M*A*S*H

Dear Dad... Three - S2-E9

Character mistake: While talking to Condon, Hawkeye and Trapper relate the story of Dr. Charles Drew, the man responsible for the storage of blood and plasma, and how he died due to not being allowed in a "whites only" hospital after being involved in horrific car accident. The true story is that he was taken to a "poor whites" hospital. Despite being black, he was admitted, and though the doctors worked diligently, his injuries were too severe, and he died. His family sent a warm letter thanking the doctors for their efforts.

Movie Nut

As You Were - S2-E20

Character mistake: When Hawkeye asks Frank what he is doing, Frank replies he is lining up all bottles and jars "according to height and popularity". In fact, the bottles are not lined up according to height at all, also the order of condiments is different on the two tables. The sweet and sour gherkins Frank mentions are not there at all - during the pan shots you can see the line ends with the pepper. (00:01:50)

Mail Call - S2-E23

Character mistake: When Frank is wanting to make a call to New York, Radar told him that New York is 16 hours ahead. Not quite right, as 5 p.m. in South Korea equates to 4 a.m. the same day, a difference of thirteen hours.

Movie Nut

M*A*S*H mistake picture

Death Takes a Holiday - S9-E5

Visible crew/equipment: After Charles confronts Choi Sung Ho about the candy, Ho explains that he sold it on the black market to buy real food, and when Ho reenters the mess tent through the side door, we can see that outside there's a director's chair, which actors also use, with something printed on its back.

Super Grover

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Sometimes You Hear the Bullet - S1-E17

Henry Blake: All I know is what they taught me at command school. There are certain rules about a war, and rule number one is that young men die. And rule number two is that doctors can't change rule number one.

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Abyssinia, Henry - S3-E24

Trivia: There were no American planes shot down over the Sea of Japan during the Korean conflict. It is rumoured that producer/director Larry Gelbart knew that, but wrote Henry Blake's death scene as he was very unhappy with the way Mclean Stevenson had left the show, and was determined to make it clear that there was no way he would be coming back.

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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.

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