Meg Austin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Megan "Meg" Austin (USN), is a main character in the first season of the television series JAG
portrayed by actress Tracey Needham
.
, replacing Lieutenant JG
Caitlin Pike
. The character was known to be from Texas
, inherited a friendship from her deceased father to an obscure character very well connected in the intelligence community named "Ollie" in clear reference to Oliver North
(portrayed by himself on three episodes in 1995, 1996 and 2002), who knew her father and who helped her on some of their investigations. He also stayed at her bedside when she was shot in the head and comatose in the hospital after a run-in with the (fictionally) infamous assassin known only as Hemlock. She also proved to have superior computer skills to both Rabb and Cate due to a previous stint in weapons and computer R&D. We also find out in her first episode that she has extreme claustrophobia
(fear of confined spaces), which was a continual problem for her character. After her departure from JAG headquarters, she recommended Major Sarah MacKenzie
to replace her as Harm's partner, she also recommended that Bud
be placed on JAG staff.
In Order of Precedence
didn't like Andrea Parker
's character (Caitlin Pike
) in the pilot, so they had to recast Rabb's partner for the series. Andrea Parker went on to work on The Pretender
but came back to guest star on a few episodes later in the season.
When JAG was canceled by NBC after the first season, Needham left the series. When CBS
picked up JAG from the second season onward, she was replaced by Catherine Bell
, playing then Major
Sarah MacKenzie
. Her final (non flashback clip) appearance was in the final and rarely aired season 1 episode Skeleton Crew.
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
Megan "Meg" Austin (USN), is a main character in the first season of the television series JAG
JAG (TV series)
JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
portrayed by actress Tracey Needham
Tracey Needham
Tracey Needham is a Texas-born American actress best known as Paige Thatcher on Life Goes On during the series' second to fourth seasons , and then on the first season of JAG as Lt. Meg Austin .-Biography:...
.
Character Biography
Meg Austin was the second partner to Lieutenant Harmon RabbHarmon Rabb
Captain Harmon 'Harm' Rabb, Jr., JAGC, USN, is a fictional and lead character in the American television series JAG....
, replacing Lieutenant JG
Lieutenant, Junior Grade
Lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, United States Merchant Marine USMM, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade...
Caitlin Pike
Caitlin Pike
Andrea Parker portrayed Commander Caitlin "Kate" Pike, USN in episodes A New Life, A New Life Part 2, Brig Break, Ares and Touch and Go...
. The character was known to be from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, inherited a friendship from her deceased father to an obscure character very well connected in the intelligence community named "Ollie" in clear reference to Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
(portrayed by himself on three episodes in 1995, 1996 and 2002), who knew her father and who helped her on some of their investigations. He also stayed at her bedside when she was shot in the head and comatose in the hospital after a run-in with the (fictionally) infamous assassin known only as Hemlock. She also proved to have superior computer skills to both Rabb and Cate due to a previous stint in weapons and computer R&D. We also find out in her first episode that she has extreme claustrophobia
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
(fear of confined spaces), which was a continual problem for her character. After her departure from JAG headquarters, she recommended Major Sarah MacKenzie
Sarah MacKenzie
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, JAGC, USMC is one of the main characters in the JAG TV series.In her first appearance on the show and for several seasons, she holds the rank of Major USMC, but is then promoted to Lieutenant...
to replace her as Harm's partner, she also recommended that Bud
Bud Roberts
Lieutenant Commander Bud J. Roberts, Jr. JAGC, USN is a character in the JAG TV series.-Story:Son of a retired Master Chief, Roberts joined the Navy, and as an Ensign was assigned to sea duty aboard the USS Seahawk as the Public Affairs officer under Captain Ross. It was during this role as the...
be placed on JAG staff.
Awards and decorations
The list below contains Austin's known awards current as of the end of season 1.In Order of Precedence
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... |
||
Background
The powers that be at NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
didn't like Andrea Parker
Andrea Parker
Andrea Nicole Parker is an American actress and former ballet dancer.-Career:Parker began ballet training at age 6 and at age 15 she joined a professional dance company. She quit her career in ballet after three years of touring and trained to become an actress while working as a bartender...
's character (Caitlin Pike
Caitlin Pike
Andrea Parker portrayed Commander Caitlin "Kate" Pike, USN in episodes A New Life, A New Life Part 2, Brig Break, Ares and Touch and Go...
) in the pilot, so they had to recast Rabb's partner for the series. Andrea Parker went on to work on The Pretender
The Pretender (TV series)
The Pretender is an American television series that aired on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The series starred Michael T. Weiss as Jarod, a genius and former child prodigy with "the ability to become anyone he wants to be," i.e., to flawlessly impersonate anyone in virtually any line of work...
but came back to guest star on a few episodes later in the season.
When JAG was canceled by NBC after the first season, Needham left the series. When CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
picked up JAG from the second season onward, she was replaced by Catherine Bell
Catherine Bell
Catherine Lisa Bell is an American actress known for her role of Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television show JAG from 1997 to 2005...
, playing then Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Sarah MacKenzie
Sarah MacKenzie
Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, JAGC, USMC is one of the main characters in the JAG TV series.In her first appearance on the show and for several seasons, she holds the rank of Major USMC, but is then promoted to Lieutenant...
. Her final (non flashback clip) appearance was in the final and rarely aired season 1 episode Skeleton Crew.