allan arbus – The Mind Reels

MAS*H (1983) – Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen

On 28 February, 1983, millions of viewers bid goodbye to the 4077th and its residents over the course of two hours. It’s one of those moments burned into my brain, and I remember exactly where I was and how emotionally it affected me. The only other time I was affected in the same way would…

MAS*H (1981) – Bless You Hawkeye, Blood Brothers, and The Foresight Saga

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is having some serious problems after an encounter with a patient in Bless You Hawkeye. Written by Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford this episode first debuted on 16 March, 1981. Hawkeye seems to be having an allergic reaction to something. As everyone tries to help out, and Hawkeye denies anything wrong, things…

MAS*H (1980) – Goodbye, Cruel World, Dreams, and War Co-Respondent

Klinger (Jamie Farr) has enough, and almost makes a disastrous mistake while one of Hawkeye’s (Alan Alda) patients, Michael Yee (Clyde Kusatsu) is having some serious issues, and attempts to take his own life, necessitating a visit from Sidney (Allan Arbus) in Goodbye, Cruel World. Written by Thad Mumford and Dan Wilcox, this episode first…

MAS*H (1978) – Our Finest Hour Part 2, The Billfold Syndrome, and None Like It Hot

The second part of the clip show, Our Finest Hour, airing on 9 October, 1978 featured segments written by Ken Levine, David Isaacs, Larry Balmagia, Ronny Graham, and David Lawrence. We get glimpses of pranks, the many romances of Hawkeye (Alan Alda), the humanization of Houlihan (Loretta Swit), Radar’s (Gary Burghoff) really bad day, and…

Damien: Omen II (1978) – Don Taylor, and Mike Hodges

After the success of Dick Donner’s The Omen in 1976, the company was eager to deliver a sequel, and we see a story that gives us a teenaged Damien (Johnathan Scott-Taylor), living with his uncle, Richard Thorn (William Holden) and aunt, Ann Thorn (Lee Grant), while attending a military academy. As strange deaths begin to…

MAS*H (1977) – Fallen Idol, Last Laugh, and War of Nerves

Alan Alda writes and directs a pair of episodes this week, with the first being Fallen Idol. Having an original airdate of 27 September, 1977, the story focuses on the friendship between Radar (Gary Burghoff) and Hawkeye (Alda). And although it’s been hinted at that Radar has in fact had some intimate moments with nurses…

MAS*H (1976) – The Colonel’s Horse, Exorcism, and Hawk’s Nightmare

James Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum pen The Colonel’s Horse which was first broadcast on 7 December, 1976. When Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan) gets a week’s leave in Tokyo, where he will be joined by his wife, who caught a flight from State-side, Frank (Larry Linville) is left in charge, much to everyone’s dismay. Radar’s (Gary…

MAS*H (1976) – The Nurses, The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan, and Dear Sigmund

Loretta Swit has a pair of episodes this week that allow her to shine as her character Margaret Houlihan. First up is The Nurses. Written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, it was first broadcast on 19 October, 1976, and lets the main cast step back a bit to let a supporting cast of nurses have a little…

MAS*H (1975) – Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler, Dear Peggy, and Of Moose and Men

Radar (Gary Bughoff) gets a first name in this episode, Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler that was written by Bret Prelutsky that first aired on 7 November, 1975. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) have an unusual patient that causes the arrival of both Flagg (Edward Winter) and Freedman (Allan Arbus). After flying bombing missions…

MAS*H (1974) – Iron Guts Kelly, O.R., and Springtime

Hawkeye (Alan Alda), Trapper (Wayne Rogers) and Houlihan (Loretta Swit) run into trouble when they encounter General ‘Iron Guts’ Kelly (James Gregory). Written by Sid Dorfman, and series developer Larry Gelbart, Iron Guts Kelly first debuted on 1 October, 1974. It’s no secret to most of the 4077th (and viewers) that Margaret Houlihan has a…