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…
Tag: elias davis
M*A*S*H (1982/1983) – The Moon Is Not Blue, Run For The Money, and U.N., The Night and the Music
Larry Balmagia turns up the heat on the 4077th with his script for The Moon Is Not Blue. First airing on 13 December, 1982, the story finds the unit in the midst of a heatwave, and a wounded general issuing a standing order that as long as he’s in camp there will be no alcohol…
M*A*S*H (1982) – Who Knew?, Bombshells, and Settling Debts
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) has a troubling moment when a nurse he was involved with is killed by a landmine, and he realizes as he prepares her eulogy, that he didn’t know anything about her. Written by Elias Davis and David Pollock Who Knew? first aired on 22 November, 1982. While Klinger (Jamie Farr) pesters Charles…
M*A*S*H (1982) – Trick or Treatment, Foreign Affairs, and The Joker is Wild
Dennis Koenig pens Trick or Treatment which first aired on 1 November, 1982. While the 4077th attempts to get in on local Halloween parties, a slew of wounded ruin their evening, but doesn’t stop them from sharing ghost stories, and dressing up in costumes. Amongst the wounded are Richard Lineback, George Wendt, and Andrew Clay….
M*A*S*H (1982) – Promotion Commotion, Heroes, and Sons and Bowlers
Promotion Commotion by Dennis Koenig first aired on 1 March, 1982. It’s just a fun goofy episode, though there’s a nice story that develops between Potter (Harry Morgan) and a wounded soldier, Danielson (Jim Boyce) who is catching flak from the rest of his unit because he wants to stay faithful to his girl at…
M*A*S*H (1982) – The Birthday Girls, Blood and Guts, and A Holy Mess
It’s Margaret’s (Loretta Swit) birthday and she’s headed to Tokyo. The Birthday Girls was written by Karen Hall and first aired on 11 January, 1982. Margaret seems to be desperate to get there, and there may be a new man in her life, though life may have other plans for her. Back in the 4077th…
M*A*S*H (1981) – Identity Crisis, Rumor at the Top, and Give ‘Em Hell, Hawkeye
David Ogden Stiers slips into the director’s chair for Identity Crisis which was written by Dan Wilcox and Thad Mumford and had an original airdate of 2 November, 1981. Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) gets some of the spotlight in this episode when he encounters a wounded soldier played by a young Joe Pantoliano. He claims…
M*A*S*H (1981) – The Life You Save, and That’s Show Biz
Alan Alda directs the final episode of the ninth season, which he co-wrote with John Rappaport and had an original airdate of 4 May, 1981. While all the medical staff are given administrative duties around the camp, which illustrate how inane some Army regulations can be, Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) has a trial of the…
M*A*S*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…
M*A*S*H (1981) – Oh, How We Danced, Bottoms Up, and The Red/White Blues
Oh, How We Danced written by John Rappaport, and with an original airdate of 23 February, 1981, has a fantastic A-story, that really touches the heart (even as it messes with series continuity), and a completely forgettable B-story. The B-story first then. Charles (David Ogden Stiers) delivers a substandard sanitation rating to a nearby American…
The Mind Reels 