"Real Deal SEAL" is an episode of JAG that first aired on May 9, 2000. Directed by Terrence O'Hara. Written by Paul J Levine.
Lt. Curtis Rivers (Montel Williams) shows up at a political rally for senate candidate Bill Layton (Peter Brown), who claims to be a former SEAL. However, even after a cordial welcome, Lt. Rivers goes up to Layton and rips Layton's SEAL insignia pin off, claiming Layton is not a SEAL. The two men then engage in fisticuffs.
Because Bill Layton did win a Navy Cross in Vietnam, Rivers is Court-martialed for assault. Commander Rabb is assigned to defend him, but Rivers insists on defending himself. Lt. Colonel MacKenzie prosecutes, the judge is Commander Helfman (Jennifer Savidge).
Rivers then ropes Rabb in to assisting in the exposure and apprehension of another fake SEAL, this one goes by the name "Ticktin" and is now a mercenary hitman. Rabb refuses to go along with this, but Rivers says Rabb has no choice: Rivers has hired Ticktin to kill Rabb.
The hitman turns out to be Sheriff Carson (Mark Moses), who lures Rabb out to a cabin in the woods by pretending to have discovered the hitman's hideout. Carson gives himself away as Ticktin when he boasts about his specially customized ammunition, some of which Rabb and Rivers had already seen from Ticktin's first go at Rabb.
Meanwhile, Senator Barrington (James Karen) approaches Admiral Chegwidden to nominate him for a federal judgeship — an opportunity that entices the admiral. However, Chegwidden's loyalty being to the U. S. Constitution rather than to any political party gives the senator pause.
Barrington is also watching what's going on with Layton, though he stops short of suggesting Chegwidden should do anything to affect the outcome of Rivers's court-martial. Revealed as a phony, Layton suspends his campaign. At roughly the same time, Chegwidden's chance to be a federal judge disappears.
Tropes
- A Fool for a Client: Rivers insists on defending himself, and as expected, makes some horrendous blunders. However, once he gets damning information about Bill Layton’s Navy Cross citation, he very effectively tears the guy apart on the stand.
- Insignia Rip-Off Ritual: Rivers yanks the SEAL trident off of Layton's jacket, loudly proclaiming that he's a phony.
- Miles Gloriosus: Bill Layton never was a SEAL, nor did he actually do the things he claimed to have done for that Navy Cross.
- No True Scotsman: At one point, Rivers asks who the other members of Layton's SEAL team were. Layton stammers it was a long time ago, but Rivers angrily refutes that a real SEAL would never forget the names of his comrades.
- Penny Among Diamonds: Admiral Chegwidden remarks that he wouldn’t exactly fit in with all the other federal judges if appointed since they all “came from deep carpet law firms” while he as a former Navy SEAL came from a “deep carpet jungle”
- Phony Veteran: Bill Layton, according to Rivers.
- Retired Badass: Two retired SEALs help Lt Rivers in exposing fake SEALs and now help him find the hitman.
- Soldiers at the Rear: Bill Layton was in public affairs in Saigon, a comfortable desk job. He made an exact copy of someone else's Navy Cross citation to get himself awarded one as well.
- Whip Pan: Just before Layton testifies.
