M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H appeared on television for eleven seasons, from September 1972 to February 1983. The actors and characters that appeared in all seasons are Alan Alda as Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, Loretta Swit as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, Jamie Farr as Corporal Maxwell Klinger and William Christopher as Father Francis Mulcahy.

It takes place at Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, 4077, during the Korean War. Though the war experience for this team of doctors and nurses is emotionally challenging, they know how to blow off steam. Blowing off steam includes playing pranks on one another or drinking at the Officers’ Club.

Even though this show is full of laughs, it also gets serious. Some of the episodes are so powerful that the audience is reminded of the reality of war. The wounded come at all hours of the day and the doctors and nurses drop everything to take care of them. They find sleep where ever they can, for however long they can.

The television show was very popular and aired two years after the movie was released. The role of Hawkeye Pierce and Trapper McIntyre were played by Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould. Although these actors were the first to play the characters, personally I prefer how Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers portrayed the characters in the show.

4077 had quite a few of characters come through that you may find annoying but you learn to love. One of those characters is Major Frank Burns played by Larry Linville. Major Burns is a by the book Army officer and surgeon, but also a “Momma’s Boy,” who enjoys calling others out on their short comings. He gets on everyone’s nerves and they love to prank him.

The camp has had two Colonels who had their own way of running the MASH unit. Their first Colonel was Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake played by McLean Stevenson. A lot of people would question his leadership but when he needed to make sure his camp could stand up to scrutiny, he was tough.

Their second Colonel was Colonel Sherman T. Potter played by Harry Morgan. Colonel Potter was a horse man and loved painting. He presented more of a fatherly figure and kept his camp in order. He taught those under his command many human/valuable lessons.

There is one character that for all of his desperation to get a Section 8 out of the Army, he manages to pull off being a good soldier. I am talking about the man, Corporal Maxwell Klinger. A Section 8 discharge is when a soldier is ruled unfit for Military duty based on their mental state. Klinger is very creative as he develops his schemes.

One character that will always be my favorite is Corporal Walter O’Reilly, AKA Radar. The character is played by Gary Burghoff. He is known as Radar because he is able to hear incoming choppers carrying wounded before anyone else and also has a knack for knowing what people are about to say before they say it. On his Army cot, you can find a teddy bear that Radar brought from home. He is very protective of this bear and I have even found myself saying ‘NOT the bear!’ Gary Burghoff is the only actor to reprise his role from the film.

Major Margaret Houlihan played by Loretta Swit, is a tough Major who has put up with a lot but she does have one weakness and that is Major Frank Burns. Houlihan likes to get to know many top ranking Officers and they are always happy to visit. She has the nickname “Hot Lips Houlihan” which derives from the movie.

Captain B.J. Hunnicutt played by Mike Farrell. Hunnicutt made his debut in the episode “Welcome to Korea.” His wife was pregnant with their first child when he shipped out and his character shows the anxiety of families being separated during the war. B.J. is a practical joker and his favorite people to play them on are his fellow camp mates.

Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce played by Alan Alda, is the Chief Surgeon of the 4077. Hawkeye and McIntyre built themselves an alcohol still using whatever medical tools were available. He is consistently trying to get with all of the nurses and even Houlihan herself. A lot of them reject him and some give him a chance. I have seen the show so much and love the character that I do find him charming. I have become such a fan of Alan Alda because of his character. Hawkeye isn’t one to follow the rules because he believes what the Army is subjecting young soldiers to is wrong.

First Lieutenant John Francis Patrick Mulcahy is Chaplain of 4077. In the pilot, Mulcahy was played by George Morgan but then was played by William Christopher. He is a Catholic priest but has shown knowledge of performing ceremonies in other religions. He has times when he questions whether being a Chaplain measures up as much as what the surgeons and nurses do for the wounded.

M*A*S*H is a show that is funny and tragic all at the same time. While watching the episodes, I have seen so many parallels to what is going on in society today.