6. Yankee Doodle Doctor

October 22, 1972 (J-310)

Written by: Laurence Marks
Directed by: Lee Philips
Guest Stars: Ed Flanders as Lt Bricker. Bert Kramer as Sgt Martin. Tom Sparks as the Corpsman.
Semi-regulars: Herb Voland as Brigadier General Clayton. Marcia Strassman as Lt Cutler.

Plot: General Clayton is having a documentary film made about the Korean War, with a focus on the 4077th. When Hawkeye and Trapper discover that it's to be a jingoistic load of propaganda, they decide to destroy the General's film and re-shoot it in their own style, starring Hawkeye as the Yankee Doodle Doctor (a la Groucho Marx, with Trapper as Harpo and Radar as the hapless patient. Nurse Cutler takes a moderately Zeppo-esque role as well, so I guess that makes the General Chico). General Clayton is slightly chastised, but still enthusiastic, and decides to have the film remade.

Glitches: Hawkeye asks Trapper for a wrench and gets given a spanner. Subtle but significant difference.

Great Lines: Henry: 'You guys opened his cans!' Hawkeye (offended): 'I haven't opened a can since I was an intern.'
The PA, about the film: '...Yankee Doodle Doctor! With a cast of several!'

Continuity is for Wimps: Radar prancing about in his underwear? In public? On film?!?

Notes: Burns took drama at high school.

Comments: This was just a little too moralistic for my taste. All worthwhile, though, for the film, which is quite hilarious. A number of extremely old, bad and very funny Doctor jokes turn up in grand style. And General Clayton is always worth seeing an episode for, as was Burns's amateur dramatics.

Previous episode
Next episode
Back to the Virgin's Guide to M*A*S*H main page
Back to episode listings