Mash TV Season 10 [DVD] [1973] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Season 10 is probably one of the finest seasons of M*A*S*H since this would be the time that most of the 4077 would get ready for what would be the next to last season of the show. Thus this show would feature some great episodes!! Here is an overview.

1.) That's Show Biz (10/26/1981)

A touring USO show brings an unexpected touch of vaudeville to the 4077th when the star showgirl requires an emergency operation. And wouldn't you know, the comedian is Klinger's hero!

2.) Identity Crisis (11/2/1981)

Father Mulcahy counsels a GI who is plagued by guilt because he has swapped tags with a dead colleague. Meanwhile, B.J. and Charles consider ways of keeping a soldier-salesman quiet.

3.) Rumor at the Top (11/9/1981)

The latest scuttlebutt affects everyone's behavior when a visiting is rumored to be recruiting for a new M*A*S*H unit. The gang fears that the 4077th will be split up.

4.) Give 'em Hell, Hawkeye (11/16/1981)

Hawkeye writes a heartfelt letter to President Harry Truman to protest at the continued fighting in Korea. Meanwhile, Colonel Ditka has promised a much-needed water-heater if the 4077th beautifies the camp.

5.) Wheelers and Dealers (11/23/1981)

On the eve of a big poker game, B.J.'s pride is bruised when he finds out his wife is working as a waitress. And Potter takes driving lessons from Klinger.

6.) Communication Breakdown (11/30/1981)

Winchester infuriates the camp when he hoards his stateside newspapers, and Hawkeye reunites two Korean brothers who have been fighting on opposite sides of the war.

7.) Snap Judgment (Part 1 of 2) (12/7/81)

The military police think they've solved a rash of thefts at the 4077th when they apprehend Klinger with Hawkeye's stolen camera.

8.) Snappier Judgment (Part 2 of 2) (12/14/81)

B.J. and Hawkeye resolve to clear Klinger's name after he chooses Winchester to defend him at his military court-martial.

9.) 'Twas the Day after Christmas (12/28/1981)

To boost post-yuletide morale on Dec 26, Potter has the officers and enlisted men change places for the day.

10.) Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead (1/4/82)

Whilst suffering a fever, Klinger communicates with the spirit of a dead soldier, Private Weston, who stays on to witness his own last rites.

11.) The Birthday Girls (1/11/82)

Margaret's birthday plans are spoiled when she and Klinger get stranded on a desolate roadside. Meanwhile, Charles gives a lecture for Margaret, and the surgeons assist in the delivery of a calf.

12.) Blood and Guts (1/18/82)

Hawkeye is outraged when a sensationalistic war correspondent, Clayton Kibbee, reports irresponsible G.I. stunts as tales of military valor. Kibbee: "As for the last two pints of blood, there's no big finale, no heroes. They helped an old soldier, who'd had visions of glory but finally got it through his thick head how tragic and inhumane war can be. Maybe he'll know better next time."

13.) A Holy Mess (2/1/82)

An AWOL soldier, Nick Gillis, seeks sanctuary in the mess tent, after Father Mulcahy's service. At the same time, a special Sunday brunch is due to be served, following the donation of some eggs to the camp by a grateful farmer.

14.) The Tooth Shall Set You Free (2/8/82)

Charles has a serious toothache, but hates the thought of having anything done about it. The doctors suspect prejudice when an inordinate number of black casualties are brought in from a single unit, led by Major Weems.

15.) Pressure Points (2/15/82)

Potter sends for Sidney Freedman when he loses confidence in his surgical abilities, and Winchester loses patience with his bunkmates' sloppiness.

16.) Where There's a Will, There's a War (2/22/82)

Hawkeye goes to help at an aid station, and under heavy shelling he draws up a will, leaving various items to his friends at the 4077th.

17.) Promotion Commotion (3/1/82)

Winchester, Pierce, and Hunnicutt find themselves in the sticky position of having to decide which enlisted men to recommend for promotion. For Winchester it could be a matter of life and death.

18.) Heroes (3/15/82)

Hawkeye is the golden boy of the world press when he treats a celebrity prizefighter, 'Gentleman' Joe Cavanaugh, who has a stroke at the 4077th. Father Mulcahy finds the news hard to take, as Cavanaugh was a hero of his.

19.) Sons and Bowlers (3/22/82)

After losing to the Marines once again, Colonel Potter wishes there was one sport the 4077th were any good at. When Klinger mentions he can bowl, the Colonel decides to have a bowling competition. Unfortunately, he and Klinger are the only 2 good bowlers in the camp, so BJ and Father Mulcahy are "recruited" to the team. Colonel Potter becomes obsessed with winning the game, and excludes Margaret from the team because she helped the team lose at softball. Then the 4077th team hear the Marines have got a "ringer" in their team after pulling some strings..... Meanwhile, Hawkeye finds out his father is in hospital and tries to speak to him over the phone, watched by Charles, who envies Hawkeye's close relationship with his father.

20.) Picture This (4/5/82)

Potter's attempts to assemble the crew for a family portrait are thwarted by a feud between bunkmates Pierce, Hunnicutt, and Winchester. Things are not helped by the efforts of Margaret, Klinger and Mulcahy to bring the Swampmen back together.

21.) That Darn Kid (4/12/82)

Klinger buys a goat, with the intention of getting rich by selling it's milk. Then the goat eats the 4077th's $22,340 payroll, leaving paymaster Hawkeye holding the bag. Meanwhile, Charles also thinks he can make a killing when he sees an ancient vase.

Look fo MASH The final season later this yaer to complete the MASH series! Good luck!

I've been through the discussion with a few friends about early M*A*S*H vs later M*A*S*H episodes...some folks insist that after Henry and Trapper left the series that it got too heavy-handed and lost its direction. I disagree with that, I feel the show in its early years was no doubt some of the finest comedy on the tube, with a great ensemble cast that worked well together. Well, the realities of war and of doing a long running series are that people come and people go. Certainly the fabric of the show changed over the years but I think the ensemble got even tighter as a result of those changes and the stories had more heart and less slapstick. As funny as Mclean Stevenson was as Col. Blake, Harry Morgan filled some tough shoes with style as the no-nonsense-but-all-heart Col. Potter. The final two seasons of M*A*S*H were described by Alan Alda as being stories written as a result of not wanting to repeat things they'd done before. We get more insight into the individual personalities of the staff (one of the more touching and well-done examples of this is when Winchester has to tell a concert pianist that his right hand won't be as useful as it once was and ultimately proves to him that he still has the gift of music as long as he doesn't let his circumstances silence it). I think it's to the credit of M*A*S*H that it did change and grow over the years...and there are plenty of fine examples of that in season ten and eleven. I look forward to both!

Possibly the biggest change of the last seasons was the number of subplots that got intertwined in each episode. Many of the episodes had up to four by Season 10. This, again, didn't take anything away from the show at all. After numerous cast member changes, all of them major, nothing but time could stop M*A*S*H

(That's Show Biz) (1hr. Show). A traveling U.S.O show brings many vignettes to our friends at the 4077th. Klinger meets his hero, a very corny comedian who happens to be the group's manager, and emcee. Charles finds his music biases tested when an according player goes over to the piano and impresses him. A woman on the tour seeks a pair of ballet shoes that her brother carried. The best part, thought, is that Father Mulcahy identifies a stripper on the group.

(Identity Crisis) A soldier wants out, so badly that he swaps dog tags with a buddy of his who died in a battle. An insurance man is driving every nuts, except Potter, who bought some. Lastly, a patient gets a Dear John letter, with a request to return her picture. Hawkeye and Margaret come up with a great solution.

(Rumor At The top) Klinger hears that a visiting officer is trying to find a new crew for a MASH. Nobody wants to go, until Hawkeye and B.J Change the rumor to a cushy job to Charles, who goes over the top with the visitor. Classic.

(Give 'Em Hell Hawkeye) - A visiting supply man will give the camp what they need if they beautify the camp. Everyone thinks it's crazy, but they create a small park. This is all desribed in a letter, written to Harry Truman, by Hawkeye.

(Wheelers and Dealers) Potter goes back to driving School at the behest of Klinger who convinces him not to just "Pencil whip" it out. A letter from home makes B.J reckless at Poker, and then at the pinball machine in the Officer's Club. He also gets mad at Hawkeye for not understanding why he's upset because his wife had to take a job as a waitress. He gets brought back to earth by Margaret. "Maybe you have the most. But it's only because you have the most!" She then turns and heads out of the officers club. B.J comes into the Mess Tent and offers a peace offering to Charles, Hawkeye, Margaret and Mulcahy.

(Communication Breakdown) Second class mail is being rerouted due to a snafu. Everyone is antsy due an impending marriage in the Li'l Abner comic. Charles, however, has newspapers sent from home. He gets everyone angry with him when he hoards them from everyone when his secret is let out. This leads to a rather contemptuous battle with the camp and Charles trading barbs. Two Korean brothers are re-united by Hawkeye. One was sent to North Korea, and the other to South Korea, so make sure that the family would be on the winning side.

(Snap Judgment, Snappier Judgment) A gift from a family of a Polaroid gives Klinger a serious problem. After it's stolen Klinger gets it back from the black market, is caught with it, and is finally freed from charges by Hawkeye and B.J who found what really happened.

(Twas the Day After Christmas) On an extremely cold Christmas Potter thinks of following a British tradition by having the officers trade with the enlisted men. Charles gets very bristled at the whole idea, so Potter does it. Hawkeye is changing sheets, Charles is in the kitchen with Margaret, and Klinger ends up in command. Great moments, and a time when people realize that things are tough all around.

(Follies Of The Living - concerns Of The Dead) Klinger, dissolutioned by a fever, carries on a conversation with a soldier who has died. The dead soldier is in denial of his death despite following Mulcahy as he goes through his stuff with B.J, sits while a buddy talks about him to Hawkeye. Margaret, meanwhile, is trying to tell eveyone what the problem is, and they won't listen.

(Birthday Girls, The) Margaret wants to go to Tokyo, for her birthday. She gets Klinger to promise take her. Potter, however, almost ruins her day. A lecture must be given by at least a major. She convinces Charles to do the lecture. Meanwhile, as time to go approches, Klinger is scuttling about trying to raise money in a pool on the birth of a cow that came into camp. Margaret and Klinger don't make it to Tokyo, and Charles ends up helping the birth of the cow.

(Blood and Guts) An infamous reporter comes to MASH with pints of blood from people who write to him. His first patient was delivering food on a motorcycle, an Indian Scout. He makes it seem that the guy was being a Hero. B.J, with the reporter and Kinger's help rebuilds the Indian Scout.

(A Holy Mess) A solider, who despretaly wants to get out of the army, seeks refuge with Father Mulcahy. A farmer, grateful for the military's help, has given a shipment of eggs to the unit.

(The Tooth Shall Set You Free) Charles tries, to no avail, to hide his tooth ache. He takes medicine meant for patients, eats mashed potatoes, and is surly with everyone. Potter, B.J, and Hawkeye help oust a Major with an inordinate number of black casualties.

(Pressure Points) A slip-up in O.R causes Potter to have serious issues with his abilities. He calls in Sydney, who helps, as usual. Charles, B.J, and Hawkeye wreck the swamp. Potter comes in, and just let's them go.

(Where There's a Will, There's a War) With B.J on leave to get groomed, Hawkeye ends up going to the front to replace a dead doctor. Under heavy artillery fire, Hawkeye writes his will. Among the gifts he give out, his Hawaain shirt, Groucho glasses, and a nickel to Father Mulcahy.

(Promotion Commotion) Potter names Hawkeye, B.J, and Charles to the Promotion committee. This causes Charles pains. A soldier, a large soldier well played by former football star John Matusak, threatens his life if he's not promoted. Klinger is in full uniform, and gives crisp salutes, and generally acts 100% like a soldier.

(Heroes) The arrival of a prized boxer, who happens to be Father Mulcahy's hero, launches Hawkeye into the light of the camera, as the press invades the camp after the boxer suffers a serious stroke.

(Sons and Bowlers) The episode opens with the Marines drinking homage to the 4077th, who just got creamed at softball. Klinger says "They're just lucky there's not a bowling alley around. I'd show them a thing or two." Potter comes up with a bowling alley. Meanwhile Hawkeye finds that his father is in the hospital for surgery. His father had written him two weeks earlier, but the mail delay caused the letter to get to him until the day. He tries for a long time to get a hold of his father. Finally, an operator gets the call through.

(Picture This) Potter, painting a picture of the doctors, Margaret, and Klinger, causes severe stress. Everyone is yelling at someone, or mulitple someones, for multiple reasons. Potter gets the painting started by splitting everyone up to cut down on the fighting. This works fine until he tries to get everyone together to finish the painting. Everything comes to a head and everyone is yelling at eachother at once.

(That Darn Kid) The arrival of a goat makes Klinger see dollar signs, selling goats milk. Hawkeye is made paymaster just as wounded arrive at the unit. The goat eats the money, leaving Hawkeye owing nearly a year's salary.

M*A*S*H was one of those rare shows that didn't have a weak season. In a previous review I'd mentioned that the later years got a bit weaker. I was wrong. The release of M*A*S*H on D.V.D means that we see them in order. I was so used to the way that they'd mix the episodes up in syndication, so it's hard to see the good ones from the fair ones.