M*A*S*H (season 6)

Last updated

M*A*S*H
Season 6
No. of episodes25
Release
Original network CBS
Original releaseSeptember 20, 1977 (1977-09-20) 
March 27, 1978 (1978-03-27)
Season chronology
 Previous
Season 5
Next 
Season 7
List of episodes

The sixth season of M*A*S*H aired Tuesdays at 9:00-9:30PM from September 20, 1977 to January 24, 1978 and Mondays at the same time from January 30 to March 27, 1978.

Contents

Cast

ActorRole
Alan Alda Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
Mike Farrell Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt
Harry Morgan Col. Sherman T. Potter
Loretta Swit Maj. Margaret Houlihan
David Ogden Stiers Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III
Gary Burghoff Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly
Jamie Farr Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger
William Christopher Lt. Father Francis Mulcahy

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [n 1] Directed by [n 2] Written by [n 2] Original air dateProd.
code [n 3]
1231"Fade Out, Fade In" Hy Averback Jim Fritzell & Everett Greenbaum September 20, 1977 (1977-09-20)Y-101
1242Y-102

The 4077th acquires Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III as a replacement surgeon when Frank does not return from R&R. Margaret returns from her honeymoon in a bad mood. Frank (off screen) is later transferred to the a Veteran's Hospital in Indiana, United States and promoted to lieutenant colonel.

This is the first episode featuring David Ogden Stiers as Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III.

Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum received a Writers Guild Award nomination for this episode.

Guest stars Rick Hurst and Robert Symonds (who plays Colonel Horace Baldwin, who sends Winchester from Tokyo to Korea and will play the charactor again, as a lieutenant colonel, in the season 9 episode "No Laughing Matter").
1253"Fallen Idol" Alan Alda Alan AldaSeptember 27, 1977 (1977-09-27)Y-104
Hawkeye blames himself for Radar getting wounded, then lashes out at him.
Alan Alda received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for writing this episode.
1264"Last Laugh" Don Weis Everett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellOctober 4, 1977 (1977-10-04)Y-103

James Cromwell guest stars as an old friend of B.J.'s who plays a practical joke on him.

Note – David Ogden Stiers does not appear in this episode.
1275"War of Nerves"Alan AldaAlan AldaOctober 11, 1977 (1977-10-11)Y-106

Sidney returns to the 4077th as a casualty, but stays a little longer when personal clashes jeopardize morale at the camp.

Guest Star Michael O'Keefe
1286"The Winchester Tapes" Burt Metcalfe Everett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellOctober 18, 1977 (1977-10-18)Y-107
Charles records a message to his parents describing the antics of the 4077th.
1297"The Light That Failed" Charles Dubin Burt PrelutskyOctober 25, 1977 (1977-10-25)Y-108

The members of the 4077th read "The Rooster Crowed at Midnight" by Abigail Porterfield, a murder mystery by candlelight due to a shortage of light bulbs, but find that the last page - with the solution to the crime - is missing. Also, Charles administers the wrong medicine to a patient in the poor lighting and Hawkeye and B.J. both give him a piece of their mind.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
1308"In Love and War"Alan AldaAlan AldaNovember 1, 1977 (1977-11-01)Y-112

Hawkeye falls for a Korean aristocrat who's helping refugees, while Margaret suspects Donald of cheating on her.
Kieu Chinh was a famous actress and talk-show host in South Vietnam before the country collapsed in 1975.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
1319"Change Day"Don Weis Laurence Marks November 8, 1977 (1977-11-08)Y-113

Hawkeye and B.J. try to foil Charles' scheme to get rich off an upcoming scrip exchange at the base, while Klinger surprises everyone by taking the entrance exam for West Point.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
13210"Images"Burt MetcalfeBurt PrelutskyNovember 15, 1977 (1977-11-15)Y-105
Margaret tries to kick a soft-hearted nurse (Susan Blanchard) out of the Army until an accident on the compound exposes her own soft side; a heavily-tattooed patient inspires Radar to consider getting a tattoo himself.
13311"The M*A*S*H Olympics"Don Weis Ken Levine & David Isaacs November 22, 1977 (1977-11-22)Y-111

To get the 4077th fit, Potter organizes the M*A*S*H Olympics with Hawkeye and B.J. as captains of two teams and Margaret's visiting husband Donald to stand in on B.J.'s team.

Notes – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode. Events of the episode take place during the 1952 Summer Olympics.
13412"The Grim Reaper"George TyneBurt PrelutskyNovember 29, 1977 (1977-11-29)Y-110

Hawkeye is furious at a colonel, aptly named Bloodworth (Charles Aidman), who seems to enjoy predicting casualties. But then he becomes a patient and witnesses Hawkeye's skills. Klinger bonds with a patient from his hometown.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
13513"Comrades in Arms: Part 1"Burt Metcalfe and Alan AldaAlan AldaDecember 6, 1977 (1977-12-06)Y-116

The 4077th starts to worry when Hawkeye and Margaret get lost in enemy territory on the way to another M*A*S*H unit.
Burt Metcalfe and Alan Alda were nominated for Primetime Emmy and Directors Guild Awards for this episode.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
13614"Comrades in Arms: Part 2"Alan Alda and Burt MetcalfeAlan AldaDecember 13, 1977 (1977-12-13)Y-117

A harrowing night in enemy territory brings Hawkeye and Margaret into each other's arms, but it doesn't take long for them to drive each other crazy.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
13715"The Merchant of Korea"William JurgensenKen Levine & David IsaacsDecember 20, 1977 (1977-12-20)Y-118
When payday is delayed, B.J. and Hawkeye become indebted to Charles. So they challenge him to a poker game to win it back.
13816"The Smell of Music" Stuart Millar Jim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumJanuary 3, 1978 (1978-01-03)Y-115

Hawkeye and B.J. go to extremes to get Charles off the French horn, particularly by not bathing. Meanwhile, Col. Potter keeps a suicide watch on a patient with a facial wound.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
13917"Patent 4077" Harry Morgan Ken Levine & David IsaacsJanuary 10, 1978 (1978-01-10)Y-114

Hawkeye turns to a local merchant (Keye Luke) for a special surgical clamp, while Margaret tries to find her wedding ring.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
14018"Tea and Empathy"Don Weis Bill Idelson January 17, 1978 (1978-01-17)Y-109

Penicillin is stolen while wounded British soldiers are being treated in the OR and Hawkeye clashes with the regiment's commander (Bernard Fox). B.J. must contend with a private who has become addicted to morphine.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
14119"Your Hit Parade"George Tyne Ronny Graham January 24, 1978 (1978-01-24)Y-124
A stack of records arrives in camp and Radar becomes a DJ by playing them over the P.A. system to calm everyone's nerves during a long OR session. Meanwhile, with the many casualties taking up space around the compound, Charles struggles to find a place to sleep. Gribble, a drunk and trypanophobic sergeant (played by episode writer Ronny Graham), is coerced by Hawkeye and B.J. into giving his blood in a blood transfusion.
14220"What's Up, Doc?"George TyneLarry BalmagiaJanuary 30, 1978 (1978-01-30)Y-119
Margaret confides to Hawkeye that she might be pregnant, and they perform surgery on Radar's pet rabbit Fluffy in order to perform a rabbit test. At the same time, a wounded soldier and art major named Lieutenant Martinson (Charles Frank) tries to obtain a chopper so he can return home to Ohio, taking Charles hostage at gunpoint in order for his demands to be met.
14321"Mail Call Three"Charles DubinEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellFebruary 6, 1978 (1978-02-06)Y-121
A third batch of mail from home brings Hawkeye a letter meant for another Benjamin Pierce and unsettling news for others in the camp.
14422"Temporary Duty"Burt MetcalfeLarry BalmagiaFebruary 13, 1978 (1978-02-13)Y-125
A boorish doctor (George Lindsey) and a fun-loving nurse (Marcia Rodd) - who is a longtime friend of Margaret's - from the 8063rd are sent to the 4077th for temporary duty as part of an exchange program.
14523"Potter's Retirement"William JurgensenLaurence MarksFebruary 20, 1978 (1978-02-20)Y-120
Potter considers retirement when someone within his camp files critical reports about his command. George Wyner guests.
14624"Dr. Winchester and Mr. Hyde"Charles DubinKen Levine & David Isaacs and Ronny GrahamFebruary 27, 1978 (1978-02-27)Y-122
Charles gets hooked on pep pills while Radar challenges some wounded Marines to a mouse race.
14725"Major Topper"Charles DubinAllyn FreemanMarch 27, 1978 (1978-03-27)Y-123
Klinger welcomes a new guy (Hamilton Camp) who's crazier than he is, while the surgeons have to use sugar pills as a placebo when the only morphine they have is suspected to be toxic. In addition, Hawkeye and B.J. try to match Charles tall story for tall story, only for the latter to beat them at every turn.

Notes

  1. Titles taken from DVD
  2. 1 2 Credits from episode title cards
  3. Production Code from end credits

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