Gene Reynolds Movies

Monica (Roma Downey) and Andrew (John Dye) are assigned to the old-time comedy team of Salt and Pepper, who are about to be inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, Maury Salt (Jerry Stiller) and Ed Pepper (Tom Poston) have hated each other ever since the argument that broke them up thirty years ago. Reluctantly reunited for the induction ceremony, the two showbiz veterans start quarrelling all over again, and it takes the intervention of Monica, posing as Salt's woefully inept new comedy partner, to restore a semblance of peace and quiet. As it turns out, if a reconciliation is to take place, it had better be soon; one of the partners hasn't much longer to live. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this sequel to the first-season episode "Fear Not", Randy Travis and Paul Wittenburg) return respectively in the roles of taciturn small-towner Wayne and his mentally challenged brother Joey. Having previously witness a miracle--to wit, Monica (Roma Downey) revealing herself as an angel--Wayne and Joey are exploited by a phony preacher named Charles (William R. Moses), who is using a feather from Monica's Heavenly dove as an icon to collect donations. It so happens that Charles is Wayne and Joey's brother, and that Wayne had himself once been Charles' con-artist partner. Though Wayne is determined to put an end to Charles' life of crime, it is Joey who ultimately resolves the problem (though Monica is once again obliged to put in a last-act appearance!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

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

Col. Potter (Harry Morgan) and Charles (David Ogden Stiers) prove to be difficult patients when both are quarantined with the mumps. It is particularly irksome for Charles, who fears that his temporary replacement Newsome (Edward Herrman), who has toted up an impressive combat surgery record, will prove to be better at the job than the man he's replacing. But things take an unexpected term during a medical emergency. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the 4077th runs out of whole blood during a medical emergency, everyone in the camp donates a pint of their own--even the needle-shy Frank Burns (Larry Linville). Ultimately, however, the crisis is resolved by the timely arrival of some Turkish troops. Meanwhile, hot-headed Cpl. Moody (Hilly Hicks) gets a valuable lesson in moderate behavior. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A screening of Col. Potter's favorite movie My Darling Clementine is constantly interrupted by broken film and faulty projection equipment. When further showing of the movie proves impossible, Potter (Harry Morgan) frets that the 4077's morale will hit an all-time low. Fortunately, the resourceful doctors and nurses are capable of providing their own entertainment: Several people re-enact scenes from the movie (with Klinger [Jamie Farr] a standout as Walter Brennan), while Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) performs an impromptu piano solo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the opening episode of M*A*S*H's fifth season, the 4077th prepares to pull up stakes and move out in the face of a rumored Chinese attack. Unfortunately, Hawkeye is in the middle of a crucial operation and cannot move his patient. B.J. (Mike Farrell) and Margaret (Loretta Swit) volunteer to stay behind and assist Hawkeye--and, hopefully, stay alive in the process. Originally telecast as a 60-minute "special", "Bug Out" has since been reedited as two half-hour episodes for syndication purposes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is unexpectedly reunited with Nurse Carlye Breslin (Blythe Danner), the only woman he ever wanted to marry. Now, however, Carlye is the wife of another man. This puts Hawkeye in an uncomfortable position, especially when Carlye's transfer to the 4077th threatens to become a permanent issue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Soon-Teck Oh guest stars as Dr. Syn Paik, a captured North Korean surgeon. As weary of war as his American counterparts Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell), Dr. Paik begs for a chance to tend to his wounded countrymen. Hawk and Beej oblige by trying to pass Paik off as a South Korean--but xenophobic Frank Burns (Larry Linville) smells a rat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When Margaret (Loretta Swit) disappears, rumors begin spreading that she's been abducted by the North Koreans. Truth to tell, Margaret has ventured into enemy territory, but on an entirely voluntary mission of mercy. But neurotic CIA operative Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) doesn't know this, and his ensuing "investigation" turns the 4077th inside out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although M*A*S*H entered its fifth season with the cast from season four intact--including relative newcomers Mike Farrell as B.J. Hunnicut and Harry Morgan as Col. Sherman Potter--the production roster was short one significant name. Producer and co-creator Larry Gelbart had exited the series at the end of the 1974-75, declaring that he had contributed all he could to the project and was now prepared to move on. This left the lion's share of the creative decisions in the hands of series star Alan Alda, aka Hawkeye Pierce, who had already written and/or directed a number of episodes. Another M*A*S*H stalwart was indicating that he, too, was feeling creatively confined by the series. Larry Linville, who since the beginning of the program in 1972 had functioned as the 4077th's resident nemesis in the role of xenophobic, incompetent surgeon Maj. Frank Burns, had been issuing public complaints that his character had not been allowed to grow and mature as had the other M*A*S*H regulars. Also, since the decision had been made to marry off Burns' mistress Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) to dashing officer Donald Penobscott, Frank was becoming gratuitous and redundant. By the end of season five, Larry Linville followed the lead of such former regulars as Maclean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers) by leaving the series to pursue more artistically satisfying projects. Linville's discomfiture did not, however, extend to the other M*A*S*H cast members. In particular, William Christopher had every reason to welcome the beginning of the fifth season with open arms. Having long been consigned to the "featured players" roster in the closing cast of each episode, Christopher had finally graduated to series-regular status--with commensurate billing at the beginning of the program--in his role as the 4077th's mild-mannered but strong-willed chaplain, Father John Mulcahy. Having been toppled from the "Top Ten" by CBS's reckless decision to schedule the series opposite NBC's Friday-night blockbuster Chico and the Man during season five, M*A*S*H had begun regaining lost ground in December of 1975, when the network shifted the program to Tuesday evenings. It remained a solid Tuesday hit throughout the 1976-77 season, climbing back to fourth place in the ratings. The series also picked up two more Emmy Awards, for Gary Burghoff (aka Cpl. Radar O'Reilly) as best supporting player in a continuing series and for Alan Alda as best director (for the episode "Dear Sigmund"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Still in charge of the 4077th, Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville) arrogantly lords it over his subordinates. Things change when the unit's new commanding officer, Col. Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan), arrives at the camp. A old "regular army" man, Potter at first seems to be sympatico to the martinet Burns--but soon proves to be more in tune with the breezy irreverence of chief surgeons Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Four of M*A*S*H (now moved to Friday evenings) begins with the ever-irritating Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville) assuming command of the 4077th after the death of easygoing Col. Henry Blake. Returning from an R-and-R session, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) discovers that his old buddy Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) has been shipped out without so much as a goodbye. The sullen Hawkeye is then sent Kimpo to pick up Trapper's clean-cut replacement, B.J. Hunnicut (Mike Farrell in his first series appearance), whose spotless record leads Frank and Hot Lips (Loretta Swit) to the premature conclusion that, at long last, the joyful slovenliness of the 4077th will be replaced by traditional military spit-and-polish. The first of the series' 60-minute "special" episodes, Welcome to Korea has since been divided into two half-hour episodes for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide