M*A*S*H (season 4)

Season 4: 1975–1976

# Title[n 1] Director[n 2] Writer[n 2] Original airdate Production Code[n 3]
1 "Welcome to Korea" Gene Reynolds Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell, Larry Gelbart September 12, 1975 (1975-09-12) G504 (1), G506 (2)

A one-hour episode. Captain Trapper John McIntyre has received his orders to ship home. Hawkeye returns from R&R to find out Trapper has already departed. He defies orders by Major Frank Burns, now commanding officer, and travels to Kimpo to bid his buddy farewell. Once at Kimpo, Radar goes off to find Trapper's replacement while Hawkeye tries to find his friend before he leaves for home. Hawkeye meets the new doctor, Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, angry that he missed Trapper by just 10 minutes. On their way back, B.J. gets the full Korea experience, complete with landmines, snipers, bombardments, and drinks at Rosie's Bar.

  • P.A. Announcement: "Attention all personnel: Reporting for duty as new commanding officer, Colonel Sherman Potter, regular army, God help us all." 
2 "Change of Command" Gene Reynolds Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum September 19, 1975 (1975-09-19) G501

September 19, 1952 Colonel Sherman T. Potter arrives at the 4077th and takes command. As a career soldier and former cavalryman, Col. Potter initially does not mix well with the more relaxed atmosphere at the camp, but both he and the camp soon adapt to each other as he proves to be a competent (albeit no-nonsense) surgeon and commanding officer.

  • P.A. Announcement: "Attention all personnel: The winner of this month's lottery will receive a high colonic worth $9." 
3 "It Happened One Night" Gene Reynolds Gene Reynolds (story)
Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner (teleplay)		 September 26, 1975 (1975-09-26) G502

A freezing night features an artillery barrage that comes closer and closer to the camp, a patient going downhill, and Frank's searching Margaret's tent for his letters.

  • The episode title is a nod to the classic movie It Happened One Night, directed by Frank Capra.
  • B.J.'s comment "Welcome to One Man's Family" is a reference to one of the most popular daytime dramas from Radio's Golden Age, created by Carlton E. Morse. 
4 "The Late Captain Pierce" Alan Alda Glen Charles, Les Charles October 3, 1975 (1975-10-03) G507

A bureaucratic mistake leaves the army thinking that Hawkeye is dead, and he simultaneously enjoys the lack of responsibility that comes from being legally deceased, with trying to contact his father back in Maine to tell him he's still alive.

  • Dwight Eisenhower actually visited Korea in December 1952.
  • P.A. Announcement: "Attention all personnel: Come one, come all to a wake for the late great Capt Pierce, we'll be mourning all afternoon and evening, the deceased will deliver the eulogy and the guests will have twenty minutes for rebuttal."
  • Radar does not appear in this episode. 
5 "Hey, Doc" William Jurgensen Rick Mittleman October 10, 1975 (1975-10-10) G510
Quid pro quo at the 4077th: two bottles of Scotch for secret surgery, a tank to scare off snipers for an unauthorized shot of penicillin, and Frank's signature (into which he is blackmailed after taking the aforementioned tank for a destructive joyride) on a fake medical discharge to replace a stolen microscope. 
6 "The Bus" Gene Reynolds John D. Hess October 17, 1975 (1975-10-17) G512

As Radar and the surgeons are riding back from a medical meeting they get lost and the bus breaks down. They are eventually saved by a surrendering North Korean soldier (Soon-Teck Oh).

  • Hot Lips and Klinger do not appear in this episode
  • This episode does not contain a laugh track. 
7 "Dear Mildred" Alan Alda Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell October 24, 1975 (1975-10-24) G505
While Potter writes home, Frank and Hot Lips have a wood carving made for him and Radar rescues a horse and makes him a present of it. Potter remarks that is the 27th anniversary of his (1916) wedding to Mildred. Hawkeye, BJ and Radar rescue a horse (known later as Sophie), nurse it back to health, and Radar gives it to Potter for his anniversary. 
8 "The Kids" Alan Alda Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell October 31, 1975 (1975-10-31) G511
The doctors of the 4077th play host to kids bombed out of their orphanage, and at the same time have to deliver a baby and care for battle casualties. Frank receives a Purple Heart for receiving an eggshell fragment in his eye, but the other doctors soon find a better recipient for it. 
9 "Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?" Larry Gelbart Burt Prelutsky November 7, 1975 (1975-11-07) G513

A bombardier, a Captain Chandler, has developed a mental illness in that he believes he is Jesus Christ. Dr. Sidney Freedman arrives to treat the patient, but Colonel Flagg wants him sent back to duty immediately.

  • The title of this episode is a pun on the 1951 film Quo Vadis
  • This episode does not contain a laugh track.
  • Radar is finally given a first name: Walter. Prior to this episode, his character was officially known only as "Radar" O'Reilly. 
10 "Dear Peggy" Burt Metcalfe Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum November 11, 1975 (1975-11-11) G509
B.J. writes home to his wife reporting Klinger's escape attempts, the visit of a formidable chaplain (Ned Beatty) to inspect Father Mulcahy and one of Frank's errors. 
11 "Of Moose and Men" John Erman Jay Folb November 21, 1975 (1975-11-21) G503

Hawkeye tangles with a tough Army colonel (Tim O'Connor), B.J. helps Sergeant Zale (Johnny Haymer), who has received "Dear John" letter, and a paranoid Frank looks endlessly for Korean saboteurs.

  • The title "Of Moose and Men" is a pun of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. 
12 "Soldier of the Month" Gene Reynolds Linda Bloodworth November 28, 1975 (1975-11-28) G514
Frank has a fever in the midst of an outbreak and makes a will leaving his house and all his money to his wife and children while he gives all his clothes to Margaret. Radar, Klinger, Sgt. Zale and Igor are contenders for a contest that awards an enlisted man a vacation to Tokyo. 
13 "The Gun" Burt Metcalfe Larry Gelbart, Gene Reynolds December 2, 1975 (1975-12-02) G517

A colonel who is receiving treatment at the 4077th has a valuable .45 cavalry antique revolver, which is checked as he is taken into surgery. Major Burns steals the revolver to show off to Major Houlihan, leaving Radar accountable and in very deep trouble. When forced by Hawkeye and B.J. to return the gun to the weapons bin, Frank accidentally shoots himself in the foot.

  • P.A. Announcement: "Attention all personnel: Tonight's movie is Kansas City Confidential. This will be of special interest to anyone who missed it when it was shown every night this month."
  • The movie Kansas City Confidential was released on November 28, 1952; a plot hole has Hot Lips referring to the pistol as a Colt Single Action Army when it is a M1917 revolver; in addition, she implies that her father is a cavalryman, although he served in the artillery. 
14 "Mail Call, Again" George Tyne Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum December 9, 1975 (1975-12-09) G518
Mail call brings a letter to Frank saying his wife (who was made aware of his affair with Hot Lips, thanks to a returning GI) wants a divorce, a letter to Colonel Potter telling him he's going to be a grandfather and a home movie for Radar from his mother. This was the beginning of the end of Frank and Margaret's relationship after she listened in to the insults Frank called her to Louise (an old war horse; an army mule with bosoms). This earned him a chair being thrown at him and Houlihan denouncing him. 
15 "The Price of Tomato Juice" Gene Reynolds Larry Gelbart, Gene Reynolds December 16, 1975 (1975-12-16) G519
Radar gets the help of Hawkeye and B.J. to procure something from Frank that Colonel Potter says he is fond of but that is hard to come by: tomato juice. 
16 "Dear Ma" Alan Alda Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell December 23, 1975 (1975-12-23) G515
Radar writes home to his mother about Hawkeye conducting the camp feet inspection and Colonel Potter getting a sniper's bullet in his backside. 
17 "Der Tag" Gene Reynolds Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell January 6, 1976 (1976-01-06) G522
With Houlihan away at a conference in Tokyo, Frank Burns gets on everyone's nerves, so Potter decides he would be less of a pain if the others were more friendly to him. 
18 "Hawkeye" Larry Gelbart Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner January 13, 1976 (1976-01-13) G520

Hawkeye is injured in a jeep accident and, aware he has a concussion, babbles to the Korean family who took him in to keep himself awake until Radar arrives to pick him up.

  • No other cast member appears in this episode except Alan Alda. 
19 "Some 38th Parallels" Burt Metcalfe Regier and Markowitz January 20, 1976 (1976-01-20) G521
Frank tries to distinguish himself by selling the camp garbage, but it is Hawkeye who finds a use for it by dealing with a troublesome colonel whose decisions create a high body count in his unit. Radar initially helps save a patient's life then is devastated when the patient dies later on. 
20 "The Novocaine Mutiny" Harry Morgan Burt Prelutsky January 27, 1976 (1976-01-27) G523

October 1952. Frank has Hawkeye up on charges of mutiny for various infractions committed while Potter was away on leave and Frank was acting as commanding officer.

  • The title "The Novocaine Mutiny" is a pun of the movie title The Caine Mutiny. 
21 "Smilin' Jack" Charles S. Dubin Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner February 3, 1976 (1976-02-03) G508
The 4077th plays host to a diabetic helicopter ambulance pilot (Robert Hogan) who does not want to quit and a twice-wounded G.I.(Dennis Kort) who does. 
22 "The More I See You" Gene Reynolds Larry Gelbart, Gene Reynolds February 10, 1976 (1976-02-10) G524

Hawkeye is reunited with his ex-girlfriend (Blythe Danner) who he thought was out of his life forever.

  • Hot Lips and Frank Burns do not appear in this episode. 
23 "Deluge" William Jurgensen Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner February 17, 1976 (1976-02-17) G516

A sudden deluge of wounded at the 4077th is followed by a laundry fire and a rainstorm to make matters difficult for the staff.

  • The plot of this episode reflects the entrance of Chinese Army into the Korean War.
  • This marks the first of three episodes that intersperses genuine Movietone newsreel footage. 
24 "The Interview" Larry Gelbart Larry Gelbart February 24, 1976 (1976-02-24) G525

A stateside television correspondent (Clete Roberts) interviews M*A*S*H personnel about their experiences and thoughts.

  • This episode — filmed in black and white — does not contain a laugh track.
  • This episode was the last to involve series creator Larry Gelbart.
  • Alan Alda listed this as one of his favorite episodes.[1] 

Notes

  1. ^ Titles taken from DVD
  2. ^ a b Credits from episode title cards
  3. ^ Production Code from end credits
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References

  1. ^ "Alda's favorite 'M*A*S*H' episodes". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/06/alda.mash/index.html. Retrieved 2009-05-15.