SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 25 Min.
First televised on CBS on January 14, 1973, William Wiard directed this early installment. Covertly passing needed supplies to Sister Theresa’s orphanage, Hawkeye & Trapper deceptively credit a fictitious ‘Captain Tuttle’ as the project’s supposed benefactor. Hawkeye’s invisible childhood friend, ‘Tuttle,’ inadvertently becomes the talk of the 4077th. Margaret dreamily falls in love with him … a jealous Frank fears a new rival … Henry thinks he just had breakfast with him the other day. Hawkeye & Trapper’s wacky charade hits the fan when the U.S. Army seeks out the literally selfless Tuttle to present a good conduct medal for going above and beyond the call of duty.
Capt. “Hawkeye” Pierce: Alan Alda
Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre: Wayne Rogers
Lt. Col. Henry Blake: McLean 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
Sister Theresa: Mary-Robin Todd
Finance Officer: James Sikking
General Crandell Clayton: Herb Voland
Sgt. “Sparky” Pryor: Dennis Fimple
Captain Tuttle: (See Review)
REVIEW:
Exuding absurdism, “Tuttle” is timeless. Stick around and watch the closing credits, as there’s a wordplay gag (it’s likely one of the best in TV credits history). Among its early seasons, “Tuttle” absolutely merits re-discovery as a sitcom MASH-erpiece.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
