M*A*S*H: Major Topper

M*A*S*H: Major Topper
CBS
March 27, 1978
Dramedy
DVD
C+

Allyn Freeman's only M*A*S*H script has an unfinished feel to it.  There's the "placebo" thread, where we find out that it works on half of the patients and then is forgotten about.  There's the "Charles bragging" thread, which sort of ends with him proving he once had dinner with Audrey Hepburn (who wasn't particularly well known at the time).  And there's the "guy even crazier than Klinger" thread, which is sort of resolved, but without anyone apologizing to Klinger for thinking that he was responsible for the man.  (Unusually, Klinger shares his tent with someone, but I think only so that he can find out the guy talks to his shoes and socks.)  The successful Section Eighter is Corporal "Boots" Miller, played by Hamilton Camp, in his first of two M*A*S*H roles.

Donald Blackwell, who was Johnson on What's Happening!! is Graham here.  Andrew Bloch (this time Saxton) and Kellye Nakahara (Yamato) return.

This wraps up Season Six and, yes, the episode aired a month after the previous one.  I don't remember why the Spring '78 episodes of various shows (except for Soap) were staggered, but that year some didn't wrap up until April or even May.  As for M*A*S*H, this is certainly a less memorable season-closer than some of the previous years.  The season as usual averages out to B-, with a range of C- to B+.  Things definitely feel more mature with Charles instead of Frank, but that doesn't make every episode a classic, or even near-classic.  I wish there were more of Radar, but having him present is no guarantee of quality either.