My M*A*S*H Challenge, The Conclusion

Late last week, I achieved my goal of watching all 11 seasons and 251 episodes of M*A*S*H. I was able to do this in less than six months. The show that reminded us that war is hell, while making us laugh on occasion, has become one of my favourites.

Following from Part 2 of my blog series, here are my top episodes from the remaining six seasons:

Season 6: “Fade Out, Fade In” (1977)

The one-hour Season 6 opener introduces a new surgeon to the 4077, Maj. Charles E. Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers). The character was created for the series after Larry Linville, the actor who played Maj. Frank Burns, decided to leave following Season 5. It also signaled the series' transition from being a comedy-driven show to a serio-comical show, or dramedy.

Season 7: “Point of View” (1978)

One of the series’ most innovative episodes is seen from a wounded soldier’s point of view. What I also like about it is that it doesn’t contain an annoying laugh track!

Season 8: "Life Time" (1979)

Another innovate episode shows the surgical team frantically working to save the life of a severely injured soldier not far from the MASH unit. What makes this episode innovative is that most of the story is told in real time, with a clock ticking at the bottom right hand of the screen.

Season 9: "The Life You Save" (1981)

By Season 9, the series was starting to show its age. This season's finale is one of the stronger episodes from this late period. Winchester, who often appears self-centered and unapproachable, has a deep, spiritual experience when he is almost killed by a sniper. He then becomes obsessed with death, and starts talking to soldiers who have gone through near-death experiences.

Season 10: "Where There's a Will, There's a War" (1982)

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is unable to leave an aid station due to heavy shelling. Fearing that he may not return alive, he starts making out his Last Will and Testament. Scenes with his co-workers and friends are shown as he makes his bequeaths.

Season 11: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" (1983)

The two-hour-plus series finale, directed and co-written by Alan Alda, is set in the final days of the Korean War. The main plot involves Hawkeye seeing psychiatrst Dr. Freedman (Allan Arbus) following a traumatic incident on a bus. Meanwhile, Klinger (Jamie Farr) helps a Korean woman look for her family, BJ (Mike Farrell) is discharged and an explosion gives Fr. Mulcahy (William Christopher) some hearing loss. There's also a story where Winchester teaches some North Korean musicians how to play classical music. The whole episode runs the gamut of emotions, and I'm satisfied with the series' conclusion. "Goodbye" still holds the record for being the most-watched TV show finale ever. (Coincidentally, the 30th anniversary of its initial broadcast is this Thursday, February 28.)

Honourable mentions include “The Merchant of Korea” (S6), “The Smell of Music” (S6), “The Party” (S7), “Rally 'Round the Flagg, Boys” (S7), "Inga" (S7), “Good-Bye Radar" (S8), "Dreams" (S8), "Blood Brothers" (S9), "Death Takes a Holiday" (S9), "Blood and Guts" (S10), "The Tooth Shall Set You Free" (S10) and "As Time Goes By" (S11).

My final M*A*S*H blog will focus on my thoughts on the series, along with the top 10 best episodes.

My M*A*S*H Challenge, Part II

Back in November, I wrote a blog on how I became a latecomer to the old TV series M*A*S*H. In September, I started watching it on a regular basis, beginning with the pilot episode. (I also watched the movie that led to the development of the TV series.) My goal was to see all 11 seasons of the series over a six-month period.

I’m happy to report that I am on track, save for a brief lag during the Christmas period. To date, I have seen 169 out of the 251 episodes in order of broadcast. That’s all of seasons one to seven. I even took in a handful of episodes outside of those seven seasons, including “Good-Bye Radar” (Season 8) and “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” (Season 11).

Here are my top episodes from the first five seasons:

Season 1: “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” (1973)
One of the best episodes of the show’s early years is one of the first to strike a perfect balance between comedy and drama. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) meets up with a childhood friend who enlists in the army so he can write about his experiences in the Korean War. The main plot ends tragically when his friend dies on the operating table. This leads Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) to console Hawkeye with one of M*A*S*H’s greatest lines of dialogue. Ron Howard makes a memorable cameo as an underage soldier.

Season 2: “Deal Me Out” (1973)
Most of the episode revolves around a poker game disguised as an officers’ conference. John Ritter guests as a fatigued officer who at one point threatens to kill Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville). The hospital’s psychiatrist Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus) intervenes to help the irate officer. Pat Morita also guests as an officer. Edward Winter makes his series debut as Capt. Halloran. He would later return as the paranoid Col. Sam Flagg.

Season 3: “Abyssinia, Henry” (1975)
Blake is discharged and makes plans to return home. Hawkeye and Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) throw a drunken farewell party for him. There’s also a touching parting exchange between Blake and Radar (Gary Burghoff). Shortly after Blake leaves, his plane is shot down over the Sea of Japan, killing everyone on board. The decision to drop Blake came when McLean Stevenson decided to pursue other projects. This was also the last series appearance of Wayne Rogers and his Trapper John character.

Season 4: “The Interview” (1976)
Real-life news reporter Clete Roberts hosted one of the series’ most innovative episodes by ‘visiting’ the 4077 MASH unit. The entire episode is presented as a documentary, filmed in black and white. It has the hospital team discussing how the war has changed their lives. This was the last episode produced and written by the series’ creator, Larry Gelbart.

Season 5: “Dear Sigmund” (1976)
This episode centres on Dr. Freedman expressing his observations on life at the swamp in a letter addressed to his long-deceased idol, Sigmund Freud. He writes this letter as a means of recovering from a deep depression. It is during this process that he helps BJ Hunnicut (Mike Farrell) pull off a clever prank against Burns. Alan Alda wrote and directed this episode, and considers it one of his favourites. It’s one of mine, too.

Honourable mentions include “The Pilot” (S1), “Tuttle” (S1), “5 O’Clock Charlie” (S2), “Big Mac” (S3), “The General Flipped at Dawn” (S3), “The Novocaine Mutiny” (S4), “Welcome to Korea” (S4) and “Movie Tonight” (S5).

My next M*A*S*H blog will focus on the final seasons, and my impressions of the series as a whole. Time to “bug out” for now.

RIP Conrad Bain

My M*A*S*H Challenge

Two months ago, at the beginning of September, the famous TV comedy-drama series M*A*S*H celebrated its 40th anniversary. It was also around this time that I started watching it regularly, right from the first episode. I'd known about M*A*S*H for a long time, and remember glancing at the reruns as a kid, including the epic finale. I even had some of the action figures and the jeep.

However I wasn't a fan, mainly because I couldn't understand its content or premise. Now, nearly 30 years after the last episode aired, I found myself hooked. It was worth the long wait.

M*A*S*H is a fictionalized version of the Korean War that lasted from 1950 to 1953, told from the point of view of medics at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. M*A*S*H started as a novel before Robert Altman turned it into a hugely-successful movie in 1970. The TV series, starring Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff and Jamie Farr, resulted from the movie's success. It was so popular that it lasted for 11 seasons, from 1972 to 1983 - nearly four times as long as the real Korean War!

The movie with Donald Sutherland, Elliott Gould, Sally Kellerman and Gary Burghoff shows the dark side of war in a satirical tone. So far I've seen almost four of the 11 seasons on History TV Canada. I've also watched some of the later episodes, including "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" in its entirety.

I enthusiastically took up the challenge of watching all 251 episodes of this classic TV show. It will likely take me until March 2013 to see it all.

There will be more M*A*S*H in my blog, but for now, as the Col. Henry Blake character would say, "abyssinia."

My 10 favourite songs by Chicago

"Beginnings" (from Chicago Transit Authority, 1969)

Robert Lamm wrote and sung this ballad for their first album. He writes in the liner notes to The Best of Chicago (2007) that it came about after hearing Richie Havens play in a club one night. Robert was so taken with the acoustic guitar sound that it motivated him to write lyrics to a song that didn't rhyme. I believe it resulted in one of the group's most affecting love songs. "Beginnings" topped Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart when reissued in 1971.

"Make Me Smile" (from Chicago, aka Chicago II, 1970)

Sung by their late, great guitarist Terry Kath, it is the first movement of the epic "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" piece composed by their trombonist, James Pankow. The version most people are probably familiar with is the edited single version, which I like just as much as the longer album track. "Make Me Smile" became Chicago's first major hit, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.

"25 or 6 to 4" (from Chicago, aka Chicago II, 1970)

I think most people who listen to rock music know this song. Robert wrote this song about writing a song. Though Peter Cetera sings lead, Terry lends a lengthy guitar solo that makes it a classic. Chicago re-recorded "25 or 6 to 4" (sans Terry and Peter) in 1986 (for Chicago 18) and 2009. The original reached #4 on Billboard in 1970.

"Saturday in the Park" (from Chicago V, 1972)

Written and sung by Robert, the park in question is Central Park in New York City. He wrote it based on the images he filmed of people in the park. Its euphoric nature makes it easy to understand why it gets performed at all of their concerts. The crowd goes wild every time it's performed!

"Feelin' Stronger Every Day" (from Chicago VI, 1973)

Peter and James composed this uplifting rocker for their sixth album. The second half of the song is very catchy and it always leaves me feeling joyful, even when I’m down.

"(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" (from Chicago VII, 1974)

I think this song represents one of their most spiritual moments on record. James wrote it to describe the inner peace he felt at the time. I have a hunch they all felt the same way collectively, since they were churning out one hit album and single after another during their mid-70s peak.

"If You Leave Me Now" (from Chicago X, 1976)

This is the monster ballad in Chicago’s catalogue that put them on the map internationally, so to speak. This last-minute addition to their 10th album propelled Peter and the group to gain a wider audience, and eventually led their transition from album-oriented rock to the adult contemporary market. The song topped charts in several countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and Australia.

"Hard Habit to Break" (from Chicago 17, 1984)

This very dramatic ballad is one that I think a lot of people can relate to. Peter and Bill Champlin each give soulful and heartfelt deliveries in a song composed by outside writers. Incidentally, their 17th album is Peter’s last before going solo full-time.

"If She Would Have Been Faithful..." (from Chicago 18, 1986)

One of the more original-sounding love songs I’ve heard, it is performed by Bill and Jason Scheff, the tenor singer and bass player who replaced Peter in 1985. The song has irony in that the title suggests it's going to be melancholy, when it's really about a guy celebrating the new love he found. It therefore makes the break-up of his previous relationship a blessing in disguise.

"Love Will Come Back" (from Chicago XXX, 2006)

I love this song which barely got noticed when released in 2006. The original version from their 30th album features a guest appearance from country group Rascal Flatts. Though it is good, the version I like more is the one with Chicago by themselves. You can find this recording on The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition, album XXXI (31) in their official canon.

My 10 favourite episodes of Archie Bunker's Place

Following up on my blog on All in the Family, I thought I would count down my 10 favourite episodes of Archie Bunker’s Place. This series continued the adventures of Archie Bunker, from 1979 until its cancellation in 1983. In this series, Archie and Edith raise their step-niece Stephanie Mills (Brisebois) after her father abandons her. Most of the action, however, revolves around Archie’s bar and grill, where he forms an unlikely partnership with Jewish liberal Murray Klein, played by Martin Balsam.

Carroll O’Connor and Danielle Brisebois were its two main stars, along with a rotating supporting cast that included Balsam, Anne Meara, Denise Miller and Barry Gordon. Jean Stapleton plays Edith Bunker during its first season before moving on to other TV and film projects.

Though Archie Bunker’s Place may not be as remembered as its predecessor, it is entertaining and has its own set of charms worth recommending. Reruns have been airing all year on DejaView in Canada.

Here are my top 10 favourite episodes:

10. "Three Women" (1983, Season 4)

Archie takes Stephanie to visit her grandmother (Celeste Holm) and her catty housekeeper (played wonderfully by Night Court’s Selma Diamond). However, Archie is forced to stay when his truck breaks down. The visit goes sour when Stephanie gets upset at her grandmother for refusing to talk about her late mother. I like this one because it ties up loose ends on Stephanie’s past.

9. "The Return of Sammy" (1980, Season 1)

A fun reunion occurs when Archie meets up with Sammy Davis Jr. again, this time at the restaurant owned by Archie and Murray. Sammy arrives upon learning that Archie is raising Stephanie, whose mother was Jewish. Archie saves Sammy’s life when he chokes on a plate of ribs at the restaurant. Much of the story has clever references to Sammy’s previous visit in the classic All in the Family episode, “Sammy’s Visit.”

8. "Tough Love" (1981, Season 2)

Veronica Rooney (Meara), Archie’s cook, hits rock bottom when her frequent drinking starts to take its toll. Archie and Murray advise her to get help, but her drinking habit gets in the way and she almost loses her job. Archie is the one to apply tough love on her, creating intensity near the end. Veronica’s drinking problem is implied in other episodes, but this is the first of two where her alcoholism is dealt with head-on.

7. "Death of a Lodger" (1982, Season 3)

Don Rickles guest stars as a boarder for Archie’s pal Barney (Allan Melvin) when he has trouble paying the bills. The arrangement doesn’t work out however, and before Barney can convince him to leave, he dies. Rickles basically plays his comedic alter ego by supplying his trademark comic insults and put-downs.

6. "The Incident" (1980, Season 2)

During Archie’s first Christmas without Edith, his newly-hired housekeeper Ellen Canby (Barbara Meek) is verbally harassed at the supermarket for being a black woman. Archie, in a rare show of liberalism, punches the man, a lodge brother. Archie is then threatened with expulsion from the lodge. Archie demonstrates, through this incident, that he respects Ellen and the help she gives to him and Stephanie.

5. "Reggie-3, Archie-0" (1982, Season 3)

Baseball star Reggie Jackson threatens to sue Archie when one of Archie’s staff accidentally damages his limo. Archie, who does not have insurance, spends much of the time trying to persuade Jackson to let him off easy. I sense that Reggie, like Sammy, was also a fan of All in the Family.

4 & 3. (tie) "Thanksgiving Reunion, Parts 1 & 2" (1979, Season 1)

Archie and Edith welcome their daughter Gloria, son-in-law Mike and grandson Joey back for a Thanksgiving reunion. Calamity ensues when Mike tells Archie that he was fired from his job in California for streaking in protest over the building of a nuclear power plant. This is the last time we see O’Connor and Stapleton act alongside their All in the Family co-stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers. It’s also the last time Reiner would play the Meathead.

2 & 1. (tie) "Archie Alone, Parts 1 & 2" (1980, Season 2)

This may be the most important episode of Archie Bunker’s Place, and also the saddest. The story begins a month after Edith dies of a stroke in her sleep. Archie’s decision to carry on living as though nothing happened hurts his relations with Stephanie, and with his colleagues at the bar. The most emotional moment is at the end, when Archie breaks down and admits he needs help adjusting to life without his beloved ‘dingbat.’ Edith was written out at the start of season two because Stapleton felt the character had reached its potential. Producer and show creator Norman Lear took the news hard. When Stapleton reminded him that Edith was a fictional character and not a real person, he said, “Not to me she isn’t.” O’Connor won Emmy and Peabody awards for this episode.

My All in the Family DVD collection (so far)