Customer Reviews

M*A*S*H - TV Season Five - 3 Tape Boxed Set [VHS]

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most shows after a few seasons being to lose their impetus, but MASH proved to be one of those shows that proved the complete opposite, and especially with the fifth season.

By now Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman T. Potter and Mike Farrell as Captain B.J Hunnicutt were now fully settled in to the full cast as this was their second season. This series would prove significant for two cast members, this was to be Larry Linville's last season as Major Frank Burns and William Christopher's first season as a full cast member as Father Francis J. Mulcahy. I find this strange that they waited until this season to make him so, as he had been there since the first season.

My favouite epsiodes from this season includes the one-hour show to open the season "Bug Out" in which the camp had to move en-masse while Hawkeye, BJ and Margaret had to operate on a patient with spinal injuries. "The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan" in which it is rumoured that Hotlips had been abducted and the appearance of the loony CIA man Colonel Flagg wanting to invade North Korea as a result. "Dear Sigmund" of more in the next paragraph. "Mulchay's War" in which was the first episode where Father Mulcahy played the significant part of him doubting his effectiveness in the camp, and "Movie Tonight" where they watch a bad copy of My Darling Clementine and the entertainment that takes place when projectionist Klinger has to repair it.

The episode that is one of the very best episodes in all 251 episodes is "Dear Sigmund", significant in that the main character and narrator in this episode is Dr Sydney Freedman played by Allan Arbus. Suffering from depression after the suicide of a patient and writing as a form of self-therapy to Sigmund Freud, he watches how the 4077th observes how they cope with the pressures of war, and the paves the way in the future when the originator of a series of practical jokes reveals himself near the end.

This episode written and directed by Alan Alda shows him by this stage becoming a huge part behind the scenes on the show, but in this episode does not show him taking center stage, which anyone who knows the history of the show, knows that is typical of Alan alda realising that is a ensemble show. It was also of no surprise that "Dear Sigmund" won him the 1977 Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, 1977 Director's Guild Award, and 1977 Writer's Guild Award. An episode and season well worth recommending.

This was the final season for one of the actors, Larry Linville, who played Major Frank Burns. Linville claimed that he went as far as he could in making this character look like an azz. Unlike the first four seasons (and the movie, too), Frank doesn't get to sleep around with Major Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan in this season. Two episodes into this season, Margaret gets engaged, and in the final episode of the season: Margaret gets married, with Frank acting as best man for the groom.

This was the second season for two of the actors: Mike Farrell (who played BJ Hunnicut) and Harry Morgan (who played Col. Potter). It being their second season on the show, it was easier for them to find their characters' humor and their seriousness, when needed. It really added some more to the show. In season four, they were just starting out.

This season featured some rather interesting episodes. One where Radar gets some phony promotion orders, promoting him to Lietenient. The phony papers were made by Hawkeye and BJ to give Radar a taste of "what it feels like to be an officer". The psychiatrist, Dr. Freedman, makes two appearances in this season. In the first, he comes to the 4077th to relieve some of his own stress, as opposed to some patients'. He joins in on a practical joke with BJ. In the other episode, he comes to aid Hawkeye, when he experiences some sleepwalking and nightmares. Also the CIA fruitcake, named Col. Flagg, returns to the 4077th when Major Houlihan turns up missing; at a time, where North Koreans are spotted sneaking around. A crossword puzzle becomes a great pass-time, in one episode. Also, the priest, Father Mulchay, has some good moments in this season. One where he goes to the front line, persuaded to when a wounded solider at the 4077th starts talking about the front line, and Mulchay's hero: a priest who calls himself 'Boom Boom'.

Many good episodes, and many good laughs make season five of MASH a great one. It is Major Burns' last season. In the next season, season six, we are introduced to Major Burns' replacement. A rich guy from Boston named Charles Emerson Winchester III, one of the most smug characters you'll see.

Aside from the first episode this season, Bug-Out, this year is dominated by the sudden shocking engangement of Margaret to Donald Penobscott. This is also the final year for Frank Burns.

Bug-Out - Radar and Klinger are talking in the office with Klinger celebrating his new cigars when the phone rings. There's a rumor of a camp bug-out. Word spreads fast. Meanwhile, the latrine digging stops and Hawkeye worries over a delicate surgery in which the patient can't me moved for 24 hours due to possible paralysis. Potter makes a phone call and finds it's just a rumor.

Hawkeye and Margaret start the surgery, with B.J's assistance. Then, after calling assembly to stop the rumors Potter finds out that there is a full out bug-out happening. Radar runs in and tells Hawkeye, but it's too late. Hawkeye, Margaret and Radar stay behind to watch the patient. Meanwhile, the rest of the camp finds a damaged old school house which doulbes as a brothel. They trade Klinger's dresses for the building. Hawkeye and Radar go to Rosie's for one last drink before leaving themselves. They get into a jeep, but it breaks down. Suddenly there's the sound of a large number of vehicles. It's the rest of the camp returning.

Margaret's Engagement - Margaret returns from a conference in Tokyo with news of her sudden engagement. This drives Frank over the top. He brings in a family, suspecting that they are snipers. He stays up all night, rifle in hand, with an itchy trigger finger. Potter says he's heading to a section eight. "Section Eight, Section Eight," Frank yells jumping to action. Everyone reacts. Radar tells him there's a phone call. He called Frank's mom. The final scene shows Margaret talking about Donald Penobscott. Frank tells Hawkeye that he wants to double date. He mentions a young new nurse with freckles. Margaret says that she's a bit young."I don't know. I thought a little youth might be nice for a change!". Margaret leaves in a huff, B.J and Hawkeye both shake their heads. "I really got her on that one didn't I!", is Franks responce. This gets good laughter our of the three of them.

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind - An act of kindness in trying to fix the nurses tent stoves leave Hawkeye blind. Frank litens to a game at night, and then bets eveyone on the outcome for the replay. Hawkeye does some soul searching with another blind patient. Klinger gives him a kazoo to get people attention. In the end he gets his sight back, but not before getting revenge on Frank. He does the play by play of a fake game, with the assistance of Radar, Klinger, and B.J. When the patches are taken off and Hawkeye finds the blindness over, the real score of the game is announced over the radio. Eveyone chases Frank seeking resitution.

The Nurses - A nurse gets into hot water with Margaret. This happens just before her husband, who she rarely sees, comes to camp. B.J and Hawkeye conspire to get them together. They come up with a bogus disease and place the husband in Margaret's tent. The two spend the night together, but he's caught by Margaret. When she tells her who the man is, Margaret relents. When Potter confronts everyone on the miraculous cure Margaret syas it's a private matter between her and her nurses.

Dear Sigmund - Sydney comes to the Swamp for the usual poker game. He ends up staying for two weeks due to stress from work. Hawkeye and B.J find that he's been writing Dr. Sigmund Freud. Sydney rights about the antics of the camp. The barage or practical jokes, including shoe polish on binocular lenses which puts rings around Potter's eyes. Radar falls out of the jeep he's laughing so hard. A mess tent bench with one leg half sawed off. As soon as Frank sits down the bench collapses, sending him to the floor. He tells of his view of each of the main characters.

Mulcahy's War - A patient is brought in with a self inflicted foot wound. Hawkeye sends Father Mulcahy in to talk to him. Turns out they both know the same pastor at a church in Philadelphia. The patient though won't talk to Mulcahy because the good Father has no idea what it's like. Father Mulcahy heads to the front with Radar. They end up saving a patients life on the road back. The patient hears about it and ends up talking to the good Father.

The Colonel's Horse - Potter gets a week of R&R for a second honeymoon with his wife. While he's gone his mare gets sick. B.J calls his father in law to get help. Meanwhile Margaret gets appendicitis and requests Hawkeye's help. Both girls turn out fine.

Hawk's Nightmare - Hawkeye suffers through several bad dreams and some bouts of sleepwalking. Sydney is called in. Sydney figures that the problem is just the war and that it will pass. In the end Hawkeye and Sydney play a mean game of zombie basketball.

End Run - Radar discovers that one of his hero's, a college football player from Iowa, is brought in a stretcher. The player ends up losing a leg and figures that his life is over. Radar comes to the rescue. He shows him a magazine of the game and how much he loved listening to the game. Radar helps the player see that he has more to live for.

Hepatitis - A bought of hepatitis sidelines Father Mulcahy, and Hawkeye get upset over an average surgeon in his home town. Hawkeye goes around the camp, with a bad back. He helps Margaret see more eye to eye with her mother-in-law who's not too happy with her. He also puts up with a paranoid Frank. Klinger is agitated after being put on report for fighting with Zale. He fights him all the way through the exam. B.J is reading up to perform delicate surgery. Hawkeye finally gets the entire camp examined and Potter helps him see that the average surgeon in Maine has nothing on him.

Movie Night - A lack of mail, little sleep mean low morale. Potter winds up a movie. The movie though has many splices and keeps breaking. The have a Father Mulcahy sound-alike contest and a sing-along. They sing "Army Camp" "The Surgeons in Army Camp..." and so on.

Margaret's Marriage - This is the final episode this year. At Frank's urging Donald Penobscott comes to the camp to get married to Margaret. Frank, thinking he was going to die, runs as soon as he realized that it was Mr. Penobscott. Donald catches him and asks him to be the best man. The women hold a bridal shower where she gets gifts like a back scracher. Klinger shows up in a bright dress. Margaret says that it's for ladies only. Klinger, however, gives her a wedding dress to wear. The men hold a bachelor party where everyone gets real drunk, including Radar. As a kicker they really get Donald plastered, from his chest to his toes. The wedding goes on as planned but it interupted by incoming wounded. Donald, wearing a full body cast, is left behind and falls down.

This review refers to M*A*S*H Season 5 Collector's Edition DVD..

M*A*S*H was a TV series that not only stands the test of time, but it is one that like a good wine, got better with each passing year. But, I don't have to tell you that, here you are, shopping for Season 5 already.

The laughs are non stop and are done in a way that deals with
the seriousness of the situations faced by all involved in the Korean War.

The opening episode has the entire unit having to "Bug Out" as the Chinese and bombs are getting too close for comfort. Margaret, Hawkeye and Radar stay behind to care for aa patient who can not be moved. Directed by Alan Alda, "Margaret's Engagement" to Lt. Colonel Donald Penobscott, is a wonderful episode that has our gal Hot Lips punch drunk in love. Of course how Frank will take it is another matter. His gradual mental decline over the loss is a part of almost each episode.

The growing bonds between all the characters, and the character growth as well, is part of what makes this series so wonderful. There are some episodes, that have someone writing home or in the case of Dr Freedman, in "Dear Sigmund"(also directed by Alda), a letter to Freud that describes how each of the personnel deal with the lunacy of the war.It highlights a little of each character. It is an excellent storyline.

My favorite of this season though is "Movie Tonight". As the gang file in to the mess tent to watch "My Darling Clementine", they entertain each other, as the film keep breaking down. It really shows the closeness and family like feelings they all had for each other. I found this one to be quite poignant as well as fun.

Other episodes includes the serious nature of "Hawk's Nightmare" The strain is getting to him and Dr Freedman must be called in to help. "The General's Practitioner", Hawkeye is recruited to be the personal Doc to a General, "Hanky Panky", BJ feels guilty when he shows some feeling for a nurse, and of course the big finale of the season "Margaret's Marriage", and you know the guys will have some delicious fun cooked up for their wedding night!

Klinger will keep you in stitiches with his antics, Radar gets some lessons in life, Father Mulcahy is the voice of reason, Colonel Potter fits in perfectly with the group as their fearless leader, and "ferret face" Frank....he'll supply us with some great laughs.

There are 24 fabulous episodes. Three discs with 8 on each. There are subtitles in English and Spanish, may be viewed in French as well, have scene and episode selection or choice of hitting "play all". The series looks and sounds great. A booklet with all the episodes listed is also included, For some reason I had trouble getting to the menu of the very first episode. I didn't have any problem getting to the episode itself. I just couldn't get to that menu through the program. The menu for the rest of the episodes and the main menu worked fine.

This may possibly be the best TV series ever. It's one that will stand up to many, many repeated viewings. It has you feeling a part of the family there,it's smart and witty, and it gives the viewer a glimpse of the hardships the men and women faced during Korean War, but will always leave you with a smile.

If you already own Seasons 1-4, ya gotta get this one! The seasons get better and better! If you need the first four seasons here is a package deal:M*A*S*H Seasons 1-4 (Collector's Editions)
Enjoy...Laurie

P.S....I don't know how long it will last, but right now Amazon is having a really good deal(10 dollars off) if you buy Seasons 8 and 9(not yet released) together,..check it out(just go to Season 8 and look for the special deal)

more classic tv:

Little House on the Prairie - Three Video Set (Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Christmas They Never Forgot, The Premiere Movie)

Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman - The Complete Series [DVD] (Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6)

Columbo Collector's Edition (Prescription: Murder)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents volume 2

By the autumn of 1976, MASH was beginning it's fifth season, the one where Margaret gets engaged, the last one with Frank. It was also that autumn that I celebrated my 10th birthday, and my parents decided I was finally old enough to watch MASH and other adult tv shows. (How things have changed since those days). I had seen some of the last reruns of the fourth season during the summer of '76, but season 5 was the first season I actually watched regularly. In 1976, the war in Korea had only been over for 23 years, and 1976 was much closer in time to the actual events in Korea than we are today to this particular season of the tv show MASH. That's an odd thought.

Perhaps because it was the first season I got to watch in full, I remember season 5 as THE season. It remains my favorite season, and that year's season premiere, The Bug-out, is still my favorite episode of the entire series.

There are other reasons than my own nostalgia for this to be one of the best seasons -- some really classic episodes like "Movie Tonight" just to name one, some poignant moments, a lack of the "preachiness" that plagues the final 3 or 4 seasons. BJ was still a likable punster and practical joker instead of the grouch he later became, whereas Margaret stopped being so uptight as before. Seasons 5 and 6, in my opion were the peak years, in terms of humor balanced by pathos.

The format is great pretty much as the last 4 seasons except they finally listened to all of us and added a "Play All" feature on the main menu.

I now own all of the first 5 seasons and look forward to the remaining seasons. The only thing I don't understand is why it takes so long to get them released.

The success of the 1970 film "MASH", which was directed by Robert Altman, inspired the production of one of the most successful and longest running TV series of all time: "M*A*S*H". While most of the main characters from the original film were portrayed in the TV series, only one of the film's actors reprised his role for the TV series: Gary Burghoff. Like the film, the show was about the men and women working in a fictitious U.S. Army "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" (or MASH unit) known as the 4077th during the Korean War in the early 1950's.

At the beginning of the show's fourth season, two loved characters were no longer present: Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson, 1929-1996) and Capt. "Trapper John" McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), both of whom received orders to return home to the states; but Henry's plane was shot down and he was killed in the final third-season episode making it one of the most emotional and personal episodes of the entire series. The characters from the first three seasons who remained with the show into its fourth season included Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville, 1939-2000), Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit), Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda), Father Francis Mulcahy (William Christopher), Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) and Cpl. Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr). Two new regular characters were then introduced at the beginning of the fourth season to replace Henry and Trapper: Col. Sherman T. Potter (Harry Morgan) and Capt. B.J. Hunnicut (Mike Farrell), both of which remained with the show for its remaining 8 seasons. However, the fifth season of "M*A*S*H" would be the final season for Larry Linville.

As in the original 1970 film and the first three seasons of the TV series, "M*A*S*H" continued to demonstrate a lack of respect for the U.S. military by portraying many of its officers as being inept and incompetent. This was the formula used for Maj. Burns and the departed Lt. Col. Henry Blake, but whereas Lt. Col. Blake had a very likeable personality, Maj. Burns wanted to see a more disciplined command and was often quite a stool pigeon. Also, while being married and regarding himself as being a devout Christian, Maj. Burns maintained a romantic affair with Maj. Houlihan for the first four seasons. (In the film, it was while Majors Burns & Houlihan were passionately kissing with the entire MASH unit listening to them that Maj. Houlihan earned the nickname "Hot Lips".) Captains Hawkeye Pierce and the departed Trapper John McIntyre were typically disrespectful of the Army, but were completely honest about themselves, which is probably the main reason why they despised the hypocritical Maj. Burns so much. B.J., who replaced Trapper, quickly became Hawkeye's new friend and shared many (but not all) of Hawkeye's views. As in the film, Maj. Houlihan was particularly attractive, but many weren't particularly friendly towards her because, like Maj. Burns, she wanted to see greater military discipline. This often set Majors Burns & Houlihan at odds with Hawkeye and B.J. Though Col. Potter was more regular Army and quite different from Henry Blake, he too was not particularly fond of Maj. Burns and developed close bonds with Hawkeye and B.J., and later with Margaret. A special bond also developed quickly between Col. Potter and the 4077th's lowly company clerk, Radar. As always, it was essentially up to Radar to help keep things running smoothly; but the MASH 4077th continued to have the best survival rate for any wounded soldiers treated there. Hawkeye was an especially gifted surgeon, as were B.J. and Col. Potter; while Maj. Burns had probably barely made it through medical school. Father Mulcahy was as polite and helpful as ever while Cpl. Klinger continued to wear women's clothes in an attempt to get a "Section 8", which would give him a discharge from the Army.

The fifth season of "M*A*S*H" that aired between 1976 and 1977 had the following 24 episodes:

1. "Bug Out". Believing that the 4077th having to relocate is nothing but a rumor, Col. Potter attempts to calm the situation until he receives orders that the rumor is true and the 4077th has to "bug out"! With Maj. Burns overseeing the move, the tents come down; but he refuses to let Klinger bring his dresses or Hawkeye & B.J. bring the still. (They come anyway.) Everyone then leaves, except for Hawkeye & Margaret who cannot yet move a wounded soldier. When they hear forces coming down the road into their deserted camp, will it be the Chinese? And, will Klinger ever recover from Col. Potter using his dresses to barter with?

2. "Margaret's Engagement ". Upon returning from Tokyo, Margaret's engagement announcement has an unexpected affect on Maj. Burns.

3. "Out of Sight, Out of Mind". Hawkeye is made temporarily blind while fixing the nurse's stove, but that doesn't stop him from having some fun with Maj. Burns.

4. "Lt. Radar O'Reilly". Radar unexpectedly becomes a lieutenant and has difficulty adjusting to his new rank, which he is finally able to give up.

5. "The Nurses". Margaret's authority over the nurses is tested when Hawkeye & B.J. help Lt. Baker (Linda Kelsey) have an impromptu rendezvous with her enlisted husband (Gregory Harrison).

6. "The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan". When Margaret goes off to help some Koreans, the camp fears that she's been abducted and guess who shows up by good old Col. Flagg (Edward Winter, 1937-2001).

7. "Dear Sigmund". When Sidney Freedman (Alan Arbus) pays the 4077th a visit, he writes a letter to the deceased Dr. Sigmund Freud to tell of the various things going on, including a huge bon fire to boost camp morale and B.J. pulling a practical joke on Frank.

8. "Mulcahy's War". Father Mulcahy joins Radar in a visit to an aid station on the front lines and must perform a tracheotomy with radio assistance from the 4077th.

9. "The Korean Surgeon". When a wounded North Korean (Soon-Teck Oh) tells Hawkeye & B.J. that he's a doctor, they try to make him appear to be a South Korean.

10. "Hawkeye Get Your Gun". Hawkeye is forced by Col. Potter to carry a gun when he accompanies the colonel to a Korean hospital.

11. "The Colonel's Horse". A lot happens when Col. Potter visits Tokyo: his horse gets colic, Margaret gets appendicitis and Klinger gets depressed. With Frank's objections, Hawkeye performs surgery on Margaret upon her request.

12. "Exorcism". When Col. Potter orders a Korean spirit post to be moved, things begin to mysteriously go wrong all over camp until a Korean priestess exorcises the camp.

13. "Hawk's Nightmare". Sidney is called in to help Hawkeye deal with very troubling recurring nightmares.

14. "The Most Unforgettable Characters". B.J. & Hawkeye try to make Frank happy for his birthday while Radar tries to become a novelist by taking a correspondence course from the "Famous Las Vegas Writers School".

15. "38 Across". Hawkeye gets Col. Potter to get an old friend that's a whiz with crossword puzzles to come to the camp to help solve one.

16. "Ping Pong". When Cho Lin (Richard Narita) is unexpectedly conscripted into the South Korean army, his fiancée Soony (Sachito Penny Lee) doesn't believe that they will ever be married until he returns as a wounded soldier.

17. "End Run". When a severely wounded soldier that was a big football star is brought to the 4077th, Radar inspires him to stay alive.

18. "Hanky Panky". B.J. feels guilty after helping a nurse whose husband sent her a "dear Jane" letter.

19. "Hepatitis". When Father Mulcahy comes down with hepatitis, Hawkeye has to inoculate everyone in camp.

20. "The General's Practitioner". A wounded general wants Hawkeye to become his personal physician.

21. "Movie Tonight". 4077th personnel unwind when Col. Potter's favorite film, "My Darling Clementine", is shown; but Klinger's repeated problems with the film projector allows some live entertainment too.

22. "Souvenirs". Hawkeye & B.J. are determined to put a local dealer out of business who likes to sell items made from souvenirs collected by Korean children and soldiers in dangerous places, like mine fields.

23. "Post Op". When a large number of wounded arrive, everyone has to donate blood repeatedly.

24. "Margaret's Marriage". Everyone finally gets to meet Margaret's fiancée, Lt. Colonel Donald Penobscott (Beeson Carroll), including a terrified Frank. When Margaret & Donald decide to get married at the 4077th, Hawkeye & B.J. put Donald in a body cast as a joke.

Overall, I rate the fifth season of "M*A*S*H" with a resounding 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it. In its eleven years of production, "M*A*S*H" was one of the best TV shows of its day and remains one of the best TV shows of all time.

I am collecting the M*A*S*H series DVDs as they come out (I've got seasons 1-5 so far) and am happy to see that, with the release of Season Five, there is finally a "play all" option. Why it took so long for the production people to get around to including this, I'll never know. But it certainly is nice to be able to watch such favorite episodes as "Dear Sigmund", "Movie Tonight," etc. without having to reach for the remote each time.

This is the last season to feature Frank Burns. Season Six will open with the arrival of Charles Emerson Winchester, one of my favorite M*A*S*H characters. Frank Burns is funny, but, once Margaret gets engaged to Donald Penobscott, the Burns character becomes over-strained and tiresome. Perhaps that's why, even though I dearly love all of M*A*S*H, this season seems to go into a slump about halfway through. Looking forward to Season Six...

MASH season 5 continues the classic comedy and drama of the episodes before it. The insert booklet mentions that season 5 focuses on developing the show's core characters, and it's really evident. Besides Margret's marriage, the dynamic between her and her nurses is explored. Father Mulcahy, now listed as regular cast, saves a wounded soldier and experiences the horrors of war. BJ experiences his first (of many) guilt trips, and even Klinger is seen in uniform a few times (he sacrifices his dresses in the season opener).

However, the big character development this season is Frank, who is completely severed from the group now that Margret has left him. I can see why Larry Linville decided to end his run here - his character had been written into a corner, slowly de-evolving since season 1 (where he was still incompetent, but had his dignity). Even touching scenes, such as him conversing with his mother in "Margret's Engagement," are played for laughs - there was nothing left to salvage. While I really despise the Frank Burns character, that was the point, and Larry Linville will be missed. Thankfully, his final scene has been restored for this DVD set (after being removed in syndication).

There are some other standouts this season - Dear Sigmund, where Sidney Freedman observes the 4077, and Movie Tonight, featuring the infamous camp sing-along. However, a few episodes come close to being sappy, particularly one with Hawkeye having a nightmare, and another featuring a football player that has lost his leg. Also, Hawkeye Get Your Gun is overly preachy in Hawkeye's refusal to use firearms. They're still good episodes, but lack the subtlety of MASH's best drama.

FOX seems to have regressed in its presentation of these episodes. To reiterate what past reviewers have written, the photoshop cover is awful. Season 4 used the same 3-character format, but didn't horribly mutate the actor's faces like this cover does. Frank is not on the spine, another huge mistake. There is no spanish soundtrack - maybe not a big deal to most viewers, but there's no good reason for its omission, either. The worst though, is that season 5's film stock is really poor compared to the seasons before it. While the other seasons look like they were slightly cleaned up, season 5 has the washed-out look I see on syndication broadcasts. With a gap of nearly half a year between releases, why can't FOX do a better job?

I'm taking off a star for FOX's poor treatment of this season, but otherwise this is really another decent set. From here on, MASH changes again with the addition of Charles Winchester III. Maybe FOX can get the set out before June?

Once again MASH is great. I love the added "play all" option!