D'Snowth's M*A*S*H Reviews

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "The Late Captain Pierce"
Episode Number: 77
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: October 5, 1975
Production Code: G507
Writers: Glen Charles, Les Charles
Director: Alan Alda

Episode Summary
B.J. gets a surprise when he receives a call in the middle of the night from Hawkeye's father, though when B.J. finally answers the phone, all he gets from him is "how?" and "why?". Hawkeye is a little upset, and curious as to why his father would call B.J. and ask "how?" and "why?" The next morning, the 4077th receives a visit from Lieutenant "Digger" Dettmuller, who's on morge detail and has arrived to pick up the body of the recently deceased Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce; suddenly it all makes sense: someone made a mistake and listed him as being dead, which explains the phone call from his father to B.J., so Colonel Potter tries to get things straightened out, meanwhile Klinger tries to help Hawkeye get ahold of his father, but to no avail with the upcoming visit of newly elected U.S. president Eisenhower, while at the same time, Digger hangs around camp, and won't leave until he gets ahold of a dead body to take back to the morge with him to avoid getting into anymore trouble. In the meantime, B.J. decides that his best friend deserves a wake, so later that night in the Swamp, a party is held in honor of Hawkeye's passing.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the fifth episode of Season Four, it was the seventh produced.

* Writers Glen Charles and Les Charles would later go on to co-create another long-lasting television classic, Cheers.

* Margaret, Radar, and Father Mulcahy don't appear in this episode. By this time, Gary Burghoff had his contract changed to where he only had to appear in a minimum of thirteen episodes a season, since doing the series began to put a strain on his family life.

* The first time the 4077th sees any snow; which is odd because the set on the FOX Ranch was also covered in snow... since when does it snow in Southern California?

* Hawkeye's hometown is finally revealed as Crabapple Cove, Maine in this episode.

"Deleted" Scenes
* For the life of me, I can't quite tell what has been cut from this episode in syndication.

Favorite Quote
KLINGER: (On the phone after he loses connection) Hey world, where'd you go?

Overall
Opinion: Not a great episode, but it isn't terrible either.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Hey, Doc"
Episode Number: 78
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: October 10, 1975
Production Code: G510
Writers: Rick Mittleman
Director: William Jurgensen

Episode Summary
Motor Pool Sergeant Kimble is being shipped home, but before he goes home, he doesn't want to fly, but rather be shipped home on a boat, so while Hawkeye and B.J. try to help him get his wish, the 4077th is suddenly under sniper fire, so while Colonel Potter and Radar try to get help, Hawkeye and B.J. also find themselves working on an ingrown toenail on a British soldier for two bottles of Scotch, only to discover the 4077th's only microscope has been stolen, so Hawkeye and B.J. will get Sergeant Kimble on his boat if he can get them a new microscope, meanwhile the sniper fire keeps getting worse, so Colonel Potter has a tank brought into camp, hoping that the sight of it will scare away the sniper, only to have Frank Burns take it for a joyride to impress Margaret.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the sixth episode of Season Four, it was the tenth produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* The first time a tank is seen/used on the show.

* GOOF: Colonel Potter's tent is used for Sergeant Kimble's tent.

* GOOF: Hawkeye and B.J. show Colonel Potter the shot up bottles of Scotch outside his office windows, yet they dropped the bottles in the middle of the Compound, so Colonel Potter wouldn't have been able to see them from his windows.

* GOOF: The gang in the Swamp must have foresaw Frank flattening it with the tank, because it was conveniently emptied out.

"Deleted" Scenes
* The opening sequence where a game of poker is being played in the Swamp has been nicked for time.

* After Colonel Griswald visits one of his men in Post-Op, syndication cuts straight to B.J. visiting Sergeant Kimble in his tent, thus cutting out Griswald wanting to speak to Hawkeye about a private matter, and walking in on Radar confessing his love to Corporal Klinger, to which they swear they're just rehearsing for a company play.

* The second poker game held in the Swamp has also been nicked for time.

Favorite Quote
HAWKEYE: Anybody who would steal a hospital's microscope would take Tiny Tim's crutch!

Overall
Opinion: Only thing worth watching about this episode is Frank's joyride in a tank.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "The Bus"
Episode Number: 79
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: October 17, 1975
Production Code: G512
Writers: John D. Hess
Director: Gene Reynolds

Episode Summary
Hawkeye, B.J., Colonel Potter, Frank Burns, and Radar are on their way home from a medical conference when the unthinkable happens: they get lost. After they try to determine where they are without any success, Colonel Potter decides to head back to get new directions, only to discover the bus has died. Both Frank and Radar are unsuccessful at trying to get the bus to start up again, so they find themselves stranded on a dirt road in the middle of the night, but they try to keep themselve occupied by sharing stories, though things get discouraging when Radar goes missing after he heads out to relieve himself, meanwhile a North Korean, with a wounded leg, discovers the bus and surrenders to them. So they take him prisoner, and the next morning when Radar comes back, Colonel Potter finally decides the only thing they can do is walk back to where they were to get new directions, but the North Korean prisoner manages to fix the bus, miraculously, and they're on their way home once again.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the seventh episode of Season Four, it was the twelfth produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* Margaret, Corporal Klinger, and Father Mulcahy don't appear in this episode.

* This episode has no laugh track.

* GOOF: Radar finds a walky-talky in the back of the bus, and says the other one is broken back at camp; Colonel Potter tells Frank it's twenty miles from where they are... but how would he know if they're supposedly lost?

"Deleted" Scenes
* The opening sequence during the bus ride has been nicked for time.

* The brief scene where Frank takes Radar with him to search the woods while he forces Radar to shield him while he pulls out his gun has been edited out.

* Frank asking Hawkeye not to harass him, while B.J. pretends to be Kilroy has been edited out.

* The closing sequence where Hawkeye and B.J. discover the other walky-talky in the back of the bus, and have their prisoner talk into it to give Frank a run for his money has been cut.

Favorite Quote
COLONEL POTTER: So in the dead of night, you decided to go half-cocked and get help?
RADAR: Well gee, sir, since I was the one who broke the bus and got us lost and all, I figured I didn't need to have "cocked" permission.

Overall
Opinion: This episode would've been better with a laugh track.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Dear Mildred"
Episode Number: 80
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: October 24, 1975
Production Code: G505
Writers: Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell
Director: Alan Alda

Episode Summary
Colonel Potter writes a letter to his wife, Mildred, for their anniversary, describing day-to-day life at the 4077th, and the people he's working with, including Radar, Father Mulcahy, Margaret, and Frank Burns. All this, meanwhile Radar confides in Hawkeye and B.J. that he's not too fond of Colonel Potter being in Henry Blake's place, "it's like being with your aunt instead of your mother". Just then, a chopper with mail arrives, and the chopper pilot asks if he can borrow a gun so he can shoot a wounded horse, which outrages Radar, and he begs that he, Hawkeye, and B.J. go pick it up so they can nurse it back to health, only to discover Radar has grown attached to it, and refused to give it up. Meanwhile, Margaret and Frank manage to get front and side snapshots of Colonel Potter to have a bust carved of him as an anniversary present for him, when Radar decides because Colonel Potter loves horse so much, Radar gives the horse they found to him as an anniversary present.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the eighth episode of Season Four, it was the fifth produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* In syndication, Corporal Klinger doesn't appear in this episode.

* William Christopher's real-life wife, Barbara, makes a guest appearance in this episode as a nurse whom he performs a duet with in the Mess Tent. You will notice he proceeds to place his arm around her, but then quickly pulls it away.

* Although this isn't the first guest appearance of Asian actor Richard Lee Sung, this IS his first episode as Cho-Man-Chin, a Korean peddler who often tries to swindle those from the 4077th who seek his handy work.

* GOOF: Colonel Potter's new horse is a stallion in this episode, however for the rest of the series, it would be a mare named Sophie.

* GOOF: The Officers' Club is used for the Supply Room in this episode.

* GOOF: It's obvious the horse legs kicking out boards from the Supply Room doors are fake, not to mention the boards appear to have simply been glued on, rather than nailed.

* GOOF: When Radar is taking care of the horse in its makeshift pin, you can see an animal trainer in the background at one point.

"Deleted" Scenes
* Margaret and Frank walking into Colonel Potter's office to take his picture has been nicked for time.

* After Margaret and Frank get Colonel Potter's pictures, syndication cuts straight to Radar walking into the Swamp to wait for Hawkeye while Frank removes the film from the camera; this cuts out two scenes in a row where Radar follows after Margaret and Frank to see if they'll take his picture as well, only to have them refuse and he stick his tongue out at them as Father Mulcahy walks by. Radar then finds Hawkeye nearby trying to pick up another nurse, but when Radar tries to talk to him, he asks him to wait for him in the Swamp.

* The movie scene in the Mess Tent where Father Mulcahy and Nurse O'Conner perform a duet for everyone while Klinger fixes the film projector has been cut.

* In some syndicated prints, Frank spit-polishing Margaret's boots before Cho-Man-Chin arrives with the carving of Colonel Potter has been edited out.

Favorite Quote
FRANK BURNS: You DO carve?
CHO-MAN-CHIN: Let me show you... (Picks up what looks like a 2x4) see this? It used to be round.
FRANK BURNS: It looks like a 2x4.
CHO-MAN-CHIN: Thank you.

Overall
Opinion: Very poignant episode, I though.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "The Kids"
Episode Number: 81
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: October 31, 1975
Production Code: G511
Writers: Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum
Director: Alan Alda

Episode Summary
The 4077th finds themselves serving as a little resort when Meg Cratty's orphanage (which houses a lot of North Korean children) has been bombed, and the kids need a place to stay temporarily, so the camp prepares for the kids arriving, meanwhile, Hawkeye and B.J. have to help a pregnant mother, who has been shot, deliver a baby via C-section.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the nineth episode of Season Four, it was the eleventh produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* Frank puts in for the Purple Heart yet again, this time for getting an egg shell in his eye a while back. Hawkeye, once again, steals it, and presents it to someone who really deserves it.

* The second, and final appearance of nurse Meg Cratty; in this episode, she is played by Ann Doran.

* Peggy Hunnicutt is 5'1''.

* I know this is off-topic, but I was also delivered via C-Section.

* Stealing isn't necessarily considered to be a crime in Korea.

* GOOF: Obviously B.J. has been in Korea longer than Colonel Potter, yet how is that Colonel Potter seems to know Meg Cratty, while B.J. hasn't even met her before?

* GOOF: One child keeps refering to Klinger as "Mama-San" (because of his appearance as a woman), yet a phrase like that is actually Japanese, not Korean.

"Deleted" Scenes
* I haven't watched this episode enough in syndication to noticed what has been cut.

Favorite Quote
FATHER MULCAHY: (Sees Klinger praying) Klinger? I thought you were an atheist?
CORPORAL KLINGER: Eh, I gave it up for Lent.

Overall
Opinion: Rather boring, I thought.
Rating: Click here

 

[MartyMuppets]

Well done with the reviews Snowth. Keep 'em up.

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler"
Episode Number: 82
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: November 7, 1975
Production Code: G513
Writers: Burt Prelutsky
Director: Larry Gelbart

Episode Summary
The doctors of the 4077th find themselves in an interesting situation when a wounded man is brought in for surgery with no I.D., or dog-tags, and when he's asked for his name, he replies by saying "I'm Jesus Christ". Feeling the man might be having some problems mentally, and psychologically, Hawkeye suggests Sidney Freedman the psychiatrist be brought in to observe him; meanwhile, Margaret and Frank Burns feel he's blasphemous and needs to be court-martialed, so they secretly call on over zealous C.I.A. agent Colonel Flagg to investigate him, and he discovers the man is Captain Arnold T. Chandler, a bomber pilot with the 428th Bomb Squadron, his plane was shot down three days ago and sustained head injuries. Flagg wants Captain Chandler sent back to his unit immediately, while Sidney feels otherwise when he deducts that Chandler lost himself after spending two years dropping bombs on people who never did anything to him that he ends up crashing his own plane, and decide that he's Christ.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the tenth episode of Season Four, it was the thirteenth produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* This episode has no laugh track.

* Gary Burghoff's favorite episode.

* To date: Colonel Potter's tenture at the 4077th will last for another 17 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days.

* Radar's real name is revealed in this episode as Walter.

* Corporal Klinger's Latest Scheme to Get Out of the Army: Pretending he's Moses.

"Deleted" Scenes
* The opening sequence has been nicked for time.

* The scene where Hawkeye and B.J. check up with the man claiming to be Christ in Post-Op has been nicked for time (mainly them talking to Klinger on the way).

* Margaret and Frank's meeting with Colonel Potter concerning Captain Chandler and Hawkeye and B.J. has been nicked for time.

* The brief scene where Radar brings Captain Chandler orange juice (two for being Christ) has been cut.

* Colonel Flaggs first grilling of Sidney Freedman has been nicked for time; afterwards, Klinger walks in to deliver mail while Flagg yells out him for wearing dresses, now that has been completely cut.

* The following scene where Sidney meets up with Hawkeye and B.J. in Post-Op and tells them about his son having his first tooth has been edited out.

Favorite Quote
CAPTAIN CHANDLER: My name? My name is Jesus Christ.
HAWEKEYE: Oh, that's funny, we have a Savior by that name.

Overall
Opinion: Very nice episode.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Dear Peggy"
Episode Number: 83
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: November 11, 1975
Production Code: G509
Writers: Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum
Director: Burt Metcalfe

Episode Summary
B.J. finds that it's tough to keep his sanity when there's nothing to do when you're not working, so he decides to drown himself in a letter he writes home to his wife, Peggy, describing what life is like at the 4077th and the people through his eyes, like what lousy doctor Frank Burns is, how Corporal Klinger desperately wants to go home, Father Mulcahy being rather nervous about a visiting divisional Chaplain who is very thorough, Hawkeye trying to break a world record by cramming sixteen people into a jeep, and Colonel Potter wanting to train locals to work in the wards of the hospital.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the eleventh episode of Season Four, it was the nineth produced.

* First of several episodes directed by show producer Burt Metcalfe.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* Father Mulcahy says Hawkeye is agnostic.

* The set lighting is unusually dim in this episode.

* Corporal Klinger's Latest Scheme to Get Out of the Army: THREE in this episode, 1. Trying to sneak out of camp pretending to be a Korean lady, 2. Trying to paddle his way home via a large life raft from Korea to the States, and 3. Trying to sneak out of camp dressed as a tree.

* Father Mulcahy's rank is revealed in this episode as being Lieutenant.

* GOOF: Hawkeye says Elizabeth Taylor just married Nicky Hilton... um, unless either of them are lesbians or bi-sexual, I don't think Nicky Hilton was even alive back in the 1950s.

* GOOF: Margaret doesn't seem to have noticed Hawkeye was feeling up her butt and giving it a couple of pats.

* GOOF: Close-ups of Father Mulcahy as he gives a letter to Colonel Hollister shows the track holding the Stage 9 backdrop in place behind his head.

"Deleted" Scenes
* The opening sequence in the Officers' Club has been severly nicked for time.

* Klinger telling B.J. about the dream he had about being sent home and bumping into Margaret back in Toledo has been edited out.

* The closing sequence where Hawkeye and B.J. play chess outside the Swamp while the M.P.s drag Klinger dressed as a tree to Colonel Potter's office has been cut.

Favorite Quote
RADAR: (On Father Mulcahy's sermon) That was really great, Father, especially that very scary part about going to h e l l.

Overall
Opinion: Another nice episode of someone writing a loved one home.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Of Moose and Men"
Episode Number: 84
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: November 21, 1975
Production Code: G503
Writers: Jay Folb
Director: John Erman

Episode Summary
On their way back from an Aid Station, Hawkeye and Frank Burns end up having problems with a by-the-book colonel, Colonel Spiker, after Hawkeye ends up splashing mud on his uniform; meanwhile B.J. tries to help out Sergeant Zale after he receives a "Dear John" letter from his wife back home. All this happens while Frank becomes even more and more paranoid and is convinced that the local Korean family he and Radar were interogating earlier are burying bombs all over the camp, only to discover they're Kimchee Pots.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the twelfth episode of Season Four, it was the third produced.

* Corporal Klinger and Father Mulcahy don't appear in this episode.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* Colonel Potter is 1/4th Cherokee.

"Deleted" Scenes
* I never saw this episode in syndication, so I don't know what's been cut.

Favorite Quote
B.J.: You likes your ice cream mushy, Radar?
RADAR: Oh yeah, the mushier, the better!

Overall
Opinion: VERY BORING episode.
Rating: Click here

 

[D'Snowth]

Episode Information
Episode Title: "Soldier of the Month"
Episode Number: 85
Season Number: Four
Original Airdate: November 28, 1975
Production Code: G514
Writers: Linda Bloodworth
Director: Gene Reynolds

Episode Summary
Everyone at the 4077th is dead-dog tired as of late with the deluge of patients who are suffering from a very severe fever that seems to be brought on by the mites and fleas on the rats that infest the camp (especially the Swamp), when Father Mulcahy returns from R&R, he tells Hawkeye and B.J. that he learned the fever is called Hemmoragic Fever, and that the fever often causes the kidneys to shut down, so Hawkeye and B.J. try to keep the dehydrated fever patients, including Frank Burns, who ends up catching the fever, from drinking too much water; in fact, because of the circumstances, Margaret has Frank make out a will to Father Mulcahy. Meanwhile for morale purposes, a "Soldier of the Month" contest is held for the enlistedmen in camp, who are judged on dress and deportation, and have to sit through a history test - the winner earns three days of R&R in Tokyo, so Corporal Klinger promptly peaks at the answers for the questions to make sure he wins, though Radar discovers his cheating and he ends up winning.

M*O*R*S*E*L*S
* Although this is the thirteenth episode of Season Four, it was the fourteenth produced.

* The film quality of this episode is rather awkward.

* Colonel Potter's wife's measurements: 42-36-42.

* In his will, Frank leaves the following: his car, house, and the money buried in the backyard goes to his wife, Louise, the profits from his prescription kickbacks go to his children, and all of his clothes go to Margaret.

"Deleted" Scenes
* The opening sequence with Colonel Potter's meeting in the Mess Tent has been nicked for time.

* The scene in Post-Op where Hawkeye and B.J. discover another fever patient has also been nicked for time.

* The closing sequence where the M.P.s return a drunken Radar to the 4077th has been cut.

Favorite Quote
FRANK: (Delirious) Wanna know a secret?
B.J.: Sure.
FRANK: Promise you won't tell?
HAWKEYE: Cross our caridograms.
FRANK: Margaret and I... are... dating...
B.J.:
HAWKEYE: Ohhhhh...

Overall
Opinion: My favorite Season Four episode.
Rating: Click here