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: william christopher
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) – 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 (1981/1982) – Snappier Judgement, ‘Twas the Day After Christmas, and Follies of the Living – Concerns of the Dead
Klinger (Jamie Farr) faces his court-martial with Charles (David Ogden Stiers) defending him in Snappier Judgement. The two-parter comes to its conclusion this week in a story written by Paul Perlove. It first aired on 14 December, 1981. While Charles smugly (and wrongly) thinks he will be able to properly defend Klinger during his day…
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) – No Sweat, Depressing News, and No Laughing Matter
The heat is getting to everybody in No Sweat. Written by John Rappaport, we join the 4077th for a sweltering night. First airing on 2 February, 1981, we find various members of the camp unable to sleep because of the heat, and the things they are doing to occupy their time instead. B.J. (Mike Farrell)…
M*A*S*H (1981) – Tell It to the Marines, Taking the Fifth, and Operation Friendship
Harry Morgan directs Tell It to the Marines, which first aired on 12 January, 1981, and was written by Hank Bradford. Charles (David Ogden Stiers) takes over as CO while Potter (Morgan) is away, and turns Klinger (Jamie Farr) into his personal attaché, and seems intent on living in a means he’s more accustomed to….
The Mind Reels 