- M*A*S*H (season 3)
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from left: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, and Harry Morgan
Season 3: 1974–1975
# Title[n 1] Director[n 2] Writer[n 2] Original airdate Production Code[n 3] 1 "The General Flipped at Dawn" Larry Gelbart Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum September 10, 1974 B308 An inspection by the strict Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele[n 4] puts the 4077th on edge. The final straw comes when he orders the unit to move the camp closer to the front to be more economical and to show that a M*A*S*H unit should be mobile. On an inspection tour of the new site, Steele orders Blake to follow general military protocol in saluting him, contradicting the specific protocol not to do so when in sight of the enemy. They are promptly shot at by snipers. Steele gives Blake and Burns a choice between fighting or having lunch (Blake and Burns choose lunch). When Hawkeye sends a chopper off with a patient instead of letting the general use it to scout the new site, Steele calls for a court martial for Pierce and Blake. When Steele asks the African-American chopper pilot for a musical number and then demonstrates by dancing around singing Mississippi Mud, the Army hurriedly closes the court-martial, and Steele is sent back to the United States, where he is promoted to Lieutenant General and placed in charge of Northeast Asia.
Notes: The title is a spoof of the movie The General Died at Dawn while Steele is a spoof of George S. Patton. Ironically, Harry Morgan has a uncredited part in Patton as a Senator who is anti-General Patton.2 "Rainbow Bridge" Hy Averback Larry Gelbart, Laurence Marks September 17, 1974 B301 April-May 1953: China has made an offer to return a handful of prisoners of war too wounded for their own medical facilities. After some debate about the Chinese motives, Hawkeye, Trapper, Frank, Radar and Klinger take a bus deep into North Korea to an agreed-upon meeting place called "Rainbow Bridge" to receive the prisoners, but Major Burns decides to bring a gun in violation of the agreement. Tensions are defused when the gun is only about as big as a cigarette lighter. 3 "Officer of the Day" Hy Averback Laurence Marks September 24, 1974 B307 Hawkeye is named "Officer of the Day", which means he has to tend to various matters throughout the camp, including the arrival of Lieutenant Colonel Flagg, who orders Pierce to patch up a wounded prisoner of war so he will survive to his execution. He also treats five local Koreans, all named Kim Luck, as well as conducting a camp search for Radar's missing teddy bear.
Notes: McLean Stevenson does not appear in this episode.4 "Iron Guts Kelly" Don Weis Larry Gelbart, Sid Dorfman October 1, 1974 B304 Infamous Lieutenant General "Iron Guts" Kelly is visiting the 4077th, but died of a heart attack while having a tryst with Hot Lips. The general's aide decides to fake a more memorable and honorable death in the heat of battle. 5 "O.R." Gene Reynolds Larry Gelbart, Laurence Marks October 8, 1974 B306 A bottle episode that takes place entirely in the operating room after a major assault. Sub-plots include a wounded Ethiopian soldier, Burns neglecting to read an X-ray, Hawkeye devastated when a soldier whose heart he massages does not make it, Trapper dealing with a sudden electrical fire while in the middle of surgery, Blake forced to operate on a person he knows will die but cannot turn away, and a canceled poker game frees up Major Freedman (the psychiatrist) to reluctantly help with surgery, something he has not attempted since medical school.
Notes: This was the first episode of the series to omit the laugh track entirely.6 "Springtime" Don Weis Linda Bloodworth, Mary Kay Place October 15, 1974 B303 It is spring, and a lull arises between waves of casualties, so the 4077th takes the opportunity to enjoy the weather and each other. A Marine (Alex Karras) who Hawkeye operated on dedicates his life to repaying the debt, Klinger gets married over ham radio to his girlfriend back home, and Radar falls for a nurse whom he believes does not know he exists, but soon finds out the opposite is true. Also, a shell shocked soldier will not stop holding a stray cat without a fight. 7 "Check-Up" Don Weis Laurence Marks October 22, 1974 B312 During a routine medical checkup of the camp, Trapper is diagnosed with an ulcer. He believes he will be sent home with a medical discharge but is told that the Army intends to treat him in Tokyo and reassign him back in-country, most likely with another unit. Faced with separation from his friends, Trapper decides to be treated at the 4077th.
Notes: Though this would be Wayne Rogers' last season on the show, this was not meant to foreshadow his departure. Rogers did not opt to depart the series after Season 3 had ended. As such, this episode is seen as his "unofficial" goodbye since the majority of it focuses on how much everyone loves Trapper and how they will miss him.8 "Life With Father" Hy Averback Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell October 29, 1974 B302 Henry Blake worries that the contents of a letter he just received from his wife means she is committing adultery, Father Mulcahy receives a letter from his sister, a nun, in which she tells him she is considering leaving the convent in order to have a family, and Henry and Father Mulcahy go to each other to tell each other his troubles, and neither one listens to the other. Meanwhile, the infant son of a Korean woman and a Jewish soldier receives a bris with Father Mulcahy standing in for a rabbi and Hawkeye performing the circumcision to the dismay of Majors Burns and Houlihan. 9 "Alcoholics Unanimous" Hy Averback Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell November 12, 1974 B314 While temporarily in command of the 4077th, Major Burns bans all alcohol on the post, learning in the process that Hot Lips (along with almost the entire camp) drinks to avoid the pains of war. Burns also asks Father Mulcahy to give a temperance seminar, but since his lectures are usually low in attendance Burns orders the entire camp to attend, causing the Father to experience anxiety and stage-fright, which he then turns toward alcohol to relive his tension, thereby delivering a drunken sermon to the delight of all.
Notes: McLean Stevenson does not appear in this episode.10 "There is Nothing Like a Nurse" Hy Averback Larry Gelbart November 19, 1974 B309 With a North Korean air raid imminent, and the 4077th being unable to evacuate completely, female personnel are temporarily evacuated. This makes life hard both in and out of the operating room, and the doctors begin to realize what life without the nurses is like. The "air raid" (one plane, flown by Five O'Clock Charlie), only to drop propaganda notes. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Trapper steal Frank's home movies of his awkward wedding. 11 "Adam's Ribs" Gene Reynolds Laurence Marks November 26, 1974 B316 Sick and tired of being served the same meal (fish or liver and onions) for 11 straight days, Hawkeye throws a fit and hatches an elaborate plan to get some ribs and barbecue sauce shipped in from a restaurant in Chicago.
Notes: Loretta Swit and Larry Linville do not appear.12 "A Full Rich Day" Gene Reynolds John D. Hess December 3, 1974 B311 Hawkeye records an audiotape home on a primitive tape recorder describing the events of the day before, including a berserk soldier from Turkey, losing the body of a dead lieutenant from Luxembourg, and a soldier coming from the frontlines to demand (at gunpoint) that his wounded sergeant be patched up before anybody else.
Notes: The storyline concerning a soldier demanding his wounded sargeant be attended to was based on a real incident which occurred during World War II at the Battle of Operation Market Garden). Loretta Swit does not appear in this episode.13 "Mad Dogs and Servicemen" Hy Averback Linda Bloodworth, Mary Kay Place December 10, 1974 B317 A stray dog bites Radar, and the 4077th must find it soon to determine if it has rabies. If so, Radar must begin painful and dangerous vaccinations. Also, Hawkeye and Trapper try to administer "tough love" therapy to a shell-shocked soldier who exhibits no wounds but insists he cannot move his legs. 14 "Private Charles Lamb" Hy Averback Sid Dorfman December 31, 1974 B310 A Greek unit celebrates a traditional Easter feast with the 4077th in gratitude for their medical help. Radar cannot stand the idea of the lamb that was shipped in being slaughtered, so he secretly arranges to ship the lamb home to his family in Iowa by filling out a compassionate discharge form with the name "Charles Lamb." Meanwhile, Burns tries to court-martial a soldier who confessed to shooting himself in the foot in order to be sent home, thinking he was confessing to a chaplain.
Notes: Loretta Swit does not appear in this episode.15 "Bombed" Hy Averback Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum January 7, 1975 B320 The 4077th is under heavy bombardment from one of their own artillery units with faulty orders. Everybody tries to survive until the orders are rescinded, but unfortunately the people who can call off the attack are attending a Bob Hope show. 16 "Bulletin Board" Alan Alda Larry Gelbart, Simon Munter January 14, 1975 B323 May 12, 1952: The camp bulletin board announces various activities such as a barbecue, a mandatory sex education lecture and a movie night. The camp holds a goofy Olympics to blow off some steam as well as to help raise money for the local orphanage run by nuns. General Mark Wayne Clark takes command of US forces from General Matthew Ridgway. 17 "The Consultant" Gene Reynolds Larry Gelbart (story)
Robert Klane (teleplay)January 21, 1975 B318 A medical consultant, Dr. Anthony Borelli (played by Robert Alda, Alan Alda’s father) with a new technique for arterial grafts visits the 4077th. His new technique can prevent the amputation of seriously damaged limbs, but when it comes time for him to demonstrate his new technique on an injured soldier, he gets nervous and gets drunk, citing the fatigue of being in his third war, to the annoyance of Hawkeye who has to perform the surgery, though with Borelli talking him through. Borelli then admonishes Hawkeye for not having compassion since the Captain himself is a heavy drinker and Borelli tells him, "Let's see how you stand up after three wars." Hawkeye begrudgingly accepts. 18 "House Arrest" Hy Averback Jim Fritzell, Everett Greenbaum February 4, 1975 B315 Frank Burns has Hawkeye placed under house arrest after Hawkeye punches him. It takes Frank being falsely accused of rape by a visiting female colonel (and subsequently under house arrest himself) to get the charges dropped. Note: This episode is cited a reason why other cast members became resentful towards Alan Alda, since his Hawkeye character is clearly in the wrong, first for antagonizing Major Houlihan unfairly, then punching a superior officer, having Blake reluctantly file charges because he likes him, Trapper falsifying evidence and claiming Burns fell even though he witnessed the assault and treating Hawkeye to steak (something that no one else in camp gets to enjoy) and having the whole camp attend the evening's movie in the Swamp instead of in the Mess Hall so that Hawkeye can watch the film since he can't leave his quarters. Subsequently, when Burns is under house arrest at the end of the episode, he has to eat C-rations and gets no special privileges. Soon after this episode was written, Mclean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers decided to leave the show, both actors citing their resentment of having their respective characters always play second banana to the Hawkeye character who was increasingly given unrealistic leeway (that would never be tolerated in the real army) and the show's best punchlines. 19 "Aid Station" William Jurgensen Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner February 11, 1975 B322 Hawkeye, Margaret and Klinger are sent to an obliterated aid station on the front lines to temporarily fill in for a surgeon killed in action, where they get to see that no matter how bad things were at the 4077th, they're a lot worse on the front lines. Juxtaposed to that is the rest of the MASH unit going about their daily chores, all the while complaining about menial details and conditions that are actually a luxury for the front-line units. 20 "Love and Marriage" Lee Philips Arthur Julian February 18, 1975 B321 Hawkeye and Trapper play matchmaker while performing required examinations of soldiers who are asking permission to marry locals. They help a soldier reunite with his pregnant Korean wife and attempt to break up a corrupt deal whereby a young soldier is paid to marry a prostitute so she can be sent to the United States to find new customers.
Notes: Loretta Swit does not appear in this episode.21 "Big Mac" Don Weis Laurence Marks February 25, 1975 B313 Douglas MacArthur has scheduled an inspection of the 4077th because of its outstanding performance. The camp spends a large amount of time and effort to prepare for his visit but is disappointed when General MacArthur drives through instead of paying the long visit the camp was led to believe was coming. 22 "Payday" Hy Averback Regier and Markowitz March 4, 1975 B305 After giving the orphanage a $3,000 overpayment that was in his monthly paycheck, Hawkeye faces arrest unless he can get the money back. Klinger tries to bribe Blake for a discharge; Burns tries to pass a fake pearl necklace to Hot Lips, while having bought real ones for his wife; Trapper John gets lucky at the weekly poker game.
Notes: Jack Soo guest stars as a peddler; Eldon Quick is an army finance officer.P.A. Announcement: "Attention all personnel, due to the incredible mediocrity of last night's movie, it will be shown again tonight at 2100 hours."23 "White Gold" Hy Averback Larry Gelbart, Simon Muntner March 11, 1975 B319 Thieves are stealing the camp's supply of penicillin, and Lt. Col. Flagg arrives determined to investigate the thefts and steal penicillin himself to use as barter for North Korean informants. 24 "Abyssinia, Henry" Larry Gelbart Everett Greenbaum, Jim Fritzell March 18, 1975 B324 Lt. Col. Henry Blake finally receives his discharge from the Army, and the entire 4077th wishes him a fond farewell. In the final scene, Radar arrives in the OR carrying the heartbreaking message that "... Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. It spun in . . . there were no survivors."
Notes: In 1997 TV Guide ranked this episode number 20 on its list of "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time."[1]Notes
- ^ Titles taken from DVD
- ^ a b Credits from episode title cards
- ^ Production Code from end credits
- ^ Major General Steele was played by Harry Morgan, who would later go on to play Col. Potter.
M*A*S*H Books Film TV series M*A*S*H (episodes: Season 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11; finale; guest stars) · Trapper John, M.D. · AfterMASH · W*A*L*T*E*RCharacters Hawkeye Pierce · Trapper John McIntyre · Duke Forrest · B. J. Hunnicutt · Henry Blake · Sherman T. Potter · Frank Burns · Margaret Houlihan · Charles Winchester · Radar O'Reilly · Father Mulcahy · Maxwell Klinger · Recurring charactersReferences
Categories:- M*A*S*H episodes
- 1974 television seasons
- 1975 television seasons
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