I don’t play poker. But a lot of people do. And some of them even write about it. One such player and writer is Martin Harris, who pens a column at PokerListings called “Pop Watch,” in which he plans to explore “the many ways poker and pop culture intersect.” He recently wrote about the history of poker on M*A*S*H. He discusses five episodes involving poker: “Deal Me Out,” “Payday,” “Lt. Radar O’Reilly,” “The Merchant of Korea” and “Wheelers and Dealers.” The article also mentions “Your Hit Parade” and Double Cranko (which is included in not one but two Wikipedia articles). Poker plays a role in a number of Season One episodes, including “The Moose,” in which Radar uses a telescope to help Hawkeye cheat at cards (and almost blows the whole thing by eyeballing a good-looking nurse rather than the cards), and “The Long-John Flap,” in which Trapper loses Hawkeye’s long-johns during a game.

“The Moose” – Can anyone identify these legs?

Personally, my favorite poker moment is the aforementioned game from “The Moose.” What other episodes involved poker?

After reporter Robert Pierpoint, whose voice was heard announcing the end of the Korean War in “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen,” passed away last year at the age of 86, I wondered whether the audio heard in the episode was Pierpoint’s original radio report or a recreation. Two people left comments stating they had heard or read that it was in fact a recreation. I was flipping through Suzy Kalter’s The Complete Book of M*A*S*H the other day and came across the following in Burt Metcalfe’s essay about Season Eleven:

The voice of Robert Pierpoint, which is broadcast over the PA system to give the steps toward the signing of the peace treaty, was real. We had thirty-year-old tapes, but the quality was so bad that Pierpoint agreed to rerecord. Static was later added to make it sound authentic. Pierpoint basically repeated his announcement of the end of the war as it was then.

So there you have it, straight from the executive producer.

Source:

Tuesday was the 29th anniversary of “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” airing on CBS (it was originally broadcast on Monday, February 28th, 1983). To commemorate the anniversary, here’s a segment from Entertainment Tonight about the end of M*A*S*H:

I’ve had this spotlight available as a feature for years but the above is a much higher quality version.

I’m three days late with this post, which is a little embarrassing, but nevertheless here we are at the 39th anniversary of M*A*S*H premiering on CBS — September 17th, 1972 to September 17th, 2011. Part of me still has a hard to believing that the 30th anniversary was almost a decade ago and that next year we will be celebrating 40 years of M*A*S*H.

Here’s the original CBS fall preview for M*A*S*H (read more about the fall preview here):

Here‘s my feature on promoting the premiere of M*A*S*H, with some rare early promotional images. And here are links to my posts about reviews of M*A*S*H from around the time it premiered:

• The Chicago Tribune (advanced press preview screening, June 15th, 1972)
• The Chicago Tribune (September 18th, 1972)
• The Los Angeles Times (September 18th, 1972)
• Montreal Gazette (September 28th, 1972)
• TIME (October 16th, 1972)

Ever wonder why Divided We Stand, the Season Two premiere, feels like a premiere episode for a new show rather than the season premiere for a returning series? Because in many ways it was an attempt at a new premiere episode. And here’s the proof: a two page press release announcing M*A*S*H‘s upcoming move to Saturdays at 8:30PM for the 1973-1974 season, currently listed on eBay for $14.95 with free shipping. I often browse eBay looking for interesting M*A*S*H items and I came across this press release the other night (I have no connection to the seller).

1973 Press Release Heralding Move to Saturdays

Only the first page was scanned for the eBay listing and it is a little small so I’ve transcribed it:

(TIME VALUE: Sept. 15)

August 27, 1973

“M*A*S*H” Move Is Almost Like Starting New

The madcap “M*A*SH*” show is on the move this fall and it promises to provide more of its inimitable brand of absurd humor in its new time period Saturdays (8:30-9:00 PM, EDT) on the CBS Television Network.

Co-producer Gene Reynolds, enthusiastically embracing the switch to Saturdays, following “All in the Family,” another pioneer of comedy form on the Network, reports a new excitement among the cast and crew.

“It’s almost like going on the air for the first time,” he says. “Alan Alda, the other actors, the entire staff and myself are very excited about the change. We feel we will be reaching a larger and somewhat different audience. It’s very stimulating.”

In line with this feeling of reaching many unfamiliar viewers, co-producer Larry Gelbart has written a premiere episode, to be seen Saturday, Sept. 15, which will serve to reintroduce the bizarre inhabitants of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit.

The story’s premise has the commanding general worried about a possible psychological breakdown of the unit. Consequently, he assigns a psychiatrist to examine the personnel, to determine individual fitness. Thus, something is revealed about each of the zany “M*A*S*H” principals, from the rebellious Hawkeye (Alda) to the mentally suspect Klinger (Jamie Farr), whose penchant for feminine attire unnerves the psychiatrist.

(More)

Thoughts?