Plot: Trapper enters an inter-camp boxing tournament in order to bring back Nurse Cutler, whom Hot Lips has transferred for being "too much of a distraction."

I know it was early in the series for the characters to be set in stone, but considering Father Mulcahy's avid interest in boxing it would have made a lot more sense for him to fight than Trapper.

But Mulcahy had taken a vow of celibacy, so he would not have had Trapper's motivation to fight.

Trapper seemed to win the romance round at the end of this episode, but Cutler lost interest in him very quickly.

Where on Earth did they find steak to waste as a poultice, anyhow? And why would they want to? This is a MEDICAL unit. They surely have ice packs that would be far more effective, not to mention hygenic.

Yeah, but steak looks more macho.

According to close captioning the voice coming over the P.A. system at the start of the show is Klinger's. It doesn't really sound like him though.

One of the running jokes of the series is Radar saluting Major Hoolihan and saying, "Yes ma'am sir." However, O'Reilly is not the first character to do that. Nurse Cutler is.

I realize the nurses are in Margaret's perview, but before transfering a nurse for being a "distraction", shouldn't she consult with the doctors themselves? Especially doctors who have worked with her? (Frank is the only one who seems to have complained and Cutler did not assist him.) But if Cutler's a distraction at the 4077th, won't she be one at another unit? Isn't Hot Lips just passing the buck?

Hawkeye tells Trapper that some of the others watch Captain McIntyre when he does calisthenics. Trapper does calisthenics?! Since when?

Khaja asked about Mulcahy fighting instead of Trapper. This episode does establish that the Father is knowledgeable about the sport. My question is, "Why doesn't the Padre, instead of Hawkeye, coach Trapper?" Mulcahy surely could've given McIntyre some better pointers than Pierce.

Trapper may have said he boxed in college, but he must not have been a very good one. Both Henry and Father Mulcahy deride his boxing skills. Moreover, the Captain knows nothing of boxing etiquette. He doesn't seem to know he's supposed to touch gloves with his opponent before the fight. Of course, Trapper may have been scared blankless by Sgt. Flacker.

Watch Margaret's face while Trapper is using Frank's duffel bag for a punching bag. She's practically drooling over him. This is the first hint we have of her attraction to Captain McIntyre.

While describing Sgt. Flacker to Pierce and McIntyre, notice that Radar is drinking a martini. Later episodes, of course, will establish Radar as virgin where alcohol is concerned (among other things. )

This is General Barker's first appearance at the 4077th. He apparently replaces General Hammond. Barker would appear in only one other episode ("Chief Surgeon Who?").

"Where on Earth did they find steak to waste as a poultice, anyhow?" - D.K. Henderson

When Barker first shows up at the 4077th, he tells Flacker to "rustle up some steaks" to eat. This is the first reference in the episode to steaks. I guess someone ran over a water buffalo.

How quickly does ether evaporate? How much time would Trapper have before the ether is gone from his glove? Hawkeye does not smother it as thoroughly as Ugly John did when demonstrating its effectiveness.

Okay, I'm not very knowledgeable about boxing, but I do know that opponents will hit glove against glove in the midst of a bout. But that's because the fighters are trying to get past each other's defenses. Sgt. Flacker continuously hits Trapper's gloves. Trouble is, Captain McIntyre just walks around with his hands in fixed positions. It's almost like the Sgt. is aiming for the gloves instead of aiming for Trapper.

How quickly does ether evaporate? How much time would Trapper have before the ether is gone from his glove?

Not long enough to do what he does here. Besides which ether is an extremely volatile substance that might or might not even cause much wooziness in the quantity involved, let alone complete unconsciousness. (Bear in mind all those surgery scenes in which the patient is instructed to 'relax...count back from ten...' before it takes effect.)

How do I know? The 'ether-on-the-glove' ploy turns up again in, of all places, an ep of the Family Channel's New Zorro series...the writers of whom were apparently classic TV fans.
Anyway, I got curious and did some research on a medical website, leading to the above info.

Trapper may have said he boxed in college, but he must not have been a very good one.

Well, given that we only have Trapper's word for his career...and given that he's trying to impress a pretty nurse...I'm not surprised in the least.

I realize the nurses are in Margaret's perview, but before transfering a nurse for being a "distraction", shouldn't she consult with the doctors themselves? Especially doctors who have worked with her?

That's sort of the point, isn't it, that Margaret's arguements are irrational and unfair? IIRC, Henry admits as much to Hawkeye, but says that he's giving in because he's tired of Margaret going over his head.

Thanks for the info on the ether, Kerrie. I had a suspicion it wouldn't last long enough. Maybe if you poured as much as Ugly John did on the glove it might.

"Well, given that we only have Trapper's word for his career...and given that he's trying to impress a pretty nurse..." - kerriem

Actually, it was to Hawkeye that he claimed to have boxed in college. Hawkeye also said he boxed. Pierce was clearly lying.

"Henry...says that he's giving in because he's tired of Margaret going over his head." - kerriem (Excuse me editing your statement like that.)

Henry originally tended to be more fearful of the Majors going his head to whoever the current General in charge of their sector was. It was only later that Henry developed the attitude of "If you're going to go over my head - go." He basically got to where he didn't care. Early on, Magaret & Frank could manipulate Henry with the threat.

Just for the record, the earliest this episode could take place is 1951. I deduce that from Trapper asking Henry who was the 4077th's boxing champ "last year". That may mean that Ugly John was assigned to the 4077th longer than I thought.

Not necessarily. The 4077th could have existed long before the Korean War (during WWII, for example), and never been disbanded.

Could have Scott, except I think MASH units were an experiment begun in the Korean War. Plus Henry knew who the previous champ was. That would indicate he was in command of the 4077th the year before. (I doubt Blake's predecessor would have mentioned who the champ was when turning command of the MASH unit over to Henry.) That would indicate that the TV Henry Blake, like his movie counterpart, was Regular Army. Except, Henry got his points and was discharged from the Army. In the series, Regular Army officer were either reassigned stateside or retired from the military.

Still, I could be wrong Scott.

I've been meaning to point this out. The plot of this ep, at it's core, is "Hawkeye and Trapper connive to keep someone from leaving the 4077th." This is the first of three episodes in the First Season that uses that plot. It's repeated in "Please Come Home, Henry" (Hawk and Trap conspire to keep Colonel Blake in commanmd) and "Major Fred C. Dobbs" (this time Margaret and Frank).

Not exactly a nit, but there's a glaring post-production dub near the end of this ep.

When Nurse Cutler tells Trapper how impressed she is that he fought for her, watch carefully (or even with one eye shut, it's that obvious) as the camera cuts back to Wayne Rogers. He's saying 'Well, I should hope so!'...but his lips aren't moving.
In fact, he doesn't even open his mouth, just continues to flash that famous grin.

I'd call it a nit, Kerrie.

OK, it's a nit. It's so hilariously blatant I think I was a little stunned there for awhile.

Concerning Radar and alcohol. Oddly, while the series got more realistic and less humorous over time. (An improvement in my personal opinion, I like the later episodes more than the earlier ones), Radar becomes more and more childlike. I think I counted one time, and over the course of the series, he has his first drink four times, his first cigar twice, and loses his virginity three times. . .or at least is supposed to have. Add to that the fact that there is one episodes (can't remember which one) where they surprise Radar in the CO's office, and he has his feet up on the desk, smoking a cigar and drinking wiskey.

It's sort of a running nit, I suppose. :-)

Add to that the fact that there is one episodes (can't remember which one) where they surprise Radar in the CO's office, and he has his feet up on the desk, smoking a cigar and drinking wiskey. - Pentalarc

That was in the first season ep, "Cheif Surgeon, Who?"

Personally, while intellectually I applaud the realism of the later eps, they aren't as good or as memorable to me as the earlier eps. It just seems to me that the more realistic the series got, the more self-important it got. It took itself too seriously at times. Too many times for my tastes. But that's just me.

Abyssinia!