Plot: Col. Daniel Webster Tucker, a no-nonsense officer, arrives at the 4077th in the midst of some serious April Fooling around.
Quite possibly one of the funniest M*A*S*H episodes ever filmed.
I definitely agree that this is one of the funniest episodes. I know when all the jokes are coming, but they still make me laugh.
When Father Mulcahy comes into the office wearing the frilly frock, he threatens Klinger with "a few lefts," but he shakes his right fist at him instead.
The scene in the O-club has Rizzo sleeping at a table in the background. Considering it's Rizzo, I think part of the point is that he sleeps through the whole uproar, but in one shot he has his head slightly raised and is watching the goings-on.
Another thing I love about this episode is that, even if it was a joke, some higher-up finally wasn't overwhelmed by their surgical prowess and
convinced to drop all charges just by seeing the crew in the OR. TPTB used this theme SO many times throughout the years, starting with the pilot, and it really did start to strain credibility after a while.
I'm don't even think there would have been any charges. Remember, this was a set-up by Potter and Tucker, and it was not their first time doing it. Potter stated they had done that in three wars.
Pat Hingle's performance was perfection as the tough-as-nails Tucker. Classic line, by Hawkeye-"We are in the presence of greatness. We have been royally had."
Part of Klinger and Rizzo's dialogue has been cut. Specifically the part where Klinger complains to Rizzo about the Army. The scene starts with Rizzo telling Max he's "going about it all wrong." Which makes no sense without hearing Klinger complain.
"They just don't make pillows the way they used to," B.J. says. No kidding. That pillow Margaret was hitting the doctors with fell apart a little too easily if you ask me.
Margaret sure looks pleased, or maybe triumphant, when Potter sees the condition of her tent.
Benn, speaking of Margaret's tent... don't you find it interesting that, after Col. Tucker goes to bed and the officers try to sneak off, that BJ, Hawkeye, Winchester AND MARGARET all try to go to the swamp, claiming that they are ready for bed. I know that Margaret doesn't have a tent at that moment, (and it does help the camera crew to keep the 4 of them together) but shouldn't she be walking another direction to try to get out of Potter's line of fire?
Could it be that Margaret was on her way to Post-Op instead?
By the way, I don't remember, but did that ruckus not wake up half the camp? If it did, why weren't any of the enlisted personnel rushing to help repair the Major's tent? Lack of initiative? They should know they're going to have to do it anyway. And with Hot Lips in a foul mood, I'd rather not wait for her to start ordering me to do the job. My head would not survive her jaws snapping.
On the other hand, if Pierce, Hunnicutt, Winchester and Houlihan did not wake the camp up, why? Has the camp become such heavy sleepers over the years because of the sounds of artillery?
I agree that this episode was one of the best. It does give one pause, however. Suppose that afterwards, another inspection was announced, and this time the hard-ass higher-up was no friend of Potter's. Might not Potter then have difficulty convincing his subordinates that it was no joke this time around?
I agree that this episode was one of the best. It does give one pause, however. Suppose that afterwards, another inspection was announced, and this time the hard-ass higher-up was no friend of Potter's. Might not Potter then have difficulty convincing his subordinates that it was no joke this time around?
When Potter says he did "the Charleston with a Shetland pony", B.J. is looking at him. The camera angle changes to a shot of Pierce and Hunnicutt, and we see B.J. turn his head to the Colonel - again.
As B.J. pulls out the can of pralines, Hawkeye puts a bite of the brownies to his mouth. In the next shot, the brownie is nowhere near his mouth.
Klinger notes that the 4077th being observed by Colonel Daniel Webster Tucker doesn't sound too scary. Potter is looking to the left of the screen. The camera angle flips and Potter is looking straight at Max.
This episode takes place around March-April of 1953. It has to be '53 because of when Potter took command of the unit. (September of '52, see "Change of Command" for details.)
Potter sure takes a long time to show up to find out about the pillow fight. Of course, if he showed up in a more timely fashion, Tucker wouldn't have seen the medical staff acting as they were. I suspect Potter timed it as part of the prank. But it should be a hint that this is a prank on the Colonels' parts.
Klinger informs Tucker that the VIP tent has the Colonel's favorite liquid refreshment - a shot and a beer. How does Klinger know this is Tucker's preferred drink?
Benn, speaking of Margaret's tent... don't you find it interesting that, after Col. Tucker goes to bed and the officers try to sneak off, that BJ, Hawkeye, Winchester AND MARGARET all try to go to the swamp, claiming that they are ready for bed. - stevegoad
Could it be that Margaret was on her way to Post-Op instead? - me
Nope. She is definitely heading for the Swamp. My bad.
Twice, after telling Potter that Tucker's "number has come up", we see B.J. point to the piece of paper in his hand.
When Tucker says, "Sherm and I have been doing this for three wars now", his right arm is up. In the next shot, it's down on the bar.
"I'm so conservative, I make you look like a New Dealer."
Notice that Rizzo, having been moved away from the "joke" table, sleeps through the beer dumping, Tucker's ranting, his alleged heart attack and everyone's reaction, and everyone practically screaming with laughter.
Potter and Tucker were lucky that none of the gang punched out Tucker.
Would have made for an interesting Courts-Martial.
And isn't Rizzo almost always asleep.
The only time I can remember him being awake in all of his scenes is the Ep where Potter has to go to remedial driving class.
Colonel Tucker arrived at the 4077th early, from what I can tell. Yet, not only is Klinger prepared for the Colonel - dressed in his class A uniform, has the V.I.P. tent set up for Tucker, etc - Max miraculously has a copy of the current Stars and Stripes. Considering that the camp most likely receives the newspaper by mail and the mail tends to lag behind, just how did Klinger get that day's edition of the Stars and Stripes?
It's a bit surprising that none of the others occupants of the 4077th were awakened by the noise the officers were making in the compound. Well, if they were, not one of them looked out of their tents to see what was going on, much less gathered around to watch the happenings.
Klingers gave Tucker coupons for the Officers Club? What for? When Tucker goes to the Officers Club later in the ep, he doesn't give any coupon to Goldman. (Actually, it doesn't look like any money is exchanged.)
I'm not sure about this, but shouldn't everyone who's in the O.R. have gloves on? Tucker doesn't. Look at his hands when he "applauds" the medics.
Pierce got lucky. His prank on Tucker depends on the Colonel sitting in the exact chair at the table he did. If the Colonel had chosen the other chair, the prank wouldn't've worked. Problem is, Hawkeye has no way to guarantee, much less any way of knowing that Tucker will sit in that particular chair. Pierce could only be certained which table Tucker would sit at.
And isn't Rizzo almost always asleep.
The only time I can remember him being awake in all of his scenes is the Ep where Potter has to go to remedial driving class. - Joseph J. Coppola
Keep in mind that earlier in this ep, Rizzo does mention sleeping for 16 hours a day. So...
"I'm so conservative, I make you look like a New Dealer."