Little-known mistakes and bloopers in M*A*S*H

Like me, you probably believe you’ve seen everything if you’re a fan of M*A*S*H, including the heartwarming moments, the memorable characters, and the amusing moments.

MASH swiftly established itself as a treasured cultural icon and a mainstay of American television, thanks to its incisive writing, profound emotional content, and clever satire.

But behind the scenes, the program had its share of errors, continuity blunders, and anachronisms, many of which went unnoticed by its devoted viewers.

When I was a child of the 1980s, MASH was constantly playing in the background, with its theme tune playing right before bed. Years later, I gave the series a try, and I’ve liked it ever since. Before, I could never make it past the opening before I had to shut the TV off.

MASH was more than simply a television program; it was a phenomenon that united families. Nearly half of Americans were enthralled with its final episode in 1983, which continues to be the most-watched prime-time show to this day.

 

As you are undoubtedly aware, MASH was set in the midst of the Korean War and centers on a team of medical professionals working in a mobile army surgical hospital (MAS*H). They use humor and compassion to deal with the mayhem around them as they negotiate the difficulties of battle, medicine, and interpersonal relationships.

It’s one of those shows that makes an impression, and now that I’ve seen some of the episodes again, I’m recognizing the small errors and blunders that add to the enjoyment. Were you aware of these?

Hepatitis death case

Did you know that during season five, William Christopher, who portrayed the endearing Father Mulcahy, had a nasty episode of hepatitis?

He almost permanently left the show due to the illness. Mulcahy’s removal from the series was even contemplated by the producers. The good news is that Alan Alda, who is known for his stand-up, wasn’t having any of it. He understood Christopher’s need for consistent work, particularly in light of his son’s autism.

As a result, Alda skillfully integrated Christopher’s illness into Mulcahy’s plot in an entire episode (Hepatitis). What a wonderful friend he is, and what a better way to keep Father Mulcahy involved.

Frank Burns’ prediction of a tumor

This is yet another fascinating piece of MASH information that will chill you to the bone.

When Frank Burns is being examined by the savage Hawkeye (Alan Alda) in the Hepatitis episode, Frank remarks nonchalantly, “I do have a pea-sized tumor under my sternum.”

As unsettling as that may sound, Larry Linville, the actor who played Frank, truly died of a cancerous tumor behind his sternum years later. Life can occasionally mimic art in the most surprising—and a little unsettling—ways.

From one-episode marvel to beloved

As Klinger in MASH, Jamie Farr wore dresses and skirts that few actors would be willing to wear, but he did it with amazing charm and humor. He played Max Klinger perfectly, and to be honest, the show wouldn’t have been the same without him.

However, did you know that Farr was only supposed to make one appearance in the original plan? He was became a regular on the show, nevertheless, because he grew so popular with the audience.

The dog tags’ real story

Did Jamie Farr wear the dog tags on the show? In fact, those were his actual military dog tags from his pre-actor days in the military!

In an interview in the Medicine and Martinis box set, Farr himself disclosed that his name, serial number, and even his faith were among the personal details on the tags. How about introducing genuineness to the position?

Have you seen the military errors?

In addition to providing some memorable moments, the show also highlighted some questions over military authenticity in the landmark season 2 episode For the Good of the Outfit. Among the most obvious errors? Henry Blake’s workplace has a Bell Huey UH-1 helicopter hanging there. The catch? Years after the events of MASH took place during the Korean War, the Huey didn’t even make its first flight until 1956. That small bit of military history doesn’t exactly fit the period, it’s safe to say!

Lieutenant Colonel Blake’s passing

One of the most upsetting and talked-about events in TV history was Lieutenant Colonel Blake’s death in MASH. When McLean Stevenson, who was departing the program in 1975, was killed off in such a shocking and dramatic manner (plane crash on the way back to the States), both fans and critics were taken aback.

The sudden death of a prominent character in a primetime series was unprecedented at the time. The authors and producers of the show defended the choice, saying it was intended to make a strong statement about the harsh reality of war, despite the fact that many were shocked.

The producers agreed.

However, Colonel Blake’s account continued after that startling incident.

Following Lieutenant Colonel Blake’s sudden death, the show’s writers and producers reached an agreement after receiving an enormous quantity of hate mail.

They resolved that no actor would ever again give their character such a sorrowful farewell if they were to go from MASH*. Character departures on the program were handled differently as a result of the strong criticism.

The mystery of Radar’s left hand

Gary Burghoff played the endearing character of Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, a simple-minded farm lad who served as the company clerk and occasionally bugler over the seven seasons of the 1972–1983 television series.

However, did you ever notice that Gary Radar had a little-known trait that he made a concerted effort to hide? Gary would deftly conceal his left hand during scenes because he was born with Poland syndrome, a condition that results in underdeveloped pectoral muscles and occasionally webbed fingers.

He made sure that the attention remained on his acting and not on his hand, whether he was holding a clipboard or keeping it in his pocket.

The reason Radar departed M*A*S*H

According to reports, Burghoff’s rigorous schedule was putting a strain on his family life after he appeared in every episode for the first three seasons. As a result, his character’s appearances were cut from 24 to 13 episodes.

Radar left the show in season seven, and his discharge from the army was explained in the two-part goodbye, Good-Bye Radar.

Burghoff didn’t take much with him when he departed M*A*S*H.

In an interview with People, Burghoff stated, “I didn’t leave M*A*S*H a wealthy man.” Although money wasn’t the most important thing in my life, I could have renegotiated my contract.Either you want to be a father or you want to be wealthy and well-known. You cannot do both.

Radar’s cure for rabies

Radar, who may have a rare case of rabies, is bedridden in the 1974 episode Mad Dogs and Servicemen.

Margaret reads him a letter that mentions two well-known songs, “The Wayward Wind” by Gogi Grant and “Diddy Wah Diddy” by Bo Diddley, in an attempt to lift his spirits. The catch? Several years after the end of the Korean War, both songs were released in 1956.

 

 

Too fashionable for the front lines

Not every character in MASH has 1950s-era hairstyles that are proper for the Army! As the series progresses, it becomes evident that only Major Winchester and Colonel Potter appear to have fit in with an Army unit from the 1950s. The others? To put it mildly, they were a little too stylish for military standards.

Hawkeye’s dynamic backstory

Throughout MASH, Hawkeye’s past is a bit of a crazy journey. He is originally from Vermont, and he has a nephew, a married sister who sends him a huge knitted sweater, and both of his parents are still living.

However, his story changes as the series progresses. All of a sudden, he is an only child from Crabapple Cove, Maine, whose mother died when he was only ten. I suppose the specifics were a little… adaptable! However, Hawkeye actor Alan Alda was unconcerned with the modifications. Even if it meant slightly distorting the truth, he cherished how his character might change and develop throughout the course of the series.

Hawkeye’s irony, Alda’s brilliance

It may surprise you to learn that Alan Alda became the first individual to win an Emmy for both writing and directing the same series. That is a great deal of talent.

Hawkeye jokes, “Don’t blame me, I didn’t write this stuff,” in response to Winchester’s complaint about Hawkeye and BJ singing in the shower during the Comrades in Arms episode. The twist is that Hawkeye’s actor, Alan Alda, actually wrote it!

Alda’s ability to combine humor and character-driven storytelling is exemplified in this brief scene.

The truth about Alan Alda and Loretta Swit

I would argue that the early seasons of MASH were a great comedy, while the latter seasons evolved into an amazing fusion of comedy and drama, for those who like the earlier seasons but didn’t enjoy the later ones as much as the latter ones.

Let’s now discuss the show’s most recognizable pair, Alan Alda and Loretta Swit’s portrayals of Hawkeye and Margaret Houlihan. Their relationship gives the change in tone from comedy to drama an intriguing undertone.

 

 

Their relationship gives the change in tone from comedy to drama an intriguing undertone. Their relationship was characterized in the early seasons by mutual respect as accomplished medical experts, along with a hint of smoldering attraction. Their relationship became stronger as the play progressed, going from lighthearted banter to a more intense, emotional bond.

The crucial moment between Hawkeye and Margaret

“They became loving friends,” Swit clarified in a Yahoo interview. There are various types of love, and theirs was a very intense one. Their bond developed and evolved over the course of the series. There was respect at first since Margaret believed he was a brilliant surgeon.

When they were stranded together overnight amid North Korean bombs in the two-part Season 6 episode Comrades in Arms, the sparks finally sparked. They had a heart-to-heart conversation before giving in to their emotions and spending a passionate evening together.

 

Swit claims that even though their night together didn’t lead to a long-term romance, it was a significant turning point in both characters’ lives.

“The creators weren’t sure the audience would accept ‘Comrades in Arms,’ so Alan wrote it for us a few seasons before he actually did it,” Swit disclosed.

However, it marked a sea change and spoke to the entirety of M*A*S*H—it had everything: laughter, tears, absurdity, and survival. People watched because of this.

Swit’s Loretta’s nails

One aspect of Loretta Swit’s performance as Margaret Houlihan in MASH that jumps out at you is her manicure.

Her fingernails are longer than an inch in the Comrades in Arms episode. Really! No nurse would have such long nails, particularly a head nurse in a combat zone. Margaret may have been attracted to glam, but it was undoubtedly not the most practical option for a doctor during a war.

 

 

“Hot Lips” was a nickname that Loretta Swit never liked.

The notorious moniker that was applied to her character, Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, did not exactly excite Loretta Swit.

She expressed her feelings about it in an interview with Fox News Digital, saying, “I understand that nicknames are a sign of affection, but it felt like an insult to me.” She deserved respect because she was a major in the U.S. Army and not just a piece of the body.

In retrospect, Swit acknowledged that she decided to phase out the “Hot Lips” moniker on her own.

She remarked, “I think my perseverance probably became very annoying.” However, I thought it was crucial for the women who were fighting for our nation. “She’s so much more than this,” I repeatedly told the writers.

Plastic surgery for Loretta Swit

Many people have noticed what appear to be some alterations that could be related to plastic surgery when they look at photos of Loretta Swit now. Some of the pictures do raise questions, even if Swit has never publicly addressed this. However, is it possible that this change started even during MASH*? Betterinafarichild, a Reddit user, made the following intriguing observation:

Even though I’ve seen every episode of MAS*H several times, I recently watched it in chronological order for the first time and discovered some small details I had never noticed before. Are these things subtle, or am I simply not seeing them? For instance: In the midst of season six, Loretta Swit has plastic surgery. She develops a cleft chin, which is a very noticeable change, and eventually gets a nose job; I’m not sure which season this was, but it might have been season 9.

Although it’s still up for debate, this has undoubtedly aroused some fan interest.

The longest kiss

Last but not least, although MASH viewers are aware that the series featured several poignant moments, the ending featured one of the longest kisses ever seen on television.

 

 

Hawkeye completes the circle of “Comrades in Arms” by saying goodbye to Margaret with a long and awkward kiss that makes their other coworkers feel uneasy.

Swit summarizes Margaret’s journey by reminiscing about the tender moment: “It’s the longest kiss in television history.”

As the only two main cast members to appear in both the series premiere and the series finale, Swit and Alda, who helmed the final episode, shared a unique bond that persisted throughout the duration of the show.

The main goals of the finale were to bring everyone together and please the audience, who all had favorite characters. After the show, Alan wrote me an email expressing how amazing it was to be able to play Margaret and watch her develop in a significant way.

Why not tell your friends and relatives about this article if you’re a MASH* fan? It’s the ideal method to start lively discussions and remember the memorable personalities who brought us both joy and sorrow. Let’s share the memories by tagging someone who would appreciate a throwback!

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