M*A*S*H (TV Series) Showtime (1973) User Reviews

Not A Great Entry

[DKosty123 · 6/10 · 30 May 2009]

This episode plays more like another pilot of the series only not as good as the original. It looks like the producers of the series were worried about the first season renewal for season two.

The ending really plays like it as they present a curtain all for regulars on the show. I guess it's just that Gelbart wasn't sure that the Saturday night ratings were going to be enough for a second year. In fact, this first season was the least viewed one until the syndication of the show started.

The musical back ground with the USO show is a good idea as it keeps plotting to a lite side for this episode. The show would do this again in a short time. Season 2 first episode plays like a pilot too.

Radar Rocks

[kristhebass · 8/10 · 11 April 2023]

Like previous reviewers this comes across as a filler episode, maybe not enough content so Andrews Sisters clones, The Miller Sisters, are brought in to fill it out.

The high spot, without any doubt, is Radar's drum solo, I mean the man rocks!!!! I never knew Gary Berghoff was so talented, what a waste of talent why is he not leading his own band?

That's all I really wanted to say but for some reason I have to write 600 words when others here haven't had to write so many. So with just over a hundred to go can I emphasis that if you watch this episode for no other reason , then it should be for Gary's drum solo.

There, done it.

Another Safe Ensemble Performance

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 24 February 2015]

This was fine but a bit manipulative. With the backdrop of a USO show with three Andrews Sisters look-alikes, the people of the 4077 sit back and sort of enjoy the show, although it is obvious they are preoccupied. Things go on. Trapper has a patient that he has taken great interest in but he is not doing so well. He sits vigil with him. Father Mulcahy is having some doubts about his worth on the battle lines. A dentist is ready to go home and refuses to touch anything or do anything in case he were to get an infection or other malady that would keep him from leaving. Radar plays the drums. Gary Burghoff is a pretty decent drummer and would show this off a couple times. The main subplot is Henry, waiting for his wife to give birth to their third child. He is depressed but Radar has a surprise for him. It's all nicely orchestrated but just doesn't grab one.

Season one wraps up

[safenoe · 7/10 · 11 March 2024]

Interestingly, it's hard to believe but at the time this episode was screened over 50 years ago, there was some uncertainty about M*A*S*H's future because the ratings weren't high, but thankfully the course of history changed when the network decided to renew this fine series after summer reruns increased viewership thankfully.

I'm enjoying reflecting on M*A*S*H, a series I love and I think I've watched every episode at least once. I'm enjoying listening to the M*A*S*H Matters podcast, hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, very famous for playing Igor, and I'd love them to interview these season one actors: Patrick Adiarte (Ho Jon), Odessa Cleveland (Ginger) and Gwen Farrell (not related to Mike or Judy, but she played a nurse).

The one where a USO show occurs

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 31 March 2023]

This is the last episode of the first season of M*A*S*H. A troupe has shown up at the camp to entertain personnel. Members of the fictional troupe are based on real-life entertainers.

For example, we have musical numbers performed by three women called the Miller Sisters, that are obviously a nod to the Andrews Sisters who were more associated with WWII instead of Korea. In addition to the trio of lady singers, there is a stand-up comedian who is supposed to vaguely resemble Bob Hope.

There are two main subplots that hold our interest. The first one involves Trapper stepping away from the performances to operate on a critically wounded patient. I think Wayne Rogers does better with dramatic material than he does with comedy. It's nice to see him have the bulk of his scenes with someone besides Alan Alda for once- in this case Loretta Swit, since Margaret is the main one assisting Trapper in surgery.

The other subplot sees Henry back in his office with Radar awaiting news about the birth of a child back home. This story point seems to come out of nowhere, since there were no references in previous episodes that Henry's wife in Illinois was pregnant. We are told that this will be Henry's third child. The baby is a boy, weighing in at 7 pounds and two ounces. Sadly, Henry will never meet this son since he dies on the way home at the end of the show's third season. Incidentally, Henry's wife is named Mildred...Colonel Potter's wife will also have the name Mildred.

There is a bit of a nonlinear feel to this episode, since we keep cutting back to the comedian and singers, while watching the subplots play out.