Roll Out is an American sitcom that aired Friday evenings on CBS during the 1973–1974 television season. Starring nightclub comedian Stu Gilliam and Hilly Hicks, and featuring Ed Begley Jr. and Garrett Morris, the series was set in France during World War II and was loosely based on the 1952 film Red Ball Express.

Roll Out
Stu Gilliam (top) and Hilly Hicks.
GenreSitcom
Created byLarry Gelbart
Gene Reynolds
Written byGene Reynolds
Don Weis
Richard Kinon
William Wiard
Directed byWilliam Wiard
StarringEd Begley Jr.
Garrett Morris
Rod Gist
Mel Stewart
Jimmy Lydon
Stu Gilliam
Hilly Hicks
Darrow Igus
Theme music composerDave Grusin
ComposersJ. J. Johnson ("Dark Victory")
Benny Golson
Dave Grusin
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes12
Production
ProducersGene Reynolds
Larry Gelbart
CinematographyRobert C. Moreno
EditorsJoseph Gluck
Neil Travis
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production company20th Century Fox Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 5, 1973 (1973-10-05) –
January 4, 1974 (1974-01-04)

Actor Jimmy Lydon, familiar as a juvenile lead in the 1940s, was cast as an Army captain. His character's name was Henry Aldrich; the same name he used in Paramount's comedy features of the 1940s.

Synopsis

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In an effort to cash in on the success of M*A*S*H, CBS decided to air another Army comedy. Instead of Army medics, Roll Out highlighted the pratfalls of the supply drivers of the fictional 5050th Quartermaster Truck Company of the U.S. Third Army's Red Ball Express, whose staff was mainly African American. The series attempted to use the World War II setting as a commentary on race relations, just as M*A*S*H's Korean War setting was also a commentary on the Vietnam War.

Roll Out aired opposite ABC's The Odd Couple. Subsequently, Roll Out failed to win its timeslot and was canceled halfway through its sole season. It was replaced on February 8, 1974, by Good Times, a spin-off of Maude starring Esther Rolle and John Amos, which would run for six seasons.

Cast

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Actor Role
Stu Gilliam Corporal Carter "Sweet" Williams
Hilly Hicks Private First Class Jed Brooks
Ed Begley Jr. Lieutenant Robert Chapman
Garrett Morris Wheels Dawson
Mel Stewart Sergeant B.J. Bryant
Jimmy Lydon Captain Henry Aldrich
Teddy Wilson High Strung
Rob Gist Phone Booth
Darrow Igus Jersey Hampton
Val Bisoglio Captain Rocco Calvelli
Sam Laws Sergeant Grease
Penny Santon Madame Delacourt
Dana Brady Dominique Delacourt

Episodes

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No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code
1"Pilot"Gene ReynoldsLarry GelbartOctober 5, 1973 (1973-10-05)TBA
We meet the troops of the "Red Ball Express," a mostly black Army transportation unit based in France during World War II. In the premiere episode we see how Sweet honors a fellow driver's last wish by organizing a New Orleans-style funeral.
2"Sunday, Sweet Sunday"William WiardStory by : Gene Reynolds
Teleplay by : Larry Gelbart & Sheldon Keller
October 12, 1973 (1973-10-12)TBA
Sweet accepts Jed's invitation to a Sunday drive to church, but Sweet does not plan to go to church.
3"Dark Victory"Hugh A. RobertsonPeter MeyersonOctober 19, 1973 (1973-10-19)TBA
Sweet and Jed accept a volunteer mission, and stand a good chance to return as heroes if they survive.
4"Strange Bedfellows"William WiardJohn Boni & Thad MumfordOctober 26, 1973 (1973-10-26)TBA
As part of a contest, Sweet gets a chance to travel to Paris.
5"Dear Rocco"Robert ButlerRick MittlemanNovember 2, 1973 (1973-11-02)TBA
When the mail truck explodes, Captain Calvelli receives only half of a "Dear John" letter, but that is enough to make him crazy.
6"Sweet Millions"Bruce BilsonHoward MerrillNovember 16, 1973 (1973-11-16)TBA
Sweet finds a bag of $100 bills inside a hollow tree, and everyone else is miffed by his new affluent attitude.
7"Members of the Wedding"Richard KinonDavid P. Lewis and Booker BradshawNovember 23, 1973 (1973-11-23)TBA
The drivers are tasked with delivering a gift to a general's wedding, but the job is tougher than they expected.
8"The Paper Caper"E.W. SwackhamerSimon MuntnerNovember 30, 1973 (1973-11-30)TBA
Sweet and the boys become unlikely safe crackers.
9"No Wages – All Fear"Don WeisStory by : Larry Gelbart & Gene Reynolds
Teleplay by : Larry Gelbart & Sheldon Keller
December 14, 1973 (1973-12-14)TBA
Sweet's "high-living, always-jiving" attitude drives Jed crazy.
10"Christmas the '44"Michael SchultzStory by : Sid Dorfman
Teleplay by : Larry Gelbart & Sheldon Keller
December 21, 1973 (1973-12-21)K-715
The company's Christmas looks pretty gloomy until a bunch of orphans come into their lives.
11"Honor Truck"Hollingsworth MorseLarry Gelbart & Sheldon KellerDecember 28, 1973 (1973-12-28)TBA
When Sweet realizes that the winner of "honor truck" will win a pass to Paris, nothing—including fair play—will stop him from winning.
12"Didn't He Ramble?"UnknownSid DorfmanJanuary 4, 1974 (1974-01-04)TBA
Sweet gets an honorable discharge after he sprains his ankle.
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