Note from the Chief: It's always amazing to me what people will do just to get attention. Small people--having no better way to spend their time than make feeble attempts to raise other's ire--rave and rant with limited vocabulary, thinking that just because they know a few four letter words the rest of us will be perfidiously scandalized. My friends, these underdeveloped one deserve no emotion but pity, for they limited in mind, limited in vocabulary, unable to participate in civil discussion . . . and all that remains for them is erasure.

Just ignore them, they'll go away soon enough. ; -)

Yo, Moderator: I've noticed that some of the character listings in the Sink don't have a place where you can leave a message. Will that be getting fixed soon?

Also, would it be at all possible to tuck in brief synopsises (sp) of the plots? There's only a few that I know by name; most of them I know by the plot. I believe someone else brought this up in the Sink, under "The problem with nitpicking MASH." I never understood why they didn't list the titles. A lot of them, such as "The General Flipped at Dawn" are fun.

Plot: Doctors raffle off a nurse as a fundraiser to send their houseboy, Ho Jon, to medical school in America.

I love the expression on Father Mulcahy's face when he's announced as the winner of the raffle.

This is the only episode where Mulcahy is referred to as "Red" and is summoned by Trapper in the OR for some "cross action." As I recall, in the book, and possibly the movie (it's been awhile), Mulcahy was often called upon to "put the fix in" for patients whose lives were wavering on the operating table.

Anyone know why they switched actors for Father Mulcahy after the pilot?

This is the only episode where Mulcahy is referred to as "Red"

In the book (and possibly the movie), he was referred to as "Dago Red".

Unless memory fails me, Hawkeye referred to him as "Red" in the episode "Dear Dad."

In the book (and possibly the movie), he was referred to as "Dago Red".

I don't remember if the book gave an explanation, but that's an awfully odd nickname, given that Mulcahy is Irish and not Italian!

Ok, so I'm commenting on my own comments now, and not offense was intended towards any member of any ethnic group by this post.

I know this was probably filmed a while before beginning the rest of the series, but Hawkeye and Trapper both have really long hair in this episode.

Henry's office is missing a lot of its props -- pictures on the walls and on his desk, the skeleton, etc.

Hawkeye and Trapper both receive letters on the same, identical, gray stationery -- possible, but odd that Trapper's wife and the guy at Hawkeye's college both use the same paper.

Henry's desk seemed very small and bare, too.

Mulcahy was known as Dago Red in the movie as well as the book. Obviously, the "Red" refered to the Padre's Irish beackground. The "Dago" may refer to his religion - the Catholic church, the Roman Catholic Church.

It is explained in one of the later books in the series that he is called Dago Red because he got drunk on the sacrafical wine by tha same name.

THEY USE DAGO RED FOR SACREMENTAL WINE????

THEY USE DAGO RED FOR SACREMENTAL WINE????

Thanks for enlightening me on the origins of the nickname "Dago Red." In the movie, Trapper (Elliott Gould) had longer then regulation hair and a Fu Manchu moustache.

How in the world did Henry, who is not regular Army, get command of a military hospital?

In the novel Henry was Regular Army. He may've been in the movie also. At any rate, it seems that the character of Lt. Colonel Henry Blake, commander of the 4077th MASH unit, is a holdover from the novel, Regular Army or not. How it was in the book, is how it was on the TV show. Apparently nobody thought it through.

Just finished watching the pilot ep on DVD. First some comments on the DVDs. There aren't many special features on 'em. Definitely no easter eggs. (The movie is supposed to have some.) There are no previews of the next episode or trivia notes/questions. No commentary tracks. Overall, it almost makes the packaging for the original STAR TREK DVD series look great by comparison. There is one great, redeeming feature, however. You can watch the episodes as Larry Gelbart wanted them run - without the laugh track. That's how I plan to do it. I've seen all the eps for the last fifteen years with the laugh track. Time to try something different. That said, on to the pilot.

Father Mulcahy has a big blue and white sign in front of his tent. This is the only time we see it.

In a latter to his Dad, Hawkeye refers to "par surgery". The lines about "par surgery" are from Richard Hooker's novel.

While Pierce his reading the letter from Dean Lodge to Ho Jon and Trapper, you can see Henry's tent behind Ho Jon. If I'm not mistaken, the Commanding Officer's quarters would be moved a few feet further up.

In discussing plans on sending Ho Jon stateside, Hawkeyes says Ho Jon can stay with Pierce's parents. Later in the series, Captain Pierce's father would be revealed to be a widower.

Henry's office does not yet have his liquor cabinet.

While trying to seduce Lt. Dish, we see Hawkeye encounter her in the camp library. This is the only we see it in the series. (It does get mentioned a few times, though.) Also, during the scenes in the library, Pierce tells Dish he's engaged, too. Since when? (Of course, he could be joking.)

The helicopter seen in the pilot is very different from the ones used in the remainder of the series.

About that raffle, the idea is to raise $2,000 for Ho Jon. The raffle tickets are $10 a pop. Uh, are there really 200 people assigned to the 4077th? That's how many that need to be sold. I should also mention here that at the actual raffle, Hawkeye announces that $1800 was raised. The Mess Tent does not look like it has 180 people in it. (Some people are undoubtedly on duty in Post Op. But not enough, surely, to make up the difference.)

By the way, we know that the men were buying tickets for a chance to go to Tokyo with Lt. Dish. What's in it for the nurses? Why would they buy a ticket?

When Hot Lips informs Hawkeye that he's in trouble for holding the unauthorized party, Pierce tells her that Hill 55 was attacked by a couple of units of Canadians an hour ago. If he's arrested, he doesn't plan on working. Apparently no one at the 4077th was planning on working either. It looks like everyone's been drinking at the raffle.

While waiting for Hawkeye to announce the winner of the raffle, some of the guys are looking at their tickets. Did they forget their names? It couldn't be to check to see if they have the winning number. Hawk doesn't call out a winning number. He calls out Father Mulcahy's name.

Henry and General Hammond arrive to investigate what's going on at the 4077th. The General tells Captains Pierce and McIntyre that they'll be court-martialed. Then the casualties arrive. Trapper asks how the General's hands are, mentioning that the 4077th was short-handed. No foolin'. The two Captains are lucky Henry and General Hammond got there when they did. They had already drugged Frank Burns, rendering him useless (or, rather, more useless than he normally is). Without Colonel Blake and General Hammond, Pierce and McIntyre would've had to do all the operations themselves.

Where did Radar get a box of General Hammond's favorite brand of cigars? Do they keep a stock of them at the M*A*S*H unit for whenever Hammond shows up?

One more comment about the DVD. In some scenes during the raffle sequences, you can see a vertical line going down the screen. Apparently, some of the film for the pilot has been badly damaged.

About that raffle, the idea is to raise $2,000 for Ho Jon. The raffle tickets are $10 a pop. Uh, are there really 200 people assigned to the 4077th? That's how many that need to be sold. I should also mention here that at the actual raffle, Hawkeye announces that $1800 was raised. The Mess Tent does not look like it has 180 people in it. (Some people are undoubtedly on duty in Post Op. But not enough, surely, to make up the difference.)

Maybe some people really wanted a date with Lt. Dish and bought multiple tickets!

By the way, we know that the men were buying tickets for a chance to go to Tokyo with Lt. Dish. What's in it for the nurses? Why would they buy a ticket?

Huh. Y'know, that makes so much sense it probably didn't even occur to the writers.

But it sure could have been funny if it had...Hawkeye and Trapper arguing over who gets to be the nurse's prize, maybe...or Radar volunteering...or just trying to convince another handsome-but-hapless colleague to go for it...

Where did Radar get a box of General Hammond's favorite brand of cigars? Do they keep a stock of them at the M*A*S*H unit for whenever Hammond shows up?

Probably. This would be in keeping with the resourcefulness we see Radar display in future eps.

In a latter to his Dad, Hawkeye refers to "par surgery". The lines about "par surgery" are from Richard Hooker's novel.

Interesting...What's 'par surgery'?

While trying to seduce Lt. Dish, we see Hawkeye encounter her in the camp library. This is the only we see it in the series. (It does get mentioned a few times, though.)

The 4077th has a library? Of what, medical texts? (Since it's difficult to imagine the Army springing for the transport of enough recreational fiction to be called a 'library.')
Anyway...a little late to be studying up on surgical techniques, isn't it?

"Maybe some people really wanted a date with Lt. Dish and bought multiple tickets!" - ScottN

Probably. Do you blame them?

"What's 'par surgery'?" - kerriem

As Hawkeye explained it, par was a live patient.

"The 4077th has a library?" - kerriem

In the first couple of seasons mention was made of it over the P.A. system. The scene shows several shelves filled with nothing but books. I would imagine that the library would consist of a combination of medical books, as well as a variety of general literature.

"Anyway...a little late to be studying up on surgical techniques, isn't it?" - kerriem

There's one ep where B.J. operated while reading about the procedure in a book. (I think Hawkeye did the same.) In the epiosode, "The Young and the Restless", we see B.J. reading a medical journal. It had to come from somewhere. I would assume the camp library.

Heck no, Benn! I remember seeing the actress who played Lt. Dish in Playboy... yum yum yum...

OK, I probably shouldn't have been so skeptical about the library. I still can't imagine the Army setting them up with one, but when I think about it it's likely that all the various personal collections in the unit could've been organized into a sort of book exchange.
I also concede that the need to keep up with the latest medical techniques is a universal thing with doctors.
But that just seemed awfully...incongruous, somehow...given the series' emphasis on 'patch 'em up and ship 'em out' surgery.

It's possible the library is an ad hoc affair. That is, everyone in camp contributes to it. The medical journals may be complimentary issues sent to the camp, courtesy of the Army.

"But that just seemed awfully...incongruous, somehow...given the series' emphasis on 'patch 'em up and ship 'em out' surgery." - kerriem

I agree. But remember the doctors were sometimes sent to hear lectures on the latest surgical procedures. Simmons, from the episode "The Young and the Restless" was specifically sent to the 4077th to give a lecture on a new technique.

Playboy, Scott? I know, the articles were what you had it for, right? (I'm just teasing!!!)

Actually, I was a teenager, and snuck a peek (OK, more than a few peeks) at my Dad's copies...

Sigh... I'm ruined for life now, but that's a discussion for RM or PM.

I should clarify something. The chopper that is different is the one Henry and Leslie leave in. It is also the one in which Colonel Blake and General Hammond arrive.

And about that arrival... Throughout the later episodes of the series it is stressed that flying at night is dangerous. To see where one is going, one must have to turn on the chopper's lights. (And I presume, fly lower than normal.) This would make anything in the air an easy target for anti-aircraft weapons. Yet, Henry and General Hammond arrive - by chopper - at the 4077th in the middle of the night. And anyway, just how far away was Seoul from the 4077th? It doesn't take the Colonel and the General very long to arrive.

One more point about the pilot; it is the only episode in the series to give credit to Richard Hooker's novel. After this, the credit is removed. I have no idea if this was at Richard Hooker's request or not. I know Hooker hated the series, but could he tell it was bad from just the pilot?

Oh Scott, any idea what issue of Playboy that was? I'd like to...uh, read the articles in it.

No, I was in my teens, so it was over 20 years ago.

I know Hooker hated the series, but could he tell it was bad from just the pilot?

Well, he would've probably had access to other finished eps too - also upcoming scripts. I can't think of any other reason why they'd've dropped the credit, really.

"Well, he would've probably had access to other finished eps too..." kerriem

Yeah, possibly. If there were any available after the pilot was made. Maybe he saw the scripts after the series was green-lighted.

Well, Scott, I guess I'll have to go to Playboy's website and see if it has a listing for back issues.

hmmm i dont think they could drop his credit even if he wanted too. I mean after all they are still his characters. He would still get paid

"hmmm i dont think they could drop his credit even if he wanted too. I mean after all they are still his characters. He would still get paid" - Richie Vest

Doesn't matter, Richie. The fact is the credit was dropped. It only appears in the pilot episode.

Yeah - Richie, I think you mean they couldn't drop his 'compensation', or something.
Of course they had to pay Hooker for the use of his creation, but there's no law that says they have to say so on-screen if he didn't want them to.

Hey Scott! For the record, I found out that the issue of Playboy with Lt. Dish in it was the September of 1972 ish. I saw it on eBay. (No, I didn't bid on it, either. Some other time maybe.)

"In the novel Henry was Regular Army. He may've been in the movie also." - me

Twice in the movie Henry says "Since the dark days before Pearl Harbor, I've been proud to wear this uniform..." So he was indeed Regular Army.

In the novel, Hawkeye often says "Finest kind." The phrase did not catch on in the series. However, Pierce does say it in this ep.

Trapper I notice wears a different robe in this ep. Normally his robe was yellow. However in "The Pilot" it's blue. Hawkeye's robe may be different, too. The lettering on it ("U.S. Army Medical" I believe is what it says.) appears to be over the left breast. Throughout the rest of the series, it's over the left hand pocket.

Did anyone else see the M*A*S*H 30 Year Anniversary Special? I mention it because in it Larry Gelbart claims that the movie had taken all the stories from the novel, so they had to build the pilot from scratch. However, in Chapter 7 of M*A*S*H, the Swampmen decide to send their houseboy, Ho Jon, to Androscoggins College, Hawkeye's alma mater. Sounds similar to me. The way the money was raised in the book is different, however. Also, several lines of dialogue in the pilot are taken from the novel (or variations thereof.): "A lot of these kids who can stand six hours of surgery, can't take one more second"; "What we play here is 'par surgery.' 'Par' is a live patient." "I don't plan to work if I'm busted." "We did it again. We screwed up in reverse."

At one point Hawkeye mentions that he's engaged. That didn't last long.

Again, there's a problem with the money the doctors raise. Early when they count it (before they try to "get" Major Burns' "contribution") the total is $600. The final total was $1800. Again, I gotta wonder where did the rest of the money ($1200) come from?

At first I thought this was nit. When Hawkeye announces the winner of the raffle, he announces "Father John P. Mulcahy." Later episodes revealed his name as John Francis Mulcahy. However in the episode, "Nurse Doctor", we learn the Padre's full name is John Francis Patrick Mulcahy. Thus, TPTB cleared up a nit.

One of the characters in the movie was Boone, an orderly. He's apparently in the pilot, but I have no idea what scene he's in.

By the way, I can't help but notice that Father Mulcahy has no lines in "The Pilot". I don't think I've noticed that before.

Also he was played by a different actor, IIRC. Not sure who the pilot padre was or what happened that he had to be replaced, though.

He was indeed, kerriem. The pilot's Father Mulcahy was played by George Morgan. I'm not sure I've why William Christopher replaced him, however. I just don't remember the story behind it.

I don't know why, either. I remember George Morgan was listed as playing Mulcahy in TV Guide's 1972 "Fall Preview" issue.

FTR, Dr. H. Richard Hornberger (aka Richard Hooker) was paid a flat fee of five hundred dollars for every episode of M*A*S*H produced.

Sir Rhosis

According to an interview with Bill Christopher:


Q: Did you audition for the role in the pilot episode?

A: Yes, I did audition for Mulcahy but not for the pilot. I didn't get that chance and the part was played by George Morgan. The producers decided to recast the part before the first season production began, however, and that's when I was called in to read for it.


Television shows always film a pilot first, which is shown to the studio as a selling point, a way to tell them, "This is what we have to offer; Do you like it?" The studio/network has to approve the pilot before the real filming begins. Thus, though the pilot was shown as the first episode of the first season, there really was a gap between its filming and the filming of the second and continuing episodes. Somewhere in that time, the producers must have decided that they wanted a different Father Mulcahy, for whatever reason. Still doesn't clear everything up, but it does make it seem like less of an ABRUPT decision.