M*A*S*H: What's Up, Doc?

M*A*S*H: What's Up, Doc?
CBS
January 30, 1978
Dramedy
DVD
B

This is the first of eight M*A*S*H episodes written by Larry Balmagia, who had done the weakest episode of Three's Company's first season.  ("Jack the Giant Killer," but in fairness that was based on a relatively weak Man About the House.)  This is a good episode, although the patient with a gun thread doesn't quite work.  (And somewhat resembles a similar one early on, with, that's right, John Ritter.)  The title refers to the rabbit test that Hawkeye runs for Margaret, using Radar's treasured Fluffy but managing it so the rabbit doesn't have to die either way.  Although Hawkeye describes himself as Margaret's "Number One Nemesis," he is the one she confides in.  I don't know if this is after their brief encounter, and it certainly would've been interesting if he was the potential father, but in any case their friendship is touching here, especially in the scene at the end.  Note that Margaret doesn't want to be pregnant, because one, she's having difficulties in her marriage, and two, she'd have to resign the Army.  No one suggests abortion, although Maude controversially had had one before Roe v. Wade.  (Either plot twist, an abortion or Hawkeye getting Margaret pregnant, would probably have been too much for even M*A*S*H.)

Lois Foraker (her last appearance, this time as Nurse Bell), Charles Frank (this time as Lt. Martinson), Phyllis Katz (this time a nameless Nurse), and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.  And, yes, the show had switched over to Mondays instead of Tuesdays.