M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion

M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion
Fox
May 17, 2002
Documentary
DVD
B

The then surviving cast, producers, and some of the writers gather together to reminisce about the making of the show.  It's good to see them together, enjoying each other's company-- an anecdote about the late Larry Linville (whom I didn't have room to tag) cracks the whole gang up-- but in a way it's too many people for this format, and not everyone gets an equal chance to talk.  (Alda, no surprise, does more than his share.)  Larry Gelbart, Burt Metcalfe, and Gene Reynolds do contribute a lot.  Note that at the time not only Linville but Stevenson and some of the supporting cast had died since the last M*A*S*H special I reviewed; last year of course we lost William Christopher, and Wayne Rogers the year before that (both on December 31st); Harry Morgan had gone at 96 in 2011.

Memories of M*A*S*H

Memories of M*A*S*H
CBS
November 25, 1991
Dramedy
DVD
B

This is a much better reunion program than the one for The Bob Newhart Show.  It is in a way a clip show, but it is also memories from cast and crew of what it was like to be a part of the long-running series.  There's an added poignancy now, because so many of the cast have died since then.  (William Christopher's death at the end of last year being especially sad, such a gentle soul.)  This is not to say that the program couldn't have been better, maybe putting the series in context more, not only discussing the books and movie more, but noting that it was part of CBS pushing against censorship in the '70s, as with All in the Family.  There's not even a reference to the Vietnam War!  I also would've liked an actual reunion, rather than separate interviews, especially since everyone claims to miss the camaraderie and laughter on and offscreen.  Still, there are some good insights and touching moments, and some chuckles of course.

It's impossible to tag everyone obviously, so I'll list the others who appear, including in clips.  Long hosts the program and of course we see her guest appearance.

• G.W. Bailey (interview and clips)
• Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
• Dr. Walter Dishell
• Charles S. Dubin
• Farrell's children Mike, Jr. and Erin
• Larry Gelbart
• Mariette Hartley (clip)
• Ron Howard (clip)
• Burt Metcalfe
• Kellye Nakahara (interview and clips)
• Leslie Nielsen as Col. Buzz Brighton
• John Ritter (clip)
• Clete Roberts as himself
• Susan Saint James (clip)
• Steirs's parents Ken and Maggie
• Patrick Swayze as Private Gary Sturgis
• Teri Garr (clip)
• George Wendt (clip)
• and others IMDB and I missed

M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen

M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
CBS
February 28, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
A-

About the "too many writers" rule?  I guess there are exceptions.  I don't know who was responsible for which strand, but together Alda, Davis, Hall, Metcalfe, Mumford, Pollock, Rappaport, and Wilcox managed a two-hour episode (2 1/2 hours with commercials) that somehow holds together and moved me at least as much as it did over a third of a century ago.  Alda also directed, and he has the heaviest subplot, but he lets the others shine, from his six main co-stars to some of the familiar faces listed here at the bottom.

I don't think it's simply nostalgia that makes me give one of my rare A-s.  This is a series that I once loved yet have been reliving through more cynical eyes.  But the finale really did move me.  Yes, I like that there are references to past characters and episodes (especially during one of Charles and Margaret's arguments), but on its own terms, this is amazing.  It's definitely on the "drama" side of dramedy, but there are also moments of joy and silliness.  And, really, all I remembered was something about Hawkeye and a "chicken," something about Charles and Korean musicians, and the goodbye message in rocks.

My favorite parts were when people stand up and say what they're doing after the war, and the goodbyes.  I like that each two-person relationship is unique, and the goodbyes match them.  But I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the Hawkeye/Margaret kiss.  While Hawkeye finds it easy to say the words to tell BJ how much his best friend means to him, it's not so easy with the longer-lasting and arguably more complex relationship with the former Hot Lips.  And, yes, Henry Blake gave her a big kiss goodbye, but it wasn't like this.  It's not even simply a matter of romance.  It's that these characters know they would never work as a couple, and yet they do in a sense love each other.  Also, as Hawkeye pointed out on the previous episode, they've been there as long as each other (the only ones from the first episode still here in the last).  Believe me, this packs more of a wallop in middle age, having had some "opposites attract" relationships, than it did when I was a starry-eyed 15-year-old who'd never been kissed.

It was also the part that made me laugh the most out loud.  And that is because Farrell, Morgan, and Stiers have to stand around awkwardly, adding little touches like Charles skimming through the book he's returning to Margaret.  And you know that BJ knows about the one-night stand, and the other two have probably guessed by now.  So there's resonance, and I can only wonder what the 121.6 million people watching the last six minutes thought.

GW Bailey (Rizzo), Natasha Bauman (Nurse), Brigitte Chandler (Nurse), Jennifer Davis (Nurse), Gwen Farrell (Nurse Gwen), Judy Farrell (Able), Dennis Flood (this time as a Corpsman), Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman), Jan Jorden (Baker), Enid Kent (Bigelow), June Kim (this time the Woman with Shawl), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), David Orr (this time a Soldier), John Otrin (Ambulance Driver), Frank Pettinger (Corpsman), Shari Saba (Nurse Shari), Frank Slaten (Corpsman Frank), Bill Snider (Corpsman), Arthur Song (Korean Man), Jo Ann Thompson (Nurse Jo Ann), and Dennis Troy (Corpsman) all return, one last time.

So how do I average this episode in?  Does it count five times?  After all, I never counted the one-hour episodes twice.  But let's count this as two episodes.  With the rest of the season averaging C to B, this comes out to a B-.  I still believe M*A*S*H didn't need to run this long without Radar and, yes, I know about and in fact watched some of After MASH.  But this is as good a place as any, and better than most, to end it.

M*A*S*H: As Time Goes By

M*A*S*H: As Time Goes By
CBS
February 21, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Wilcox & Mumford wrote this penultimate episode for the series (apparently filmed after the big finale though).  Margaret, with the unwanted help of Hawkeye, looks for items for a time capsule, but he's the one who has offerings left behind by Radar and Blake.  (Burns is mentioned but Trapper is not.)  And Soon-Lee (Rosalind Chao) is introduced and would go on to After MASH.

GW Bailey (Rizzo), Brigitte Chandler (a nameless Nurse), Chao-Li Chi (this time as a Korean Husband), Oksun Kim (this time a Korean Wife, about a decade after her previous appearance), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato, although again called Lt. Nakahara), and Jo Ann Thompson (Nurse Jo Ann) return.

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: Friends and Enemies

M*A*S*H: Friends and Enemies
CBS
February 7, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
C+

Karen Hall wrote this episode that feels like a retread of a lot of other episodes (an old friend is too gung-ho, Charles is selfish, and BJ tries to manipulate people), but I did like how Charles and Margaret get their revenge on BJ.

Jim Lefebvre, who plays Sgt. Zurilli, was one of the athletes who played a Native on Gilligan's Island.  Roy Goldman (as Roy Goldman), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Bill Snider (this time as Snider), Jo Ann Thompson (Nurse Jo Ann), and Jennifer Davis Westmore (nameless Nurse) return.  This is the only episode Jamie Farr directed, although he'd also do one for After MASH.

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: Strange Bedfellows

M*A*S*H: Strange Bedfellows
CBS
January 10, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Karen Hall wrote this story where Potter's son-in-law, Bob Wilson (Dennis Dugan, who previously played Private Danny McShane) visits and Potter finds out that Bob spent a night in a Tokyo hotel with an unknown woman.  Meanwhile, Charles denies he snores, until the whole camp bears witness.  I'm not sure if we learned the names of Potter's daughter (Evvy) and grandson (Stuart) before, and, no, I don't know what happened to the son and granddaughter.  It is surprising to hear Sherman confess to a one-night stand, since the impression from other episodes is that he was always faithful.  Or maybe he made up the story to get Bob to confess.

Kellye Nakahara returns as Yamato.  Farrell directed.

M*A*S*H: U.N., the Night and the Music

M*A*S*H: U.N., the Night and the Music
CBS
January 3, 1983
Dramedy
DVD
B-

This Davis & Pollock show has three UN delegates visit the 4077th and each teach or learn something:

• The Indian teaches Potter, Klinger, and eventually Hawkeye about meditation;
• The Brit teaches Charles something unexpected about snobbery;
• And the Swede, Per Johannsen (Dennis Holahan, who's actually from Connecticut, and ironically appear on the pilot of Connecticut-set Who's the Boss?, as Angela's boss/boyfriend Grant), learns that Margaret can be attracted to him but also value him for other qualities than physical.  (A war injury has made him permanently impotent.

Meanwhile, BJ identifies heavily with a patient who has a wife and little girl.  I'm not sure how well this all holds together, but I do like the last moment between Margaret and Hawkeye, where she thanks him for being a "jerk."  Note that Swit later married Holahan, more irony.

Brigitte Chandler makes her first of three appearances as a nameless Nurse.  Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Shari Saba (Lt. Shari), and Bill Snider (this time as the Bartender) return.  Morgan directed.

M*A*S*H: Run for the Money

M*A*S*H: Run for the Money
CBS
December 20, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C

I don't really care about either thread in this Davis & Pollock story (with Farrell as co-writer): Father Mulcahy running a race to raise money for the orphanage, and Charles befriending a soldier who stutters, although it is notable that we hear the stuttering voice of his sister Honoria (not listed at IMDB).

Thomas Callaway, who played Phillip on Soap, is Capt. Sweeney here.  Kellye Nakahara returns as Yamato.

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: Settling Debts

M*A*S*H: Settling Debts
CBS
December 6, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

In this Mumford & Wilcox story, Mildred writes to Hawkeye about paying off the mortgage, so the gang decides to hold a little surprise party for Sherman to celebrate.  Meanwhile, a popular officer is injured and his men want revenge on his sniper.  One of the few episodes (the only?) to show Charles plastered.

Michael Lamont, who played an Officer on the first season of Diff'rent Strokes, is a Corporal here.  Jennifer Davis Westmore returns as a nameless Nurse.  It's William Christopher's turn to hit the 200th episode milestone and I believe he'll be the last of the cast to do so.

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: Who Knew?

M*A*S*H: Who Knew?
CBS
November 22, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B

This Davis & Pollock story is about how Hawkeye deals with the death of Millie Carpenter, a nurse he went out with a couple times but didn't really know.  It's interesting that it comes soon after he realized he'd been overlooking (rather than looking over) Nurse Kellye.  Hawkeye talks to the other nurses, including Margaret, but it's only when he reads Millie's diary, at Mulcahy's insistence, that he really feels he knows her. He also realizes a few things about himself.

Enid Kent (Lt. Bigelow), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Shari Saba (Lt. Shari), and Jo Ann Thompson (Nurse Jo Ann) return.  Morgan directed.

M*A*S*H: The Joker Is Wild

M*A*S*H: The Joker Is Wild
CBS
November 15, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B

This Rappaport & Koenig story is one of the "prank" episodes I like, even though the pranks here aren't that clever.  It's more about what the episode reveals about the characters, especially BJ and Hawkeye.  Even after all this time (who knows how long in terms of the war, but probably at least a year), BJ feels he has to live up to the legacy of Trapper.  Hawkeye thinks he can outsmart BJ, even though he's been tricked before.  And the others have fun setting Hawkeye up.  BJ doesn't fulfill the terms of the bet, but then Hawkeye doesn't actually strip down, beyond taking off his trousers.  And he gets his own revenge at the end, as seen in the photo above.

Clyde Kusatsu (Capt. Paul Yamato), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.

M*A*S*H: Foreign Affairs

la splendeur dans l'herbe

M*A*S*H: Foreign Affairs
CBS
November 8, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Pollock & Davis wrote this story where Charles falls for a Frenchwoman with a more Bohemian past than he can handle, while PR agent Maj. Reddish (Jeffrey Tambor) wants to use a North Korean for propaganda purposes.  Again, Potter's age is inconsistent with other episodes, as is the time of his marriage to Mildred.

Byron Chung (his last appearance on the show, as Lt. Chong-Wa Park), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Soon-Teck Oh (his last appearance, as Joon-Sung), Jo Ann Thompson (Nurse Jo Ann), and Dennis Troy (Corpsman) return.

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: Hey, Look Me Over

M*A*S*H: Hey, Look Me Over
CBS
October 25, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B

Alda co-wrote this episode with Karen Hall and it spotlights one of the minor but long-lasting characters.  Kellye Nakahara finally getting attention from the writers is fitting, as Kellye Yamato struggles to get Hawkeye to notice her.  It's not even about a crush, but more about simple attention.  She tells him off, but it's not till he sees her comfort a dying patient that he sees how wonderful she is.  Meanwhile, a hard-nosed female colonel comes by for an inspection, and Margaret learns a lesson herself.

Gary Grubbs, who plays Lt. Geyer, would be Harry on Three's Company.  Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky) and Shari Saba (Lt. Shari) return, as do Harmon and Wilson.

M*A*S*H: That Darn Kid

(See footnote.)

M*A*S*H: That Darn Kid
CBS
April 12, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
C

Karen Hall wrote this story where a goat eats $22,000 that paymaster Hawkeye is supposed to distribute, not exactly on a level as a season-closer with Henry Blake dying.  G.W. Bailey (given quite a bit to do as Rizzo), Tom Kindle (GI), Richard Lee-Sung (his last of eleven appearances, as the Farmer who sells the vase to Charles), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky, saying that he hasn't sold any grape Nehi since Radar left), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  Stiers directed.

M*A*S*H in its tenth season ranges from 2 C-s to 2 Bs, averaging out to C+, still watchable most of the time but not too memorable.  In its penultimate season, it's not the "preachiness" or Alda's ego or any of the usual, ahem, scapegoats that are to blame.  It's simply a lack of energy and originality, and too many episodes like this one, where the premise has little to do with the setting or the characters and could've happened on any sitcom, including Gilligan's Island, which would've at least given us the humor of Jim Backus's reactions.  We'll see if Season Eleven is any improvement, or if I cried over the finale for no reason.


Footnote:  The "new teacher" was on Making the Grade, which starred George Wendt among others.  This ad makes the "goat" episode look more slapsticky than it is.

M*A*S*H: Picture This

M*A*S*H: Picture This
CBS
April 5, 1982
Dramedy
DVD
B-

Karen Hall wrote this story that takes awhile to get going but does in the end take advantage of these characters having known each other so long, not just in the ways that the doctors in the Swamp get on each other's nerves, but also in Klinger, Mulcahy, and Houlihan knowing how to manipulate them for their own good.  Col. Potter trying to paint a group portrait feels odd, like he couldn't sketch them all separately and only have them pose as a group a little while.  Still, it does create another memorable painting, this time to be sent home to Mildred.

John Fujioka (this time as Hawkeye's "landlord"), Jeff Maxwell (Straminsky, telling Hawkeye about the hut for rent), Kellye Nakahara (Yamato), Shari Saba (Nurse Shari), and Marty Thomas (Soldier) return.