mash – Page 9 – The Mind Reels

MAS*H (1973) – Major Fred C. Dobbs, Ceasefire, and Showtime

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) push Frank Burns (Larry Linville) just a little too far after he rails out a nurse in Major Fred C. Dobbs. Written by Sid Dorfman, this episode, with a nod to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre in the title, first aired on 11 March, 1973. Burns goes…

MAS*H (1973) – The Longjohn Flap, The Army-Navy Game, and Sticky Wicket

Alan Alda pens the first episode up this week, The Longjohn Flap, which first aired on 18 February, 1973. This one is just a hilarious romp as the ravages of a cold winter hint the 4077th. Everyone is freezing. Everyone that is except for Hawkeye (Alda) who is snug and comfy in his longjohns (seen…

MAS*H (1973) – The Ringbanger, Sometimes You Hear the Bullet, and Dear Dad, Again

Leslie Nielsen guest stars as Colonel Buzz Brighton in The Ringbanger, which was written by Jerry Mayer, and first aired on 21 January, 1973. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) click with one of their patients, Brighton, but are soon troubled to learn that his unit suffers the highest casualty rate, with the least…

MAS*H (1972/1973) – Edwina, Love Story, and Tuttle

The first pair of episodes up this week have some similarities, especially when aired back to back, and I have to wonder if that was intentional, or just the way the series was made. Edwina was written by Hal Dresner and first debuted on 24 December, 1972. The story centres on a calamity-centric Edwina (Arlene…

MAS*H (1972) – I Hate a Mystery, Germ Warfare, Dear Dad

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) plays detective after he’s apparently framed for a rash of thefts across the camp in I Hate a Mystery. Written by Hal Dresner, and first airing on 26 November, 1972, the story is rather light-hearted, though there is a real issue at heart behind the crimes. Knick knacks from all over the…

MAS*H (1972) – Bananas, Crackers and Nuts, Cowboy, and Henry, Please Come Home

I’m a little divided on the first episode of M*A*S*H up for review this week. Bananas, Crackers and Nuts was written by Burt Styler, and first debuted on 5 November, 1972 (it was a different time, I have to keep reminding myself) and while a lot of it is funny, and a solid commentary on…

MAS*H (1972) – Chief Surgeon Who?, The Moose, and Yankee Doodle Doctor

Larry Gelbart who developed M*A*S*H for television pens Chief Surgeon, Who? which first aired on 8 October, 1972. The episode features the first appearance of Jamie Farr as Cpl. Klinger, a soldier intent on being sectioned out of Korea by dressing in women’s clothing. The character became so popular he shortly became a series regular….

MASH (1970) – Robert Altman

“And then there was Korea…” Robert Altman’s classic war comedy, MASH, is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Apocalypse Now. The movie remains very funny, and it’s anti-war commentary is just as important today. That being said, this is not the MASH I grew…

Toronto Screenwriting Conference 2016 Day One

Not that I need a break from Hot Docs yet, if ever, but there is a lot going on this weekend, and Sue and I were delighted to be invited back for our fourth time to cover the Toronto Screenwriting Conference. The conference is always amazing, and Sue and I start with the best…

The Rockford Files (1977/1978) – A Deadly Maze and The Attractive Nuisance

Jim (James Garner) finds himself in more trouble this week, which sees the last episode of ’77 and the first of ’78 under review. First up is A Deadly Maze, which aired 23 December, 1977 and was written by Juanita Bartlett. The phone gag this time out features a call from a friend of Jim’s…