mash – 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 (1983) – Give and Take, and As Time Goes By

Here we go, the penultimate installment of my re-watch of M*A*S*H. There are two episodes this week. The first one is Give and Take. Written by Dennis Koenig, this episode was first broadcast on 14 February, 1983. While Charles (David Ogden Stiers) tries to pawn off being charity collection officer, which leads to countless favor…

MAS*H (1983) – Strange Bedfellows, Say No More, and Friends and Enemies

Mike Farrell gets behind the camera and settles into the director’s chair again in Strange Bedfellows which was written by Karen Hall and debuted on 10 January, 1983. Charles (David Ogden Stiers) is suffering from a seasonal allergy and his snoring is keeping both Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Farrell) awake. It’s complicated by the…

MAS*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…

MAS*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…

MAS*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….

MAS*H (1982) – Picture This, That Darn Kid, and Hey, Look Me Over

The penultimate episode of season ten (!) of MASH was written by Karen Hall and had an original airdate of 5 April, 1982. Potter (Harry Morgan) has decided to paint a portrait of his staff as a gift for his wife, Mildred. Unfortunately, he couldn’t have picked a worse time. Everyone has gotten on one…

MAS*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…

MAS*H (1982) – The Tooth Shall Set You Free, Pressure Points, and Where There’s a Will, There’s a War

The Tooth Shall Set You Free features a trio of recognizable guest stars and tackles racism. Written by David Pollock and Elias Davis, this episode first aired on 8 February, 1982. Laurence Fishburne, Tom Atkins, Jason Bernard all make appearances in this tale that sees Atkins playing the CO of an Engineering Division where African-American…

MAS*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…