MASH Minute

In this tough minute, we learn about “Spearchucker” Jones and meet him as he starts football practice. We love Fred Williamson while hating his character’s nickname. Each of us finds some solace though. Tierney realizes Duke should be called “Augie”. Guest Jennifer Levasseur admires the parking skills of a Jeep driver in the background. And Megan fills us in on the amazing Dr. Alvin Blount, Jr. from the IRL MASH 8225th.

This minute is a doozy: it introduces a new important MASH character. But instead of using his given name, for some inexplicable reason, he is “nicknamed” a racist insult. This in the same 60 seconds where Hammond dismisses Houlihan’s charges with “Screw her”. So you can understand why Megan, Tierney, and Jennifer Levasseur needed to take a detour and talk about college football. But things get really interesting when discussion turns to the historical accuracy of this movie, the tv show, what the feelings of people in that time would be towards the Korean Conflict, how history is studied… it’s very deep and thoughtful but still with plenty of jokes about Indiana Jones.

This episode came very close to being named “Ah, Toledo!” because native daughter Jennifer Levasseur is back and she has lots of stories about Jamie Farr, golf, Mud hens, and Walleyes. On screen, someone is manipulating someone into playing a football game, but we are as confused as Duke about exactly what’s happening. We continue trying to read the room as Hammond joins Henry in his office and inches closer to our sports spectacle while playing with a model helicopter and ignoring Blake’s speech.

Let the football begin! And the sexism continue. Today Hammond arrives at the 4077th (in an unidentifiably weird Jeep) along with his mysterious aide. After he and Vollmer exchange some of the world’s worst ADR, we dig in with guest Jennifer Levasseur to try to make sense of a few things. Like why everyone is on a first name basis with the brigadier general… or why there are all these jet planes flying overhead… or how this investigation into Houlihan’s complaints turned into a conversation about football with the Swampmen.

Have you ever heard the tragedy of Colonel Henry Blake trying to regain a sense of normalcy in Korea by keeping up with his fishing? Today Alex Robinson joins us to watch Blake and Radar work together in perfect harmony. General Hammond follows up on Houlihan’s report, although he doesn’t get very far. We get very far afield as we talk about the Battle of Old Baldy, bobbins and culottes, Winona Ryder Halloween costumes, Dirty Harry… But it all comes back together when Alex issues us the challenge of naming Hammond’s aide.

This minute is not going to go how you think it will. It starts in the O.R. and ends with Henry’s fishing habits, but really this is a minute about torturing your college roommates. Today we discuss important things like how do you lock a tent? If you say Maugham enough times, will he appear in your bathroom mirror? Does Margaret have a shot in the 1952 Hide-and-Seek Championship? Paint a Moorish symbol on your door, wear a blue bathrobe with army boots, slip into your muscle tank scrubs, whatever it is that makes you comfortable, and watch as Hawkeye and Trapper find out Duke has a new paramour.

Crack yourself open a cold grape Ne-Hi, sit back, and make like Mulcahy by ignoring Trapper’s rudeness in this minute. Returning guest Chris Callaghan is here to discuss Robert Altman’s favorite part of the movie. We debate the practicality of golf shoes in the O.R. as well as the cast list for The Halls of Montezuma, the entrancing visuals, some subtle (and not so subtle) digs at religion, and the talents of both William Christopher and Rene Auberjonois. Even Socks, the Clinton’s cat, becomes a part of the MASH universe! He joins Arlene Chu in the pantheon of “characters you didn’t even know were in this movie but now we are incredibly invested in their backstory”.

Colonel Merrill may feel as firm as the Rock of Gibraltar but that’s no match against being gassed into a coma. When he comes to, he finds himself in bed with one of the ladies of the NEHWH… and the focus of a rather suggestive photography session! Jen Struzziero is back to talk about audio books, Sam Hills, and the amazing camerawork in this scene. Don’t be fooled into thinking all is well though: we uncover a golfing scene from the script that was mercifully cut.

Let’s get clinical, clinical… Today Me Lay asks the guys for help treating a newborn who’s have trouble and plans are quickly laid for getting him into the hospital for surgery. While Tierney and guest Jen Struzziero of The Big Brown Chair fawn over this adorable infant, Marston worries about getting caught by Colonel Merrill. We dig in to the hospital’s duty to this kid and the nonsensicalness of “mid season finales” in modern television shows, and still find time to teach Jen about MASH. #11seasonsandamovie

Sean German joins us one more time as Hawkeye and Trapper escape the Colonel’s court martial and head for dinner at the NEHWH instead. In a minute that really rewards reading the closed captioning, we instead talk about Boston real estate including The Glass Slipper, Ruckus noodle shop, and the old Combat Zone. While Megan is startled at the sight of Hawkeye without a hat and Tierney bemoans the long list of uncredited actors from this film, we all band together to debate the difference between a pro shop and a place where you shop for pros.