MASH was so often about the idiocy of war. The people in the trenches know what is needed. It seems that people have to die before anyone listens, and even then it isn't always enough. In this episode the doctors have trouble saving patients because test have to be done in Tokyo. What is needed is an incubator to grow cultures and recognize disease germs. What seems like a reasonable request for a basic piece of equipment is denied all the way up the chain of command. Greed is at the center of everything and, of course, Hawkeye and Trapper stick their necks out as they wade through a river of sewage. It's obvious that a lot of people are benefiting from the war, but that doesn't include those that are actually fighting it or trying to save the lives of those. It's a satisfying episode that is tried and true.
9 Reviews
Write in Pizza Oven Where It Says Machine Gun
DKosty12313 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This show very much makes the formula grade for a MASH episode. It allows Hawkeye & Trapper a chance to start a campaign for something the unit needs. The Army gets a chance to set up a mile of red tape to deny them what they want. Then we get to see them climb the ladder and meet the layers of resistance who go from being nameless and faceless into actual faces.
Finally, they top out at an Army Generals Press conference where the General when confronted about the incubator says to the press "I called this press conference but the last thing I want to do is answer a bunch of questions."
The ending is very satisfying to all fans of the series when they come back to Col Blake (Stevenson) who says "Holy Cow," and blows up at Hawkeye & Trapper about the press conference. Then Radar comes in and saves the day by trading for the incubator.
All the main cast has good bits in this script and the guest cast is loaded with talent as well. This one is considered a classic by most who are fans of this series.
Finally, they top out at an Army Generals Press conference where the General when confronted about the incubator says to the press "I called this press conference but the last thing I want to do is answer a bunch of questions."
The ending is very satisfying to all fans of the series when they come back to Col Blake (Stevenson) who says "Holy Cow," and blows up at Hawkeye & Trapper about the press conference. Then Radar comes in and saves the day by trading for the incubator.
All the main cast has good bits in this script and the guest cast is loaded with talent as well. This one is considered a classic by most who are fans of this series.
Instead to go to the jail....firstly talk to Radar!!
elo-equipamentos1 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Needing a simple Incubator to make things more faster Hawkeye and Trapper asking to Col. Blake who agree and will make a order following the rules, later they receive a visit of the Captain Sloan who denied promptly, following the next Major Morris which has three piece at Army's storage, but declined at once, next degree Col. Lambert who asking bribe to delivery, so finally they decided to talk with Gen. Mitchell who sent they back asking for a proper punishment to them, in the end Radar got the Incunator exchanging by Col. Blake's barbecue machine.
Resume:
First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.
Resume:
First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.
Guest Star Coincidence
christopherandbarb6 March 2006
Both Ted Gehring and Eldon Quick have guest starred on 'Little House On The Prairie', too. Ted Gehring played Ebenezer Sprague, the owner of Walnut Grove's bank. The amazing coincidence is, Eldon Quick was in the episode, "He Was Only Twelve" as a 'bank teller'!! (It's true about the "Six Degrees of Separation" theory.) Thank you, IMDb for allowing us to find these coincidences!! I have noticed a lot of actors who become writers, producers, and directors will often use actors they have worked with before. I guess it pays to have friends in high places, even if they were not that high up when you first met them! If I ever make it big, I will not forget the little people from my past.
Luck At The Last Minute!!
ellisel7 November 2008
Captains Pierce and McIntyre fell asleep in "The Swamp" in the beginning part of "The Incubator" after a rowdy party. They were ready to return to the medicine world. One thing came to mind: they were in search for an incubator. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake had other ideas: he had a barbecue grill for the 4077th. After some discussion, they wanted to speak with Captain Sloane about having an incubator in their unit. In his infinite wisdom, he spoke to the three of them about their Basic Equipment List -- from Manual Supply Requisition -- at the 4077th. Lieutenant Colonel Blake drew a sad face when he would not have his incubator; Captain Pierce acted in a sarcastic manner when griped about having a pizza oven or a jukebox for the unit.
In Act Two, Captains Pierce and McIntyre visited Sergeant Morris about an incubator. No Good!! He acted indifferent about handing over an incubator to the 4077th. He was more concerned about his ego than about his integrity. They visited another person about an incubator. He was supplying his own personal itinerary with toilet paper and fortune cookies ... as if he would open up his own country. They would receive the incubator for $1000 with freight and shipping costs. Their final recourse would be General Maynard Mitchell. Captains Pierce and McIntyre would harangue General Mitchell about the incubator. The military police officers would eventually arrest the two on various charges of misconduct.
Lieutenant Colonel Blake would scold them good for their improper misconduct at General Mitchell's press conference. Little they did knew that an infantry division company had their troops wounded in battle. With a little luck from Corporal O'Reilly obtained the magic item: the incubator. He worked his way to finding the item by dealing with the top brass; and in addition, fulfill some wheeling and dealing with other units to obtain the incubator lock, stock, and barrel. A Solid 12!! A++!! Hilarious and amusing from the 1973-1974 Television Season!! Enjoy!!
In Act Two, Captains Pierce and McIntyre visited Sergeant Morris about an incubator. No Good!! He acted indifferent about handing over an incubator to the 4077th. He was more concerned about his ego than about his integrity. They visited another person about an incubator. He was supplying his own personal itinerary with toilet paper and fortune cookies ... as if he would open up his own country. They would receive the incubator for $1000 with freight and shipping costs. Their final recourse would be General Maynard Mitchell. Captains Pierce and McIntyre would harangue General Mitchell about the incubator. The military police officers would eventually arrest the two on various charges of misconduct.
Lieutenant Colonel Blake would scold them good for their improper misconduct at General Mitchell's press conference. Little they did knew that an infantry division company had their troops wounded in battle. With a little luck from Corporal O'Reilly obtained the magic item: the incubator. He worked his way to finding the item by dealing with the top brass; and in addition, fulfill some wheeling and dealing with other units to obtain the incubator lock, stock, and barrel. A Solid 12!! A++!! Hilarious and amusing from the 1973-1974 Television Season!! Enjoy!!
Perfect humorous take on the army's incompetence
dominik-8171727 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode really stuck with me because of its ability to show the army's incompetence and illogical decision making in a funny way. Don't get me erong, I love when M*A*S*H gets serious, but this is great as well.
The major not willing to give up his incubatora is hilarious. The line "If i use one and it breaks down, then I only have one" gets me everytime. And the press conference from the General is funny as well.
The irony of not being able to get an Incubator as a M*A*S*H, but a barbecue is fine, is (while it is played for laughs in the episode) really sad.
Also Henry reading out the report of what Hawkeye and Trapper did at the press conference is so funny.
The major not willing to give up his incubatora is hilarious. The line "If i use one and it breaks down, then I only have one" gets me everytime. And the press conference from the General is funny as well.
The irony of not being able to get an Incubator as a M*A*S*H, but a barbecue is fine, is (while it is played for laughs in the episode) really sad.
Also Henry reading out the report of what Hawkeye and Trapper did at the press conference is so funny.
Sarah Fankboner guest stars as Nurse Owens
safenoe12 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Sarah Fankboner guest stars as Nurse Owens in The Incubator, from the second season of M*A*S*H, the season where M*A*S*H starting to gain an audience, especially as it almost got axed after just one season.
Anyway, The Incubator has many guest stars, more than usual, but no Loretta Swit. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on M*A*S*H, especially after becoming a fan of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast, hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, famous for playing Igor, a very important character introduced in season two. Anyway, for me (I know this is controversial), I prefer the later seasons of M*A*S*H.
Anyway, The Incubator has many guest stars, more than usual, but no Loretta Swit. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on M*A*S*H, especially after becoming a fan of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast, hosted by superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, famous for playing Igor, a very important character introduced in season two. Anyway, for me (I know this is controversial), I prefer the later seasons of M*A*S*H.
Funny!
mm-394 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
There is a need for an Incubator for the M A S H unit. Well the duel cause havoc at a press conference. One army agent wants big money for the Incubator. There is a deal with the Hawkeye deal major Balkes' desk which Blakes family got him from home. The chainsaw and helicopter is famously funny. Well worth watching 7 stars.
The one where the camp needs important equipment
jarrodmcdonald-128 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode gets points for showing what dedicated doctors like Hawkeye and Trapper will do in order to get some important equipment that will help speed up diagnoses and save lives. In this case, the equipment is an incubator needed to process lab cultures. Of course, our two heroic doctors face all sorts of bureaucratic hassles when their request for the incubator is denied and they try to get help from someone higher up than Henry.
The main subplot involves Henry receiving equipment of his own, a cherished item that will improve his meals. He's received a barbecue grill for cooking up steaks to perfection, though we have to wonder where they can get nice juicy steaks in the middle of a war zone. Also, I find it a bit impractical that they'd want heavy type equipment they might have to haul around. After all, this show is supposed to be about a MOBILE Army hospital, not an immobile one.
One thing that slightly annoys me when watching some of these episodes again, years later, is how Hawkeye and Trapper always seem to succeed in their schemes to get what they want. In this instance, Radar helps them obtain the much sought-after incubator by trading Henry's new barbecue for it.
Just once, it might be interesting to see Hawkeye and Trapper lose and the dramatic fallout of them losing. It's a little too convenient, if not predictable for these guys to maneuver around any obstacle and be successful in their various pursuits. It's unrealistic that they always overcome these obstacles in their path. I am sure there were plenty of well-meaning medics during the Korean War and Vietnam War who had good intentions yet were often stymied in their efforts to help more people in the trenches.
Loretta Swit does not appear in this episode, and she missed a few episodes in season 1. It's interesting that the actress remains on the show until the very end, just like Alan Alda. But while Alda does appear in every single episode, Miss Swit's overall appearance rate is lower than his. But then this would become 'The Alan Alda Show,' not 'The Loretta Swit Show' and there were very few female writers and directors with any influence behind the scenes to increase the scope of Swit's role on the show, the way Alda's role increases as we go along.
The main subplot involves Henry receiving equipment of his own, a cherished item that will improve his meals. He's received a barbecue grill for cooking up steaks to perfection, though we have to wonder where they can get nice juicy steaks in the middle of a war zone. Also, I find it a bit impractical that they'd want heavy type equipment they might have to haul around. After all, this show is supposed to be about a MOBILE Army hospital, not an immobile one.
One thing that slightly annoys me when watching some of these episodes again, years later, is how Hawkeye and Trapper always seem to succeed in their schemes to get what they want. In this instance, Radar helps them obtain the much sought-after incubator by trading Henry's new barbecue for it.
Just once, it might be interesting to see Hawkeye and Trapper lose and the dramatic fallout of them losing. It's a little too convenient, if not predictable for these guys to maneuver around any obstacle and be successful in their various pursuits. It's unrealistic that they always overcome these obstacles in their path. I am sure there were plenty of well-meaning medics during the Korean War and Vietnam War who had good intentions yet were often stymied in their efforts to help more people in the trenches.
Loretta Swit does not appear in this episode, and she missed a few episodes in season 1. It's interesting that the actress remains on the show until the very end, just like Alan Alda. But while Alda does appear in every single episode, Miss Swit's overall appearance rate is lower than his. But then this would become 'The Alan Alda Show,' not 'The Loretta Swit Show' and there were very few female writers and directors with any influence behind the scenes to increase the scope of Swit's role on the show, the way Alda's role increases as we go along.
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