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: “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” (#17, 1×17)
Airdate: Sunday, January 28th, 1973
Written By: Carl Kleinschmitt
Directed By: William Wiard
Nielsen Rank: 22
The 17th episode of M*A*S*H aired 50 years ago today. “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” aired for the first time on Sunday, January 28th, 1973 on CBS.
Here’s the capsule summary from my Episode Spotlight for the episode:
An old friend of Hawkeye’s visits the 4077th; later, he is wounded in battle and dies on the operating table. Meanwhile, an underage Marine is desperate to return to his unit. And Frank throws out his back and applies for a Purple Heart.
“Sometimes You Hear the Bullet” was a milestone episode for M*A*S*H. It proved to the cast and crew, the network, and to viewers how the show could blend comedy and drama.
Check back next week for the next installment of 50 Years of M*A*S*H.