Over the last several months I have working on a list of my top 10 favorite episodes from the Korean war based sitcom. I've been waiting for the right time to post it on this blog. With the death of it's creator I figured, as my personal tribute to Gelbart, now would be an appropriate time.
This list is my personal favorites and nothing else. They are the episodes I love to watch over and over and laugh each and every time. You may agree or disagree with my choices but I stand by my decisions. The episode titles do not appear anywhere on screen before during or at the conclusion of the episode so you may not be familiar with them. So I have included a brief synopsis of each of my choices. Now here, counting down from 10 to 1, is the list of my top 10 favorite episodes of M*A*S*H.
10. Edwina-The nurses of the 4077th MASH give a collective "cold shoulder" to the doctors demanding that a shy, lonely and dangerously clumsy nurse, named Edwina, be treated like "one of the girls." In a clandestine conclave Hawkeye Pierce is chosen for a unique suicide mission: A date with Edwina. One of the best examples of physical comedy the series has to offer.
9. Hepatitis-When Father Mulcahy comes down with a case of hepatitis, Captain Pierce is given the task of inoculating the camp officers. A task that proves difficult as Hawkeye deals with an extreme backache brought on by the news of the success of one of his "incredibly average" medical school classmates, Vernon Parsons.
8. White Gold-When a group of aid station medics breaks into the 4077th's supply tent to steal their penicillin CID operative Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) shows up to investigate. The investigation takes an interesting turn when Flagg the captured thief free and works himself over. Probably the 2nd best Colonel Flagg episode of the series.
7. A Night At Rosies-Tired of dealing with the war Hawkeye and BJ retreat to Rosie's Bar refusing to return to camp. They decide they aren't ever going back and declare the bar it's own sovereign country: Rosieland. Other plot thickeners include: an AWOL soldier, who takes a liking to Major Houlahan; Klinger getting taken in a crooked floating crap game; and an unconscious officer that no one can identify.
6. Margaret's Engagement-When Major Houlahan returns from Tokyo betrothed to Lt. Colonel Donald Penobscott her affair with Frank Burns abruptly comes to an end. Burns seems to take the news of Margaret's engagement rather well until he goes off the deep end. In an effort to prove his manhood he takes a Korean family prisoner accusing them of being spies. But a timely placed phone call defuses the situation. This is the best "major plot line change" episode of the series and the only one to make my top 10.
5. Movie Tonight-With stress at a high and morale at a low Colonel Potter orders the entire camp to attend a showing of the movie "My Darlin Clementine." It's an old shoot'em up style western about the gun fight at the OK corral. When problems with the projector interrupts the film the many talents of the members of the 4077th take over. The festivities include: personalized verses of the song "Army Life" by Pierce & Hunnicut, Major Houlahan, Radar O'reily, Corporal Klinger and even Frank Burns as well as a Father Mulcahy sound alike contest. A really fun episode.
4. The Incubator-When Hawkeye and Trapper John find out that an essential piece of medical equipment isn't army issue for field hospitals they pursue it through "other channels." They go from a supply sargent with a hoarding complex to a colonel making major profits all the way to a General holding a press conference. They disrupt the press briefing with questions about getting an incubator. The situation ends rather ugly when they are arrested and taken away with Hawkeye hollering "Give me an incubator or give me death" all the way.
3. Patent 4077th-Major Houlahan goes on the war path when Corporal Klinger accidentally throws away her uniquely engraved wedding band. The surgeons design a new vascular clamp that will help save life and limb but can't get anyone to build it. A Korean local selling merchandise from his cart along with trinkets he crafted himself proves to be the solution to both problems. Most memorable line of the episode: Over hill over dale Korean clamp will never fail.
2. Adam's Ribs-After a fit of rage from being served liver or fish 11 days in a row Hawkeye suddenly begins lusting for the spare ribs made in restaurant in Chicago. He calls "Adam's Ribs" and places an order for ribs and sauce but no cole slaw. A carefully devised plan is enacted to get the ribs to the 4077th. The plan hits several snags but eventually the ribs are served...just as the sounds of choppers can be heard and the announcement of incoming wounded is heard. There are too many funny lines in this episode to even choose one as the best. It's truly the essence of the series writing at it's best.
And now the episode you've all been waiting for. My favorite episode of my favorite TV series of all time (drum roll please)
1. Officer Of The Day-An episode that sees Hawkeye Pierce take on the "OD" duties at the 4077th. It launches with Pierce's recitation of a series of suggestions of what he will "carry" before he'll carry a gun and goes on from there. Hawkeye has to deal with a series of local indigenous personal requesting medical treatment as well as Corporal Klinger. The "section 8 wanna be" gets caught several times trying to escape from camp in disguise. The episode really reaches it's comedic peak when CID agent, Colonel Flagg, brings in a wounded spy demanding he be "patched up" so he can be taken to Tokyo and executed. The laughs and comedic energy in this episode flows from the first scene to the last. The lines are like humorous poetry. It is without a doubt, out of over 2500 M*A*S*H episodes my #1 favorite.
So there you have my top 10 favorite M*A*S*H episodes list. If you are as big a fan as I am and your list is different let me know. I'm always open for a good debate about the life and times of the good old 4077th.
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