Summary
Alan Alda’s least favorite episode ofMASHcomes highlights why the beloved sitcom came dangerously close to cancelation. Many comedies take a season or two to find their feet, such asParks and RecreationorThe Office.MASHran for 11 seasons, and the first series is generally considered the weakestof the bunch. That’s not to say that it’s bad, as the cast has great chemistry and even the lesser episodes are filled with witty gags and wordplay. As opposed to the dramedy it evolved into though, season 1 is more of a wacky sitcom with an anti-war tone.
The shock death of Henry Blake inMASHseason 3is considered a major turning point, both for the showandtelevision in general. A major series had never killed off such an important character before, and in later years the series became a mixture of comedy and drama.ManyMASHactors exited the showduring its early years too, and Alan Alda - alongside co-star Loretta Swit - were the only cast members remaining from the pilot to the 1983 finale. Alda took a heavy creative hand as it became a success too, going on to direct over 30 episodes.
Alan Alda’s Least Favorite MASH Episode Is Season 1’s “Major Fred C. Dobbs”
One of MASH season 1’s final episodes is a true clunker
A fundamental flaw with “Major Fred C. Dobbs” is that Hawkeye and Trapper’s dislike of the weasely Frank is so intense that they would be celebrating his imminent departure, so having them work topreventit is wildly out of character.
A fair complaint about the first year is that it feels more scattered than later seasons, as it was still figuring itself out.One episode that Alan Alda cited as his least favorite is “Major Fred C. Dobbs,“where the buffoonish Frank Burns (Larry Linville) becomes so fed up with Hawkeye (Alda) and Trapper’s (Wayne Rogers) shenanigans that he demands a transfer. His lover Margaret (Loretta Swit) soon requests the same, but when Hawkeye and Trapper realize their mortal enemies leaving means more work forthem, they concoct a scheme to keep them at the 4077th.
A fundamental flaw with that premise is that Hawkeye and Trapper’s dislike of the weasely Frank is so intense that they would becelebratinghis imminent departure, so having them work topreventit is wildly out of character.The subplot of tricking Frank into believing there’s gold buried near the camp is also sillyin the worst way. It’s a dud of an episode, and while not totally devoid of laughs, it’s one of the more skippable outings.
The episode’s title is a reference toThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre, where Humphrey Bogart’s Fred C. Dobbs is also undone by his own greed and lust for gold.
Why MASH Struggled With Ratings During Season 1
“Major Fred C. Dobbs” capped off a mixed run of episodes
“Major Fred C. Dobbs” was the 22nd episode of season 1, and is arguably its worst. The first series contains some great episodes too, including the pilot or “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet,” which was one of the first to blend comedy with tragedy. Despite being based on a hit movie,MASHwas almost canceled after one series due to its terrible ratings. According to the 2002 TV specialMASH’s 30th Anniversary Reunion, the cast wasn’t even sure they would be reassembled for season 2 following the wrap party.
Alda believes that since audiences had experienced most of the first-run shows when they aired,MASHwas only saved due to people giving it another try on re-runs. This is where viewers who missed it the first time gave it a chance, and its numbers impressed to the point that CBS greenlit another year.Showrunner Larry Gelbart also cited that the wife of then CBS head William Paley lovedMASH, which may have been another factor in it getting a reprieve.
Why MASH Was Almost Canceled After Season 1 (& How It Was Saved)
MASH was one of the most watched shows in the world during its run, but it nearly didn’t make it to a second season due to poor ratings.
It’s shocking to think such an important series came so close to being cut short, and if it wasn’t for its solid re-run numbers, it probably would have. Of course, mediocre outings like “Major Fred C. Dobbs” didn’t help it pull in viewers the first time around, and may have even convinced them it wasn’t something worth watching.
Why Alan Alda Considers “Major Fred C. Dobbs” To Be MASH’s “Low Point”
“Major Fred C. Dobbs” wasn’t a popular outing with MASH’s cast
In 2005, Alda listed his favorite episodes toCNN, citing the controversial “Dreams” and fan favorite “The Interview” as among the best. Alda also said of “Major Fred C. Dobbs” that “There are a few all of us wish we didn’t have to do because the idea didn’t work. The one about a gold jeep was a low point.” This quote references the episode’s ending, where Hawkeye and Trapper drive past Frank in a jeep they painted gold just after he discovers he’s been duped by them once more.
Reportedly, the concept behind “Major Fred C. Dobbs” was pushed on the showrunners by the network, and none of the cast ever liked the idea. Again, the notion that Hawkeye and Trapper would attempt to stop Frank leaving makes little sense, while the cast had logic issues with the script, such as where Hawkeye and Trapper would have gotten the gold paint for the jeep in the first place.It’s a little harsh to call “Major Fred C. Dobbs"MASH’sworst episode, but there is a reason it’s regarded so poorlyby the fanbase (and Alan Alda).
MAS*H
Cast
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
