M*A*S*H on DVD (The Series)

[Toad-O-Line]

I had the opportunity to watch the first season of M*A*S*H on DVD these past few days (roger's rents it out for 5 days at a time).

I was too young to watch the series when it first aired and have only seen it via the re-run circuit.

I was quite impressed with it. First off:

* I cannot beleive how much plot is cut out of the episodes via re-runs (some vital dialogue is completely chopped!)
* The series was well written for a first year show.
* The colour is restored
* You can turn off the annoying "Laugh Track"
* The opening sequence (used through-out the complete series) originated from the pilot episode
* You actually see Radar's deformed hand in full view (pilot only) - He hid it quite well through-out the years.
* Frank's brother was the first to call him "Ferret Face".

I have found that the earlier episodes placed more emphasis on comedy rather than social issues.

I enjoy watching some of the old comedies such as "The Beverly Hillbillies" & "Hogan's Heroes". But now I am wondering how much plot has been cut from those shows.

[Spiker]

Ditto here. huge M*A*S*H fan, from the original film to the series. Also a big Alan Alda fan, wish he did more films over the years.

While I enjoy all episodes/seasons, the first season is outright hilarious! IMO, it held up as the writing changed over the years, however many feel it "jumped the shark" at some point. Anyone think it did? If so, when?

BTW, for those unfamiliar, "jump the shark" is an expression used to define when a series went downhill. You can check out more at:

www.jumptheshark.com

[Toad-O-Line]

As I stated the early years were much funnier due to the writers still defining the characters.

I think the series lost something when Radar left. Funny thing about Radar, he used to swill gin, make out with the nurses and smoke cigars in the first season.

As for character replacements:

* Prefer Trapper over BJ
* Tie between Charles & Frank
* Prefer Blake over Potter

[Sheik]

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, how could anyone miss that one?:rolleyes:

What were the other three choices Paul?

[mr. x]

i remember watching the first season when it premiered, and thought it was the best show on US TV - python was still my favourite overall...

the first year or 2 were great - it wasn't about "bungling" doctors - except for frank burns - it was a black comedy - anti-war and anti-military - with korea really being a stand in for vietnam- anarchistist/anit-authority - and about the essential contradiction/madness of war and the military - which are about killing people, with medicine, which is about saving them.

what was great was that hawkeye and trapper were anti-heros - trapper cheated on his wife - everyone drank and gambled too much, lots of womanising - and hot lips/ frank were "evil" in the sense that they agreed with military rules and discipline.

as the series progressed, and the vietman war ended, there series became too "warm and fuzzy" with the "evil" characters being watered down, hawkeye becoming a wimp, and the camp becoming more af an extended family.

in its day, it was a great show because it was anti-establishment, in the way that no show can ever be again. however, there are still great "black" comedies being made - check out "the job" tuesdays on ABC - its the best live action comedy on the tube!

[vidi vici veni]

I started out a MASH fan but something changed in me over the years. Viewing the series in reruns, after a great absence, I began to loathe the self-righteous and self-pitying Hawkeye and BJ. And the stories seemed soooo politically correct about damn near everything. Just can't look at it anymore. However, it's all a matter of taste.

Alan Alda though can be effective in the right roles. Woody Allen used him wonderfully well in 'Crimes and Misdemeanors.'

vvv

[pool]

* You can turn off the annoying "Laugh Track"
I'm pretty certain in that back in the day, at least in Britain, there never was a laugh track, but in general laugh tracks are an insult.

As a kid, it was a big deal to get to sit on the couch and watch MASH as opposed to hiding behind it.

[vidi vici veni]

Hey Poolio, feeling a little nostalgic, are we? :p

vvv

[unshavencuban]

M*A*S*H was & still is the best show of all time
fuck the whiny egotistical NYers that was Sienfeld