I wrote about the three “Dear Dad” episodes on Monday and that prompted a spirited discussion so today I’ll discuss the three “Mail Call” episodes. Unlike the “Dear Dad” episodes, which were broadcast during the first two seasons, the “Mail Call” episodes were spread out. One aired in Season Two, another in Season Four and the third in Season Six. So that means that every member of the cast — Trapper, Henry, Frank and Charles — got a chance to read their mail.
Letters from home bring all manner of news in “Mail Call” (originally broadcast February 23rd, 1974) including the “death” of Klinger’s father. Trapper gets homesick after reading letters from his family and decides to desert. He even knocks Hawkeye aside with his duffel bag. He only stops when Frank shows up and Hawkeye reveals that Pioneer Aviation — a company Frank thought was the next big thing — doesn’t exist. Hawkeye made it all up and Frank bought it hook, line and sinker.
In “Mail Call, Again” (originally broadcast December 9th, 1975) a heartbroken Klinger applies for a hardship discharge after his “older brothers” Maurice and Hakim are killed in an explosion at the Toledo Harmonica Company. Frank learns that his wife Laverne wants a divorce and tries desperately to convince her to stay with him. Colonel Potter, meanwhile, receives the news that he’s going to be a grandfather and attempts to get through to the States.
Also: Margaret gets a package from Frederick’s of Hollywood; Radar gets some home movies; Father Mulcahy gets a letter from his sister (the sister) who is coaching girls’ basketball; Hawkeye gets the latest issue of Crapabble Cove Courier; and B.J. gets three letters from his wife and one from his dog, Waggle.
Finally, in “Mail Call Three” (originally broadcast February 6th, 1978) Hawkeye gets love letters destined for another Benjamin Franklin Pierce as well as the bonus issue of Nudes Week with the All-Star Volleyball Team. Father Mulcahy gets a Nun-o-gram. Klinger learns his wife wants a divorce and Radar learns his mother has a boyfriend. B.J. is disturbed to learn that someone made a pass at his wife (she found it amusing). Margaret gets a letter from her mother-in-law who still won’t accept her son’s marriage. And Charles is thrilled to hear that Missouri sorghum crop was destroyed; he’s invested in Canadian sorghum.
In the end, just about everyone gets drunk at the Officer’s Club.
It’s tough to pick a favorite. I will say that I have never liked Radar’s home movie in “Mail Call, Again.” It just doesn’t work for me. Jamie Farr in a dress is funny. Gary Burghoff in a dress isn’t. “Mail Call” has the following hilarious exchange between Henry and Klinger in its favorite:
Henry: “Here you go. The Father dying, right?
Klinger: “Yes, sir.”
Henry: “Father dying last year. Mother dying last year. Mother and father dying. Mother, father and older sister dying. Mother dying and older sister pregnant. older sister dying and mother pregnant. Younger sister pregnant and older sister dying. Here’s an oldie, but a goodie. Half of the family dying, other half pregnant. Klinger, aren’t you ashamed of yourself?”
Klinger: “Yes, sir, I don’t deserve to be in the Army.”
But “Mail Call Three” has this:
Hawkeye: “People wiped out and all you can think of is yourself.”
Charles: “They have their interests. I have mine.”
Charles and his insensitivity to others always makes for a good episode. Still, it’s really a toss-up. If I had to choose the weakest of the three it would be “Mail Call, Again” but that still leaves the other two episodes vying for the top spot.
So what’s your favorite “Mail Call” episode?”
hmm… Thats tough. I like all of them equally, but one helped me out in a real-life situation, so I have to say Mail Call III is my favorite. I am not going to say how it helped me, but it did.
I was wondering when you were going to do a Mail Call discussion, Arj, lol.
Personally for me, “Mail Call Three” (6×21) is my favorite, but there’s a silly story behind that – late one night before I really started watching the show, I was channel surfing, and while checking out Hallmark Channel, there was the scene where B.J.’s trying to get Radar to put through a call in the middle of the night, and in his frustration, starts shaking Radar’s teddy bear, which upsets him; so when I saw this episode in its entirety for the first time, I was hooked, lol. “Mail Call Again” (4×15) is my second favorite, mainly because of Frank’s call to his wife, while Margaret avesdrop from Radar’s phone, lol.
I vote Mail Call. The stock trick with Frank was so funny!!! Gosh I love this show!
I absolutely love the exchange between Klinger and Henry in Mail Call. It’s my favourite just because of that exchange.