M*A*S*H: Give and Take

M*A*S*H: Give and Take
CBS
February 14, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
C+

Dennis Koenig wrote this episode, which also feels like a retread (soldier learns that the enemy is human, a responsibility is passed around through favors), but it's not terrible.  It is odd to hear Hawkeye described as "an incorrigible lech," when he hasn't been one in a long time.

Craig Wasson, who was Chuck Morgan on The Bob Newhart Show, plays Private Kurland.  GW Bailey (Rizzo), Alberta Jay (this time as a Nurse), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  This is the 1600th show I've reviewed.

M*A*S*H: Say No More

M*A*S*H: Say No More
CBS
January 24, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
B

This John Rappaport script has a serious A-story and a B-story that's lighter but still touching; and they're both about people who try to put duty before emotion.  A young lieutenant, whose condition is more serious than he lets on, is visited by his father, Gen. Addison Collins (John Anderson, who mostly did dramas, especially Westerns, but did appear as Mr. Charlie Colton on The Bob Newhart Show).  The general brings his trailer and some of his staff, and he makes quick, not very warm appearances to post-op.  Yet when Hawkeye delivers the bad news of his son's sudden death, he and Hawkeye have a discussion about the cost of war.  Still, to Hawkeye's disbelief, the general is soon back to barking orders over the phone.

Meanwhile, Margaret is eager to go to Tokyo to meet Dr. Stephen Chesler (James Karen, who's not on any other of my shows but, as Prof. Camden, joined in on the scenery feast known as Hercules in New York, Schwarzenegger's film debut).  She gives herself a home permanent, which makes even Father Mulcahy say, "Hubba hubba," but she looks like Sally Struthers on a bad day.  Still, I like how Charles helps her out when she develops laryngitis.  And when she decides to not risk traveling when she needs to recover, he gets Chesler to visit the 4077th.

Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Dennis Troy (Corpsman) return.

M*A*S*H: The Moon Is Not Blue

M*A*S*H: The Moon Is Not Blue
CBS
December 13, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Larry Balmagia's last M*A*S*H script was an early introduction for me to the concept of placebos and to the once controversial movie The Moon Is Blue, which actually didn't come out until July of '53.  Watching the episode now, I was amused that Charles knows Boston well enough that something being banned in that city doesn't necessarily mean much, and I would've liked to have had them show, not just refer to, High Noon, since Harry Morgan was in that (playing a character with a wife named Mildred as it happens).

Sandy Helberg, who was Gopher in the first Love Boat TV-movie, plays Corporal Bannister.  Hamilton Camp (this time as Maj. Frankenheimer), Jan Jorden (Nurse Baker), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Frank Slaten (Corpsman Frank), and Larry Ward (this time as Gen. Rothaker) return.

M*A*S*H: Bombshells

M*A*S*H: Bombshells
CBS
November 29, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

While Devo could show up on Square Pegs, obviously Marilyn Monroe wasn't going to appear on M*A*S*H, although I suppose they could've gone with an impersonator, as in the early episode with MacArthur's drive-by visit.  The more interesting thread in this Mumford & Wilcox story is about BJ's guilt over having to leave a wounded soldier behind when taking a more seriously wounded soldier back to the 4077th in a helicopter.  He tries to trace the abandoned soldier but can't, and then he gets a Bronze Star for his heroism and feels even guiltier.  There are good things about the episode, including BJ accusing himself and Hawkeye of "self-righteousness" (as if aware of some criticisms of the series), but both threads are left dangling too much.

This is Jamie Farr's 200th episode and he does get to do quite a bit in the Marilyn thread.  Allen Williams, who was Charlie on What's Happening!!, is Lt. Priore here.  Frank Slaten makes his first of three uncredited appearances as Corpsman Frank, while Natasha Bauman does her first of two as a nameless Nurse.  Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Bill Snider (Corpsman), and Paul Tuerpe (this time an I-Corps Courier) return.  And, yes, that's a pre-Hollywood-Shuffle Robert Townsend as a nameless Patient.

M*A*S*H: Trick or Treatment

Hawkeye is "in love" with Margaret's outfit,
which would've made for a more interesting story.

M*A*S*H: Trick or Treatment
CBS
November 1, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C+

This Dennis Koenig holiday story is pretty forgettable.  Casualties come in on Halloween, some frivolous, some as serious as falsely diagnosed death.

John Otrin, who was an uncredited Student on Welcome Back, Kotter, here makes his first of two appearances as an Ambulance Driver.  Herman Poppe, who was Wally on Three's Company, is the MP.  Arnold F. Turner, who was Doug on Bosom Buddies, is the Graves Registration Assistant here.  James Lough (in his last M*A*S*H role, as Private Crotty), Richard Lineback (this time as Private Scala), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  And, yes, that's Andrew Dice Clay in a very early role as Corp. Hrabosky, and George Wendt, then on the new show Cheers, here playing Private La Roche, who tried to swallow a pool ball.

M*A*S*H: Promotion Commotion

M*A*S*H: Promotion Commotion
CBS
March 1, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C+

This Dennis Koenig story has Klinger becoming a sergeant, and a hospitalized soldier (who's supposed to be 18 but looks 30) defending his choice to stay a virgin, signs that the show has been on a very long time.  Oh, and Charles gets menaced by John Matuszak, not long after the football player was menacing Ringo in Caveman.

Hawkeye's date, Nurse Webster, is played by 30-year-old Deborah Harmon, who would be the mom on Just the Ten of Us.  G.W. Bailey (Rizzo), Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Bill Snider (this time as a Corpsman) return.

M*A*S*H: Pressure Points

M*A*S*H: Pressure Points
CBS
February 15, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C+

More sloppy writing from Pollock & Davis:

• Why does Charles become a slob?  If it's to get back at Hawkeye and BJ, it's not made clear.  And the no bathing thing gives me a case of the de ja vus.
• Why is there a pathetic raffle ($3.65 total) for the "honor" of shaving Charles as the tag?
• Why is Potter 62, about a decade older than when he arrived?
• How can we still be in the Fall of '51?  (DiMaggio just retired on September 30th.)
• How does no one make the connection between Sidney's visit and Potter's increased irritability?

That said, there's a good performance by Morgan here if you can get past the other stuff, including that weak B plot.

Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.

Oh, Google image-search!

M*A*S*H: The Tooth Shall Set You Free

M*A*S*H: The Tooth Shall Set You Free
CBS
February 8, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Twenty-year-old Laurence Fishburne plays a soldier in this Pollock & Davis story about a bigoted commanding officer.  I was hoping the twist would be that this was actually a caring CO, because we see so many awful officers on the show, but the "twist" plays out pretty well.  Meanwhile, Charles has a toothache, and the visiting black officer turns out to be (another not too surprising twist) a dentist.

John Fujioka (this time as Duc Phon Jong), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), and Bill Snider (this time as a Corpsman) return.

M*A*S*H: Blood and Guts

M*A*S*H: Blood and Guts
CBS
January 18, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Grizzled but charming war reporter Clayton Kibbee arrives at the 4077th and everyone likes him except, after awhile, Hawkeye.  Kibbee likes to sensationalize his stories, while Hawkeye thinks that the ugly and/or ordinary truth is better.  The episode is a bit heavy-handed in its points, but I do like how the characters interact, and it's worth tuning in to hear Hawkeye say "ass" (as in "butt"), pretty shocking for network TV at that time.

Rita Wilson for the first of two times plays Nurse Lacey not long after her Bosom Buddies appearance and indeed looks too young to be dating Kibbee, and for that matter Hawkeye (if Gail Edwards was too young for him).  Kellye Nakahara returns, perhaps as Yamato, although she's only seen in the background.

M*A*S*H: The Birthday Girls

M*A*S*H: The Birthday Girls
CBS
January 11, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Karen Hall wrote this story where the three threads intersect, although the episode does take awhile to get going.  Margaret wants to go to Tokyo to celebrate her birthday, but she doesn't want anyone to know the reason she's going.  Meanwhile a farmer wants help with his wounded and pregnant cow.  And the drug Levophed is now in camp and someone has to educate the nurses about it.  I particularly like the unexpected bonding between Margaret and Klinger, as theirs has been an even pricklier, and certainly longer, relationship than that between Max and Charles.

Jerry Fujikawa (his last appearance, as Lee Tsung Chu the Farmer) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato, although again referred to as Nakahara, so maybe it wasn't a blooper before) return.

M*A*S*H: Wheelers and Dealers

M*A*S*H: Wheelers and Dealers
CBS
November 23, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C-

This Mumford & Wilcox story has two threads, one about Potter having to get remedial driver's training, and one about BJ trying to make fast money because Peg has taken a job as a waitress to help meet their mortgage.  The Potter thread is forgettable, except that poor Klinger gets dragged into staying up all night to help Potter study for a makeup test, and then almost run over by Potter when sleepily crossing the road.  As for BJ, the character change is too extreme, with him not only insisting on playing poker when the others want to drop out, but hustling young soldiers over small change at the pinball machine.  I was going to go with a D+, but I like how Hawkeye tries to reason with him and of course I like Margaret telling him off.

Anthony Charnota, who was a Hood on Soap, is Sgt. Verbanic here.  G.W. Bailey (Rizzo, with quite a bit to do in the Potter thread), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), and Shari Saba (Lt. Shari) return.

M*A*S*H: Give 'Em Hell, Hawkeye

M*A*S*H: Give 'Em Hell, Hawkeye
CBS
November 16, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C-

Dennis Koenig came up with this head-shaking story:

• Hawkeye writes a rambling letter to Truman, which he continues after he has Yamato (Kellye Nakahara) mail it off.
• A boy of 10 or 12 wants BJ to perform surgery to give him "Western" eyes, so Margaret flirts with him to boost his confidence.
• Charles jokes about VD so Potter puts him in charge of treating the local prostitutes.
• Hawkeye of all people is made these ladies' chaperone!
• Yet another violent Turk or two in post-op.
• Margaret and Klinger team up for camp beautification in order to get a water heater, so they make a fountain using bedpans.
• Less than a minute spent on a soldier who went blind.

With M*A*S*H, it's not even shark-jumping.  It's just a show that after almost a decade on the air seems to have lost its way and doesn't care that it has.  Mae Hi makes her second appearance, as Sun Ki the hooker.

M*A*S*H: Rumor at the Top

M*A*S*H: Rumor at the Top
CBS
November 9, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
B-

This Pollock & Davis story is better than most lately, although maybe not too plausible.  Klinger starts a rumor that a new MASH unit will be formed and the 4077th split up.  He and everyone but Potter, who's kept out of the loop, scheme for their own purposes, and things get a little wacky.  It feels tonally odd for this late in the series, but it is more interesting than the somewhat toothless recent episodes.  And it is nice to hear Hawkeye and BJ sounding bromantic about their friendship, as well as Mulcahy's quiet "God rest his soul" for Col. Blake.  Note that Mulcahy, feeling guilty about lying, convinces Potter to paint his portrait.  I'm not sure who's left, Margaret?

Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.

M*A*S*H: That's Show Biz

M*A*S*H: That's Show Biz
CBS
October 26, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C+

This Pollock & Davis story runs an hour but there's barely enough material for half.  Marina Ryan (the adorable Gail Edwards, who I know best from It's a Living), a member of a USO troop comes to the 4077th because of appendicitis.  Hawkeye operates on her and she forms a crush on him.  Her troop visits and ends up staying a few days, entertaining the camp and connecting with the staff.  The thing is, there's not much here that's very interesting or surprising, other than that Hawkeye gently spurns Marina.  Not much to open the tenth season with but maybe things will improve later.

Martin Ferrero was a Waiter on Soap, is the Wounded Man in Jeep here, and would be a Salesman on Mork & Mindy.  Brian Byers (this time a nameless Patient) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato, this time with more to do) return.

M*A*S*H: The Foresight Saga

M*A*S*H: The Foresight Saga
CBS
April 13, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C+

Dennis Koenig's story is somewhat predictable-- Klinger's probably the only one who doesn't figure out that the homeless young Korean man who's good at farming will be sent to the U.S. to help out on Radar's farm-- but I did like the dynamic between Margaret and the eye doctor.

Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  This is the 300th dramedy I've reviewed and the 200th episode for Swit.

M*A*S*H: Taking the Fifth

M*A*S*H: Taking the Fifth
CBS
January 19, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
C+

This Davis & Pollock story feels like it has a lot of set-up for not much pay-off.  I didn't feel all the machinations about the bottles of wine were that interesting, while we never find out if Potter or anyone suffers any consequences for using the banned curare.  At least we get to see Klinger in drag again.

Charles Hallahan, who was Lance on Soap, is Colin Turnbull here.  Judy Farrell (Able), Jan Jorden (Baker), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.

M*A*S*H: Your Retention Please

M*A*S*H: Your Retention Please
CBS
January 5, 1981
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Erik Tarloff wrote this story with the ironic twist that Klinger, after receiving a "Dear Maxie" letter from his ex-wife Laverne, saying that she's leaving her second husband for Klinger's best friend, decides to reenlist in the Army, for six years!  Hawkeye tries to fix things, but it's career Army man Potter who knows how to handle it.  Meanwhile, a male nurse faces what no one calls reverse discrimination (but that's what it essentially is), since he started as a Private, while female nurses are automatically made officers.

Sam Weisman, who was Peter Charnoff on Welcome Back, Kotter, plays Sgt. Barney Hutchinson here; he would become a director, including of two very early Who's the Boss? episodes.  Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky) and Frank Pettinger (who was an Anesthetist earlier but will be a Corpsman from here on out) return.

M*A*S*H: Cementing Relationships

M*A*S*H: Cementing Relationships
CBS
December 1, 1980
Dramedy
DVD
C

David Pollock and Elias Davis's first of eighteen M*A*S*H stories (Pollock did one for What's Happening!!) seems like it would have potential, but it just doesn't work for me.  The title mostly references the 4077th's struggles to put in a cement floor in the OR.  The other thread is about a stereotypical Italian soldier, Corpsman Ignazio De Simone, played by Joel Brooks, who's usually much better than this.  He falls for Margaret and becomes a nuisance.  The episode isn't awful but it's not funny or insightful either.  Note that Klinger is now so dumb he can't spell "caution," although he's still brighter than Soap's Danny Dallas.  Kellye Nakahara returns as Yamato.

M*A*S*H: Letters

M*A*S*H: Letters
CBS
November 24, 1980
Dramedy
DVD
C+

I feel like most of the cast is sort of going through the motions in this Koenig story, with the exception of Alda.  Hawkeye's friend, a fourth-grade teacher, has her students write to the 4077th, and he wants his coworkers to answer the letters, but he finds that his reply is the hardest to write.  I have to admit that at this point, of the five regular series I'll be reviewing for the '80-'81 season (Bosom Buddies will debut soon), M*A*S*H is the one that least intrigues me.  There's a feeling of complacency and inertia setting in, although perhaps this is temporary.  This is the 300th C+ I've given and plainly far from the last.

Richard Paul, who plays Capt. Bill Bainbridge, recently had appeared on Match Game.  Michael Currie, who plays Dr. Breuer, would be the Governor on Soap.  Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Shari Saba (Nurse Shari), and Eileen Saki (Rosie) return.

M*A*S*H: The Best of Enemies

M*A*S*H: The Best of Enemies
CBS
November 17, 1980
Dramedy
DVD
C+

In this Sheldon Bull story, Potter and Winchester challenge each other to a bridge tournament, but dark horses Houlihan and Hunnicut win.  Hawkeye meanwhile spends most of his 24-hour pass trying to save the comrade of a soldier, Li Han (Mako in his last of four M*A*S*H roles).  I found most of the episode slow-going, although it does pick up in the last few minutes.