I’m not sure why but late last night I found myself thinking about the “Dear Dad” trilogy of episodes, broadcast during the first two seasons of M*A*S*H. Each of these episodes had Hawkeye writing a letter to his father describing the various goings-on at the 4077th. The letter home was used often by writers as a way to frame episodes, but these three episodes (and the three “Mail Call” episodes) are unique in that they share the same title and nothing else.

The first two of these episodes were part of Season One. In “Dear Dad” (originally broadcast December 17th, 1972) Hawkeye recounts the following events: Radar’s attempt to mail a jeep home; the camp’s Christmas celebrations; Henry and his struggle to get through a lecture on sex; Father Mulcahy dealing with a brawl between Frank and Klinger; Margaret’s tent being collapsed by Hawkeye and Trapper; and Hawkeye (dressed as Santa Claus) flying to the Hill 28 to operate on a wounded corporal. The episode ends up with a quick recap of the cast.

“Dear Dad”

Then, in “Dear Dad, Again” (originally broadcast February 4th, 1973) Hawkeye tells his father about all manner of things: Klinger trying to get out of the Army; his bet with Trapper that he could walk naked to the Mess Tent without anyone noticing (he lost); Radar cheating on his final exam for a correspondence course from the Triple A High School Diploma Company; a round of bad jokes in the Swamp; a depressed Frank getting drunk; the shocking revelation that Captain Adam Casey, a talented doctor, isn’t really a doctor or a captain; and the camp’s No Talent night, complete with a four piece band (Trapper, Hawkeye, Radar and another man) conducted by Henry with Margaret singing lead vocals.

“Dear Dad, Again”

Finally, during Season Two came Dear Dad Three (originally broadcast November 17th, 1973) and its own mix of hilarity and horror: a soldier is brought in with a live grenade embedded in his body; the camp throws a Happy Hour party; Trapper and Hawkeye paint the skin of a patient, who is afraid he’ll get the wrong colored blood, with tincture of iodine; watching movies of Henry’s daughters (sad) and Henry himself (hilarious); Frank and Margaret get into an argument and then make up; the monthly staff meeting; and another Happy Hour party.

Dear Dad…Three

So which “Dear Dad” episode is your favorite? I’m torn between “Dear Dad Three” simply for the inclusion of the lovely Sivi Aberg as Anna Lindstrom and “Dear Dad, Again” because of No Talent night and the scene in which Hawkeye tells Trapper hilariously awful jokes:

Hawkeye: “Knock, knock.”
Trapper: “Who’s there?”
Hawkeye: “Abe Lincoln.”
Trapper: “Abe Lincoln who?”
Hawkeye: “Don’t you know me?”
Trapper: “That’s awful.”
Hawkeye: “Okay, can I do another one?”
Trapper: “No!”
Hawkeye: “Knock, knock.”
Trapper: “Who’s there?”
Hawkeye: “Thomas Jefferson.”
Trapper: “Thomas Jefferson who!”
Hawkeye: “Was Abe Lincoln just here?”
Trapper: “Hawkeye, I never liked you.”

Talk about your favorite “Dear Dad” episode in the comments.

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

Name That Episode

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

Name That Episode

Following the filming of the final episode of M*A*S*H, 20th Century-Fox donated two of the sets used in the production of the series to the Smithsonian Institution. The O.R. and the Swamp were taken down and packed up at the studio’s Stage 9 sound stage in Hollywood, California and moved to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. where they were incorporated into a new exhibition called “M*A*S*H — Binding Up the Wounds” at the National Museum of American History. The exhibition opened to the public on July 30th, 1983 and was originally scheduled to close on September 30th, 1984 but due to overwhelming public interest was extended until January 2nd, 1985.

I’ve written a fairly comprehensive article about the exhibition: M*A*S*H at the Smithsonian. Take a moment to read it and let me know what you think. If you were able to visit the Museum of Natural History when “M*A*S*H — Binding Up the Wounds” was on display please leave your thoughts.

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. These have been getting pretty darn popular lately, so be sure to get your guess in early. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

Name That Episode