Month: September 2022

SUMMARY:               RUNNING TIME: 25:00 Min.

First televised by CBS-TV on November 24, 1973, Jackie Cooper directed this mid-season episode.  A nasty flu bug has infiltrated the 4077^th, leaving Hawkeye literally the last surgeon standing.  Despite Radar’s futile efforts to recruit temporary O.R. help, it’s up to an exhausted Hawkeye and the nurses to cover all incoming waves of casualties.  Even Father Mulcahy and Radar are called upon to serve as fill-in nurses, especially once Hawkeye, too, becomes ill. 

Meanwhile, Margaret and Hawkeye must settle who is in temporary command of the camp.

Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce: Alan Alda                                                    

Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre: Wayne Rogers

Lt. Col. Henry Blake: MacLean Stevenson            

Cpl. “Radar” O’Reilly: Gary Burghoff

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan: Loretta Swit    

Major Frank Burns: Larry Linville

(Lt.) Father Francis Mulcahy: William Christopher                            

Lt. Kellye Yamato, R.N.: Kellye Nakahara

Nurses: Sheila Mettey; Gwen Farrell; & Marcia Gelman

P.A. Announcer: Todd Sussman

REVIEW:

“Carry On, Hawkeye,” exemplifies the notion of Alan Alda’s stature as MASH’s undisputed star.  Still, this plot wouldn’t have worked nearly as well had it centered around one of Alda’s co-stars. 

The good news is that, with terrific support from Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, & William Christopher, Alda ensures that this poignant episode remains re-watchable.  In particular, one of the best-ever Hawkeye/Margaret sequences occurs here when they hilariously trade off giving each other flu shots in Henry’s office. 

Suffice to say, Alda & Swit’s reliable chemistry in “Carry On, Hawkeye” makes for solid TV entertainment.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:             6½ Stars

SUMMARY:                    RUNNING TIME: 25:00 Min.

First televised by CBS-TV on October 20, 1973, William Wiard directed this early Season 2 episode.  Displaying a fatherly bond, Trapper becomes emotionally attached to a young Korean orphan.  Having convinced his family to adopt young Kim, Trapper must risk his life to rescue his surrogate son, who mistakenly plays in a live minefield outside the 4077th. 

Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce: Alan Alda                                                    

Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre: Wayne Rogers

Lt. Col. Henry Blake: MacLean Stevenson                                                      

Cpl. “Radar” O’Reilly: Gary Burghoff

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan: Loretta Swit    

Major Frank Burns: Larry Linville

(Lt.) Father Francis Mulcahy: William Christopher                            

Cpl. Maxwell Klinger: Jamie Farr

Kim: Edgar Miller

Kim’s Mother: Momo Yashima

Lt. Kellye Yamato, R.N.: Kellye Nakahara

Nurse: Lesley Evans

Private Igor Straminsky: Jeff Maxwell

Note: The actress portraying Sister Theresa isn’t the same as the one who appears as her in, for instance, Season One’s “Tuttle.”  That actress is Mary-Robin Redd. 

REVIEW:

Exploring the welcome poignancy of Trapper’s paternal instinct to have a son, Wayne Rogers makes the most of this dramatic opportunity.  Considering that Rogers, as the show’s second-billed star, had so few chances (oddly enough) to escape Alan Alda’s considerable shadow, “Kim” delivers a minor gem for his acting resumé.  Yet, any genuine character growth boosting Trapper’s presence is conveniently wiped out at the last minute, which means Kim is completely forgotten by the next episode. 

“Kim,” at least, hints at what MASH scriptwriters might have done with Trapper to keep a disgruntled Rogers from abruptly departing between Seasons 3 and 4.  Specifically, writing episodes more like this one would have evolved Rogers’ Trapper to better contrast/mature his personality from Hawkeye’s, i.e. as later done with Mike Farrell’s BJ Honeycutt. 

As far as watchability, “Kim” isn’t one that will come to mind, but it represents Rogers’ finest MASH performance.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              6½ Stars

SUMMARY:                  RUNNING TIME: 25:00  Min.

First televised by CBS-TV on September 29, 1973, Jackie Cooper directed this early Season 2 episode.  Evidently late at night, “Radar” O’Reilly is busily typing a summary of the week’s events at the 4077^th. 

For instance, an embarrassing case of mistaken identity prompts an exasperated Margaret & Frank to demand that Henry have Klinger submit to a Section Eight exam to be discharged from the Army as a transvestite.  Conducting this psychiatric exam is Major Milton Freedman (later renamed in the series as Sidney Freedman).

Wounded in a tragic O.R. mishap with a Chinese prisoner is Nurse Erika Johnson, with whom Hawkeye shares a whirlwind romance.  That same surgical incident inadvertently kills a defenseless U.S. soldier, who is Trapper’s patient during an operation. 

Fuming over his patient’s death, Trapper darkly contemplates vengeance upon the now-isolated P.O.W.  Ultimately, all three matters are resolved prior to the camp’s weekly correspondence with Army HQ.

Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce: Alan Alda                                                    

Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre: Wayne Rogers

Lt. Col. Henry Blake: MacLean Stevenson                                                      

Cpl. “Radar” O’Reilly: Gary Burghoff

Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan: Loretta Swit    

Major Frank Burns: Larry Linville

(Lt.) Father Francis Mulcahy: William Christopher                            

Cpl. Maxwell Klinger: Jamie Farr

Major Sidney (Milton) Freedman: Allan Arbus

Lt. Erika Johnson, R.N.: Joan Van Ark

Lt. Kellye Yamato, R.N.: Kellye Nakahara

Chinese Prisoner: Derick Shimatsu

REVIEW:

At first glance, “Radar’s Report” is a routine MASH.  Yet, the script’s terrific content is underrated, as this installment is overshadowed by more hilarious shows in the same season.  Still, the Klinger vs. Frank & Margaret angle is spot-on, as Jamie Farr’s chemistry with Larry Linville, Loretta Swit, and guest star Allan Arbus ages exceptionally well.  The same applies to a brief scene between Arbus and MacLean Stevenson discussing ‘Klinger’ and his eye-rolling antics.  Speaking of chemistry, in her sole MASH appearance, Joan Van Ark works several delightful scenes with Alan Alda.

Yet, given a rare dramatic opportunity, Wayne Rogers’ ‘Trapper’ scores the episode’s MVP, as far as making the most of relatively minimal screen time.  If one is in search of a MASH episode effectively balancing humor and romance with a tragic sub-plot, “Radar’s Report” fits the bill.        

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                7 Stars