicide by jumping off the fantail of the aircraft carrier, but Rabb Sr. talked her down. He gave her his wings insignia. The next day, Christmas, he flew the mission in which he was shot down. Jenny kept the wings all these years, and now she gives them to Rabb Sr.'s son, who then places them on the snow in front of the memorial.
Tropes
- And You Were There: All the main actors and several recurring guest stars are recast for rôles in the 1969 story that they don't play in any other episodes. Some who normally played officers play enlisted or civilians, and some who normally played enlisted play officers or civilians.
- David James Elliott played both Harmon Rabb Jr and Harmon Rabb Sr.
- Catherine Bell, who normally plays Lt. Colonel Sarah MacKenzie, is, as already mentioned, Jenny Lake.
- Michael Bellisario, who normally plays Petty Officer Mikey Roberts, is Ensign Kyle Everett.
- Chuck Carrington, who normally plays Petty Officer Jason Tiner, is Lt. Bond.
- Nanci Chambers, who normally plays Lt. Loren Singer, is Jo Jo.
- Paul Collins, who normally plays SecNav, is Mort Reese, a photojournalist.
- Trevor Goddard, who normally plays Lt. Commander Mic Brumby, is the Ticonderoga CAG.
- John M. Jackson, who normally plays Admiral A. J. Chegwidden, is Chief Petty Officer Burns.
- Anne Marie Johnson, who normally plays Congresswoman Bobbi Latham, is Diana Ross.
- Patrick Labyorteaux, who normally plays Lt. Bud Roberts, Jr., is Lt. Gibson.
- Jeff MacKay, who normally plays Senior Chief Petty Officer Bud Roberts, Sr., is Jerry Colonna.
- Peter Murnik, who normally plays Clark Palmer, is Tom Boone.
- W. K. Stratton, who normally plays Commander Ted Lindsey, is Les Brown.
- Karri Turner, who normally plays Lt. Harriet Sims, is Phyllis Diller.
- Randy Vasquez, who normally plays Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez, is Lt. Garcia.
- Sibel Ergener who normally reccurs as Skates, is Dixie.
- Artistic License – Physics: Mort Reese takes a photo on the deck of the Ticonderoga at night. The light from his flash is somehow strong enough to blind Gracia and Rabb in their plane on final approach a mile away from the carrier, making their landing difficult and prompting the CAG to throw Mort's camera overboard.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Catherine Bell's performance of "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
- Christmas Episode
- Commercial Break Cliffhanger: Mort Reese's improbably blinding camera flash happens right before a commercial break. It isn't until the break that we see that Garcia and Rabb landed safely, though with a little difficulty.
- Ejection Seat: We see Rabb Sr. ejecting out of his fighter jet as Jenny Lake sings "I'll Be Home for Christmas."
