Ten Favorite MASH Episodes: The Army-Navy Game (#4)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86765)
United States
November 30, 2018 9:04pm CST
Friday nights were made for putting your feet up, drinking delicious tea, and enjoying life! Okay, my Friday nights were made for that. I'm enjoying caramel apple right now. As for other enjoyment, here's another favorite episode of one of my all-time favorite TV series, M*A*S*H.
#4: The Army-Navy Game
I'll begin at the end: Navy won the football game. Wanna know why? McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake), who wrote the story for this episode, was in the Navy. So there! 
Just as the camp is getting ready to enjoy the annual Army-Navy football game (except for Father Mulcahy, who can't understand the excitement because it's not Notre Dame 
) shells begin falling. Henry suffers a slight head wound (it's hilarious to see him walking into pre-op with just the phone receiver in his hand, the rest being blown away), everyone is scared....and then "the big one" lands. And does NOT explode.
Amid the tension of having an unexploded bomb in the middle of the camp and loss of the radio (meaning they can't listen to the game) the staff reacts in different ways. One of my favorites is the poker game, where chips are worth $25,000, $10,000, and $5,000, or $1, 50c, and 25c if the bomb doesn't go off.
And the conclusion is hilarious....and so U.S. government-like!
The Army-Navy Game
Teleplay by Sid Dorfman
Story by McLean Stevenson
Directed by Gene Reynolds
Season 1, episode 20
But first.....
Just as the camp is getting ready to enjoy the annual Army-Navy football game (except for Father Mulcahy, who can't understand the excitement because it's not Notre Dame ) shells begin falling. Henry suffers a slight head wound (it's hilarious to see him walking into pre-op with just the phone receiver in his hand, the rest being blown away), everyone is scared....and then "the big one" lands. And does NOT explode.
Amid the tension of having an unexploded bomb in the middle of the camp and loss of the radio (meaning they can't listen to the game) the staff reacts in different ways. One of my favorites is the poker game, where chips are worth $25,000, $10,000, and $5,000, or $1, 50c, and 25c if the bomb doesn't go off.
And the conclusion is hilarious....and so U.S. government-like!
The Army-Navy Game
Teleplay by Sid Dorfman
Story by McLean Stevenson
Directed by Gene Reynolds
Season 1, episode 20
But first.....
Hawkeye and Trapper attempt to defuse a bomb with faulty instructions.
2 people like this
2 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Dec 18
All I can add is director Gene Reynolds began as a kid actor in the 30s.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86765)
• United States
1 Dec 18
He directed a number of Hogan’s Heroes episodes as well, so he had lots of war show experience.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Dec 18
@FourWalls Reynolds also produced Lou Grant.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86765)
• United States
1 Dec 18
@JohnRoberts — never heard of that show. 
Reynolds and Laurence Marks worked a lot together on Hogan’s Heroes before teaming up on M*A*S*H.
Reynolds and Laurence Marks worked a lot together on Hogan’s Heroes before teaming up on M*A*S*H.1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
6 Dec 18
A football game during a war....perfect! One of so many funny diversions presented in each MASH episode. Game show host Tom Kennedy provided the radio voice for the Army Navy game.
Another great episode to a great TV series!
1 person likes this
