Dear Dad...Again

"Dear Dad...Again"
M*A*S*H episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 18
Directed by	Jackie Cooper
Written by	Larry Gelbart Sheldon Keller
Production code	J317
Original air date	February 4, 1973 (1973-02-04)
Guest appearances
Gail Bowman Alex Henteloff Odessa Cleveland
Episode chronology

"Dear Dad...Again" is the 18th episode of the first season of the American television series M*A*S*H. It originally aired on February 4, 1973.^[1]

Plot

Hawkeye writes to his father again about several crazy events that take place at the 4077th, including his bet with Trapper John that he could walk into the mess tent naked and nobody would notice (he loses), the arrival of Captain Adam Casey (portrayed by Alex Henteloff), a Demara-esque fraud masquerading as a doctor, Frank becoming drunk, and Margaret's attempt to sing "My Blue Heaven" at the camp "No-Talent Show".^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Hawkeye's line, "I have always relied upon the kindness of strangers" (at minute 6:49), is a reference to Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire, with the line spoken by the character Blanche DuBois.

Hawkeye asks his father to "kiss sis, and Mom" in his letter to him. This is contradicted in later episodes which reveal Hawkeye as an only child with his mother deceased. He also mentions in "The Moose" that he always wanted a sister.

References

1. Wittebols, James H. (2003). Watching M*A*S*H, Watching America: A Social History of the 1972-1983 Television Series. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 236. ISBN 0-7864-1701-3.
2. "Episode Guide". TV Guide. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
3. "The Classic Sitcoms Guide: M*A*S*H". classicsitcoms.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
4. "M*A*S*H: Season One (Collector's Edition) (1972)". Digitallyobsessed.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
5. Reiss, David S. (1983). M*A*S*H: the exclusive, inside story of TV's most popular show. Bobbs-Merrill. ISBN 0-672-52656-5.
6. Suzy, Kalter (1988). Complete Book of Mash. New York: H.N. Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-8083-5.

External links

• "Dear Dad...Again" at IMDb