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Posted: |
Nov 3, 2015 - 1:22 PM
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By: |
Matt S.
(Member)
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Getting back to Linville, he had my favorite line of all in the episode “Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler?” when B.J. and Hawkeye were discussing Chandler’s claim to be Jesus and one (B.J. ?) mentions, in effect that you don’t see many folks named Pontius Pilates around, and Frank replies “Oh, I’m washing my hands of the both of you.” B.J. and Hawkeye look at each other as if to say, “He finally scored one on us!”
That was one of my very favorite episodes especially with Colonel Flagg in all his glory.
I personally feel the opposite; I really dislike the Frank Burns character (nothing against Larry Linville, though) and much prefer Charles Winchester.
HOWEVER, I would like to add my favorite Frank Burns line, quite possibly the best line of the entire series: at the end of "Margaret's Engagement," after she had been flaunting her new fiancé, they were sitting at breakfast, and Frank suggested he and Hawkeye take a few nurses over to Rosie's for some fun, Frank singling out one nurse in particular, to which Hot Lips says "She's a little young, for you, isn't she, Major Burns?"
And his priceless reply: "Oh I don't know. I thought a little youth might be nice for a change."
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Frank Burns: Stepping right up to Radar's face, "Just what kind of jackass do you think I am?"
Radar: "You'd know more about that than I would, sir."
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Looks like we all missed his last chopper ride out.
Farewell.
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Always preferred Trapper John to the smart aleck-y Hawkeye Pierce in the series. Was sad to see him (and Col. Blake) leave after just 3 seasons. Harry Morgan was an adequate replacement for Maclean Stevenson, but Mike Farrell was nice, but utterly bland.
RIP, Wayne Rogers.
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Posted: |
Jan 1, 2016 - 10:44 AM
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By: |
townerbarry
(Member)
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M*A*S*H seems to have two different halves in its history and the fanbase is often divided over which era they prefer. I believe this often depends on how old you were when the show started.
There are those who like the earlier seasons, when Henry Blake was in charge, Frank Burns was the villain, Margaret was still "Hot Lips", and Trapper John was Hawkeye's partner in crime. They drank more from that homemade still, and there was more of a madcap feel to the show that owed more to the 1970s movie. Radar was the clerk, and Klinger always dressed in drag.
Then came the mid way point.
Henry Blake was killed, Trapper left, and Frank and Hot Lips split up. Col. Potter took charge, and BJ Honeycutt replaced Trapper John (who would later become Pernell Roberts! Oh, yeah!). Radar became a real wuss, Major Winchester became the new foil for Hawkeye. Klinger became the new company clerk and stopped dressing in drag. The show became more of a "dramedy" and the characters weren't as goofy as they were before, Hot Lips became "Margaret" and stopped sleeping around. Various additional bit players came into being and the chemistry became stronger.
So let's talk about M*A*S*H! Likes, dislikes, favorites etc.
I truly like the first 3 seasons of MASH. They were the right mixture of Fun and Sometimes Sadness. They,Producers and Writers went into the wrong direction. Even sometime Director Jackie Cooper said it was no fun directing MASH when the story lines went too dramatic. Jackie Cooper directed 13 Episodes of MASH and won an Emmy for Directing, he called it the Fun Years. After 1974, Jackie Cooper did not want to direct the series anymore, because how Alan Alda changed the tone of the series.
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Posted: |
Jan 26, 2016 - 4:53 PM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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I can't help but notice the seemingly limitless number of times the "M*A*S*H House Band" plays the song Again (1948)--I'm pretty sure it's always heard as an instrumental on the show--throughout the series' eleven seasons. It is often heard over the radio at Rosie's or in the officers club.
For instance, "Again" is heard at around the 45 minute mark in "Welcome to Korea" (S4). M*A*S*H geek that I am, I am tempted to keep track of every time the song is heard though I'll bet someone's done that already.
I'm particularly fond of the Mel Tormé rendition...
Again
From the film "Road House" (1948)
(Dorcas Cochran / Lionel Newman)
Recorded versions:
Ida Lupino - 1948
Doris Day - 1949
Gordon Jenkins & His Orch. (vocal: Joe Graydon) - 1949
Mel Tormé - 1949
Vic Damone - 1949
Tommy Dorsey & His Orch. - 1949
Art Mooney & His Orch. (vocals: Johnny Martin, Madely Russell)- 1949
Vera Lynn - 1949
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Again, this couldn't happen again
This is that once in a lifetime
This is the thrill divine
What's more, this never happened before
Though I have prayed for a lifetime
That such as you would suddenly be mine
Mine to hold as I'm holding you now and yet never so near
Mine to have when the now and the here disappear
What matters, dear, for
When this doesn't happen again
We'll have this moment forever
But never, never again (never, never)
We'll have this moment for ev er
But never, never again (never, never)
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I feel rather alone here on this thread; however, my personal preference is for the later episodes of M*A*S*H. I believe it was one of the few shows that pared away the silliness, improved its cast and hit its stride as it went into its final years. And the loss of that annoying laugh track (or the marginalizing of it anyways) was a blessing—look, I don't mind a show filmed in front of a live audience, I've been an audience member from “Sanford and Son” to “The Big Bang Theory,” but I feel much like Woody Allen's character in “Annie Hall” who grows suddenly nauseated as he watches the producer of a comedy show select where the laughs would go and what kind of laughs they'd hear (a hilarious scene!).
I did have the great fortune, with a friend of mine, to happen upon the shooting of an episode of M*A*S*H on the show's exterior location in 1982. We had ventured out on foot in Malibu Creek State Park to find as many “Planet of the Apes” locations as we could. Miles down a dirt road, we found the M*A*S*H set bustling with filming activity. We weren't chased off or harassed by anyone. In fact, Mike Farrell and Jamie Farr took a few minutes to chat with us and offer us a glass of water—it was some long, hot hike we'd made, the least they could do for fans, right? Alan Alda was busy setting up a shot since he was directing, did notice us at some point and gave us a smile and wave. I've been on many film shoots and from what I saw, this was a happy, harmonious place—definitely not the norm.
I'm a little confused by some of the commentary I've read on this thread. Being down on Alan Alda's creative participation and strong influence on M*A*S*H is a little like being down on Rod Serling's effect and influence on “Twilight Zone.” One equals the other.
My personal favorite recurring character was Col. Flagg. Every episode with him was a riot!
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I'll gladly chime in with the majority: With Trapper John, Blake, Klinger in fur, the mousey Frank Burns and Radar, the show had a perfect balance in the first three seasons that it never recaptured after that.
It was still a very watchable show until Radar left, which tipped the balance. The late episodes were often maudlin and repetitive, with not enough LOL jokes. But I liked Henry Morgan and David Ogden Stiers. Mike Farrell was just bland.
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