Did you watch the Mash weekend extravaganza a couple of weeks ago on History Channel number 45? The mega-popular television series, which ran from 1972 to 1983 was inspired by the American Satirical comedy movie of the same name directed by Robert Altman, and was a rousing success.
The 4077 Mash unit was one of several Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals stationed amongst the rugged battlefields of the Korean War. As well as tending to the hundreds of causalities from both sides on a 24-7 basis, the exhuberant team of Doctors, nurses, and support staff always found time to assist the battle-scared villages around them, as well as occasionally letting loose to ease the stress, and constantly trying to figure out each other’s wild and totally unpredictable personalities and off-the-wall habits. One of the most watched action series in television history, Mash was filmed in the mountainous regions near Malibu, California and Calabasas, Los Angeles; and vivid special effects included a constant onslaught of choppers, tanks, jeeps, and mortar fire.
For those of us from that era we will never forget those great-featured stars, and their fabulous supporting cast? Household hero’s included: Allan Alda (Hawkeye), Wayne Rogers (Trapper John), McLean Stevenson (Lt. Colonel Henry Blake), Loretta Swit (Margaret ‘hot-lips’ Houlihan), and Larry Linville as Major Frank Burns. Then there was Gary Burghoff as Radar O’Reilly (whose buddy Teddy Bear sold for $11,500 after the show was over), William Christopher as the soft-spoken Father Mulcahy (who really had to depend on his faith and humour to understand this crew!), Jamie Farr as the infamous Klinger (who looked just as good in a dress as in uniform), Harry Morgan as the fatherly Colonel Potter, and David Ogden Steers as stuffed shirt Major Charles Winchester 2nd, who performed his best surgery accompanied by opera music.
Mash was always a “sit down-be quiet- and watch” weekly half hour event at our house; and my dad, who just turned 90 and served in the British Army Medical Corp. in India during the second World War, still gets all wrapped up in the re-runs. When the series finally came to and end on Feb. 28, 1985 a total of 105 million viewers laughed and cried as they watched the Mash crew perform their last life and death session of tent surgery, then said their fond farewells to a host of friends and foes, and headed back home to a new life.
For those of you who were to young and missed the ‘Mash mayhem’ you can still catch all the action on History Channel re-runs, or even purchase the entire 251 wacky episodes by browsing for M.A.S.H. on the Internet. I would call it a great family show, as there are lots of laughs, super story lines, and no bad language.
Humour corner!
A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet and romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table and happily announced, “For being such an exemplary married couple and for being so loving to each for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.”
The wife quickly answered, ‘Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.’ The fairy waved her magic wand, and poof…two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.
The husband thought for a long moment, then replied: ‘Well, this is all so very romantic, but an opportunity like this will quite likely never come again.’ ‘I’m sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me!’
Both the wife and the fairy were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish. So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof…. the husband became 92 years old. The moral of this story: Ungrateful men should always remember that fairies are female!
The $2.99 special
A couple went to breakfast at a restaurant where the ‘seniors’ special’ was two eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast for $2.99. ‘Sounds great,’ the wife stated, but I don’t want the eggs.’
‘Then, I’ll have to charge you $3.49 because you are ordering a-la-carte,’ the waitress warned her. ‘You mean I would have to pay for not taking the eggs?’ the lady asked incredulously, and the waitress nodded her head.
‘I’ll take the special then,’ the lady decided with a gleam in her eye. ‘How do you want your eggs?’ the waitress asked. ‘Raw and in the shell,’ she replied; and then after thoroughly enjoying her $2.99 breakfast took the two eggs home and baked a cake! The moral of this story: Never try to fool a senior, especially early in the morning! Maybe February is going out like a Lion, and March will come in like a lamb? Only time will tell, but in between time, have a great week, all of you.