M*A*S*H: Movie Tonight

M*A*S*H: Movie Tonight
CBS
February 22, 1977
Dramedy
DVD
B

Four writers-- Gene Reynolds, Don Reo, Allan Katz, and Jay Folb-- wrote this episode that doesn't have a lot to it but is nonetheless entertaining.  Potter wants to show My Darling Clementine to raise morale, but the film keeps breaking down.  The gang entertain themselves with music and impressions, from John Wayne to Father Mulcahy.  It's the kind of episode they tried to do in the first couple years that never quite worked, I think because the cast hadn't reached this comfort level with each other yet, and because there was a meaner, less comradely tone.  (Contrast the reaction to Margaret's singing compared to the early episode where she's just treated like a nuisance.)

Jeffrey Kramer makes his first of two M*A*S*H appearances, as the Driver.  Mike's wife Judy Farrell (Nurse Able again), Enid Kent (Nurse Bigelow), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Carmine Scelza (this time a Corpsman) return