script – Page 4 – The M*A*S*H Historian

Script Spotlight 27: “Dear Sis”

It is hard to believe we are already in the final month of 2023, which means that the holiday season is upon us. I looked back at my December posts for the past two years, and I realized that I had already covered one Christmas Episode (“Death Takes a Holiday (09×05)), and one Boxing DayContinue reading “Script Spotlight 27: “Dear Sis””

Script Spotlight 26: “Hot Lips and Empty Arms”

With November 4 being Loretta Swit’s birthday, I wanted to find an episode that featured her acting talents as well as her comedic timing. In my mind, there was only choice, “Hot Lips and Empty Arms” (02×14). Of course, the first question was whether I had the script or not. Early scripts are harder toContinue reading “Script Spotlight 26: “Hot Lips and Empty Arms””

Script Spotlight 25: “Letters”

As we begin October, fall is finally upon us. I spent a few days thinking about an episode to review this month, then I remembered one Charles Emerson Winchester III line: “Autumn in New England.” That line comes from the episode “Letters” (09×02). In it, the camp responds to letters from kids. Charles is notContinue reading “Script Spotlight 25: “Letters””

Script Spotlight 24: “Bug Out”

As we begin September, we are quickly approaching fall. In 1976, this meant it was almost primetime television premiere season, and M*A*S*H began its fifth season that year. That premiere episode was “Bug Out” (05×01), and it was the second season in a row that the season premiered with an hour episode. This episode isContinue reading “Script Spotlight 24: “Bug Out””

Script Spotlight 23: “Wheelers and Dealers”

Since August 27th is G.W. Bailey’s birthday, I wanted to feature an episode in which he played a key role. As I was looking through some scripts, I found the episode “Wheelers and Dealers” (10×05), and all I could hear was Rizzo saying “vee-hicle.” That made this the obvious choice since it features Bailey’s comedyContinue reading “Script Spotlight 23: “Wheelers and Dealers””

Script Spotlight 22: “Edwina”

This week, I pulled a script for what is probably one of the most consistently worst rated episode of the series. The episode “Edwina” (01×13) was one of the weakest episodes in season one, and there are a few weak episodes the first season. Today, the storyline would never get approved, and there was controversyContinue reading “Script Spotlight 22: “Edwina””

Script Spotlight 21: “End Run”

Flipping through my archive for a script to review this week, I ran across this script for the episode “End Run” (05 x 17). I was intrigued by the name on the cover, but initially, the neon green cover is what caught my attention! As I began to research the script and then rewatch theContinue reading “Script Spotlight 21: “End Run””

MAS*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts

When Richard Hooker published his novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, in 1968, 20th Century Fox bought the rights to produce a film. At the height of the Vietnam War, anti-war sentiment was high and a movie based on wise-cracking surgeons during the Korean War was a risky bet. When the film wasContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts”

Script Spotlight 20: “Check-Up”

As we roll into May, I was struggling to find an episode to review this week. The first one that came to mind was “Springtime” (03×05), but I don’t have a script for it. However, I do have the script for the next episode, “Check-Up” (03×06), so I pulled it out to look through. IContinue reading “Script Spotlight 20: “Check-Up””

Script Spotlight 19: “No Laughing Matter”

This week I chose a script from later in the series, “No Laughing Matter” (09×13). I don’t just have one script for this episode, I have two! One of the scripts, like several others in my collection, belonged to Albert Frankel, the men’s wardrobe director. The other script I got from the actress who usedContinue reading “Script Spotlight 19: “No Laughing Matter””