24. Showtime

March 25, 1973 (J-324)

Written by: Robert Klane and Larry Gelbart
Directed by: Jackie Cooper
Guest Stars: Joey Forman as Jackie Flash. Stanley Clay as the driver. Oksun Kim as the Korean woman. And the Miller Sisters - Marilyn King, Jean Turrell and Joan Lucksinger.
Semi-regulars: Harvey J Goldenberg as Kaplan. William Christopher as Father Mulcahy. John Orchard as Ugly John. Sheila Lauritsen as a Nurse.

Plot: During a particularly lame entertainment visit, the gang think about their experiences at the 4077th: Hawkeye reflects on his arguments with Burns. Trapper recalls difficulties in surgery. Henry thinks about his nervously waiting for news of the birth of his child. Hawkeye and Kaplan discuss the latter's being shipped home - Kaplan is very worried that he'll be injured or killed before he gets to leave. Mulcahy is having difficulties understanding his place in the camp, and is uncertain that he's doing any good. Burns plays practical jokes on Hawkeye, including booby-trapping the still, setting up a bucket of water on a trip-wire, and re-wiring the plumbing in the shower tent so that Hawkeye can't get a shower. Henry is depressed when his son is born all the way back in the USA. Trapper's difficult patient is almost dead when Father Mulcahy's touch revives him. Kaplan leaves but has an accident in a jeep. Radar arranges for Henry to hold a local baby because he can't hold his own, which makes him feel better. Hawkeye finally gets his own back on Burns for the practical jokes by dismantling the latrine when Burns is in there.

Glitches: Where does Father Mulcahy go halfway through the concert? It looks like the woman who beckons him leads him into the next scene, but that takes place in the past.

BIMOL: Hot Lips is very underused this episode.

Great Lines: Henry: 'He could deliver a baby with his eyes shut.' Radar: 'That's the only way I'd do it.'
Henry: 'Can't she speak English, Radar?' Radar: 'No. But it's nice you could smile in Korean.' Aaawwwww...

The Klinger Collection: Klinger himself doesn't actually turn up, but Burns's mauve bathrobe deserves an honourable (horrible) mention.

Continuity is for Wimps: Frank Burns is playing practical jokes? Off his own bat?
If Henry has been in Korea less than nine months, right from the start, and was the reason the 4077th got together, then how could Tuttle have been in the war for 14 months? (I'm gonna stop listing these soon or this section will end up being bigger than the rest of the guide put together).

They All Look the Same to Me: Oksun Kim as the mother. I don't think she turns up again, but you can't be too sure.

Je ne parle Korean...do I? It's unclear whether or not Radar understands the Korean mother, but Henry certainly can't.

Suction: 1.

Notes: Kaplan is definitely meant to be the guy you get when you can't afford Woody Allen, I think. Not as good as the real thing, I'm afraid.
Henry has been in Korea less than nine months (hopefully!). His family lives in Bloomington, Illinois. He has (as of this episode) three children, the third being a son.
Radar plays the drums quite well in the band's rendition of Big Noise From Winnetka. (See 18. Dear Dad - Again).

Comments: Fairly lacklustre - the format of a letter-to-home episode without any of the character appeal or charm. The concert isn't as personable as a letter, and the background story doesn't hold up on its own, though it was very funny to see Hawkeye getting his revenge on Burns. On the whole this episode wasn't up to much as a season final - it doesn't do much compared to (for example) the end of Season 3 (Abyssinia Henry) or Season 4 (The Interview)

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