M*A*S*H

The Most Unforgettable Characters - S5-E14

Other mistake: After Klinger douses himself with real gas (Potter determined that Klinger's can only had water in it, and told Radar to switch the can for real gas), and runs into the shower tent, you hear a nurse scream, and see her run out. When the door is open, there are no stalls to be seen. From all scenes shot inside the tent, you know that the stalls are big enough to be easily seen from the outside.

Movie Nut

Bug Out - S5-E1

Continuity mistake: After a distant aerial shot of Potter's chopper, the camera closes in for a close up. When in the distance, the rotors are running full speed. In the close up, they are barely running, just enough to make the familiar whooshing sound. The chopper that they are in is being raised and lowered to simulate flight. Also, if you look in the canopy in front of Potter, you can see the camera and crew's reflection. Then when the chopper is over the building, the sound of the blades is still the slow moving whooshing mentioned earlier, instead of the full power sound it should be.

Movie Nut

Welcome to Korea - S4-E1

Continuity mistake: On the way to catch Trapper, Hawkeye and Radar are stopped by an MP checkpoint. After bluffing the MP with a story about neuropraxia, the MP pumps his fist in the air saying "Move out!" The camera cuts to a wide shot and the MP is starting to pump his fist in the air again, and says "Move out!" again.

Movie Nut

Tuttle - S1-E15

Character mistake: Hawkeye and Trapper make Tuttle an alumnus of "Berlin Polytechnic" and translate that (wrongly) as "Berlinishes Polytechnikum". Berlin's polytechnic university was named "Technische Hochschule Berlin" at the relevant time - and at no time offered a medical curriculum. To study medicine in Berlin, Tuttle would have to attend "Freie Universität Berlin" instead.

Doc

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Suggested correction: And how are Hawkeye and Trapper suppose to know that? They are after all, making all this up. It is never meant to be factual.

MasterOfAll

It is intended to fool Margret and Frank, so it has to be assumed that they meant to pull it off. Hawkeye says "It can't be any place they'll check", which is why they select a German university in the first place. That shows it is indeed meant to be if not watertight, then at least convincing. To use an university you don't know the proper name of doesn't make sense under these circumstances.

Doc

The Merchant of Korea - S6-E14

Plot hole: In this episode, the military money, or scrip, is being called in and exchanged for a different color (and assumedly design - otherwise counterfeiters could just keep using their printing plates) to battle counterfeiting. However, in previous episodes several colors of scrip are being used equally and at the same time - e.g. in episode "Hey, Doc" (4-5), Sgt. Kimble collects a pot consisting of both blue and tan one-dollar scrip notes. No previous indication was given in the show that the army started a practice of using just one color at a time.

Doc

Bottle Fatigue - S8-E16

Continuity mistake: When Klinger refuses to give Winchester the letter from his sister, Winchester screams at him, Klinger jumps and falls to the ground next to Winchester's bunk. After the cut, Klinger is sitting next to Hawkeye's bunk (note the airplane seat in the background instead of the door) and Winchester is holding the letter in his hand opening it. Rightfully it should be on the floor next to Winchester's bunk. If you look closely, you can see it flying out of Klinger's hand towards the door. (00:16:25)

Doc

Hey, Doc - S4-E5

Revealing mistake: When Radar carries the field phone from Col. Potter's desk over to Hawkeye who is squatting in the corner, the phone doesn't have a phone line attached. It is an EE-8 Military Field Phone, which is a wired device, not a radio - even if Radar elsewhere says he has somebody "on the radio" when in fact he is using an EE-8. (00:17:35)

Doc

The Gun - S4-E13

Revealing mistake: When Radar walks into the supply room, he carries four or five ammunition belts around his neck. Since he stows them in The Gun bin, it has to be assumed that they are not meant to be empty. If they were only half filled each, he would still be carrying something in the area of 60-100lb. However he moves with absolutely no visible strain and tosses the belts into The Gun bin with ease. Elsewhere in the series Radar is depicted as being none too strong. Clearly the magazine pouches were stuffed with something light and the effect carrying the real weight would have on Radar was overlooked. (00:06:45)

Doc

Welcome to Korea - S4-E1

Continuity mistake: When BJ arrives in Korea, he, Hawkeye and Radar are attacked by guerillas while changing a flat tire on their jeep. After installing the spare tire from the back of the jeep, Hawkeye rolls the flat tire off the to the side of the road and jumps into the jeep as Radar speeds off. Later, when they reach the camp, the spare tire has reappeared on the back of the jeep.

jbdelatta

Welcome to Korea - S4-E1

Continuity mistake: When Radar calls assembly, the very first shot shows some troops appearing on the parade ground. Klinger, in his straw hat, appears on parade in the front rank in the top right hand corner of the screen and stands to attention. In the next shot, however, he is seen approaching the parade ground at the double from the Post Op ward building. Next shot, he is on parade, but in the centre of the rear rank. A couple of shots later, when Major Burns addresses the troops, he is back in the front rank - screen top right. This position is confirmed later when Burns addresses him by turning his head sharp left (he is facing the parade), and Hoolihan is seen marching over to him to remove his hat.

ainitatyb

Show generally

Other mistake: Many times during the series, soldiers are around the OR carrying a loaded weapon (magazine attached for example), when there is a sign outside the entrance that says "all weapons must be cleared before entering the building" or similar.

stiiggy

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Suggested correction: With the rampant rule breaking seen in the show, why would this be a mistake?

Exorcism - S5-E12

Continuity mistake: In this episode, a "Spirit Post" is placed in the middle of the compound, later removed, then replaced at the end of the episode. It is never seen again after that.

Movie Nut

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Suggested correction: It was probably left behind during one of the bug outs that happen. We have seen at least 2 in the series.

Ceasefire - S1-E23

Other mistake: While celebrating the ceasefire, a Jeep full of people including Father Mulcahy stops between the Swamp and the main building. There's a streamer hanging down either side of Mulcahy from above the top of frame. Unless there's a power line to the Swamp that never appears at any time, there's nothing for it to hang from.

Movie Nut

Frank Burns: You disgust me!
Hawkeye: You're right, Frank... I discussed you with everyone I know and we all find you disgusting.

More quotes from M*A*S*H

Trivia: Gary Burghoff's left hand was slightly deformed, and he often hid it behind his clipboard during filming.

More trivia for M*A*S*H

Dear Dad - S1-E12

Question: A number of times it is mentioned that the outfit is unarmed, yet several times, Frank has a rifle, or a pistol, and once Klinger had a grenade, and the guards and Klinger, while on sentry duty, has a rifle. Was this standard, or is this a mistake?

Answer: Even an Army field hospital would have SOME weapons for self-defense if the enemy attacked. What's meant is that it's not a combat outfit, and therefore wouldn't have enough weapons to actually attack anyone. (It's also mentioned a few times that the Officer of the Watch is supposed to carry a pistol at all times, but Hawkeye refuses to do it when he's in charge and Colonels Blake and Potter don't enforce the rule).

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: The Geneva Convention allows even doctors to carry a sidearm to be used in their self defense or the defense of their patients, however it is rare to do so.

stiiggy

Answer: As an old medical unit staffer, my experience is that med units have combat units assigned to defend them. Usually it was marines.

Answer: My old doctor (now deceased) served in Korea during the War. He was required to carry a sidearm anytime he was not in the hospital.

More questions & answers from M*A*S*H

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