From 2007 to 2009, visitors to this site were asked to submit via e-mail stories about watching their first episode(s) of M*A*S*H, and they were posted here. Although new e-mail submissions are no longer accepted, please feel free to hit the comments with your “My First M*A*S*H” story.
Do you remember the very first episode of M*A*S*H you ever saw? Were you watching way back in September 1972 when “M*A*S*H – The Pilot” premiered on CBS in the United States? Or did you start watching in the late 1970s or early 1980s? In syndication in the late 1980s or early to mid-1990s? Did you first see M*A*S*H when it started airing on FX in 1998, the Hallmark Channel in 2003, TV Land in 2006, ION Television in 2008 or Me-TV in 2010?
Or did you watch M*A*S*H in another country? England, Germany, Canada. Everyone has their own “My First M*A*S*H” story. What’s yours?
Charles (born 1964)
“I started watching from the very first episode in 1972 and was immediately hooked. No other show has ever even come close to being as good as M*A*S*H. I like all the characters, but Hawkeye is my favorite.”
Jessi (born 1989)
“I can’t really remember which episode it was because I was very little, but I’ve been watching it since I was a baby. My mom says that my dad would take me downstairs to watch it when I was a baby. It would always make me laugh. The first episode I remember seeing was Cowboy. But my dad said my first episode was, Movie Tonight. Which might explain why that episode is my favorite. My mom also said I always laughed at Hawkeye and Radar. But she said that I was afraid of Klinger in one of his outfits, I think it was the statue of liberty one.”
Kenneth (born 1975)
“Dear MA-Born two days before that originally aired on CBS.”
Kenny (born 1990)
“The first ever MASH episode that I saw was The Sniper. I was watching it with my grandpa and I kept asking him questions about the show. I didn’t get hooked on the show till a year later. I just started watching it and I loved it. The Sniper will probably always be my favorite episode.”
Andrea (born 1993)
“The first time i ever saw a M*A*S*H episode was at my grandma’s bedside. She had lung cancer. My mom,dad,brothers(two older)and grampa went to the hospital cafeteria for coffee. I had stayed with her,she was telling me about the old times. She brought up the topic of M*A*S*H. She told me to turn the tv to channel 6,i did, and M*A*S*H was on I watched it with her. About the middle of the show my family came back and said they were going for food because the food there was gross. I said i would stay. They left and i when to get a drink of water from the drinking fountain down the hall from her room. when i look up from my drink i see hospital staff running into her room. They told me she had “coded”, stopped breathing. She died, and M*A*S*H helps bring her back in my mind and it eases the pain. I’ve loved it, out of love of my grandma.”
Alissa (born 1991)
“In mid-2005, a friend told me an episode I later recognised as Out of Sight, Out of Mind was airing on Channel Seven (Australia’s resident M*A*S*H syndication box). I started watching and was hooked from then on. When Channel 7 stopped airing M*A*S*H early ’06, I started collecting the series on DVD and got even more hooked.”
Kirsten (born 1993)
“I think the first episode I ever watched (which was on Hallmark, by the way, I just started really watching M*A*S*H in early 2006) was “Sometimes You Hear The Bullet.” I immediately loved the mix of comedy and drama in the show. The fact that Frank was enough of an insane man to apply for a purple heart made me laugh a lot, and yet, somehow I can relate to him – I’m called the Frank Burns of my family sometimes. And when Hawkeye had to watch his friend die…It was just…wow. Hearing Tommy’s last words made me wonder what it was like back in the 50’s when this took place, and it made me wonder what happens over in the middle east today…somehow, it’s all just relevant. This show has definitely given me a new perspective on life.”
James (born 1972)
“I first became a MASH junkie when it was in syndication in the late 80’s. I use to watch it every day after school, while I did my homework. Hawkeye’s work ethic inspired me (and for a while made me want to become a doctor). I now own every episode on dvd and watch it religiously. Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. The intelligence and the depth the show had was superb. They don’t make TV like this anymore. My favorite episode is Fallen Idol–a real tearjerker.”
Gray (born 1990)
“M*A*S*H has been on and around my television since I can remember. It was not until 2005 when, on the Hallmark Channel, my Dad said to me, “You might like this show.” I recalled the past memories I had of the show. All I remembered was a bunch of people laughing in small green tents and reaction as a five year old to Klinger, hysterical! The first official episode that I viewed from beginning to end was “Our Finest Hour” I was very confused afterward wondering who this “Frank” was since I had only seen Winchester. And the surprise that Henry died was ruined when I finally got to season three. But since then I have watched it constantly. I can quote lines from it stating what season, episode, who said it, and why and how they said it. In all aspects it really is the greatest television show ever. Keep it alive!! (need more money for DVD seasons…six of eleven so far)”
Rob (born 1989)
“I’ve been watching M*A*S*H since I was 12. I am 18 now and I am proud to say I’ve seen every episode and the movie each many times. I have emailed back and forth with Mike Farrell as well. I remember being with my brother trying to find a gift for my mom for Christmas (ironically my last name). We looked around and my brother suggested that we get a VHS for 12 episodes of the 2nd season of M*A*S*H. We got it for her. She always liked the show but never enough to watch it in spare time. Well my brother and I were home alone one night being babysat by our uncle and while he was asleep, my brother and I decided to watch it. We ended up watching every episode on the tape were up until 1 AM. M*A*S*H opened a door out of the dark for me. I was depressed at a young age and found characters that I could coop with. It made me happy,confident and feel good inside. I wanted to cry. I love M*A*S*H and its incredible how one show can really make a big affect on a person such as myself. I will always have a big special spot in my heart for this show and its cast.”
Birgit (born 1972)
“I was born the year M*A*S*H was first aired, so I cannot possibly claim to have watched it from when it first started. In fact, where I was born, in Germany, the show wasn’t shown until the early 80’s for the first time. In the summer of 1995, after graduating from university in Great Britain I went to visit a friend in the United States. We had a great summer. We spent most nights in front of the TV, and one night discovered that M*A*S*H was on. I had never heard of it before but was hooked straight away. The first episode I ever saw was “The Winchester Tapes” in August 1995. These days I consider myself a M*A*S*H addict.”
Jasper (born 1995)
“I watched my first M*A*S*H around 2 weeks ago. It was the show before the episode Movie Tonight.”
Emily (born 1991)
“A friend told me about MASH.”
Joe (born 1957)
“I remember when it first started, I was looking forward to seeing it, because it looked like it was another military-based sitcom, like “McHales Navy, “Hogans Heroes”, “F Troop”, “Sgt. Bilco”, etc. and I liked shows like that. But when it was on, I never got to see it, because my sister and her friend were watching something (we only had one TV back then).
Then, the next week I had to go somewhere on Sunday nights, so I missed it again. But, I was home one Sunday night a few weeks later and I saw my first episode “I HATE A MYSTERY”-and I HATED it! Then, I was also home that December, and decided to give the show another chance. So, I watched the episode “DEAR DAD” (the first, and all-time BEST Xmas episode!!) and I LOVED it, and I’ve been a fan ever since.”
Dave (born 1961)
“The pilot episode, of course.”
Rob (born 1989)
“This show plays a huge role in my life. I was depressed when I was younger and remember my brother getting the VHS copy of the 3rd Season for my mom for Christmas. I ended up being home alone with my brother one weekend being babysat by our uncle and we put in the tape. I immediately felt comfortable and couldn’t stop laughing. This show has a special place in my heart and I love everything about it. I really helped make me feel that it was OK to be my own person and funny and outgoing. It’s amazing how something so powerful like that can change a person. M*A*S*H is a world I can go to any time.”
Raj (born 1973)
“My First MASH was in syndication in India in the early 90s. The episode that got me hooked ever since has been ” INGA”. I loved the dialogue where Charles puts his foot in his mouth in the first meeting with Inga with Hawkeye watching with glee. Also the last scene where Hawkeye is cajoled into watching movies with Margaret and the immortal line, ” This could be the start of a beautiful friendship”. It has been a memorable love affair since then for me…”
Kirsten (born 1974)
“I was born two years after Mash was on I started to watch Mash in 1999 on fox 5 i don’t remember what episode i saw!”
Katherine (born 1980)
“I always remember MASH being on the television but I didn’t pay attention to them until I was about 19. I was a Specialist in the Army by then and I saw the shows in a whole new light. When I went overseas in 2004, I really could relate. I watch MASH all the time now and really cannot find a better show on television.”
Jasper (born 1995)
“M*A*S*H has been my favorite show ever since I watched it just this summer… When I recently watched Goodbye, Farewell, Amen I cried to see the group go home.”
Britany (born 1989)
“My cousin Nesta was always talking about the show for the longest time, and I thought “Oh yeah, that one stupid army show”. Haha, how wrong was I? One night I was staying over at her house and it was on TV, and I was absolutely astonished. She went out of the room for a minute and came back in to find me glued to the TV. She looked at me and said: “I told you so.” I’ve got the entire series now and am a devoted fan. Probably more so than her these days!”
Amy (born 1978)
“Oddly enough it was the last episode. I know I must have watched MASH many times before but just cant remember. I remember my family watching the final episode and everyone being sad. I don’t remember specifics about the episode, just that everyone in my family was very sad.( I am now a MASH-aholic!)”
Jerod (born 1981)
“As a kid I had Crohn’s disease..which is for those who don’t know an inflamed bowel…and very painful at times….I spent at least four to eight hours on the toilet a day (more than y’all needed to know I’m sure), anyway….when I stayed at my grandmothers…she always watched M*A*S*H…and I got to liking it…it made me laugh and forget my pain…during some of the roughest times…I used to sit on the toilet and watch M*A*S*H…it made me laugh and forget the pain I was in…first episode I remember is “The Late Captain Peirce” from Season four…my favorite Episode however is The UN, the Night and the Music…from Season Eleven…Hawkeye Peirce is one of my idols…he taught me no matter had bad things were…you can still laugh…and that laughter is really the best medicine…I own all 11 seasons on DVD…and have them on almost around the clock most of the time…right now I write this…I’m watching Season Two, “Mail Call”…I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!”
Kate (born 1994)
“Well, I first began watching the show late 2006, I believe, and was terribly confused by all the references and characters. But I liked it, so I watched it again. And again. And I became hooked to a television show that ended 11 years before I was born. Which, funnily enough to me, is how long it aired.
I simply love the show now, and there’s no doubt it’s my favorite with its sheer brilliance.”
Sarah (born 1994)
“My dad always watched M*A*S*H when I was little, and we still enjoy watching it today. I think the first episode I remember was The Price of Tomato Juice, the ending made me laugh forever! M*A*S*H is a truly great show and nothing can or ever will come close to it.”
Louise (born 1971)
“I don’t remember the first episode I saw, but it was around season three that I got hooked. My favourite episode is Sons & Bowlers, I just love how the relationship between Hawkeye and Charles changes. I also love the episodes with Clete Roberts. Hawkeye is my hero.”
Fatima (born 1992)
“The first episode of M*A*S*H that i watched was in 2006 the episode where one of the wounded claims to be Jesus Christ and i’ve been watching it ever since. I am really glad i got attached because it is the best tv show ever and my favourite characters would have to be B.J and Hawkeye.”
Kiara (born 1993)
“i was about 7 when i watched my first m*a*S*h episode. i dont remember where i was or on what channel but i do remember watching in with my dad… he liked the show and had watched it when it first aired…(a long time ago) from then i i have loved the show. at the time no one understood how a 7 yr old could love a show like m*a*s*h, but that never stopped me from watching it every day. i bought all the seasons on DVD and about a year ago i had watched it all the way through from start to finish 5 times.”
Curtis (born 1975)
“I honestly can’t recall the first episode I watched but I know I was 5 or 6 with my Grandparents when I saw it, and I have passed on the tradition… My daughter and I have “M*A*S*H hour” every night when I get home from work and she loves it as much as I do.”
Vonnie (born 1984)
“I can’t recall the first episode I ever saw, but some of the fondest memories I have of my grandfather (who passed away in 1989) involve watching M*A*S*H and eating Raisin Bran. Since then I have watched it whenever I manage to catch it on television.”
Theresa (born 1989)
“By the time I saw M*A*S*H, it was obviously in syndication, and that was when I was about 9-10 years old. I remember, very clearly, my parents waking up every morning to watch it. The first episode I ever saw was “The General Flipped at Dawn.” It was also so amazing, and I used to want to be just like Hawkeye, which alarmed my parents to no end.”
Andrew (born 1988)
“It happened by chance in 2004. I had been watching Cheers, which lead me on to watching Frasier, then in one episode a guy called David Ogden Stiers was in an episode (who I had seen in Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place), and my mum told me about M*A*S*H. Naturally I watched it, and was instantly hooked. Since then it has always been my favourite programme, and I even got my best friend hooked.”
Stacy (born 1986)
“The first episode of M*A*S*H I saw was when I was in high school. It was on a TV station that aired(At the time) other shows like “I Dream of Jeanne” and “Bewitched”. I used to watch M*A*S*H and those shows at the same time period after school ended. I was 15 years old. I obviously could not have seen the episodes as they were released because these were reruns(I thought the episode where Henry went to stay in Tokyo was the first episode after the pilot, to give you some kind of indication of my knowledge of the show at the time). I don’t remember which episode was my first(I would guess around season 3-4), but I know I was hooked after my first episode. I currently have seasons 1-10 on DVD.”
Jessica (born 1986)
“Trick or Treatment in 1999 when I was in 7th grader. I remember that it hit a cord with me and I quickly became addicted.”
Steve (born 1982)
“I began watching in high school around 1998. My buddies and I had a little hand held TV that I would take watch MASH. The first episode I saw was one from season 1, I don’t remember exactly which one. I just remember Henry on there. Know I have seen every episode.”
Jenna (born 1986)
“The first time I ever watched and episode of M*A*S*H was during 2002 during a period of illness. My dad had been watching the re-runs and feeling too ill to get up and do something else I watched an episode and found that I really enjoyed it. The episode was Welcome To Korea.”
Emily (born 1993)
“The first episode I saw of M*A*S*H was probably a few months ago when we first got cable. I recently saw the episode again a few days ago. It was the one where Charles was having an article written about him by some reporter and his ego swelled even larger than usual. I guess I just thought it was pretty funny b/c I started regularly watching as much as I could. Now I just love the show and Margaret and Hawkeye are my favorite characters. B.J.’s a close second, though, and I love Colonel Potter’s made up words.”
Jamie (born 1981)
“I grew up watching M*A*S*H with my parents in re-runs, but it wasn’t until I was in 7th grade that I appreciate the show. The first episode I remember being moved by is Kim. I started taping the shows, and the first episode I kept on tape was The Trial of Henry Blake. Now, I own all the episodes on VHS and DVD! I watch them over and over!”
Carolyn (born 1985)
“I started watching MASH when I was a junior in high school and had massive insomnia problems. I would lie in bed not sleeping until 3 a.m. when I would get up and make a cup of tea and watch MASH until 4. I quickly got hooked by both the characters and the subject matter. When my mom got me the first season on DVD that was all she wrote! Hook, line, and sinker, I’m now a devoted MASH fan and quote it endlessly to friends and family. I still fall asleep to different episodes every night. The show never ceases to be funny and amazing no matter how many times I watch it. Hooray for MASH and hooray for this site, which keeps the love alive!”
Dean (born 1967)
“I can’t remember which episode or season it was (maybe season 6) but I was a fan from the start, not only because of the wise-cracking remarks from Hawk and BJ, but also because it dealt with larger issues of war. This became more apparent as I grew older and the show became more of an affront to Vietnam.
In any case I have 8 of the 11 seasons now on DVD and can enjoy it whenever I like.”
“Katie (born 1989)
I cannot honestly say I know what the first episode I watched was, but I do remember catching it on television one day about a year ago, and I have been hooked ever since. The strong acting and mixture of comedy and heart wrenching drama always makes my day.”
Kelli (born 1988)
“I actually stumbled across M*A*S*H on accident back in March of 2007. I am a huge fan of the animated series Avatar the Last Airbender and was poking around IMDb to see what other shows some of the voice actors appeared in. Mako, who provides the voice for Iroh in Avatar happened to have a few guest appearances on M*A*S*H.
This bit of information was in the back of my mind one night while I was checking the TV guide for something to watch. I noticed M*A*S*H was on on TV Land. I flipped it on just to see if Mako was guest starring that particular episode (he wasn’t) but found I couldn’t turn it off. And thus “The Most Unforgettable Characters” became my first episode and the cast was truly a set of unforgettable characters.”
Amanda (born 1985)
“I have seen M*A*S*H on tv for years and would watch it, but didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to it, so i didn’t remember any plotlines. It wasn’t until TV Land showed a Marathon at the beginning of January 2007 that I really became a fan. I had M*A*S*H on for noise, and “Goodby, Farewell, Amen” came on. The scene where Dr. Sydney Freedman gets Hawkeye to remember all the details on the bus is what got me hooked. The impact of that moment made me sit up and say, “That’s what it’s about.” In short, I was enthralled by how the comedy mixed with the utter seriousness of the situation of the war itself.”
Beth (born 1994)
“The first episode I ever saw was ‘The Long John Flap’. I distinctly remember having no idea who anyone was or what was going on. My mum had bought the first series on a whim. I wasn’t really into it to begin with (it’s my favourite show now).”
Patricia (born 1992)“Well, I was at the beach in September 2007. I was really really bored, so I went to the living room and watched TV with my uncle and parents. I said, “What are we watching?” My mom said, “It’s MASH.” And I said, “Ooh I like that little short dude right there. He’s kinda cute.” I ended up staying awake until midnight watching MASH. I found out there was another marathon the next night. Guess what I did? Stayed up ’til midnight. We came home from vacation, and when I put all my things up and everything, I turned on the tv, and MASH was on, again. Ever since that boring night, I became really obsessed with MASH.”
Gene (born 1954)
“”Yankee Doodle Doctor”, from the sixth week in 1972 was the first M*A*S*H episode I ever saw. I was in college, but worked nights. On a rare night off I turned on the TV to M*A*S*H, because my friends had told me about the show. In school I hung out with a group of Marx Brothers fanatics (they were undergoing a revival/re-discovery at that time). When I saw Alan (Hawkeye) playing “Groucho”, I was immediately hooked. And have been ever since. I never again missed an episode all the way to “Goodbye. Farewell. And Amen.””
vintageisclassic (born 1989)
“I can’t really recall my first M*A*S*H episode moment but i think it was Hawkeye’s Nightmare as being the first. I’ve been a M*A*S*H fanatic for only 11 months now and it’s one of the best shows ever!!
Cheers is being the second best show!!”
Alyssa (born 1984)
“Actually, my first M*A*S*H episode was the finale, Goodbye, farewell, and Amen. I believe it was on the Hallmark Channel. I had heard of it, and caught snippets of other episodes just flipping by, but for some reason, I decided to actually watch it, and within the first 20 minutes I was hooked. Of course, my parents kept getting annoyed when I would keep asking what was going on, but I do remember at the end shushing everyone so I could hear, and the tears just pouring down my face. I’ve tried to catch it since, but I’ll admit, I like the Winchester episodes the best!”
Michael (born 1992)
“I started watching M*A*S*H when TVLand aired their weekend long M*A*S*H marathon, the first episode that I saw was the Pilot and I was immediately hooked, I am currently trying to watch the entire series from start to finish. My favorite character would have to be Hawkeye, I could never resist his brand of humor especially when he was with B.J.”
Skipper (born 1977)
“The last episode “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen” the end of this episode really moved me, I don’t think there will EVER be a show better than M*A*S*H, if it is I wouldn’t believe it. My favorite character from the show is Klinger (Jamie Farr) and the Klinger collection. Where is Klinger when my wife wants a dress?”
kathleen (born 1985)
“When after my party is over I saw all the DVDs in Best Buy my father give me the first the second dvd
for Christmas I was so happy to have the DVDs when I much 21 and 22 I start to love MASH have all different season all the actors like Loretta Swit though all her friends make me laugh cry and embarrass because they make the best jokes that’s why love them so much.”
Jeremy (born 1992)
“Ironically, the first MASH episode I watched was the series finale, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, and I have been hooked ever since. I watch the show whenever I get a chance. It’s one of the funniest shows ever.”
Chet (born 1976)
“I remember watching MASH growing up. I also remember when I watched the final episode. Sad it ended.”
Marc (born 1990)
“I’ve only just begun to watch MASH on Paramount Comedy over here in the United Kingdom and I must say I have fallen in love with it! Charles Winchester and Klinger are my favourite characters from what I’ve seen so far!”
Dee (born 1987)
“My first MASH episode was Tuttle. I just about died laughing when they decided his first name was Jonathon, since I’d actually had an imaginary friend I named Jonathon. From then on I named him Tuttle, and watched MASH every time it came on.”
Scott (born 1952)
“I have been watching since the first year. I still watch the reruns.”
Kathy (1993)
“My first M*A*S*H was Change of Command. I didn’t really get what was going on but I remember at the end when Klinger walked in dressed in the sailor suit and Colonel Potter says: ‘Nice outfit’ and Klinger says ‘Thank you sir, it’s from the Shirley Temple Collection.’ That line cracked me up so much and from then on i was hooked.”
Raj (1973)
“My First Episode of MASH was INGA, Where Hawkeye falls for the Swedish Doctor and at the same time is egotistical about her skills.. This got me hooked to the series.”
David (1966)
“the pilot! the series had me hooked from there!:)”
Shawn (1990)
“My first episode of M*A*S*H i saw was when i was 4 years old! If i remember my father got me hooked one it! I think it was the second or third episode of the first season! But my favorite is either “Tuttle” or “Yankee doodle doctor”!”
Brielle (1993)
“When I was 11 my mother was watching the episode when all the characters were being interviewed. I sat down to watch it and I was amazed by how into their roles the actors were. Then my mom told me that that particular episode was unscripted and I was even more awed. These actors were able to be their characters and seem real and whole. Then another episode came on: Five O’ Clock Charlie. That showed me how funny M*A*S*H could be and that episode put me in stitches. I have watched M*A*S*H ever since.”
Angelika (1993)
“I’ve been watching since I was a baby! And I’m still in love with Trapper – me and Hot Lips agree on him! I love, love, love it! The jookes are always simple but brilliant & have stood the test of time and generations!”
Jake (1991)
“I distinctly remember my first MASH. It was, oddly enough, one of the first episodes to air. It was To Market, To Market where the hospitals medical supplies keep getting knocked of by black marketeers. I absolutely loved the show when i first saw that episode but i was too young to remember what the show was. So it wasn’t until a few years later i really discovered MASH. Been in love with it ever since.”
Lauren (1987)
“I started watching M*A*S*H reruns with my dad when I was 2 years old in 1989.”
Istvan (1985)
“I saw a few episodes when I was about age 11. But back then, I watched it with Hungarian audio. But of course, it can’t even be compared to the original English audio. No wonder no one has ever tried writing Hungarian subtitles for this. Anyway, I was 3rd year student at the university when I downloaded (yes I’m guilty) the first season. And after that, in a short month, I watched all of it (it took that long only because back then I had a lousy 1 Mb bandwidth for downloading). The only disappointment I had was when Lt. Col. Henry Blake got killed (Abyssinia, Henry). I was literally angry with the writers. How could they do that? Fortunately, later on I’ve read on IMDB that the staff decided that if one of the cast members wants out, they will never give the character a tragic end. (However, in one episode, a nurse named Miller (I think) dies because she steps on a landmine, and Hawkeye does the eulogy for her as he discovers that she loved him). I was very sad when I first watched the last episode, I just couldn’t believe that the show was over. Alda played the crazy Hawkeye splendidly. The second and last thing I didn’t like about the show was the fairly big amount of discontinuity. You can read all about it on Wikipedia, I just give one example of it. In one of the three episodes named dear dad when hawkeye writes a letter home, he writes “kiss mom and sis for me”. Later, when Radar gets a letter in which her mother informs him that she has a “boyfriend” Hawkeye states that his father is a widower. OK, that’s it for me, but all in all, the best damn show ever!!!”
I can remember when the pilot episode first aired, I had been looking forward to seeing it, but I never got to because I had to go somewhere that night and I was so mad! Then I never got to see another episode until later in the first season when I saw the episode “I HATE A MYSTERY” and hated it.
But then later I watched the Christmas one, “DEAR DAD” and started liking the series.
I was born in the early 70s, and grew up watching M*A*S*H. I watched the finale the night it aired, and continued watching the reruns which aired at 6:30 every night – at least, until the reruns were discontinued and “Wheel of Fortune” took that time slot. I was incensed! This was the mid 80s, so no Internet, no DVDs, etc. so for me at that time there was no more M*A*S*H!! I refused to watch WOF for years after that, out of protest.
Looking at other comments, people have mentioned their favorite episodes. It’s very hard to pick ONE of course, but if I had to pick one I would pick “Deal Me Out”, the one that had John Ritter, and centered around a “conference” being held at the 4077th (“conference” here meaning, of course, a poker game). There are so many great lines in this one. A great watch, from start to finish.
I was born in 1965 and probably first saw M*A*S*H during its 2nd season, when it was on CBS Saturday nights between All in the Family & Mary Tyler Moore. I probably saw it occasionally in primetime and was aware of the cast changes when they happened. I started watching it regularly starting in 1978, when CBS reran the show both in daytime and late-night after the news against Carson. I remember being confused about why McLean Stevenson & Harry Morgan were in the same episode [“The General Flipped at Dawn”] in the late-night slot once and enjoying episodes like “Dear Ma” & “Mail Call Again” (War Horse!!! Army Mule!!!) in that same late night slot. I bought the book about M*A*S*H that came out in 1980 and watch most episodes until the last one. I remember where I lived the ABC affiliate had rerun rights to M*A*S*H and reran the first episode (preempting whatever ABC ran in that slot) in the half hour just before the last episode started, promoting it by saying “Watch the first episode of M*A*S*H before you watch the last one”, and we did. That was the first time I ever remember specifically watching the M*A*S*H pilot, right before seeing the finale.
I’m glad you mentioned the CBS late night reruns of MASH at 11:30 because I was trying to remember when that occurred. I started watching MASH regularly in the Fall of 1976, with the first run of the 5th season. I had been too young to watch regularly before that. I became a fan that 5th season, but that was in the days before tv shows were syndicated while they were still in production. So the first time I ever saw any episodes with Henry and Trapper was when CBS was running MASH late night (I could only watch in the summer, my parents were pretty strict about bedtime, even when I was 12.) I was trying to recall exactly when it was that the late night reruns started, and you have provided the answer – 1978. Thanks!
I was born in 1972 During the late 70s I remember my parents watching the show but I was too young and had no interest. It was not until 1981 when we had recently moved back to Canada from Greece We had moved there two years prior but subsequently moved back to the fact that there was a recession Into difficult to make a go at it. When the parents got back to Canada they had to work two jobs and wouldn’t be home until 9 o’clock at night. Which left ample time unsupervised been able to watch television. But all we have is basic cable and one of the channels showed MASH. It would start around eight and finished just before my parents got home but I had to watch it in the dark do to the fact that I was supposed to be in bed Before my parents got home. I completely fell in love with the show its humor its characters. You can tell Just bye watching it that everybody that worked on the show knew that that show was something bigger than anything they’ve ever done before. And that came through to everybody who fell in love with it and to this day it still holds up.
I was born in 1966. The first episode I ever remember watching was the original network broadcast of Season 4’s “The Late Captain Pierce”. For whatever reason, I distinctly recall seeing this episode twice during the original broadcast of Season 4 – it’s first airing was on October 3, 1975 (11 days short of my 9th birthday). I must have been watching it with my parents at the time. I am not sure when the second rerun broadcast of it was, probably sometime in late April or May of that year, but I do remember seeing it twice during that season. Being 9 years old, I was more into the comedic elements of the episode, such as when they dumped snow on Frank’s feet as he slept, and the fight in the mess hall with Hawkeye shoveling carrots down Franks shirt. The three lines of dialogue I remembered were: “Is this whole tent?” answered by “And nothing but the tent”; the line where Hawkeye says, “Not dead tired. Dead dead. The doornail type”; and the line where Kilnger says “No no. I’m the woman trying to get in by pretending I’m a guy!” No idea why this memory is so fresh after 39 and a half years, but it is. I recall seeing this episode and The Interview twice during the 4 season network broadcast, I recall seeing the episode “The Gun” once, probably in the summer rerun broadcast. Those are the only 4th season episodes I recall watching. I was still a bit too young to sit still for a half hour adult oriented show, I supposed. But by season 5 I was 10 and, starting with the first broadcast of that season’s premiere, The Bug Out, I became a regular watcher and did not miss a single episode from that point until the remainder of MASH’s run.
My first episode I watched was “Dreams”, right when Margaret was covered in blood. At first, I thought M*A*S*H was some sort of horror comedy, but a few weeks later, I saw “Chief Surgeon Who?, which hooked me. Ever since, I’ve been a devoted fan. I blame my not tuning in earlier on bad timing and Hot Lips!
I wonder sometimes if I’m the only M*A*S*H fans in Hong Kong, where I’m from. Back in 1992, I was studying in Becker College, a small community college in Leicester, Massachusetts. I bought myself a used, portal able mini TV and put it in my dorm. That was the first time I came across M*A*S*H, which was being re-run on CBS or FOX every late night at that time. As a foreign student, being thousands miles away from my home, in a place where I knew few people, I somehow found myself related to the characters in M*A*S*H. Of course, I wasn’t being in a war time, nor did I need to witness life and death situation. But I could relate to the loneliness and struggles of living in a foreign land which was portrayed in the series.
Since then, M*A*S*H became my all time number one favourite TV series. I have the whole collection of all 11 seasons at home. I couldn’t exactly recall which was the first ever episode I ever watched. But it has to be an episode in the early seasons. Cos I remember Houlihan was still being called “Hot Lips”, and Trapper was still there. But the first character which left me with an impression was Radar. Till today, Radar, Henry Blake and Frank Burns (yes, personally I think Frank is the most loveable TV villain I ever seen) are still my favourite M*A*S*H characters!
Raymund (born 2001): Back in October 2008 (the second half of the year 2008), I was watching the TV series MASH on TV Land. My dad says in 2015: ”Why do you like the TV show MASH?” In 1995-2002, fX aired MASH until it removed from the schedule for 7 years. In February 2015, Netflix started streaming MASH. Back in April 29th, 2015, I got the first season DVD of MASH in Walmart. All of the MASH episodes from 1972-1983 especially with the 2 1/2 series finale, it used the 20th Television logo from 1992! Last month in July 2015, I got the 2006 Two-Disc DVD of the 1970 movie MASH. One week later on July the 17th, of 2015, I got the next season of MASH: ”MASH TV Season 2.” In the upcoming days, I will be happy if I will complete all seasons of the MASH movie and the MASH series. My favorite characters of the MASH franchise is ”Hot Lips’ O’Houlihan” ‘Radar O Reilly”, and Father Mulcalhy. MeTV currently airs the TV show MASH.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MOVIE CONTAINS BAD SCENES THAT ARE NOT APPROPRIATE. WATCH AT YOUR OWN RISK. In the 1973 re-release version of MASH the movie, the film is rated PG. In the movie MASH, it used the 1953 20th Century Fox logo. But in the TV show version of MASH, CBS-TV used the 1965 20th Century Fox Television logo, but the last episode of MASH (the highest rated TV show). it uses the 1990’s 20th Televsion logo! But the TV show MASH on current prints and airings, it uses the 1990’s 20th Television logo! But the Fox Classics airing of MASH Season 7 episode of CAVE, it used the 1974 20th Century Fox Television logo! United States episode of MASH (the episode of CAVE), it uses the 1992 print of the 20th Television logo!
My goodness!! You sure are into logos. I wonder why?
Does anyone else really cares? Just watch the show and enjoy it. Get a life.
WOW! MY HEAD IS SPINNING. WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
HOLY MOLY!
I have no idea which episode I watched first but in the mid-90’s I was in elementary school and before school the shows would be on TV. I remember watching them as I got ready for school. Sometimes I would even ENJOY getting out of bed in the morning because I knew I’d get to watch MASH soon. Even through middle and high school I remember watching episodes after baseball practice and I continued to watch in college in my dorm room. Now as an elementary school teacher I have spent this past summer watching the entire series throughout on Netflix. I am almost finished and hope to be done before the start of the school year.
I have ordered the MASH series finale at Amazon.com along with the first two Jurassic Park movies in full screen. When I was not getting the MASH series finale on the VHS, I should get the 3-disc MASH DVD instead of the rare VHS tape. I will complete the MASH franchise (spin-offs like Trapper John M.D., WALTER, and AfterMASH are not on DVD) but just to complete the MASH seasons by the end of 2015 or in 2016. Even if I will graduate, going to high school, I may hope to watch all the episodes of MASH. Older prints of MASH (from 1972-1981) used the 1965-1981 20th Television Fox, (1981-1983) prints of MASH uses the 1981-1992 20th Television Fox logo.
MASH is one of my 2nd favorite classic TV shows since I was watching it back in fall 2008.Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV Series) is my 1st favorite TV show.
As I was born in 2002, I didn’t fully understand my first episode, which watched quite a few years ago. Recently, I have worked out that that episode was Goodbye Radar (Part 1)!
I did not have cable as a kid just an antenna that only two channels, which never aired Mash then. So my first Mash was on a Officially Released VHS That my dad bought of the pilot episode then I was hooked.
I used to watch MASH way back in the 70’s. I am not sure why I liked it so much then. Maybe because I had a rebellious nature and questioned everything. I even bought an army jacket .I can’t remember my first episode.
But now, after a long gap of nearly 20 years I have really come to appreciate its anti-war stance and how relevant it is today. I have become a stronger fan than ever before, thanks to the re-runs. Although I own a box set, I live to watch it on TV every day.
I would love to see MASH adapted for stage.
“Carry on Hawkeye” was the first MASH episode I remember watching..I was maybe 6 years old at the time..( was born in 69 )…and I watched it @ my Grandparent’s House..and remember vividly how much my Grandparents cracked up during the scene when Margaret gave Hawkeye a shot while he was die-laughing…
Nowadays..I watch it on DVD or on-line occasionally…Mostly on DVD though..
Since that first episode I watched…I would watch every now and then..Only within the last 3 years or so did I start to put a collection together and start watching it on a much more frequent basis…I average about 5 episodes a day and maybe 3 days a week…Definately in my top 5 as far as TV Shows go…
Hello from germany,
l look very much Mash. Also currently I look at the repetation on TV. Very pleased I am of my 6-year-old godson (girl) is enthusiastic about the series.
I watched my first MASH episode, when I was about 16 years old – ‘The Army-Navy game’ from season 1. The show’s not that well known in Denmark and I actually came across it by accident at a friend’s place, because there was nothing else on TV that afternoon, but I was hooked right away. I remember being very fond of Radar and I’m pretty sure he was my first TV-crush.
I still watch it several times a week and no show has ever made me laugh or cry that much. I love all the characters, but especially Charles, Father Mulcahy and Radar has a special place in my heart.
I am amazed by the number of millions who love MASH. I was born in 1970 and did not truly appreciate the show until it went into syndication. My daughter was born in 1989 and does not watch a lot of TV, bit MASH is a show she truly likes and introduced her husband to MASH when they were in college. I would like more shows today be more like those I grew up with, truly family oriented.
I am 29 years old, and I only just started watching M*A*S*H. I have an older boyfriend who loves the show. I had never really seen an episode and always thought it was an Army show, and not a comedy. Not only does he have the whole series on DVD but he has also taped every episode off of TV. We watch it every time we go to sleep. From first seeing it about 2-3 years ago, I have watched it so much that I can quote entire episodes or see the first few minutes and know exactly what episode it is. I have no idea what episode was the first I ever saw, but I have come to love every one of them! It’s such a wonderful show and I am so glad my boyfriend introduced me to it. Our favorite episode is probably Adam’s Ribs. As for a favorite character, that is a very difficult decision. I absolutely love Charles Emerson Winchester III. And I think Colonel Potter has some of the best sayings. But every character, new and old, was fantastic. It is truly an amazing show!
I may have seen episodes from the beginning (I was 7 in 1972), but I don’t really remember. Remember, this was when there were three broadcast networks and a handful of syndicated local channels. I certainly remember watching it during the summer, in repeats, and at that time, networks often reran their shows in the morning and later in the afternoon. By 6th or 7th grade, I was watching episodes after school around 3:30. And I vaguely remember watching the late-night repeats during the summer (only NBC had programs after the 11:00 news–Johnny Carson). It wasn’t on every night if I remember correctly, because there used to be a CBS Late Night Movie.
I’m 18, and I began watching M*A*S*H early last year, if I remember right. I’d always heard of it from my Mom, but never wanted to watch it for some reason, even though comedies from the 60s and 70s are my favorite.
One day, I was making myself scrambled eggs and Mom was watching TV, and the episode “In Love And War” was playing. She called me in for a few minites, but I didn’t like it, so I went back to my eggs.
Awhile later, I happened to be passing the living room when William Christopher as Father Mulcahy was onscreen (Can’t remember which episode, though.).
As my love for “The Thorn Birds” attests, I’ve got a bad habit of getting a crush on good-looking Irishmen in a collar and frock. I thought Mr. Christopher was quite easy on the eyes, so I watched the rest of the episode and I’ve loved it ever since…especially “Nurse Doctor”, “Mulcahy’s War”, “Dear Sis,”, “Movie Tonight”, “A War For All Seasons” and all seven Colonel Flagg episodes!
I was born in 1937-yes, you read that right!
I cannot recall the date it first aired (sometimes I don’t remember what I had for dinner) but I have watched it ever since it first aired.. I even know the actors lines before they say them. Yesterday they had on a MASH marathon again.
The cast member I miss is Radar. The show wasn’t the same without him but I still enjoy it.
PS – my oldest brother served in the “Korean War” as a cook for the
‘top guys” and never saw any hardships. He’s gone now but I wonder if he
ever watched the show and his thoughts about it.
I was born in 1960 and am from the UK.
I was in my 4th year of Grammar school (1974) and had just finished watching a TV play of Bob Dylan’s “”Under Milk Wood” being a book we were studying as part of our English Literature course.
I was just about to switch off when hearing the TV announcer mention the next programme was the “Pilot” episode of an American comedy drama called M*A*S*H which contained graphic hospital scenes.
As a 14 year old with my curiosity well and truly peaked, and praying my Mother wouldn’t come into my room and turn the TV off being around 10:30pm on a school night I watched and became an instant ‘fan’.
The next day in school asking if anyone else had seen it, of those who had berated me in insisting it was about the Vietnam War (as most 1st time viewers still do) whereas I said Korean. Oh well !!!
Anyway, and needless to say I fell in love with it there and then and must have watched every episode that many times I can tell the story line from a single sentence (how sad? lol), and have every season saved to my satellite box.
Thanks for sharing your first M*A*S*H story Jeff F.
Do you have any idea if that 1974 Pilot you watched was the first time the show was aired in the UK?
HI JEFF,
How wonderful that “M*A*S*H has so many followers and in so many countries – I had no idea. I live in the USA and it is
shown on 3 channels in my area. How great is that? Not only is the show great but most of the cast has led fine lives which
is another reason I watch. Horrors if it ever goes off the air as I will have bad withdrawals. Happy you have it saved.
I wonder if every episode has been shown. It seems they
made a lot more than has been aired. Not sure but I feel they keep showing about 40 or 50 over and over again.
Just checked. Two hundred fifty-one episodes of “MASH” were made.
Is it possible we have seen them all?
In season 4 episode 5 they call somebody from iqor because Pierce is supposed to be dead well the gentleman States you are Captain Pierce what Orwell describes in 1984 mistake Korean war was over by 1984
I watch Mash on Dish Network so it’s on almost every day. There’s not a episode of mash that I don’t like I love them all. I think the one where they use Charles’s tape recorder and they surprised BJ with a happy anniversary movie from Peggy and when radar gives Potter a horse as a present that was good one. Also when radar gets a homemade movie sent to him you can tell Radars mom is really radar but it’s still chokes me up. I also like the homemade movie Henry’s wife sends him. Oh and what about five o’clock Charlie. I have never seen the show Walter and isn’t there one called after Mash
Yes, I believe there was an “After Mash” but I have never seen it. Has anyone else and who was in it – any of the originals?
Ms. Delores,
I have seen all the episodes of AfterMASH. The show stars Harry Morgan, William Christopher, and Jamie Farr.
It’s pretty good. I don’t find it as funny as the original MASH, which has nothing to do with the actors, they did STELLAR work with what they had to go on as far as the scripts. There wasn’t much humor in the scripts, and this is coming from a woman who doesn’t care for the crudness of the first seasons of the original MASH.
As a commenter on another thread said, the series followed along the lines of MASH’s dramatic years in the later seasons, so it wasn’t as funny as say, MASH’s first season.
To me, if the writers had added more clean humor that would work without Hawkeye’s womanizing, the show may have worked better, but that’s just my opinion.
They are, or at least, were on youtube if you would like to give them a try.
God bless,
JocularityGirl
Sorry, I meant “crudeness”. Pays to reread later!
The first episode that I have a clear memory of seeing was the final, when it aired. I started really watching again some time in the late 90’s… I have all the seasons and the original movie, as well as the reunion DVD. I actually sat down one weekend and into the next week and counted how many martinis are actually in the episodes; do I remember the number at this time of course not.
Point being that my family finds me when there is a M*A*S*H question that needs to be answered.
JUST CHECKING IN TO READ ANY NEW POSTS.
I AM STILL WATCHING “MASH” EVERY NITE.
SOMETIMES IT’S ONLY ON FOR ONE HOUR,THOUGH.
THERE IS ONE EPISODE THAT I DO NOT LIKE. THE
ONE WHERE “HAWKEYE” GETS A CONCUSION AND
STAYS WITH A KOREAN FAMILY. HE OVER-ACTS, IN
MY OPINION.
ANYONE ELSE FEEL THE SAME?