50 Years of M*A*S*H: “Chief Surgeon Who?”

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To celebrate the 50th anniversary of M*A*S*H, I’m taking a weekly look back at what episode of M*A*S*H aired five decades ago on CBS.

Episode Title: “Chief Surgeon Who?” (#4, 1×04)
Airdate: Sunday, October 8th, 1972
Written By: Larry Gelbart
Directed By: E.W. Swackhamer
Nielsen Rank: 54th

The fourth episode of M*A*S*H aired 50 years ago today. “Chief Surgeon Who?” aired for the first time on Sunday, October 8th, 1972 on CBS. It marked the first appearance of Jamie Farr as Corporal Klinger.

Here’s the capsule summary from my Episode Spotlight for the episode:

Colonel Blake appoints Hawkeye chief surgeon, leading Frank and Margaret to complain to General Barker, who comes to the 4077th to investigate.

During filming, Jamie Farr was told to play Klinger as homosexual or effeminate. Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds were not happy with the results and paid to have Farr brought back to film his scene again. You can learn more about by reading Alternate Versions of Scenes from M*A*S*H Episodes.

Sorrell Booke makes his second and final appearance as General Barker in this episode.

“Chief Surgeon Who?” was one of 20 episodes included in The Hallmark Channel’s “M*A*S*H Bash 2007: Klinger Edition,” hosted by Jamie Farr. The 12-hour marathon aired Monday, May 28th, 2007.

MeTV aired “Chief Surgeon Who?” as part of its “The Best By Farr” week in October and November 2016, with 10 episodes introduced by Jamie Farr. Another version of “The Best By Farr” aired in September 2022 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of M*A*S*H and again included “Chief Surgeon Who?”

A suite composed by Johnny Mandel for this episode is included in a soundtrack collection released by Kritzerland Records in April 2018.

Check back next week for the next installment of 50 Years of M*A*S*H.

One Reply to “50 Years of M*A*S*H: “Chief Surgeon Who?””

  1. With regards to Klinger, he was a much better character the way Jamie Farr ultimately played him, in my opinion. As a man trying to convince others he was nuts by wearing dresses, he came off as far more sympathetic and amusing than he would have in any other way, in my opinion. His character was very believable because he seemed to be like everyone else in terms of courage and hatred of the war, but found a unique way to express himself.

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