M*A*S*H season 5

M*A*S*H
Season 5
No. of episodes25
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 21, 1976 (1976-09-21) –
March 15, 1977 (1977-03-15)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 4
Next →
Season 6
List of episodes

The fifth season of M*A*S*H aired Tuesdays at 9:00–9:30 pm on CBS from September 21, 1976 to March 15, 1977.

Cast

Actor Role
Alan Alda Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
Mike Farrell Capt. B.J. Hunnicut
Harry Morgan Col. Sherman T. Potter
Loretta Swit Maj. Margaret Houlihan
Larry Linville Maj. Frank Burns
Gary Burghoff Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly
Jamie Farr Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger
William Christopher Lt. Father Francis Mulcahy

Episodes

See also: List of M*A*S*H episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [n 1]Directed by [n 2]Written by [n 2]Original air dateProd.
code [n 3]
981"Bug Out"Gene ReynoldsJim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumSeptember 21, 1976 (1976-09-21)U-801
992U-802

The 4077th bugs out in fear of a Chinese advance, but Hawkeye, Margaret and Radar must stay behind with a patient who can't be moved.

Note – This is the first appearance of Eileen Saki who will take over the role of Rosie.
1003"Margaret's Engagement"Alan AldaGary MarkowitzSeptember 28, 1976 (1976-09-28)U-803

Margaret gets engaged in Tokyo while on temporary duty and the surgeons brace themselves for Frank's reaction.

Note – William Christopher and Jamie Farr do not appear in this episode.
1014"Out of Sight, Out of Mind"Gene ReynoldsKen Levine & David IsaacsOctober 5, 1976 (1976-10-05)U-806

An explosion causes Hawkeye to go blind.
Tom Sullivan makes his television debut as a patient who lost his sight in combat.
Able is played by Judy Farrell, Mike Farrell's wife at the time this episode aired. First episode written by Levine and Isaacs.

Note – William Christopher does not appear in this episode.
1025"Lt. Radar O'Reilly"Alan RafkinEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellOctober 12, 1976 (1976-10-12)U-805
Hawkeye and B.J. arrange for Radar to be Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, but Radar realizes he feels better as a Corporal.
Alan Rafkin received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for directing this episode.
1036"The Nurses"Joan DarlingLinda BloodworthOctober 19, 1976 (1976-10-19)U-809
A feud between Margaret and the nurses results in disciplinary action against Nurse Baker (Linda Kelsey) on her honeymoon. Gregory Harrison, who later starred in Trapper John, M.D., guest stars as Baker's husband Tony.
Joan Darling received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for directing this episode.
1047"The Abduction of Margaret Houlihan"Gene ReynoldsStory by : Gene Reynolds
Teleplay by : Allan Katz & Don Reo		October 26, 1976 (1976-10-26)U-808

Colonel Flagg shows up when it seems that Margaret's been abducted while on a mission of mercy.

Note – William Christopher does not appear in this episode.
1058"Dear Sigmund"Alan AldaAlan AldaNovember 9, 1976 (1976-11-09)U-810
Feeling depressed, Sidney Freeman writes to Sigmund Freud about the craziness of the 4077th.
Alan Alda won the Primetime Emmy and Directors Guild Awards for this episode. Alda also received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for writing, while William Jurgensen was nominated for cinematography.
1069"Mulcahy's War"George TyneRichard CoganNovember 16, 1976 (1976-11-16)U-812
After failing to communicate with a patient who shot himself, Father Mulcahy decides to experience life on the front lines.
10710"The Korean Surgeon"Gene ReynoldsBill IdelsonNovember 23, 1976 (1976-11-23)U-814
Hawkeye feels a North Korean POW (Soon-Tek Oh) who is an American-trained MD would be a fine addition to the 4077th's surgical staff. Trouble strikes in the form of two North Korean infiltrators (Robert Ito, Larry Hama).
10811"Hawkeye Get Your Gun"William JurgensenStory by : Gene Reynolds & Jay Folb
Teleplay by : Jay Folb		November 30, 1976 (1976-11-30)U-813

Hawkeye and Potter must assist a Korean hospital near the front.
Jay Folb and Gene Reynolds received a Writers Guild Award nomination for this episode.

Note – Gary Burghoff and William Christopher do not appear in this episode.
10912"The Colonel's Horse"Burt MetcalfeJim Fritzell and Everett GreenbaumDecember 7, 1976 (1976-12-07)U-811
While Potter's in Tokyo, both his mare and Margaret get sick. B.J. calls his father-in-law to ask for advice, for Potter's mare, and Hawkeye operates on Margaret who has appendicitis.
11013"Exorcism"Alan AldaStory by : Gene Reynolds & Jay Folb
Teleplay by : Jay Folb		December 14, 1976 (1976-12-14)U-815
A rash of bad luck befalls the camp after Potter orders the removal of a post that the villagers believe is warding off evil spirits.
11114"Hawk's Nightmare"Burt MetcalfeBurt PrelutskyDecember 21, 1976 (1976-12-21)U-804
Sidney returns to the 4077th when Hawkeye starts having nightmares.
11215"The Most Unforgettable Characters"Burt MetcalfeKen Levine & David IsaacsJanuary 4, 1977 (1977-01-04)U-818
Radar takes a correspondence course in creative writing. Timeline June 11, 1953
11316"38 Across"Burt MetcalfeJim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumJanuary 11, 1977 (1977-01-11)U-821
Hawkeye calls a Navy buddy for help in finishing a crossword puzzle.
11417"Ping Pong"William JurgensenSid DorfmanJanuary 18, 1977 (1977-01-18)U-817
Hawkeye and B.J. support a Korean ping-pong champion. The staff arranges a wedding for him and his fiancée, which everyone attends. Frank doesn't approve and threatens them with General Harrelson, but Margaret tells him to shut up. Potter risks an old friendship for the sake of his beliefs.
11518"End Run"Harry MorganJohn D. HessJanuary 25, 1977 (1977-01-25)U-816
Radar tries to help a former college football star (Henry Brown) deal with the loss of his leg.
11619"Hanky Panky"Gene ReynoldsGene ReynoldsFebruary 1, 1977 (1977-02-01)U-822

Margaret worries for her hospitalized fiancé, while B.J. gets close to a nurse who just received a "Dear Jane" letter.

Note – William Christopher does not appear in this episode.
11720"Hepatitis"Alan AldaAlan AldaFebruary 8, 1977 (1977-02-08)U-823
The 4077th springs into action when Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) has a case of hepatitis, while Hawkeye develops a backache after receiving news about a doctor from back home. This episode was inspired by Christopher's own serious bout of hepatitis, which kept him out of multiple episodes.[1]
11821"The General's Practitioner"Alan RafkinBurt PrelutskyFebruary 15, 1977 (1977-02-15)U-807
A general is determined to take Hawkeye on as his personal physician, while a GI about to be shipped home (Larry Wilcox) asks Radar to look after his Korean wife and their son.
11922"Movie Tonight"Burt MetcalfeGene Reynolds, Don Reo, Allan Katz and Jay FolbFebruary 22, 1977 (1977-02-22)U-824
Potter presents My Darling Clementine, a 1946 Western film, to boost morale at the 4077th, but the audience proves to be rowdier than the cowboys in the movie. The staff has a sing-a-long to "Gee, Mom, I Wanna Go Home" during a break in the film.
12023"Souvenirs"Joshua ShelleyStory by : Burt Prelutsky and Reinhold Weege
Teleplay by : Burt Prelutsky		March 1, 1977 (1977-03-01)U-819

Hawkeye and B.J. conspire against a helicopter pilot who's selling souvenirs at the expense of Korean children. Featuring Brian Dennehy as an M.P.

Note – Gary Burghoff does not appear in this episode.
12124"Post Op"Gene ReynoldsStory by : Gene Reynolds & Jay Folb
Teleplay by : Ken Levine & David Isaacs		March 8, 1977 (1977-03-08)U-825

During a busy surgical shift, the staff must deal with a blood shortage in the OR and assorted crises in the post-op ward.

Note – Gary Burghoff and William Christopher do not appear in this episode.
12225"Margaret's Marriage"Gene ReynoldsEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellMarch 15, 1977 (1977-03-15)U-820

Margaret feels eight months is long enough to be engaged so she and Donald decide to get married right away.

Note – This is Larry Linville's final episode.

Notes

  1. ^ Titles taken from DVD
  2. ^ a b Credits from episode title cards
  3. ^ Production Code from end credits

References

  1. ^ https://metv.com/lists/10-actors-who-left-their-shows-temporarily-due-to-injury-or-illness MeTV: 10 actors who left their shows temporarily due to injury or illness