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 4077th.
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
