M*A*S*H: Souvenirs

M*A*S*H: Souvenirs
CBS
March 1, 1977
Dramedy
DVD
B

Part of my enjoyment of this episode comes from the casting of Michael Bell as Willie Stratton, who's making money and exploiting the locals, to the point of injury and even death, in his souvenir business.  He would have a couple roles on Three's Company where he would show a similar blend of smoothness and sleaziness.  (Not this sleazy though, he just exploits Chrissy's depression and Janet's dreams for his own benefit.)  I like how Hawkeye and BJ handle him and, yes, I like Margaret punching him when she's drunk.  (Potter blames it on her being Irish!)  But the script also acknowledges that Stratton isn't the only one in the business.  When he says Pierce and Hunnicut can't change the world, they say they're just trying to change their little corner of it.  And the pole-sitting subplot with Klinger generally works, although I'm not clear if he gets latrine breaks.

Burt Prelutsky co-wrote this episode with 27-year-old Reinhold Weege, who'd go on to create Night Court.  Scott Mulhern, who's Andy Cooper here, would have a couple roles on Soap.  June Kim (again a nameless Korean Woman) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  Burghoff is absent.  And, yes, that's Brian Dennehy as MP Ernie Connors.