MASHwas a unique mixture of tragedy and comedy, and while it could heartbreakingly sad, it still had its share of hilarious episodes too. This medical sitcom debuted in 1972, and while it was always intended to have an anti-war tone, it was much more of a comedy initially.The death of Henry Blake inMASHseason 3stunned audiences after it aired, and underlined the fact its main characters faced life-or-death situations daily. From there, the series evolved into one of the first real dramedies on television.
Some fans are split on this evolution. There was still plenty of humor, but outings likeMASH’sdivisive “Dreams"or “Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead” - both of which were helmed by star Alan Alda - were felt to be too self-serious for their own good.MASHsaw plenty of actor exits during its early seasonstoo, which had the unexpected benefit of bringing in new characters to refresh the dynamic. No matter how serious it got,MASHalways made sure to keep audiences laughing.
10"Tuttle”
MASH season 1, episode 15
MASHran for 11 seasons, and it’s fascinating to chart the way it changed throughout that time. Like any comedy series, it took time for the showrunners and cast to find the show’s voice. That’s what makes the 15th episode of season 1 such a treat, and “Tuttle” is a great gateway for newcomers to try outMASH. This outing sees Hawkeye (Alda) creating a fictional Captain Tuttle as a way to send supplies to a local orphanage; events soon spiral out of control as he has to spin more elaborate lies to keep the charade going.
“Tuttle” is often cited as an audience favorite from the show’s early years, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a good, old-fashioned farce, where the stakes are low and there’s little of the heaviness that would defineMASHin later years. Instead, the cast gets to bounce off each other as Hawkeye’s friend Tuttle becomes a 4077th celebrity despite being totally imaginary.
9“Dear Sigmund”
MASH season 5, episode 8
The very best episodes managed to balance the humor with darkness, and “Dear Sigmund” is a textbook example of this. It sees the return of psychiatrist Major Freedman (Allan Arbus), who is mourning the loss of a patient and takes a “vacation” at the 4077th as a coping mechanism;Freedman also writes letters to the late Sigmund Freud where he reveals his thoughts onMASH’scast of characters.
Alda wrote and directed “Dear Sigmund,” feeling it was a great, unusual premise and wanting to give regular guest star Arbus a showcase episode. Indeed, this season five outing is a gem, and while it deals with serious topics, it’s also warm-hearted and frequently funny. It even features a subplot where B.J. (Mike Farrell) gets to let off some steam by pranking everyone else at the camp.
8"The Novocaine Mutiny"
MASH season 4, episode 21
MASHonly completed its dramedy transformation when Larry Linville’s weaselly Frank Burns exited. Frank was a perfect comic foil for Hawkeye and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) during the early seasons, being an uptight, humorless, and cowardly authority figure who hated their antics. Frank was too much of a caricature to suit the more serious tone of later seasons, but episodes like “The Novocaine Mutiny” highlighted what a great villain he could be.
Directed by Harry Morgan (AKA Colonel Potter), the story sees Burns bringing mutiny charges against Hawkeye, with much of the episode taking place during a hearing to determine his guilt. While some of the gags are hit-and-miss,“The Novocaine Mutiny” is a deep dive into the mindset of Frank Burns- which is not a healthy place to be. Frank’s opinion of himself is wildly inflated compared to how the rest of the 4077th sees him, and there’s something darkly comic about how disconnected from reality he has become.
7"Adam’s Ribs"
MASH season 3, episode 11
Another favorite from the early years ofMASH, “Adam’s Ribs” revolves around a simple but very relatable problem for Hawkeye. Having become so fed up with eating the same meals for days on end, Hawkeye becomes so desperate for something delicious to eat that he has ribs shipped from a Chicago restaurant to the camp; hijinks ensue.
Hawkeye’s “I’ve eaten a river of liver and an ocean of fish!” speech is one ofMASH’sfunniest scenesand informs the character’s obsessive quest for the rest of the episode. “Adam’s Rib” is another example of the show taking a simple hook and milking all the comic potential from it, and delivering a great punchline of an ending: Hawkeye sits down to finally consume his mouthwatering ribs - only to get dragged away to surgery before he can a single bite.
6"5 O’Clock Charlie"
MASH season 2, episode 2
The title of this episode refers to a North Korean bomber who, regular as clockwork, attempts to bomb an ammo dump near the 4077th. While most of the camp find “5 O’Clock Charlie’s” failed raids oddly entertaining, Frank and his “secret” lover Margaret (Loretta Swit) feel these bombings are a serious threat and attempt to acquire an anti-aircraft gun to deal with it. Of course, this would make the camp evenmoreof a target, so Trapper and Hawkeye set out to ruin their plan.
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Another showcase episode for Frank Burns, “5 O’Clock Charlie” is also a great outing for fans of the Hawkeye/Trapperdynamic. It speaks to the insanity of war that the camp takes amusement from “Charlie’s” repeated failures - even gathering to watch them - while the episode is loaded with clever quips and wordplay.The episode gets bonus comedy points for Hawkeye and Trapper replacing Frank’s sidearm with an increasingly ridiculous array of items, including a toilet plunger.
5"Death Takes a Holiday"
MASH season 9, episode 5
Co-written and directed by Mike Farrell, “Death Takes A Holiday” is a Christmas episode with two great storylines at its core. One involves Hawkeye and company trying to keep a dying soldier alive until midnight, so the man’s children don’t associate Christmas Day with their father’s death. The other plot sees the snobbish Charles (David Ogden Stiers) trying to carry out a family tradition in secret - and one that makes him unpopular with the rest of the 4077th.
On paper,“Death Takes a Holiday” probably doesn’t sound like much fun, but it works thanks toMASH’snear-magical blend of humor and pathos. It’s rare for an episode’s main story and subplot to mesh so well, and both could have served as their own solo outings. Together, they giveMASHits best Christmas episode, while Charles gives a rare flash of humanity that proves heartwarming.
4"April Fools"
MASH season 8, episode 25
This season 8 finale does what it says on the tin, and follows the camp pulling more and more outrageous April Fool’s Day pranks on each other. This is despite strict orders from Potter to avoid such “tomfoolery”, as a tough Colonel will be visiting the 4077th during this time.MASHbecame more dramatic and experimental in its later seasons, as season 8’s own “Dreams” or “Life Time” proves.
However,“April Fools” is almost a return to the wackier tone of the first couple of seasons, and is all the better for breaking away from the dramedy formula. It’s all good, clean fun, while guest star Pat Hingle (AKA Commissioner Gordon from the originalBatmanmovies) is a great comic foil. Harry Morgan is given some great dialogue too, and the ending twist involving Potter is an expert capper.
3"A Smattering of Intelligence”
MASH season 2, episode 24
Two intelligence agents arrive at the camp at the same time in this season 2 offering, with Hawkeye and Trapper deciding to prank Frank once again by framing him as a communist. The season finale ofMASH’ssecond season sees rival spies Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) and Major Pratt (Bill Fletcher) going head to head, with the show’s creator Larry Galbart also making his directing debut with this episode.
“A Smattering of Intelligence” is one ofMASH’smost purely funny outings, even if the plot makes little sense. Oddball CIA agent Flagg is this episode’s MVP, and proved so popular he became a recurring character on the show; he even made a guest appearance on the much-hatedMASHspinoff seriesAfterMASH. It might seem like a farce on the surface, but “A Smattering of Intelligence” does take some pointed jabs at intelligence agencies like the CIA.
2"Movie Tonight”
MASH season 5, episode 22
One of the funniestMASHepisodes ever produced is “Movie Tonight,” where the camp gets together to watch the classic WesternMy Darling Clementine. Unfortunately, the projector keeps breaking down, forcing the 4077th to play silly games and contests with each other while it’s being fixed. At its core,“Movie Tonight” is a silly episode, but after seeing how tense everyone is when it begins, it’s lovely to watch them enjoying themselvesso much during the screening.
The surgeons and staff are all forced to be together in a warzone where they stare death in the face day after day, and “Movie Tonight” is a rare instance where this surrogate family just gets to enjoy hanging out. The various sing-alongs are the highlights, while Gary Burghoff’s Radar gets to show off his range of impressions, including John Wayne fromMcLintock!- a movie that, incidentally, wasn’t released until ten years after the Korean War ended.
1"Deal Me Out”
MASH season 2, episode 13
There areMASHfans who loved when it was more comedic, and those who enjoyed the more dramatic shift from season 3 onwards. Regardless,“Deal Me Out” is almost universally considered one of the funniestMASHepisodes. This sees the 4077’s weekly poker game getting constantly interrupted, be it by Radar getting into an accident or a soldier (played by the late, great John Ritter) holding Frank hostage in the shower.
Captain Sam Pak is played by Pat Morita inMASH’s"Deal Me Out," who is best known for playing Mr. Miyagi inThe Karate Kidmovies.
MASH’s"Deal Me Out" also marked the debut of Edward Winter on the series, though fan debate rages to this day about whether he’s supposed to be playing Flagg under a different alias. “Deal Me Out” is peppered with great dialogue and character beats, with pretty much every actor getting a moment to shine. It’s also a solid entry point, giving new viewers a snapshot of the main characters and their dynamic while offering both comedy and drama on top.
MAS*H
Cast
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
