If you are a fan of M*A*S*H like I am, you probably believe that you have seen all there is to see, including the humorous moments, the touching situations, and the characters that will stay with you forever.
MASH immediately became a popular cultural landmark and a mainstay of American television. It is renowned for its sharp writing, emotional depth, and clever satire, and it has gained a lot of attention in recent years.
On the other hand, the program was not devoid of its fair share of errors, anachronisms, and continuity slip-ups behind the scenes, the most of which went unnoticed by its devoted audience…
MASH was always playing in the background when I was a youngster growing up in the 1980s, and its theme tune would play right before I went to sleep. Despite the fact that I was unable to watch the series for more than a few years, I eventually decided to give it a shot, and ever since then, I have been completely enamored with it.
Not only was MASH a television show, but it was also a cultural phenomenon that promoted the coming together of families. The last episode, which aired in 1983, managed to attract about half of the population of the United States and continues to hold the record for the most-watched prime-time program to this day.
As you are surely aware, the events of MASH took place during the Korean War, and the story centered on a team of medical professionals working in a mobile army surgical hospital (MAS*H). Through the use of humor and heart, they are able to negotiate the problems of combat, medicine, and personal relationships, all while coping with the turmoil that is occurring around them.
It’s one of those shows that leaves a lasting impression, and now that I’m watching some of the episodes again, I’m finding the little-known blunders and bloopers that make it even more enjoyable to watch. Are you familiar with these things?
Hepatitis that resulted in death
Did you know that William Christopher, who played the beloved Father Mulcahy, actually had a nasty run-in with hepatitis during the fifth season of the show?
The illness came dangerously close to driving him out of the program for good. It was even discussed by the producers to remove Mulcahy from the franchise. However, this is where things start to get interesting: Alan Alda, being the stand-up comedian that he is, was not having it. Due to the fact that Christopher was autistic, he was aware of how essential it was for Christopher to maintain a consistent job.
As a result, Alda is responsible for writing an entire episode titled “Hepatitis,” which deftly wove Christopher’s illness into Mulcahy’s narrative. Talk about a wonderful companion, and an even more wonderful way to ensure that Father Mulcahy remains a part of the equation.
Foretelling of a tumor by Frank Burns
What follows is yet another fascinating piece of MASH trivia that will send chills down your spine.
In the episode of Hepatitis, the sharp-tongued Hawkeye, played by Alan Alda, is examining Frank Burns. Frank nonchalantly reveals, “I do have a pea-sized tumor under my sternum.” Hawkeye is concerned about Frank’s health.
The actor who played Frank, Larry Linville, actually passed away many years later from a cancerous tumor that was located under his sternum. This is as unsettling as it may sound from the beginning. Occasionally, life imitates art in the most unexpected ways, which can be a little uncomfortable at times.
From the wonder of a single episode to a fan favorite
For the role of Klinger in MASH, Jamie Farr wore dresses and skirts, which is something that not many actors would be prepared to do. However, he managed to pull it off with tremendous charm and humor. He was absolutely perfect in his portrayal of Max Klinger, and to tell you the truth, the program would not have been the same without him involved.
That being said, were you aware that Farr was only supposed to make an appearance in a single episode at first? On the other hand, he became such a fan favorite that he was given a regular role on the reality show.
What the dog tags really are, the truth
When Jamie Farr appeared on the show, he wore dog tags. What about those? In reality, they were his actual dog tags from the military, which he had worn during his stint in the army before he retired from acting.
In an interview regarding the Medicine and Martinis box set, Farr himself disclosed that the tags contained his personal information, which included his name, serial number, and even his faith. What a wonderful way to contribute to the role’s authenticity!
Have you noticed the errors made by the military?
Not only did the show offer up some legendary scenes in the classic episode of season 2 titled “For the Good of the Outfit,” but it also raised a few eyebrows when it came to what was considered to be accurate depictions of military operations. What is one of the most obvious errors they made? In the office of Henry Blake, there is a Bell Huey UH-1 helicopter that is hanging. What is the catch? Years after the events of MASH, which took place during the Korean War, the Huey did not even make its maiden voyage until the year 1956. Consequently, it is acceptable to state that that little piece of military history does not quite correspond to the timeframe!
Blake, Lieutenant Colonel, passed away last night.
One of the most stunning and widely discussed events in the history of television was the fact that Lieutenant Colonel Blake passed away on the show MASH. Fans and critics alike were taken aback when McLean Stevenson, who had been departing the program in 1975, was killed off in such an unexpected and dramatic manner (a aircraft crash on the way back to the United States).
It was unheard of for a key character to be killed off in such a sudden manner in a primetime series at the time. Despite the fact that many people were caught aback by the decision, the writers and producers of the show defended it by claiming that it was intended to make a striking statement about the harsh realities of war.
The producers formed a deal.
However, the story of Colonel Blake did not come to a conclusion with that terrible event.
As a result of the horrific death of Lieutenant Colonel Blake, the writers and producers of the show came to an agreement after receiving an enormous quantity of hate mail.
In the event that any performer ever decided to quit MASH* in the future, they all came to the conclusion that they would never again give their character such a sorrowful send-off. A change was made to the way that the show dealt with the departure of characters as a result of the tremendous criticism that was received.
The mystery that can be found in Radar’s left hand
Gary Burghoff played the role of the lovable Cpl. Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly, a naive farm lad who worked as the company clerk and sometimes bugler, throughout the entirety of the series, which spanned seven seasons from 1972 to 1983.
On the other hand, have you ever noticed that Gary Radar had a trait that was somewhat unknown and that he made a concerted effort to keep out of the spotlight? Gary would deftly conceal his left hand during scenes, despite the fact that he was born with a disease known as Poland syndrome, which causes the chest muscle to be underdeveloped and sometimes results in webbed fingers.
It didn’t matter if he was holding a clipboard or tucking it away in his pocket; he made sure that the attention was directed toward his performance rather than his personal possession.
Why did Radar decide to leave? M.A.S.H.
Following his appearances on each and every episode for the first three seasons, it was claimed that Burghoff’s rigorous schedule was putting a strain on his family life. As a consequence, his character’s appearances were reduced from 24 to 13 episodes, which is a significant decrease from his previous amount of 24 episodes.
Good-Bye Radar, a two-part farewell that detailed Radar’s discharge from the army, was the farewell that signified Radar’s departure from the show during the seventh season.
Burghoff did not take much with him when he left the television show M*A*S*H.
During an interview with People, Burghoff stated, “I did not leave M*A*S*H a wealthy man.” this statement was made. I had the ability to renegotiate my contract, but I didn’t consider financial gain to be the most essential thing in my life… Either you want to come into a lot of money and become famous, or you want to be a father. You are unable to perform both:
Radar’s treatment for rabies
Radar is confined to bed in the episode Mad Dogs and Servicemen (1974), which depicts him suffering from what could be an extremely uncommon case of rabies.
Margaret gives him a letter that she reads to him, in which she mentions two popular songs: “Diddy Wah Diddy” by Bo Diddley and “The Wayward Wind” by Gogi Grant. This helps him feel better. What is the catch? Several years after the conclusion of the Korean War, in 1956, both songs were made available to the public.
Not fashionable enough for the front lines
There are some characters in MASH who do not have hairstyles that are suitable for the 1950s and are Army-appropriate. Throughout the course of the series, it becomes abundantly evident that only Colonel Potter and Major Winchester appear to have the physical appearance of having served in an Army unit during the 1950s. Is that all? Well, let’s just say that they were a little bit too trendy for the regulations that the military had in place.
Hawkeye’s history, which is constantly evolving
Through the entirety of MASH, Hawkeye’s past is a bit of a roller coaster ride. When he initially arrives, he is from Vermont, and he has both of his parents still alive, a sister who is married and sends him a huge knitted sweater, and even a nephew.
However, as the series progresses, his story begins to change. After his mother passed away when he was just ten years old, he suddenly finds himself at Crabapple Cove, Maine, where he was raised as an only child. I guess the particulars were a little bit… adaptable! On the other hand, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, did not object to the alterations. He like the notion that his character could develop and mature throughout the course of the series, even if it meant a little bit of misrepresentation of the facts.
both Hawkeye’s sarcasm and Alda’s brilliance
Did you know that Alan Alda created history when he became the first person to win Emmys for acting, writing, and directing while working on the same series? This is a very impressive display of talent.
Hawkeye makes a remark to Winchester in the episode of Comrades in Arms, saying, “Don’t blame me, I didn’t write this stuff.” This is in response to Winchester’s complaint that he and BJ were singing in the shower. With that being said, here’s the catch: Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, was the one who actually wrote it!
In this brief moment, Alda demonstrates her skill at combining humor and character-driven storytelling in a way that is absolutely flawless.
Uncovering the truth about Alan Alda and Loretta Swit
I would argue that the early seasons of MASH were a brilliant comedy, but the later seasons transformed into an exceptional blend of drama and comedy. This is true for people who enjoyed the earlier seasons of MASH but weren’t as fond of the later ones, as well as for those who felt the opposite.
Let’s go on to the most famous pair from the program, which is Hawkeye and Margaret Houlihan, who were portrayed by Alan Alda and Loretta Swit, respectively. The transition from comedy to drama is accompanied by an intriguing new dimension that is added by their relationship.
The transition from comedy to drama is accompanied by an intriguing new dimension that is added by their relationship. The early seasons of the show had a dynamic that was characterized by mutual respect between the two of them as talented medical professionals, with a touch of desire that was brewing in the background. Over the course of the show’s development, their relationship grew stronger, transitioning from a humorous banter to a more serious and emotional friendship.
An important turning point for Hawkeye and Margaret
During an interview with Yahoo, Swit provided the following explanation: “They became best friends.” There are many different categories of love, and the love that existed between them was of a very powerful one. When looked at over the course of the series, their friendship developed and became more profound. Margaret had the impression that he was a brilliant surgeon at first, so there was a certain amount of respect between them.
In the two-part episode of Season 6 titled “Comrades in Arms,” the sparks finally sparked between them when they were stranded together overnight in the midst of North Korean bombs. They had a heart-to-heart conversation, and then they gave in to their desires and spent one night together in a passionate relationship.
Despite the fact that their evening together did not result in a long-term romantic relationship, Swit asserts that it was a significant turning point for both of the characters.
It was revealed by Swit that Alan had written ‘Comrades in Arms’ for us several seasons before he actually carried it out. This was due to the fact that the creators were uncertain whether or not the audience would accept it.
“But it was a turning point, and it spoke to the entirety of M*A*S*H — it contained everything: it contains tears and laughter and silliness and survival. It was a turning point.” People tuned in because of this reason.
Loretta Swit’s natural nails
When you take a closer look at Loretta Swit’s performance as Margaret Houlihan in the television show MASH, there is one thing that strikes out particularly: her nails.
It is shown in the episode of Comrades in Arms that her fingernails are longer than an inch. Just for real! With nails so long, a nurse, and especially a head nurse working in a conflict zone, would never have them. While it’s possible that Margaret had a thing for glitz and glamour, it’s also possible that this was not the most practical choice for a medical professional during the war.
The moniker “Hot Lips” was never something that Loretta Swit enjoyed.
According to Loretta Swit, the famed nickname that was given to her character, Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, was not exactly something that she was happy about.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, she described her feelings over the matter as follows: “I understand that nicknames are a form of affection; however, to me, it felt like an insult.” Due to the fact that she was a major in the United States Army, she was more than just a body component; she deserved respect.
When Swit looked back on the situation, she stated that she took matters into her own hands in order to get rid of the label “Hot Lips.”
The statement that she made was, “I believe that my perseverance probably became too annoying.” “However, I was of the opinion that it was essential for the women who were out there who were supporting our nation. On multiple occasions, I conveyed to the writers that “She is so much more than this.”
Oral surgery performed by Loretta Swit
When looking at photographs of Loretta Swit in the present day, many individuals have observed what appears to be certain changes that could be attributed to plastic surgery. Even though Swit has never directly addressed this issue, there are a few photographs that do cause questions to be raised. On the other hand, is it possible that this change started even before the MASH* event? One member on Reddit, bettinafarichild, made a fascinating remark, which is as follows:
Despite the fact that I have seen every single episode of MAS*H a million times, I only recently watched it in chronological order for the very first time, and I saw a number of minor nuances that I had never noticed before. What if these things are subtle, or am I just not paying attention? Just one example: During the middle of the sixth season, Loretta Swit has plastic surgery. In addition to getting a nose job at some point, she also gets a cleft chin, which is a fairly noticeable difference. I’m not sure which season she got the nose job, but it was probably season 9.
Despite the fact that it is still a matter of speculation, this has undoubtedly piqued the interest of some of the enthusiasts among them.
The kiss that lasted the longest
Now, for one more interesting fact: fans of MASH are aware that the show had its share of emotional moments, but the show’s conclusion provided us with one of the longest kisses in the history of television.
With a kiss that is so awkward and lengthy that it leaves their surviving coworkers feeling fairly uncomfortable, Hawkeye says goodbye to Margaret, bringing the story of “Comrades in Arms” full circle.
In order to bring Margaret’s voyage to a close, Swit reflects on the tender moment: “It’s the longest kiss in the history of television,” she stated.
Both Alda, who directed the final episode, and Swit were the only two primary cast members to be there for both the debut of the series and the finale of the series. This marked a special link between the two of them that lasted throughout the entirety of the show’s development.
“The conclusion was really about bringing everyone together and satisfying the audience, who all have their favorite characters,” said the director for the show. Immediately following the conclusion of the show, Alan penned a letter to me in which he expressed his gratitude for the chance to play the role of Margaret and to witness her undergoing significant development.
I would appreciate it if you would share this article with your loved ones and friends if you are a fan of MASH*. Reminiscing about the great characters that made us laugh and cry is the ideal technique to start some entertaining talks and bring back fond memories of those individuals. Let’s spread the feeling of nostalgia by tagging someone who would appreciate a trip down memory lane.