best M*A*S*H episode ever?

I know there are several M*A*S*H fans in the lounge, so I'm curious what folks consider their favorite and/or the best episode of the series.

The episodes I've chosen to include in the poll are, of course, somewhat arbitrary, but I've tried to include at least a little balance with respect to characters and eras. I decided not to include the finale, since it was two-hours long.

I haven't included an "other" option (because that would mean leaving one of these ten) ... but if you're favorite episode isn't listed here, feel free to mention it :)

Any and all Col. Flagg episodes...

1. Deal Me Out (8 December 1973)
2. A Smattering of Intelligence (2 March 1974)
3. Officer of the Day (24 September 1974)
4. White Gold (11 March 1975)
5. Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler (7 November 1975)
6. The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan (26 October 1976)
7. Rally 'Round the Flagg, Boys (14 February 1979)

But you've met your match in me. :rofl:

Flagg is pretty much the best recurring character in the history of television :)

I always liked "Adam's Ribs" and "Incubator"

because it's one of my favorites as well.

Welcome to DU, turner52! :toast:

And I loved how this character personified people on the far right.

Esecially the one about Dr. Sidney Friedman refusing to sign his loyalty oath.

:rofl:

That episode is definitely a classic.

"Yes. Are you?"

:rofl:

And:

"'Behooves?' What, are we in the cavalry now?"

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

:nuke:

:rofl:

The whatagon?

designed to introduce new viewers to the characters--since the first season (which started out with horrible ratings) had gained a lot of momentum towards the end of the season, they expected the second season to have more viewers. So the first episode of the season was one of those designed to give newbies a sense of what was going on. And then with the second episode, 5 O'Clock Charlie, they dropped the contrived structure and just delivered a quintessential M*A*S*H episode.

Great stuff. :thumbsup:

Saw it again last week. Brilliant.

The press conference scene is pure magic.


Also, any episode featuring Mako is excellent. I can think four off the top of my head, though there may be more.

That's the press conference with the "I've got a question -- why won't you answer his question?" line, right?

As for Mako, I almost included the Rainbow Bridge episode, which is another great episode from the first few seasons :)

Followed by:

"Are you two together?"

"In all kinds of weather."



I didn't know how to refer to the Rainbow Bridge episode, but the shift between Mako's outrage (about Frank bringing a weapon) and his mirth (at seeing how pitiful a weapon it is) makes the whole episode a winner.

Devastating.

I was already a fan of the show, and I remember being deeply angry and sad that his character had died.

I don't know how I left that off the poll. One of the top moments in television, for sure. I'm kicking myself for somehow leaving it off.

That episode really is an amazing bit of television. I've only caught it in reruns (I wasn't around when it first aired), but it was still very powerful. And it also changed the way one views earlier episodes as well. I remember watching M*A*S*H in syndication as a kid, and my mom always teared up during the episode where Blake's son is born, knowing that he never got to see him ...

I was young when I saw it and had already experienced more than my share of death in the real world. TV was supposed to be an escape from that, but it wasn't.

This turned into a "teaching moment" for both me and my mother and grandmother, neither of whom had honestly discussed death with me before, leaving me somewhat confused about things that had taken place in our family. My reaction to Henry dying finally convinced them to talk with me about it.

Harry Morgan, before his Potter role, played a crazed, racist General who threatened to court martial Hawkeye for his attitude. I still remember him singing 'Mississippi Mud' as he exited the tent. (too damn early I missed this one in the poll) :dunce:

The other episode was where Frank prohibited the drinking of alcohol and everybody gets drunk including Father Mulcahy and Hot Lips, "I'm not so think as you drunk I am".

:rofl:

That was funny!

I also remember a "Private Lamb."

The look on Radar's face as he enters the operating room...

"Point of View" (originally aired November 20, 1978), which is shot from the point of view of a soldier who is wounded in the throat and taken to the 4077th for treatment.

The other weird one I like is where the dead soldier is wandering around the camp and only Klinger, who has the flu, can see him. Then at the end the soldier walks off with all the other casualties.

Only problem was that it was too compressed in terms of time, which hampered the realism...things happened too quickly for the characters to react the way that they did. Although, in war, time is relative, so maybe it's more realistic than I'm giving it credit for.

But it's my single favorite episode.

"Kim" (the one where Trapper tries to adopt the little orphaned Korean boy)

"The Novocaine Mutiny" (the time Frank had Hawkeye courtmartialed)

"The More I See You" (Hawkeye's ex shows up; notable because of awesome Blythe Danner and a glimpse into Hawkeye's med school days)

"The Interview" (the camp gets interviewed by newspeople--one of Alan Alda's favorite eps, too)

"Fade Out, Fade In" (Charles Emerson Winchester, III arrives)

"Fallen Idol" (Hawkeye's fall from grace after Radar gets injured--one of the only time's I've seen a television show put such a dent in its leading man's image; very gutsy and moving)

"Comrades in Arms, Pts. 1 & 2" (Yes, this is a sappy episode featuring a not-too-shocking romantic interlude for Hawkeye and Margaret...so sue me)

"What's Up, Doc?" (Margaret's pregnancy scare)

"They Call the Wind Korea" (the one time Margaret was actually nice to any of her nurses)

"Yessir, That's Our Baby" (mostly for the scene in which Hawkeye smacks around the military for failing to prevent U.S. soldiers from creating unintended pregnancies with the Koreans)

That had to be done. Perhaps they could have done it better, but I don't really care. I really like that episode as well.

I remember reading the list twice, thinking I'd just missed it or something....very. next. edition. had an irate letter to the editor by a M.A.S.H. fan lambasting the writers for their negligence. :-)

Evil server.

Henry-What's going on here?

Radar-They're hunting socks sir.

Henry-At this hour?

Best Christmas episode evah!!

"The Navy says its not theirs. It is probably CIA."
"They have their own bombs?!?!??!"

"...but first...."

Great list you put in there- Anything with Flagg is at the top
"I AM the wind"
(jumps out window)
"The wind just broke his arm"