MAS*H
MASHwas a unique mix of tragedy and funniness , and while it could heartbreakingly lamentable , it still had its portion of uproarious episode too . This medical situation comedy debut in 1972 , and while it was always signify to have an anti - war tone , it was much more of a funniness ab initio . The death of Henry Blake inMASHseason 3stunned audiences after it aired , and underlined the fact its main character reference present life - or - death situations daily . From there , the series evolve into one of the first real dramedies on television .
Some fans are split on this evolution . There was still muckle of witticism , but outings likeMASH’sdivisive " Dreams"or " Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead " - both of which were helmed by hotshot Alan Alda - were felt up to be too ego - serious for their own trade good . MASHsaw plenty of player exits during its early seasonstoo , which had the unexpected benefit of bringing in new characters to freshen up the moral force . No matter how serious it nonplus , MASHalways made sure to keep audiences laughing .
10"Tuttle"
MASH season 1, episode 15
MASHran for 11 seasons , and it ’s gripping to graph the way it convert throughout that fourth dimension . Like any clowning serial , it took time for the showrunners and cast off to find the show ’s voice . That ’s what makes the fifteenth instalment of season 1 such a treat , and " Tuttle " is a great gateway for newcomers to hear outMASH . This outing see Hawkeye ( Alda ) creating a fabricated Captain Tuttle as a way to place supplies to a local orphans' asylum ; events before long corkscrew out of dominance as he has to gyrate more elaborate lie to keep the charade move .
" Tuttle " is often cite as an audience front-runner from the show ’s early years , and it ’s soft to see why . It ’s a near , quondam - fashioned farce comedy , where the stakes are miserable and there ’s little of the heaviness that would defineMASHin previous class . or else , the cast induce to reverberate off each other as Hawkeye ’s friend Tuttle becomes a 4077th celebrity despite being totally imaginary .
9“Dear Sigmund”
MASH season 5, episode 8
The very best episodes managed to poise the humor with darkness , and " Dear Sigmund " is a textbook deterrent example of this . It see the proceeds of psychiatrist Major Freedman ( Allan Arbus ) , who is mourning the expiration of a affected role and takes a " vacation " at the 4077th as a grapple mechanism;Freedman also write letters to the recent Sigmund Freud where he unveil his thoughts onMASH’scast of fiber .
Alda wrote and directed " Dear Sigmund , " experience it was a great , unusual assumption and wanting to give regular guest mavin Arbus a show window episode . Indeed , this season five outing is a precious stone , and while it deals with serious issue , it ’s also warm - hearted and frequently funny . It even features a subplot where B.J. ( Mike Farrell ) get to let off some steam by pranking everyone else at the camp .
8"The Novocaine Mutiny"
MASH season 4, episode 21
MASHonly complete its dramedy transformation when Larry Linville ’s weaselly Frank Burns exited . Frank was a perfect comic foil for Hawkeye and Trapper ( Wayne Rogers ) during the early seasons , being an high-strung , humorless , and fearful sureness figure who hated their prank . Frank was too much of a caricature to suit the more serious tone of later seasons , but episodes like " The Novocaine Mutiny " highlighted what a great baddie he could be .
Directed by Harry Morgan ( AKA Colonel Potter ) , the story see Burns add mutiny charges against Hawkeye , with much of the episode lease place during a earshot to regulate his guilt feelings . While some of the gags are hit - and - miss,“The Novocaine Mutiny " is a mysterious dive into the mindset of Frank Burns- which is not a intelligent place to be . Frank ’s judgement of himself is wildly inflate compared to how the rest of the 4077th sees him , and there ’s something in darkness laughable about how disconnected from world he has become .
7"Adam’s Ribs”
MASH season 3, episode 11
Another favourite from the other twelvemonth ofMASH , " Adam ’s Ribs " revolves around a simple but very relatable problem for Hawkeye . Having become so feed up with eating the same meals for days on end , Hawkeye becomes so desperate for something delicious to eat that he has ribs ship from a Chicago restaurant to the clique ; hijinks ensue .
Hawkeye ’s " I ’ve eaten a river of liver and an ocean of fish ! " delivery is one ofMASH’sfunniest scenesand informs the character ’s obsessive pursuance for the rest of the episode . " Adam ’s Rib " is another deterrent example of the show taking a simple lure and milking all the comic potential from it , and deliver a great punchline of an ending : Hawkeye sits down to in the end consume his mouthwatering ribs - only to get drop back away to surgery before he can a individual pungency .
6"5 O’Clock Charlie"
MASH season 2, episode 2
The title of this sequence refer to a North Korean bomber who , even as clockwork , attempts to bomb an ammo dump near the 4077th . While most of the bivouac find " 5 O’Clock Charlie ’s " failed raids curiously entertaining , Frank and his " secret " lover Margaret ( Loretta Swit ) feel these bombing are a serious threat and seek to acquire an anti - aircraft gun to deal with it . Of course , this would make the camp evenmoreof a target , so Trapper and Hawkeye set out to ruin their architectural plan .
MAS*H was a critically spat war serial when it was on the air , and five episodes stand out above the rest .
Another showcase episode for Frank Burns , " 5 O’Clock Charlie " is also a great outing for fans of the Hawkeye / Trapperdynamic . It speaks to the insanity of war that the camp fill entertainment from " Charlie ’s " repeat failures - even gather to watch them - while the episode is load with cagey quips and punning . The episode gets bonus funniness points for Hawkeye and Trapper replacing Frank ’s sidearm with an more and more silly raiment of particular , including a throne plunger .
5"Death Takes a Holiday"
MASH season 9, episode 5
Co - written and mastermind by Mike Farrell , " Death take aim A vacation " is a Christmas episode with two great storyline at its core . One involve Hawkeye and party attempt to keep a dying soldier alive until midnight , so the military personnel ’s children do n’t associate Christmas Day with their father ’s death . The other plot sees the snobbish Charles ( David Ogden Stiers ) seek to carry out a kinsperson tradition in mystery - and one that progress to him unpopular with the eternal rest of the 4077th .
On paper,“Death shoot a Holiday " in all probability does n’t vocalize like much fun , but it work on thanks toMASH’snear - sorcerous blending of sense of humour and ruth . It ’s rarefied for an episode ’s primary taradiddle and subplot to mesh so well , and both could have serve as their own solo outings . Together , they giveMASHits best Christmas instalment , while Charles open a rare flash of humanity that raise heartwarming .
4"April Fools”
MASH season 8, episode 25
This season 8 close does what it say on the tin , and follows the camp pulling more and more outrageous April Fool ’s Day pranks on each other . This is despite strict orders from Potter to void such " craziness " , as a tough Colonel will be visiting the 4077th during this clip . MASHbecame more striking and observational in its later seasons , as time of year 8 ’s own " Dreams " or " Life Time " proves .
However,“April Fools " is almost a return to the loopy tone of the first duo of seasons , and is all the better for break away from the dramedy formula . It ’s all good , light fun , while guest whizz Pat Hingle ( AKA Commissioner Gordon from the originalBatmanmovies ) is a expectant comic enhancer . Harry Morgan is give some great dialogue too , and the ending plait involve Potter is an expert capper .
3"A Smattering of Intelligence”
MASH season 2, episode 24
Two intelligence service factor arrive at the encampment at the same time in this time of year 2 offering , with Hawkeye and Trapper deciding to prank Frank once again by framing him as a communist . The season finale ofMASH’ssecond season sees rival spy Colonel Flagg ( Edward Winter ) and Major Pratt ( Bill Fletcher ) going straits to head , with the show ’s creator Larry Galbart also making his directing debut with this episode .
" A Smattering of Intelligence ” is one ofMASH’smost strictly funny outings , even if the patch makes small sensory faculty . Oddball CIA agent Flagg is this episode ’s MVP , and proved so democratic he became a recurring character on the show ; he even made a guest appearance on the much - hatedMASHspinoff seriesAfterMASH . It might seem like a farce on the Earth’s surface , but " A Smattering of Intelligence ” does take some pointed jabs at news bureau like the CIA .
2"Movie Tonight”
MASH season 5, episode 22
One of the funniestMASHepisodes ever produce is " Movie Tonight , " where the camp perplex together to watch the classic WesternMy Darling Clementine . Unfortunately , the projector keep breaking down , force the 4077th to play silly game and contests with each other while it ’s being fix . At its core,“Movie Tonight " is a silly installment , but after view how tense everyone is when it begin , it ’s adorable to find out them enjoying themselvesso much during the viewing .
The surgeons and staff are all impel to be together in a warzone where they stare decease in the face Clarence Shepard Day Jr. after daylight , and " Movie Tonight " is a rare example where this foster family just sustain to enjoy hang out . The various sing - alongs are the highlights , while Gary Burghoff ’s Radar gets to show off his range of impression , including John Wayne fromMcLintock!- a movie that , accidentally , was n’t turn until ten years after the Korean War ended .
1"Deal Me Out”
MASH season 2, episode 13
There areMASHfans who loved when it was more comedic , and those who enjoyed the more spectacular shift from time of year 3 onwards . Regardless,“Deal Me Out " is almost universally moot one of the funniestMASHepisodes . This sees the 4077 ’s weekly poker plot getting constantly interrupt , be it by Radar begin into an accident or a soldier ( meet by the late , great John Ritter ) holding Frank hostage in the shower .
Captain Sam Pak is played by Pat Morita inMASH’s"Deal Me Out , " who is best known for playing Mr. Miyagi inThe Karate Kidmovies .
MASH’s"Deal Me Out " also marked the debut of Edward Winter on the serial , though fan debate rages to this Clarence Day about whether he ’s supposed to be playing Flagg under a different alias . " Deal Me Out " is peppered with with child dialogue and persona musical rhythm , with jolly much every histrion suffer a here and now to fall . It ’s also a solid entry point , giving new viewers a snapshot of the main character reference and their dynamic while offering both drollery and drama on top .
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MAS*H is a drama - comedy series coiffe during the Korean War , centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they pilot the challenge of wartime medical servicing with humor and resilience .
MASH is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.*
