5.0 out of 5 stars
The start of how "Hot Lips" became Margaret on "M*A*S*H", May 28, 2003
This review is from: M*A*S*H - The TV Series, Season 2, Vol. 2 [VHS] (VHS Tape)
The middle third of Season 2 of "M*A*S*H" was the best part of the 1973-74 season, marked by a couple of significant episodes involving "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) that would turn her from the constant ally of Frank Burns (Larry Linville) harping for military discipline and a true member of the 4077th community:
(33) "Dear Dad...Three" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: November 10, 1973) sees Hawkeye (Alan Alda) relating more of the daily happenings at the 4077th, such as removing a live grenade from the chest of a wounded soldier. Grade A-: This format has worked successfully before, but what elevates this one is the scene in which Henry (McLean Stevenson) shows some home movies.
(34) "The Sniper" (Writer: Richard M. Powell; Aired: November 17, 1973) has everybody ducking for cover when a single sniper starts taking shots at everyone and everything. Grade B-: The idea is still played for laughs. Look quick when the towel Radar (Gary Burghoff) is wearing slips off.
(35) "Carry On, Hawkeye" (Writers: Bernard Dilbert, Larry Gelbart, and Laurence Marks; Aired: November 24, 1973) finds the 4077th devastated by a flu epidemic. The only ones left standing are Hawkeye and Hot Lips, and when he starts coming down with symptoms it is Margaret who has to perform some surgery. Grade A-: An important episode because it establishes a connection between Hawkeye and Margaret that would be built upon quite memorably in the future.
(36) "The Incubator" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: December 1, 1973) is the grail at the end of the quest for Hawkeye and Trapper (Wayne Rogers), who have to get through miles of red tape. Grade B-: A decent military comedy episode, although the idea the military would not want its hospitals equipped properly is not a happy thought.
(37) "Deal Me Out" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: December 8, 1973) centers around the interruptions for the weekly poker game that includes Sidney Freeman (Allan Arbus). Pat Morita is also in on the game and John Ritter is holding a gun on Frank in the shower. Edward Winter shows up, not as Colonel Flagg, but as a sort of ancestor. Grade A-: Despite all the dire happenings in the camp, the game must go on, with the best one-liners coming from the guest stars.
(38) "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" (Writers: Linda Bloodworth & Mary Kay Place; Aired: December 15, 1973) is a pivotal episode where Houlihan demands a transfer to another unit when she starts questioning everything in her life, from her hopeless affair with Frank to the way the army has become her life. Grade A: Bloodworth (who created "Designing Women") and Place (actress on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) interviewed Swit for hours to write this superb character study. "Hot Lips" would never be the same.
(39) "Officers Only" (Writer: Ed Jurist; Aired: December 22, 1973) begins with the good news that the 4077th has an Officer's Club. The bad news is that apparently only officers can go in the place, which means Trapper and Hawkeye have to do something about it. Grade C+: Seems a long way to go to have a new set.
(40) "Henry in Love" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: January 5, 1974) has Henry back from Tokyo and head over heels in love with a cheerleader (Katherine Baumann) half his age. Grade C-: Sorry, but this one just always bugged me. I understand the idea of a mid-life crisis and everything, but unlike B.J.'s later fall from grace I just could not buy this one.
So, with two significant episodes focusing on Margaret, they certainly put the wrong major on the cover of this one. Not surprisingly the novice writers Bloodworth and Place would write several more scripts for "M*A*S*H," however, they were not "Margaret" episodes. Go figure.
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