Burt Metcalfe Movies

Sitcom star Tony Danza made his dramatic debut in the made-for-TV Truth or Die. Danza plays Jerry Rosenberg, real-life "jailhouse lawyer." A lifelong criminal, the Brooklyn-born Rosenberg utilized his knowledge of legal maneuvers to save himself from the electric chair. In 1971, Rosenberg became a worldwide celebrity when he attempted to mediate during the infamous Attica uprising. Filmed in Canada by the same producer-director team responsible for several of the best M*A*S*H episodes, Truth or Die was originally telecast September 23, 1986, under the title Doing Life. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As the 11th season of M*A*S*H* got under way in the fall of 1982, everyone involved with the series knew it would be their last (the program had already lasted eight years longer than the actual Korean War!) Looking back, the cast and crew could take pride in the series' many accomplishments, not least of which was its making palatable and entertaining a number of hot-button issues that had previously been verboten on American network television. The series had also come a long way from its zany, iconoclastic, hit-or-miss "anything for a laugh" origins, maturing into a thoroughly credible blend of comedy, drama and tragedy (its credibility enhanced by the decision to complete eliminate a canned laughtrack), with fully rounded, three-dimensional characterizations. The fact that the series had managed to win eleven Emmy awards further served to enhance the participants' sense of achievement. Viewers were honestly saddened that their favorite series, which had long since transcended the boundaries of standard sitcomery to become a national institution, would cease production at the end of season 11. Perhaps because the faithful fans were determined to savor every final moment of the series' existence, M*A*S*H was propelled from the ninth most popular TV program of 1981-82 to number three in 1982-83, with the now-legendary 2 1/2 hour finale, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen," being seen by the largest audience ever to watch a single TV episode. Although this landmark episode would bring M*A*S*H to a poignant close, it was not quite the end of the story. Debuting September 26, 1983, the CBS sitcom AfterMASH detailed the further adventure of several M*A*S*H regulars, all hired by a Missouri VA hospital upon the Korean cease-fire. Carryovers from the original M*A*S*H included Harry Morgan as Sherman Potter, Jamie Farr as Max Klinger, William Christopher as Father Mulcahy, and a character that had been introduced in the penultimate M*A*S*H episode "As Time Goes By," Klinger's Korean-born wife Soon-Lee, played by Rosalind Chao. Suffering the ignominous fate of most such spinoffs, AfterMASH failed to live up to the standards of its distinguished predecessor, and was cancelled after only a season and a half on the air. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Tired of having his lackluster practical jokes compared to the legendary japes concocted by his predecessor Trapper John, B.J. (Mike Farrell) announces that he will pull a series of surprise gags on everyone in camp over a 24-hour period--and if he doesn't succeed in this undertaking, he will perform a striptease in the mess tent. As the days pass, everyone falls victim to B.J.'s comic assault. Only Hawkeye (Alan Alda) has thus far been spared--but could Beej be saving the best joke till last? Don't reveal the trick ending of this one, or B.J. may be coming after you next. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sweltering through another nocturnal Korean heat wave, the men and women of the 4077th seek out ways to keep cool--at least mentally. Charles (David Ogden Stiers), for example, labors over his income taxes, while Klinger (Jamie Farr) tries to repair the PA system. Alas, poor Margaret (Loretta Swit) is suffering from a prickly-heat rash--and before long, the whole camp is apprised of Margaret's embarrasingly itchy plight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To boost morale on the day after Christmas, Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) adopts the "Boxing Day" strategy popularized in the British military. For 24 hours, the officers of the 4077th will trade places (and ranks) with the enlistees, and vice versa. Naturally, the officers have less fun than their subordinates, but an eleventh-hour emergency enables everyone to appreciate the wisdom of Potter's temporary switcharound. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) makes a bet that he can get through an entire day without cracking a joke. Meanwhile, the chronically humorless Charles (David Ogden Stiers) hopes to square accounts with Col. Baldwyn (Robert Symonds), the officer who had Charles "condemned" to a tour of duty at the 4077th. Things boil down to a matter of honor and at least two heaping helpings of self-control. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doing some creative math in his off-hours, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) figures out how much money he would have made during the Korean war if he'd been a civilian doctor. Dutifully annotating the results, Hawk presents the Army with a bill for services rendered. And on another front, Charles (David Ogden Stiers) arrogantly demonstrates the latest American doctoral techniques to three Korean medics--and thereby sets himself up for another generous serving of Humble Pie. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After a late start thanks to a Hollywood writer's strike, M*A*S*H launched its ninth season on November 17, 1980. With the past defections of Wayne Rogers, Maclean Stevenson, Larry Linville and Gary Burghoff, Alan Alda (as Hawkeye), Loretta Swit (as Margaret Houlihan), Jamie Farr (as Klinger) and William Christopher (as Father Mulcahy) were the sole survivors from the series' first season cast lineup--and of those four, only two (Alda and Swit) had been "regulars" from the beginning. The series' occasional digressions from its established format was represented by one memorable "gimmick" episodes during season nine. In " War for All Seasons," the men and women of the 4077th celebrated the New Year by looking back on the events of 1951. Going a step farther than the familiar "letter home" episodes of previous seasons, in which the events of a single week were highlight in flashback fashion, "A War for All Seasons" boldly telescoped an entire year into a mere 22 minutes' screen time--and succeeded brilliantly. Still dominating the ratings on CBS' Monday-evening lineup, M*A*S*H sustained its ranking from the previous season as America's fourth most-watched network program. And though no additional Emmy awards came the its way during season nine, the series garnered eight Emmy nominations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season eight of M*A*S*H was marked by the last of the series' major regular-cast defections. As the quietly resourceful and eerily clairvoyant company clerk, Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly, Gary Burghoff had been the only actor from the 1970 movie version of M*A*S*H* to carry over his role into the TV-series version in 1972. Now a full-fledged star with an Emmy award under his belt, Burghoff felt the time had come to move on. Radar O'Reilly made a ceremonious and emotionally charged exit from the series in the two-part episode "Good-Bye Radar." Breaking from the tradition established by such previous series defectees as Wayne Rogers, Maclean Stevenson and Larry Linville, Radar said his goodbyes only four weeks into the 1978-79 season, rather than waiting until the final episode of season eight. It was decided not to bring in a new actor to replace Radar. Instead, Cpl. Max Klinger (Jamie Farr), who previously spent the bulk of his time dressed in women's clothing in hopes of getting out of the Army on a Section 8, was promoted to company clerk. After a nervous "shakedown" period, Klinger adapted quite well to his new responsibilities, so much so that he cut back on his efforts to escape military service--and, simultaneously, was seen more often in the "proper" male garb. Having previously digressed from its established format, M*A*S*H expanded its efforts at experimentation during season eight with a brace of "gimmick" episodes. In "Life Time," the surgeons raced against the clock to save the life of a seriously wounded GI--and, to heighten the tension, that selfsame clock was seen ticking away throughout the episode, superimposed at the lower corner of the TV screen. And in "Dreams," the men and women of the 4077th were plagued by bizarre, surrealist nightmares reminiscent of the cinematic delusions of Ingmar Bergman and Luis Bunuel. The series' previous season move from a Tuesday-night timeslot to a Monday-evening berth had had a most salutary effect on M*A*S*H's ratings. Ranked as the seventh most popular series during its seventh season, the program climbed to fourth place for season eight. Additionally, M*A*S*H earned its eighth and ninth Emmy awards during this season, with the gold statuettes going to series regulars Harry Morgan and Loretta Swit. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Looking forward to the day that peace breaks out in Korea, B.J. (Mike Farrell) begins planning a postwar reunion party for the 4077th. The first step in this undertaking is to arrange (via long distance) a get-acquainted party for the relatives of the M*A*S*H staffers. Alas, an emergency evacuation in the face of a sudden Chinese offensive puts the kibosh on B.J.'s plans--and very nearly destroys his sanity. This was the final episode of M*A*S*H's seventh season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Now in its seventh season on the air, the irreverent military comedy series M*A*S*H continued to roll along like a well-oiled machine. The most significant change during season six, the introduction of the insufferable but brilliant surgeon Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester (David Ogden Stiers), had registered quite well with viewers and fellow cast members alike. Less successful had been the scripting decision of marrying off the 4077th's head nurse Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) (who out of respect for changing attitudes toward gender stereotyping no longer bore the demeaning nickname "Hot Lips") to the handsome Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott, especially since viewers seldom saw Margaret's elusive husband. Thus, Penobscott was written out of the show via a quickie divorce at the end of the 1978-79 season. The season itself was distinguished by a number of memorable episodes, as well as a welcome revival of a "gimmick" that had registered well during season four: A "documentary"-style installment, filmed in black-and-white in the manner of a 1950s documentary, wherein TV correspondent Clete Roberts interviewed the men and women of the 4077th. This episode, "Our Finest Hour", was expanded to a full hour, the better to accommodate "flashback" excerpts featuring such long-departed M*A*S*H regulars as Wayne Rogers, Maclean Stevenson and Larry Linville. In another, even more ambitious "gimmick" episode, "Point of View," the action was seen entirely through the eyes of a seriously wounded GI. It was also during this season that reruns of M*A*S*H were telecast on CBS' daytime lineup. The following year, the series would enter local syndication, where it continued to run until well into the 21st century. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this opening episode of M*A*S*H's second season, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is temporarily appointed the commanding officer of the 4077th. Now that he has to deal with the many burdens and responsibilities usually shouldered by Col. Potter (Harry Morgan), Hawk undergoes a profound metamorphosis from his self-described "cringing chicken" persona. Trivia buffs will note that this is the episode in which the formerly clean-shaven B.J. (Mike Farrell) finally sprouts his familiar facial hair. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) develops a warm rapport with visiting nurse Col. Lillian Rayburn (Carmen Matthews), the only woman in camp whose is anywhere near Potter's own age. The prudish and protective Radar (Gary Burghoff) is none too happy about his commanding officer's blossoming friendship with Nurse Lil. After all, back home there still is a Mrs. Mildred Potter, awaiting the return of her hitherto devoted husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide