26. 5 O'Clock Charlie

September 22, 1973 (K-403)

Written by: Larry Gelbart and Laurence Marks
Directed by: Norman Tokar
Guest Stars: Corey Fisher as Captain Phil Cardozo. Sarah Fankboner as Nurse Klein.
Semi-regulars: Kellye Nakahara as Nurse Kellye. William Christopher as Father Mulcahy. Odessa Cleveland as Nurse Ginger. Herb Voland as General Clayton. Gail Bowman as Nurse Powell. Deborah Newman as Nurse Richards.

Plot: The camp's new hobby is placing bets on the ineptitude of a regular incompetent air bomber, '5 O'Clock Charlie', who is trying to blow up an ammo dump that has been stored near the camp. After Burns muscles in with a phone call, General Clayton (who is also betting on Charlie, and losing) comes down to see if Charlie is enough to justify giving the 4077th an anti-aircraft gun. When the General's jeep is blown up by Charlie, he agrees, to the displeasure of Hawk 'n' Trap, who think that putting all this combat gear around the place is just attracting attention that the patients could live without. They finally hit on the idea of getting Charlie to blow up the dump, which will get rid of Burns's anit-aircraft gun. Despite the boys putting a big bullseye on top of it, Charlie still misses the dump, but Burns's soldiers, trying to hit Charlie, blow it up themselves.

Glitches: While talking to Burns in his office, Henry has a Japanese doll that leaves his hands between shots.
When Burns is organising the platoon of soldiers to guard the gun and they fall into line, between shots the soldier furthest from us goes from slightly in front of the others to slightly behind.
Does Cardozo live in the Swamp? Seems that way when the boys are discussing what to do about Burns.
How does Burns deduce that the clock has been tampered with just by looking at it? It shows exactly the time he thinks it should be.

Great Lines: Hot Lips: 'Frank, give them a direct order!' Hawkeye: 'Oh, do, Frank - we've never ignored one of those.'
General Clayton: 'Learnt it from the Germans.' Hawkeye: 'Great, now we're taking lessons from the losers.'
Burns, organising individual roles amongst the three-strong guard unit: 'You will be platoon leader, you will be squad leader, and you...' (big pause) '...will be the squad.'
Hawkeye offers Cardozo a drink, to which he replies, 'Well, in the States, I promised my wife that I wouldn't have a drink or another woman till I get back to her.' Hawkeye: 'That's nice.' Cardozo: 'Gimme a blast... Make it a short one, I got a date tonight.'

They All Look the Same to Me: Have we met Lloyd Kino since?

Je ne parle Korean...do I? We never find out just what Burns would have done if that solider hadn't revealed he spoke English.

Notes: Radar is somewhat homophobic (witness his reaction to Hawkeye after he says, 'Are you one?').

Comments: Everyone making a big deal about Charlie is pretty funny, but the episode seems to drop off somewhat after that (except for the running gag about Burns' sidearm). Although I think this might be the first time that Father Mulcahy enters a contest of some sort and doesn't win (guess even the Almighty can't suss out 5 O'Clock Charlie).

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