M*A*S*H {MASH}: PRIVATE CHARLES LAMB (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs about the men and women of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H) stationed behind the lines during the Korean War. In this episode, Radar raises Burns' suspicions when he sneaks a large plate of vegetables out to his animal friends. A number of wounded Greek soldiers then arrive for treatment, and the doctors chat about Greece's various contributions to the world as they operate. Hawkeye also works on a young private, Chapman, who was shot in the leg. The Greek Colonel Andropolis visits Blake and expresses his gratitude at their care of his soldiers, inviting the Americans to join them for their Easter feast, which will feature a number of Greek delicacies. Hawkeye confides to Trapper John that Chapman shot himself in the hopes of going home, knowing that Burns will report him if he finds out. The Greek food shipment arrives, including a live lamb, and Hawkeye and John are highly impressed at the delicious food, but Radar is horrified to learn that the animal is soon to be slaughtered.
Burns grouses about the upcoming "bacchanal" and heads off to file a formal complaint with the priest. As he is leaving a note for the man, Chapman comes by and, mistaking Burns for the father, confesses that he shot himself, and Burns harshly reprimands him. Radar secretly tranquilizies the lamb and then coerces a distracted Blake to sign a form authorizing medical leave for "Private Charles Lamb." Burns angrily accuses Hawkeye of not reporting Chapman's self-inflicted injury, explaining how the boy admitted his crime, but Hawkeye and John suggest that they will instead turn Burns in for impersonating a priest, much to his aggravation. Blake learns that the lamb is missing and is especially frustrated to learn that he has been tricked and that the lamb has been sent home to Radar's family. The Easter party is a jolly affair anyway, however, and Hawkeye constructs a "Spam lamb" to replace the missing one. Trapper John kindly brings Chapman along to the festivities, and everyone enjoys far too much drink. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: December 31, 1974 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:28484
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Korean War - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1972-1983
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gene Reynolds … Producer
- Larry Gelbart … Producer, Developed by
- Burt Metcalfe … Associate Producer
- Hy Averback … Director
- Sid Dorfman … Writer
- Johnny Mandel … Theme Music by
- Alan Alda … Cast, Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce
- McLean Stevenson … Cast, Lt. Colonel Henry Blake
- Loretta Swit … Cast, Major Margaret Houlihan
- Larry Linville … Cast, Major Franklin Marion Burns
- Wayne Rogers … Cast, Captain John McIntyre
- Gary Burghoff … Cast, Corporal Walter Eugene O'Reilly
- Titos Vandis … Cast, Col. Andropolis
- Ted Eccles … Cast, Chapman