{"id":88695,"date":"2024-12-07T11:14:51","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T04:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/levanews.com\/?p=44123"},"modified":"2024-12-07T11:15:17","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T04:15:17","slug":"little-known-mistakes-and-bloopers-in-mash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/little-known-mistakes-and-bloopers-in-mash\/","title":{"rendered":"Little-known mistakes and bloopers in M*A*S*H"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>If you\u2019re a fan of MASH*, like me, you probably feel like you\u2019ve seen it all\u2014every laugh, every heartfelt moment, and every unforgettable character.\n<p>Known for its clever writing, emotional complexity, and sharp satire, <em>MA<em>SH* became a beloved cultural phenomenon and a staple of American television. But as iconic as the series was, even it wasn\u2019t immune to occasional errors, continuity issues, or anachronisms\u2014many of which have gone unnoticed by its devoted fans.\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44124 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/GettyImages-140797478.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"968\"' height='\"774\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><p>As an \u201980s kid, I remember <em>MA<em>SH* always being on in the background, its iconic theme song signaling bedtime. I rarely made it past the opening credits, but years later, I gave the series another shot\u2014and fell in love with it. <em>MA<em>SH* wasn\u2019t just a show; it was an event that brought families together. Its 1983 finale captivated nearly half the U.S. population and still holds the record for the most-watched primetime episode ever.\n<p>Set during the Korean War, <em>MA<em>SH* focused on the lives of doctors and nurses at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M<em>AS*H). Using humor and compassion, they navigated the chaos of war, medicine, and personal relationships. Revisiting the show now, I\u2019ve started noticing the small mistakes and fascinating trivia that make it even more entertaining. Here are some you might not know!\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44125 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/GettyImages-515129530.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"945\"' height='\"1429\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>William Christopher\u2019s Brush with Hepatitis\n<p>Did you know William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahy, had a close call with hepatitis during season five? His illness almost forced him off the show for good. Producers considered writing him out, but Alan Alda wasn\u2019t about to let that happen. Understanding how vital steady work was for Christopher, who had a son with autism, Alda stepped in. He wrote an entire episode titled <em>Hepatitis, weaving Christopher\u2019s real-life illness into Mulcahy\u2019s storyline. Talk about a supportive friend and creative solution!\n<h3><strong>Frank Burns\u2019 Tumor Foreshadowing\n<p>Here\u2019s a chilling tidbit: in the <em>Hepatitis episode, Hawkeye examines Frank Burns, who offhandedly mentions, \u201cI do have a pea-sized tumor under my sternum.\u201d Years later, life imitated art in a tragic way when Larry Linville, the actor behind Frank, passed away from a malignant tumor in that very spot. Sometimes, reality has an eerie way of mirroring fiction.\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44126 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/swit1.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"878\"' height='\"1307\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>Klinger: From Cameo to Icon\n<p>Jamie Farr\u2019s portrayal of Max Klinger\u2014often seen wearing dresses in a bid for a Section 8 discharge\u2014was originally intended to be a one-episode role. But Farr\u2019s charm and humor made such an impression that he became a series regular. Adding a personal touch, the dog tags Farr wore as Klinger were his actual military tags from his time in the service, complete with his name, serial number, and religion.\n</p><h3><strong>Military Oversights\n<p>While <em>MA<em>SH* excelled in storytelling, it occasionally slipped in historical accuracy. In the season two episode <em>For the Good of the Outfit, Henry Blake\u2019s office features a Bell Huey UH-1 helicopter. The problem? The Huey didn\u2019t exist until 1956\u2014well after the Korean War. Similarly, characters often sported hairstyles far too modern for the 1950s. Only Colonel Potter and Major Winchester looked era-appropriate, while others seemed a bit too fashion-forward for the front lines.\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' wp-image-44127 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/GettyImages-2177327992-768x963-1.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"993\"' height='\"1245\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>The Shocking Death of Colonel Blake\n<p>Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake\u2019s death was one of TV history\u2019s most shocking moments. When McLean Stevenson decided to leave the show in 1975, his character was killed off in a plane crash\u2014a move that stunned fans and critics alike. The decision was meant to reflect the harsh realities of war, but it sparked such backlash that the producers vowed never to send off another character so tragically.\n</p><h3><strong>Radar\u2019s Hidden Hand\n<p>Gary Burghoff, who played the endearing Cpl. Walter \u201cRadar\u201d O\u2019Reilly, hid a personal detail on-screen: he was born with Poland syndrome, which affected his left hand. To keep the focus on his acting, Burghoff cleverly concealed his hand using props like clipboards or by keeping it in his pocket.\n</p><h3><strong>Radar\u2019s Farewell\n<p>Burghoff\u2019s demanding schedule eventually led him to step back from the show. In season seven, Radar bid farewell in a two-part episode titled <em>Good-Bye Radar, marking his departure from the army. Reflecting on his decision, Burghoff once said, \u201cYou either want to be rich and famous, or you want to be a daddy. You can\u2019t do both.\u201d\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-44128 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/462566318_1771668533666682_4929827343399044159_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"1600\"' height='\"1273\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>Margaret Houlihan\u2019s Nails and Nickname\n<p>Loretta Swit\u2019s portrayal of Major Margaret \u201cHot Lips\u201d Houlihan had its quirks. For instance, her long nails\u2014over an inch in some episodes\u2014were hardly realistic for a wartime nurse. Swit also wasn\u2019t fond of the \u201cHot Lips\u201d nickname, feeling it undermined her character\u2019s professionalism. \u201cShe wasn\u2019t just a body part; she was a major in the U.S. Army and deserved respect,\u201d Swit said in an interview.\n</p><h3><strong>Plastic Surgery Rumors\n<p>Some fans speculate that Swit underwent plastic surgery during the show\u2019s run, noting subtle changes in her appearance, such as a cleft chin and possible nose work. While Swit has never addressed these rumors, they remain a topic of curiosity among die-hard viewers.\n</p><h3><strong>Hawkeye\u2019s Evolving Backstory\n<p>Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda, underwent significant character development. Initially from Vermont, with living parents and a married sister, his backstory later changed to depict him as an only child from Crabapple Cove, Maine, whose mother died when he was 10. Alda embraced these shifts, appreciating how they allowed his character to grow.\n</p><p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-44129 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/467471647_600549925645564_1239391975861412531_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"978\"' height='\"652\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>Alan Alda\u2019s Emmy Legacy\n<p>Alan Alda\u2019s contributions to <em>MA<em>SH* were groundbreaking. He became the first person to win Emmys for acting, writing, and directing within the same series. His blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling left a lasting impact on the show.\n<h3><strong>Hawkeye and Margaret\u2019s Relationship\n<p>Hawkeye and Margaret\u2019s relationship evolved from professional respect to a deeper emotional connection. Their pivotal moment came in the two-part episode <em>Comrades in Arms, where they spent a night stranded together. Although their relationship didn\u2019t blossom into romance, it marked a turning point in their dynamic, showcasing the show\u2019s balance of humor and depth.\n<p><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"alignnone' size-full wp-image-44130 aligncenter src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/echowoven.com%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/462586140_1516561615726076_6190824018518451058_n.png%5C%22" alt='\"\"' width='\"900\"' height='\"1200\"' title='\"\"'>\n</p><h3><strong>The Longest Kiss\n<p><em>Comrades in Arms came full circle in the series finale, featuring one of the longest kisses in television history between Hawkeye and Margaret. Directed by Alda, the scene symbolized the bond between the characters and the actors, who were among the few to appear in both the pilot and the finale.\n<p>From its groundbreaking storytelling to its hidden quirks, <em>MA<em>SH* remains a timeless classic. Whether you\u2019re revisiting the show or discovering it for the first time, these behind-the-scenes tidbits add another layer of appreciation for this iconic series.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a fan of MASH*, like me, you probably feel like you\u2019ve seen it all\u2014every laugh, every heartfelt moment, and every unforgettable character. Known for its clever writing, emotional complexity, and sharp satire, MASH* became a beloved cultural phenomenon and a staple of American television. But as iconic as the series was, even it &hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":88696,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1444],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perspectives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88695"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88704,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88695\/revisions\/88704"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88696"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></em></em></p></em></p></strong></h3></em></p></strong></h3></em></em></p></strong></h3></strong></h3></strong></h3></strong></h3></em></p></strong></h3></strong></h3></strong></h3></em></em></em></p></strong></h3></strong></h3></em></p></strong></h3></em></p></strong></h3></em></em></em></p></em></em></em></em></p></em></em></p></strong></em></p>