Ah, MASH - the classic television series that brought us laughter, tears, and a whole lot
of bloopers.
Set during the Korean War, this show follows the antics of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical
Hospital and its zany cast of characters, including the sharp-tongued Hawkeye Pierce,
played by Alan Alda, and the lovable Radar O'Reilly, played by Gary Burghoff.
Known for its clever writing, poignant moments, and biting satire, MASH quickly became a beloved
cultural phenomenon and a cornerstone of American television.
But, behind the scenes, there were plenty of mistakes, anachronisms, and continuity
errors that went unnoticed by most viewers.
So, buckle up, grab a snack and your favorite beverage, and prepare to dive deep into the
world of M*A*S*H bloopers - you won't believe some of the slip-ups that made it onto the
small screen.
FactsVerse Presents: This Photo is Not Edited Look Closer at the M*A*S*H Bloopers
Time Traveling Comic Book
As you probably know, Radar has a genuine love for comic books, and his collection boasts
issues from the 1960s and 1970s.
He is particularly fond of the time-traveling Fantastic Four and has been known to geek
out over their adventures with his buddies.
In this scene, featured in the season 1 episode “Tuttle”, he was spotted relaxing with
a copy of Captain Savage and His Battlefield Rangers, No. 10, which was originally released
in January 1969.
MacAthur’s Inaccurate Representation
Throughout the iconic series, Douglas MacArthur is consistently depicted as if he still holds
command over the UN forces in Korea, despite the fact that he was relieved of his duties
by President Truman approximately ten months into the war, specifically on April 11, 1951.
On Your Mark, Get Set, NO!
In the season six episode titled "M*A*S*H Olympics", Potter uses a Smith & Wesson Model
19 snub-nosed pistol to begin the crutch race, despite the fact that this model was not produced
until the late 1950s.
Who knows, maybe Potter got his gun by hopping in the Hot Tub Time Machine!
Mickey M*A*S*H-Up
In one memorable scene in the episode “The Colonel’s House, which was set in Colonel
Potter's office, Col. Potter is heard spelling out BJ’s father-in-laws name on the telephone.
Nearby, Hawkeye, who was with an earshot, responds to Potter’s spelling by chanting
"M-O-U-S-E," which is part of the famed theme song for the "Mickey Mouse Club" show.
However, the "Mickey Mouse Club" didn’t makes its debut on television until October
3, 1955, which was more than two years after the war ended in Korea.
More Comic Book Shenanigans
In a fourth season episode of the series, “Der Tag”, which was aired in the US for
the first time on January 6, 1976, Radar is shown snuggled up with his beloved teddy bear
and a copy of The Avengers.
However, there is a small issue with the scene since the comic was not introduced until 1963,
and the cover features the Black Panther, who was not created by Jack Kirby until 1966.
In "The Novacaine Mutiny" episode, additional items from Radar's collection are revealed,
such as more issues of The Avengers and Spider-Man, both of which were created in the 1960s.
Cookie Confusion
Later on in "Der Tag," B.J.
displays a package of Fig Newtons, which is seen in the clear plastic packaging that was
used in the 1970s, as depicted in many memorable vintage commercials.
However, in 1950, the cookies would have been packaged in the box that is shown in this
image.
https://cdnmetv.metv.com/swUk1-1504025368-9509-list_items-mash_fignewtons.png
Duke To The Future
During Season 5, Episode 22, titled "Movie Tonight," the members of the 4077th gather
in a tent to watch the classic 1946 Henry Fonda film, My Darling Clementine, which is
an appropriate choice for the time period.
However, Radar stands up and entertains the group with his impression of John Wayne, uttering
the famous line, "I'm not gonna hit ya…
I'm not gonna hit ya…
Like hell I'm not!"
in his best attempt a The Duke’s signature drawl.
Unfortunately, Radar's quote is a paraphrase from a scene in McLintock!, which was not
released until 1963.
This further fuels speculation that Radar very well just might be a time traveler.
Time Traveling On Thin Ice
In the seventh season episode, "Baby It's Cold Outside", the group assembles to watch
the 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade, which is an ice capade flick featuring Norwegian figure
skater and film star Sonja Henie.
Col. Potter points out a scene where Henie is expected to perform a triple axle and end
up in a split.
However, it should be noted that Midori Ito was the first woman to successfully execute
a triple axel in 1988.
Furthermore, Carol Heiss was the first woman to perform a double axle in 1953.
The Perplexing Pinball Machine
During the sixth episode of season 10, titled "Wheelers and Dealers," there is another instance
of an item that does not align with the show's timeline.
Specifically, the Officers' Club at the 4077th features various forms of entertainment and
facilities, such as the pinball game Spot-a-Card.
However, this machine was not manufactured until August of 1960 by manufacturer Gottlieb,
which is after the Korean War ended.
A Monster Mistake
In the season three episode "Springtime" from 1974, there is further indication that the
M*A*S*H cast might have had access to Marty McFly's DeLorean.
Radar, who we already know is a time traveler, once again slips up and exposes himself when
he comments that the movie for the night is The First Born of Godzilla.
However, it is worth noting that the massive monster did not make its first appearance
until the 1954 film, Godzilla, directed by Ishirō Honda.
The Blob Blooper
Season 2 episode 18 titled "Operation Noseelift" includes references to additional classic
monster movies in the presence of Radar.
During the episode’s opening scene, Henry Blake mentions The Blob, which was actually
released in September 1958.
Military Mistakes
The season 2 episode "For the Good of the Outfit" is a classic episode that raises significant
questions about the show's writing, beyond just the pop culture errors.
There are also military anachronisms present, such as a model Bell Huey UH-1 helicopter
seen hanging from the ceiling in Henry Blake's office.
This helicopter did not take its first flight until 1956 and is primarily associated with
the Vietnam War, making its appearance in a Korean War-era setting anachronistic.
Sing Me A Song
In the 61st episode of the series "Mad Dogs and Servicemen," which aired in 1974, Radar
is depicted as being bedridden, potentially with a rare, albeit incredibly dangerous case
of rabies.
In an attempt to cheer him up, Margaret reads him a letter that mentions two popular songs:
"Diddy Wah Diddy" by Bo Diddley and "The Wayward Wind" by Gogi Grant.
However, both of these catchy songs were released in 1956, several years after the Korean War
ended.
Questionable Hairdos
As the show progressed, it became apparent that most of the main characters weren't adhering
to the US Army's haircut regulations for the 1950s.
However, the ever-dignified Colonel Potter (played by Harry Morgan) was a notable exception,
exuding an air of authority and professionalism while rocking the appropriate haircut that
was befitting of an officer in that era.
Ahead Of Their Time
Put simply, the characters in MAS*H often expressed social attitudes that were reflective
of the time in which the show was made, rather than the early 1950s when it was set.
As the show progressed, it became more akin to a contemporary drama rather than a period
piece.
Nailed It!
In defiance of Army regulations and common sense, Margaret's nails in the series are
a sight to behold.
As a nurse and a by-the-book Army officer, it's highly unlikely that she would be permitted
to maintain such long nails.
The discrepancy between her appearance and what's expected only adds to her enigmatic
character.
By any other name…
The show makes a few historically inaccurate references regarding Governmental organizations,
such as referring to the War Department instead of the Department of the Army, which was renamed
title since 1947.
It would be more appropriate for the characters to use the correct terminology when discussing
orders from Washington D.C., such as referring to the Department of Defense.
Let’s Do The Time Warp Again
A time warp seems to have taken hold in the world of Colonel Potter's family in MAS*H.
Initially, Potter's only child was a son, whose wife had a daughter.
But as the series progressed, Potter suddenly had a grandson named Cory who grew from a
newborn to a five-year-old in the blink of an eye.
Strangely, by the end of the series, Potter's child had become a daughter, and her husband
was the one visiting Potter at the 4077th.
Hawkeye’s Ever-Changing Backstory
Hawkeye's backstory is a bit of a rollercoaster throughout the series.
At first, he hails from Vermont with both parents still alive, a married sister who
sends him a giant homemade sweater, and a nephew.
But as the show progresses, we see a different side of him.
Hawkeye now claims Crabapple Cove, Maine, as his hometown, and he's an only child whose
mother passed away when he was around 10 years old.
BJ’s Equally Confusing History
BJ's daughter Erin's age seems to fluctuate throughout the series.
At times, she appears to be a young toddler, while in other episodes she seems to be a
newborn.
It's as if time is playing tricks on the characters, making it difficult to keep track of Erin's
age.
Nonetheless, BJ and his family soldier on, navigating the challenges of military life
with a little bit of humor and a lot of love.
Too Hot To Handle
If Frank Burns and Hot Lips Houlihan had carried out their love affair in the 1950s, when the
show was set, it would have been much more scandalous and fraught with legal implications
than it was during the 1970s and 1980s, when the show aired.
Given Frank's married status, military laws prohibiting adultery would have been a major
issue, possibly leading to their dismissal from service or a prompt end to their affair.
M*A*S*H is without a doubt one of the most influential and groundbreaking television
series to make its debut in the 1970s.
That being said, there were more bloopers, continuity mistakes, and anachronistic blunders
featured in the show than we count.
At the end of the day, however, none of these little blips and glitches detracted from the
show’s overall appeal.
Can you think of any other bloopers from M*A*S*H that we failed to touch on and do you think
that the writers of the show realized that they were frequently contradicting themselves
and referencing pop culture items that didn’t fit within the show’s timeline?
Let us know in the comments.
And as always, thanks for watching!