A running joke on MASH that causes lasting confusion is when the characters refer to being sent to Korea as “the American plan.” This joke seems to make no sense because, of course, it was America who sent American soldiers and doctors to Korea, thus it was America’s plan in its war efforts. So, what’s … Read more
When you think of the opening credits of MASH, what do you picture? I picture the helicopters. That familiar bubble canopy, together with the theme song, lets me know I’m about to spend some time with old friends. But, how accurate are the helicopters? Were these the same type that were actually used in the … Read more
There are many large streaming platforms available in South Korea, and it’s quite probable that MASH is available to view on one of them. Right now, South Koreans may be watching reruns of MASH. However, they are probably quite annoyed or even angered by the depictions of Korean culture and the Korean people. The show … Read more
This just in! TV’s MASH was not always accurate! Did you know that the Korean war did not last 11 years? Sarcasm aside, there is something about corporate owned entertainment sites that bugs me. It’s not that they say things I disagree with, it’s that I can’t understand what the heck they are trying to … Read more
If you’re a true MASH fan, then you know that Hawkeye quickly became the main character and chief focus of the show. This only intensified as the seasons went on through the eleventh and final one. You may also know that there is a contingent of Hawkeye haters, or rather Alan Alda haters on the … Read more
MASH often featured Korean locals speaking their native language. As I’ve already written, there were very few Korean actors on the show. Most of the Korean characters were played by Chinese or Japanese actors. So, was the Korean speaking on MASH accurate? The answer is no, not at all. The actors speaking it had no … Read more
MASH units were first designed in 1948 and were deployed to Korea by the United States army in June 1950. These Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals were designed to be highly mobile, flexible, and forward-deployed. This means they were able to be moved to a new location in a very short time. They were also designed … Read more
The iconic TV show MASH was definitely a comedy. However, it also had deeply dramatic elements and dealt seriously with the realities of war. There were plenty of jokes and “situations” that were contrived to cause comedic scenes. And, the character of Frank Burns was himself such a contrivance. The character existed to create situations … Read more
I wonder if you ever noticed this about Radar in MASH? Once you do, you’ll never be able to stop noticing it. Radar, played by Gary Burghoff, always keeps his left hand carefully and cleverly hidden. For example, he makes a fist or puts his hand in his pocket. More specifically, he keeps the fingers … Read more
With the recent passing of Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret Houlihan On MASH, we are left with the sad knowledge that very few of the actors who played our beloved characters are with us. Fortunately, four MASH actors are still living, Alan Alda (Hawkeye), Gary Burghoff (Radar), Jamie Farr (Klinger), and Mike Farrell (BJ … Read more