This is an example of how cuts made to episodes in syndication can lead to confusion. I used to keep a list of M*A*S*H goofs with dozens of submissions from fans. One such goof came from the Season Eight episodes “Dreams,” originally broadcast February 18th, 1980. Many years back Sean sent me the following:

Winchester dreams he is performing magic. They show all the other characters applauding, and Klinger is wearing earrings. After they show Charles again, they show the other cast members. Klinger is not wearing earrings anymore.

Robert later sent in this correction:

This appears to be the case only in the syndicated version, because of bad cuts. In the fully uncut version, Klinger takes up the collection from the O.R. crowd, “passing the hat,” and he puts in his earrings. Because that was cut, in the syndicated version it appears as though Klinger’s earrings just disappear due to a lack of continuity.

Brent then sent in a correction to the correction:

If you watch that episode on DVD there is a cut scene that shows Klinger taking off his earrings and putting them into a hat BUT later on after that it shows him again with his earrings ON.

So, a goof that wasn’t quite a goof turned out, in the end, to be a goof? Whew. That’s confusing. Here’s what happens: Charles walks into the O.R. and everyone begins to gather around to watch his show, Klinger included. He actually isn’t wearing any earrings at this point.

“Dreams”

Cut to a shot of Charles against one of the white privacy dividers. In the next shot, which shows everyone clumped together, Klinger is now wearing large diamond earrings.

“Dreams”

Charles does a few tricks, everyone applauds and Klinger passes around Charles’s top hat, placing his earrings (we actually only see him put in one) inside.

“Dreams”

The dream then takes a turn for the somber: everyone stands aside to reveal Colonel Potter and a patient is wheeled in on a gurney. Charles does another trick and everyone applauds. Klinger is once again wearing the earrings.

“Dreams”

Everyone stops applauding when the patient goes into distress. Charles keeps the act going but no amount of magic can save the dying patient. In several close-up shots, Klinger is seen without his earrings.

“Dreams”

The patient eventually dies and, as Charles dances with a pair of sparklers, is wheeled back out on his gurney. Charles wakes up and utters a single word: “Damn.”

So what does this tell us about M*A*S*H? Surprisingly little. The reaction shots with everyone applauding and smiling were simply filmed at the same time. Thus, Klinger always has his earrings on in those shots. What this does indicate is the closeness with which some fans view the series. To notice a goof in an episode, even one created due to a cut scene, is one thing. To realize while watching the uncut episode that the goof in question wasn’t actually a goof is something else entirely. But to then figure out that there is in fact a goof? That takes the cake.

This goof is from “Movie Tonight,” originally broadcast February 22nd, 1974. When the projector breaks down for what seems like the millionth time, Margaret gets up and sings “C’est Magnifique.” She keeps singing even after Klinger fixes the projector. The movie, however, is seen only on the screen behind her, which also shows her shadow. It should have projected over her.

“Movie Tonight”

Thanks to William for this goof.

This goof is from “The Smell of Music,” originally broadcast January 3rd, 1977. A wounded soldier named Saunders wants to take his own life and sneaks off to the O.R. from post-op where Potter finds him trying to breathe anesthesia in a suicide attempt. As he is inhaling the gas, you can see his bare feet as he sits and struggles with Potter over the mask.

“The Smell of Music”

As the scene ends, Potter and Saunders are walking out of the O.R. and you can see the patient now has on house slippers.

“The Smell of Music”

Thanks to EC for this goof.

Here’s a goof from “The Army-Navy Game,” originally broadcast February 25th, 1973. As Trapper, Hawkeye and a couple of nurses are cheering in Colonel Blake’s office, one of the nurses hits Hawkeye in the nose. You notice this, because Alan Alda grabs his nose and spins around. Take a look:

“The Army-Navy Game”

Thanks to Rick for this goof.

I used to have a section here at my site about M*A*S*H bloopers. There were quite a few of them, mostly about continuity issues (such as Hawkeye mentioning a sister in one episode when otherwise he was an only child) with the occasional production error thrown in for good measure. I got rid of that section because there are plenty of other websites that track bloopers although I did keep this section on anachronisms.

I’ve also recently discussed several examples of scenes from M*A*S*H in which characters were supposed to be naked but the actors themselves weren’t. I find this sort of thing more interesting than, say, the fact that Henry’s wife was referred to as both Mildred and Lorraine. In my mind, anachronisms and other mistakes made during the production of M*A*S*H are goofs. Continuity errors within the series are bloopers. The terms don’t mean much and are nearly synonymous but they’re what I’ll be using going forward.

Every so often I’ll be pointing out specific goofs and I hope other M*A*S*H fans contribute goofs of their own.