Henry Blake is given the task of finding a chief surgeon. Frank assumes it will be him because he outranks the others. Henry picks Hawkeye because he is far and away the most competent, even though he's a Captain. Of course, this sets Frank and Margaret's wheels in motion as they go over Henry's head to a General. When the General arrives they are throwing a big boozy party for Hawkeye in recognition of his new position. The camp seems to be in total chaos and the General is furious. This is a classic, recurring plot where everything is nuts until the chips are down. Of course, the show is outrageous and pushes the limits of credibility, but the writing is so good and the characters so complex that we are willing to let that go.
5 Reviews
Hey, Klinger's here!
dominik-8171713 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Finally, the first appearance of Corporal Maxwell Klinger. He's on of my favorite characters in the later seasons, but for now, he's a fine throwaway gag.
This is also the first of many instances of people thinking that Hawkeye doesn't know what he's doing, in this case General Barker and Frank. I never really got why that was, the man's a surgeon, course he's gonna know what he's doing. Then again, Frank is a surgeon as well...
Watching these early episodes is so weird though, seeing Spearchucker, Ginger and that guy with the moustaxhe and the weird hat again is so odd after seeing the later seasons, especially because none of the supporting cast of the later seasons are in these episodes.
One final note, I did like the last scene of Hawkeye helping Frank in the O. R., that was one of the few moments of the show where I actually didn't despise Frank Burns.
Also Radar is really good in this episode.
This is also the first of many instances of people thinking that Hawkeye doesn't know what he's doing, in this case General Barker and Frank. I never really got why that was, the man's a surgeon, course he's gonna know what he's doing. Then again, Frank is a surgeon as well...
Watching these early episodes is so weird though, seeing Spearchucker, Ginger and that guy with the moustaxhe and the weird hat again is so odd after seeing the later seasons, especially because none of the supporting cast of the later seasons are in these episodes.
One final note, I did like the last scene of Hawkeye helping Frank in the O. R., that was one of the few moments of the show where I actually didn't despise Frank Burns.
Also Radar is really good in this episode.
Organized chaos
kellielulu17 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This fourth episode of the series is one of the stronger early episodes. Before the show finds it's groove some of the early episodes feels too much like the movie. Margaret has no redeeming qualities at this point although she is unfairly targeted with sexist remarks. This is also before Frank developed that goofy side of his personality they offered some laughs and occasionally pathos to the character.
It's a matter of needing a chief surgeon and Blake gives it to Hawkeye instead of the higher ranking Burns. Burns of course objects but as Blake correctly points out Hawkeye is better and they can't be so GI they loose patients.
Frank and Margaret get General Barker down there . Margaret uses his interest in her to insure his presence ( another cringing aspect of both Margaret and the show ) . Barker arrives and the camp is having a rest and relation period of time. The exception is a soldier who needs an operation but Hawkeye is waiting for him to stabilize while a poker game is going on. With everything going on including Klinger Barker is less than impressed. This all changes when he witnesses Hawkeye and Trapper in the O. R. . Barker apologies and all is good he even has advice on dealing with the irritating Burns! Klinger appears naked! All calms down for the time being , Frank even ask for Hawkeye's assistance in surgery.
It's a matter of needing a chief surgeon and Blake gives it to Hawkeye instead of the higher ranking Burns. Burns of course objects but as Blake correctly points out Hawkeye is better and they can't be so GI they loose patients.
Frank and Margaret get General Barker down there . Margaret uses his interest in her to insure his presence ( another cringing aspect of both Margaret and the show ) . Barker arrives and the camp is having a rest and relation period of time. The exception is a soldier who needs an operation but Hawkeye is waiting for him to stabilize while a poker game is going on. With everything going on including Klinger Barker is less than impressed. This all changes when he witnesses Hawkeye and Trapper in the O. R. . Barker apologies and all is good he even has advice on dealing with the irritating Burns! Klinger appears naked! All calms down for the time being , Frank even ask for Hawkeye's assistance in surgery.
Hail to the chief
safenoe7 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Chief Surgeon Who? Is from the first season of M*A*S*H. I think I can say I've seen every M*A*S*H episode at least once, and anyway here Hawkeye becomes part of the establishment by being appointed Chief Surgeon over Frank Burns, who is seething big time and receives comfort from Major Houlihan. This episode has Timothy Brown as Captain Jones (the nickname given to him was rather offensive), Odessa Cleveland as Lieutenant Bayliss. I would love for Odessa to be a guest on the awesome M*A*S*H Matters podcast, which is hosted by M*A*S*H uberfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, who played Igor. This episode also marks the debut appearance of Jamie Farr as Corporal Klinger.
The one where Hawkeye's promoted
jarrodmcdonald-14 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a nice episode if you are a fan of Hawkeye, since he is made Chief Surgeon by Henry and we get to see how much confidence Henry places in his medical abilities. Of course, this promotion doesn't go over well with Margaret and Frank who are the villains of the piece. While Trapper and the rest of the gang help Hawkeye celebrate becoming top surgeon, Margaret and Frank attempt to get word to General Barker (Sorrell Booke, who played the same character in the previous episode) that an inspection is required.
Frank and Margaret hope that if the general visits and sees the level of unprofessionalism that is occurring at the 4077th under Blake's command, especially as it is affecting patients, then he will surely demand Hawkeye be demoted. At first, when the general arrives, this goes according to plan. The general finds Hawkeye playing poker with Trapper and some other men and questions Hawkeye about a wounded soldier needing medical treatment. Of course Hawkeye has things under control and intends to operate in about an hour once the patient is ready.
In addition to his run-in with Hawkeye and Trapper, Barker crosses paths with other unruly members of the 4077th including Corporal Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr in his first appearance on the show) who is wearing a dress. It's amusing that Klinger's initial attempts to get tossed out of the army are overlooked, which will cause him to take more drastic measures in subsequent episodes. Today this subplot would probably have to be reworked by the writers, since it would be politically incorrect to suggest that an officer parading around as a cross dresser is a psycho (the word Barker uses when he meets up with Klinger).
During the later seasons of M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr's character would stop wearing women's apparel and get married in the finale...even if he did start wearing dresses again in the follow-up series AfterM*A*S*H, a desperate ploy by writers of that show to make Klinger zany and outlandish again.
Anyway, back to the episode at hand. Larry Gelbart received an award for writing this one, his first since the pilot, and it was directed by E. W. Swackhamer who helmed many other TV programs from the 1960s to the 1990s. I like how Booke's general character journeys through the various tents and outside areas on a quest to substantiate the report he's received from Margaret and Frank.
This all leads to the operating room, where he observes Hawkeye's work on the wounded soldier. Ultimately, Barker is impressed with Hawkeye, which means Henry's faith in selecting Hawkeye as chief surgeon has been restored. There's a nice tag scene at the end where we see how much respect Hawkeye garners while operating, and in an unexpected moment, some of the respect now comes from Major Frank Burns.
Frank and Margaret hope that if the general visits and sees the level of unprofessionalism that is occurring at the 4077th under Blake's command, especially as it is affecting patients, then he will surely demand Hawkeye be demoted. At first, when the general arrives, this goes according to plan. The general finds Hawkeye playing poker with Trapper and some other men and questions Hawkeye about a wounded soldier needing medical treatment. Of course Hawkeye has things under control and intends to operate in about an hour once the patient is ready.
In addition to his run-in with Hawkeye and Trapper, Barker crosses paths with other unruly members of the 4077th including Corporal Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr in his first appearance on the show) who is wearing a dress. It's amusing that Klinger's initial attempts to get tossed out of the army are overlooked, which will cause him to take more drastic measures in subsequent episodes. Today this subplot would probably have to be reworked by the writers, since it would be politically incorrect to suggest that an officer parading around as a cross dresser is a psycho (the word Barker uses when he meets up with Klinger).
During the later seasons of M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr's character would stop wearing women's apparel and get married in the finale...even if he did start wearing dresses again in the follow-up series AfterM*A*S*H, a desperate ploy by writers of that show to make Klinger zany and outlandish again.
Anyway, back to the episode at hand. Larry Gelbart received an award for writing this one, his first since the pilot, and it was directed by E. W. Swackhamer who helmed many other TV programs from the 1960s to the 1990s. I like how Booke's general character journeys through the various tents and outside areas on a quest to substantiate the report he's received from Margaret and Frank.
This all leads to the operating room, where he observes Hawkeye's work on the wounded soldier. Ultimately, Barker is impressed with Hawkeye, which means Henry's faith in selecting Hawkeye as chief surgeon has been restored. There's a nice tag scene at the end where we see how much respect Hawkeye garners while operating, and in an unexpected moment, some of the respect now comes from Major Frank Burns.
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