MASH - General Discussion

[mmecorday]

I enjoyed the special last night, especially the segments showcasing each character. I had seen most of the interviews before. One point that the special really drove home was that we will never see a show like M*A*S*H ever again with its unique blend of humor and heart ache. It's also apparent that the actors really loved each other and that affection bled through their on screen characters. I feel very privileged that I grew up watching this show. It still makes me laugh and cry today. 

[sATL]

On the episode "Heroes", BJ and Charles, were a little annoyed with Hawkeye answering/being chased by the news reporters, when the boxers  medical condition was terminal.  

Just what was Hawkeye supposed to do ? The reporters chased him down, and if didn't at least answer word would have gotten back to potter.

[WendyCR72]

"The Joker Is Wild" is on now, and I want to smack BJ for whining about Trapper the whole damned time.

It's like he can't bear the fact that Hawkeye once had another friend besides him.

[voiceover]

Just rewatched “Adam’s Ribs”,  which is definitely in my Top 20 of MASH eps.  Hawkeye’s flip-out in the mess tent is a classic (“I’ve eaten a river of liver and an ocean of fish!…I’ve eaten so much fish I’ve grown gills! I’ve eaten so much liver, I can only make love if I’m smothered in bacon & onions!” — tweenage me wasn’t sure what “making love” was, but Alda’s delivery of the line always had me cry-laughing).

I loved the supply sergeant who stood between Hawkeye and the package.  Those guys were always shown to be the toughest and most wily of the non-comms.  That moment when he guessed where in Chicago the ribs were from (“I’m from Joliet! I’d walk on my knees through snow for a takeout order!”) pinged so hard years later when I was on the other side of the world, pining for KC bbq.

[sATL]

Re: the recent special:

Where was Trapper from? I grabbed this snip when they were talking about casting the show. BJ said Mill Valley, so much I can't remember Trapper saying any city/state..

Henry was supposed to be around 48? That's a little old for the draft..

Edited February 5 by sATL

[rubaco]

Why did I think Trapper was from Boston? There has to be a reason. (And no, I'm not mixing him up with Charles!)

[Driad]

42 minutes ago, rubaco said:

Why did I think Trapper was from Boston?

There was a line (maybe in the movie?).  Trapper was silent but someone else said, "He's from Boston and he was drafted."

[sATL]

1 hour ago, rubaco said:

Why did I think Trapper was from Boston? There has to be a reason. (And no, I'm not mixing him up with Charles!)

 

23 minutes ago, Driad said:

There was a line (maybe in the movie?).  Trapper was silent but someone else said, "He's from Boston and he was drafted."

OK. Surprised the writers of the TV show made two characters from the same city. I guess it was better Trapper didn't mention Boston much, as Charles ran mentioning his hometown into the ground.

Did Henry give any clues to his age, in the movie? I figured it was close to 40 - from a crack Hawkeye made in "Henry in love"🤣🤣

[Driad]

Why did they name Margaret's husband Donald Penobscot?  From what we heard about his family, they were upper crust New Englanders who might tolerate the Winchesters.  But Penobscot is the name of a Native American people, whose homeland is in Maine but who would not have the snooty attitude that Donald's family did.  It sounds to me as if the writers chose a New Englandish name but didn't do their homework.

[Fosca]

Probably because Trapper and Charles were about as different as one could hope.  And yes, I don't think Trapper ever said where he was from in the series.  

 

[Browncoat]

After Charles gets transferred to the 4077, the writers seem to forget that Hawkeye went to medical school in Boston.  Perhaps Harvard, perhaps not, but I always thought Hawkeye Boston vs Charles Boston would have been a treasure trove.

[Fosca]

In the book Hawkeye attended Androscoggin College in Maine, although I'm not sure if that's where he got his MD.  He knew Trapper because they had played football against each other (Trap went to Dartmouth).

 

[mmecorday]

Quote

And yes, I don't think Trapper ever said where he was from in the series.  

Doesn't Trapper tell the soldier with hysterical paralysis that he's from Boston? 

[sATL]

Glad no one asked me this question...I would have gotten it wrong...and I would admit this particular eposide isn't one of my favorites, so I tend not to listen/watch too closely when it's on..

 

[voiceover]

On 2/7/2024 at 5:44 PM, Fosca said:

[Hawkeye] knew Trapper because they had played football against each other (Trap went to Dartmouth).

In the book, it takes Hawkeye awhile to remember why the new guy seemed so familiar.  When the penny drops, he explains to Duke how John McIntyre got his name.

Quoting from memory so it’s inexact:

”Jesus to Jesus and eight hands around!…[McIntyre was in the train’s bathroom doing it with some girl], and when the conductor found them, she screamed, ‘He trapped me!’…This is the famous Trapper John!”

Unsurprising that *that particular anecdote never made it to the small screen.

[Fosca]

There was a LOT in the book/movie that didn't make it to the TV show.  Other than the character's names and that they were in a MASH in Korea, most of the rest was changed.  The author of the book was NOT happy that it became so (pardon the expression) "woke", particularly in the later seasons, and if you've seen the movie or read the book it's VERY different.  

[Fool to cry]

 

[voiceover]

Yesterday was 52 years ago that MASH  premiered.

Thought I’d restart the action here in honor of the anniversary: name your favorite episode!

”Carry On, Hawkeye” — when (excepting for Pierce, Margaret, Radar, and a few nurses & enlisted) everyone comes down with the flu, is certainly one of mine.  Largely because it’s the beginning of rapprochement between those first two, and it’s believable & hilarious (Hawkeye: “Remember all those tricks I played on you?…” Margaret: “Yes.”  Hawkeye: “I’d like to get well & do them all over again!”)

However.  Season 3’s “Officer of the Day” has always stayed at the top spot.  It’s pretty much a collection of incidents, strung together, that Hawkeye faces down while he holds the title.  It’s the first appearance of Col. Flagg (Edward Winter was in Season 1 but his character wasn’t the Flagg we’d all come to know & love), the hunt for Radar’s missing teddy bear, Klinger’s desperate attempts to go AWOL, and the “Kim Lucky Day”.

But it also has Hawkeye’s rant on why he won’t carry a gun (“I’ll carry on, carry forward…”).  And my all-time favorite line: his response to Frank’s telling him the O.D. title “has a sash and a sword that comes with it!”

Hawkeye: “That’s in case we’re attacked by the Saracens.”

Edited September 19 by voiceover

[rubaco]

I have dozens of "favorite episodes" when it comes to this show, can't pick just one. I also stand by my unpopular opinion that the series remained brilliant from episode 1 to the unparalleled finale (despite, of course, a few clunker eps along the way). But for the purposes of answering the question, I'll say my fave is "Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler," where the soldier thinks he is Christ and we get visits from both Sidney and Flagg. Man, the balance that this episode achieves, with the drama of the man's psychological problem, the absurdity of Flagg, the respectfulness for all the topics including religion... and a fantastic scene of this soldier solemnly blessing Radar's bear. Just completely works for me as an A+ episode of television.

[Browncoat]

One of my favorites is "Sometimes You Hear The Bullet" -- broke my heart then, and does even now, just thinking about it.  And of course, "Abyssinia, Henry" which surprised us all at the time. 

"Yankee Doodle Doctor" was a fun one.  I also like one of the ones where BJ was playing pranks.  At the end, he filled Frank's foxhole with water and had Sydney yell "Air raid!"  I liked most of the ones with Sydney, actually.  And Flagg, too.

[chitowngirl]

Adam’s Ribs and Captain Tuttle are 2 of my favorites.

[Dimity]

15 hours ago, voiceover said:

However.  Season 3’s “Officer of the Day” has always stayed at the top spot.  It’s pretty much a collection of incidents, strung together, that Hawkeye faces down while he holds the title.  It’s the first appearance of Col. Flagg (Edward Winter was in Season 1 but his character wasn’t the Flagg we’d all come to know & love), the hunt for Radar’s missing teddy bear, Klinger’s desperate attempts to go AWOL, and the “Kim Lucky Day”.

This is my all time favourite episode.  And "Kim Lucky Day" has become a go to expression in this house.

[voiceover]

2 hours ago, chitowngirl said:

Adam’s Ribs

Supply Sergeant: “I’m from Joliet!  I’d walk on my knees through snow for a take-out order!”

Trapper (to Hawkeye): “He’s one of you.”

Thanks @rubaco for reminding me about the Capt Chandler ep.  Two moments reduced me to tears: First, when Sidney asked him if it was true that God answered all prayers, and his voice broke when he responded, “Yes…and sometimes the answer is, ‘No.’”.

Second was the bear-blessing moment.  IIRC, it was the first time we heard Radar’s given name.

[andidante]

4 hours ago, voiceover said:

Supply Sergeant: “I’m from Joliet!  I’d walk on my knees through snow for a take-out order!”

Trapper (to Hawkeye): “He’s one of you.”

Thanks @rubaco for reminding me about the Capt Chandler ep.  Two moments reduced me to tears: First, when Sidney asked him if it was true that God answered all prayers, and his voice broke when he responded, “Yes…and sometimes the answer is, ‘No.’”.

Second was the bear-blessing moment.  IIRC, it was the first time we heard Radar’s given name.

I love that episode and I always loved seeing Sidney. He was one of my favorites.

[Browncoat]

Two other episodes I really liked were "The General Flipped At Dawn" and "April Fools."  Harry Morgan was a hoot.