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List of continuity errors and anachronisms in M*A*S*H

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The following is a list of continuity errors and anachronisms in the American television series M*A*S*H. Due to the unexpected longevity of the series (11 years, three times the length of the Korean War itself), many of these errors are present.

Contents

[edit] Throughout series

[edit] Timing errors

Due to the length of the series, there were many continuity errors regarding the timeline of the show:

  • Episode 28/Season 2 date at the end is given as May 24, 1951. Several Errors 1) MASH was not at Uijeongbu because Seoul had been captured by the Chinese in January 1951; 2) This episode was filmed before the "Big Mac" episode of {Episode # 69/Season 3} when MacArthur visits MASH 4077-when in fact MacArthur visited the Korean Front from January-March 1951 and was relieved from UN Command on April 21, 1951.
  • When B. J. Hunnicut arrives in Korea, he tells Hawkeye that his wife was eight months pregnant when he received his draft notice, and that he was ordered to report to ship out just after his first night out with his wife after Erin's birth. Much later, in the episode following Radar's departure, we are told that he arrived stateside to be met by B. J.'s family, and Erin called Radar "Daddy", placing this episode at least 18 months after her birth. See above concerning "A War for All Seasons" (Hunnicut is present throughout 1951) and the date of Potter's arrival (episode #74/season 4 - Hunnicut arrived only a short time prior (episode #73, season 4)).
  • Moreover, when Potter arrived at camp, he explained that he lied about his age in order to fight in World War I. (He claims in another episode he was 15 years old in WWI and a POW also.) He later said, in the episode Pressure Points, that he was 62 years old. If that were the case, he would have been at least in his early twenties when World War I began. Furthermore, in one episode, he claims he was at Guam of June 1944 and in another episode he claims he was in the Battle of the Bulge of December 1944. Such an inter-theater transfer at that time for an Army doctor would have been unlikely. Furthermore, in one episode Potter claims he learned foot care from Harry S. Truman in World War I. In reality, this would have been impossible-Potter served in the cavalry; Harry Truman served with an artillery battery during World War I. In still another episode, Potter claims to have been in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders cavalry - a unit that only existed during the 1898 Spanish-American War - in which Potter would have been 8 years old! (b.1890-if he really was 62 in Pressure Points!) If he was 15 in World War I, he would have been born in 1902 - 4 years after the Rough Riders disbanded.
  • When Colonel Potter arrives to take command of the 4077th, the announcer gives the date as September 19, 1952 (episode #74, season 4). "The Novocaine Mutiny" (episode 92, season 4) also gives October 1952. In episode 97 (season 4), the Clete Roberts Interview gives a date of October 9th, 1952. In episode #146 (season 7), three seasons after "The Novocaine Mutiny," Hawkeye drives into the U.N. armistice lines to restart the peace talks; the Chief Negotiator is a US admiral. In fact, from July, 1951 to May, 1952, the US Chief Negotiator was Admiral C. Turner Joy; afterwards the US Chief Negotiators were US Army officers, the last one being Army General Mark Wayne Clark. In another episode (#137 season 6), Potter remarks that members of the Gloucestershire Regiment fight without helmets. This Regiment was in the Korean Conflict from 1950-1951, not 1952-1953. Likewise later MASH episodes have African-American soldiers-however the segregated U.S. 24th Infantry Regiment was in Korean Conflict from 1950-1951, not 1952-1953.
  • The season 9 episode "A War For All Seasons" takes place over the full year of 1951, depicting such things as an electric fireplace in the swamp (ordered from the Sears catalog) and a vegetable garden planted by Father Mulcahy, which do not appear in any other episodes whose content place them in 1951. Potter appears at the camp's New Years Eve party held on December 31, 1950, in conflict with the first season M*A*S*H Christmas episode. Klinger and Winchester lose bets after the Brooklyn Dodgers lost the National League to the New York Giants in 1951 — an episode filmed after the "Novacaine Mutiny" of 1952. Major Houlihan's hairstyle remains constant throughout this episode, even though it had varied considerably across the series and other episodes ostensibly set in 1951.
  • In fact the entire episode "A War For All Seasons" cannot have happened at all, as Colonel Blake presents a gift to Radar before he is killed dated Korea, 1952. Therefore neither Colonel Potter, BJ nor Charles would have been in Korea yet. Colonel Potter and the other 3 could not have even been in Korea for a full calendar year as the war ended in 1953. Also, Col. Potter states that he is only 18 months from retirement when he arrives in Korea.

[edit] Other errors

  • When there was a phone call to the states (or any other long-distance phone call), there was never a delay.
  • Occasionally Radar is seen reading or holding comic books; when the covers are visible, they are recognizable as comic books that were published in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

[edit] Season One (1972-1973)

  • Mrs. Blake's (Henry's wife) name was Mildred in the early episodes; later it was Lorraine. (The name "Mildred" was later reused for Col. Potter's wife.)
[edit] "M*A*S*H the Pilot" (ep. 1.01)
  • The pilot episode mentioned "wounded Canadians". The first Canadian infantry to arrive in Korea were the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in December 1950. However, this episode took place six months prior, in June 1950.
  • Hawkeye mentions that the houseboy Ho-Jon can stay with his parents while in college. In later episodes, it is established that Hawkeye's mother has been dead for some time.
  • In the pilot episode, the surgeons wear their masks differently than in other episodes: the straps in back are criss-crossed, as opposed to connecting simply at the neck and top of the head.<ref name="tv.com">M*A*S*H Trivia. Tv.com (Accessed November 11, 2006)</ref>
[edit] "Requiem for a Lightweight" (ep. 1.03)
  • In this episode, the name on Frank's bag is "MAJ. Frank W. Burns". At other times in the series though, he is referred to as "Franklin D. Burns" and "Franklin Marion Burns".
[edit] "Chief Surgeon Who?" (ep. 1.04)
  • When Frank asks for assistance in the operating room, Hawkeye does not change his rubber gloves, a risky and potentially deadly medical goof.[citation needed]
[edit] "Dear Dad" (ep. 1.12)
  • Hawkeye mentions spending Christmas at home in Vermont. For most of the series, it was established that Hawkeye was from Crabapple Cove, a fictional town in Maine.
[edit] "Edwina" (ep. 1.13)
  • In episode (#13/Season 1) Hawkeye refuses to wear a weapon or uniform while serving as Officer of the Day; he would likely have been arrested by the MPs and courtmartialed for appearing out of uniform.(dubious; discuss)
[edit] "Love Story" (ep. 1.14)
  • While Major Houlihan mentions that relationships between officers and enlisted men are against regulations, it is not noted that all relationships with others in the Army are against regulations.[citation needed]
[edit] "The Army-Navy Game" (ep 1.20)
  • After the Christmas 1950 episode (#12/season 1) came the unexploded CIA bomb during the Army vs Navy Football Game Episode (#20/season 1). However, the real Army-Navy Game is held in early December before the arrival of Christmas. If this episode had really been filmed according to the real Korean War timeline, the CIA Propaganda Bomb episode would have taken place in December 1951 during a cold spell, rather than in summertime. (For the record, the Navy won 3 games from 1950 to 1952: 14-2; 42-7; and 20-7. The Army won the 1953 game 20-7 after the July 27, 1953 cease-fire).
[edit] "Major Fred C. Dobbs" (ep.1.22)
  • When Hawkeye, Trapper, and Radar are recording the conversation between Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan, the tape in the tape recorder runs in a clockwise direction. This indicates that the tape is rewinding, not recording.<ref name="tv.com" />

[edit] Season Two (1973-1974)

  • In his first appearance in the series, Dr. Sidney Freedman's first name was Milton. (His character was also more cynical and sardonic than later appearances.)
[edit] "Five O'Clock Charlie" (ep. 2.02)
  • In "Five O'Clock Charlie" (episode # 2.02), Maj. Burns mentions he had taken R.O.T.C. training in college, but said in another episode (episode #72, season 3, "Abyssinia, Henry") that he wished he had taken it.
  • Episode #25/Season 2 Major Houilan appears out of uniform in a Burgundy Colored Sweater-in real life she would have been arrested by the MP for appearing out of Uniform.(dubious; discuss)
[edit] "Dear Dad... Three" (ep. 2.09)
  • In episode (#33/season 2), Hawkeye repeats the urban legend concerning death of Dr. Charles R. Drew of not being admitted to a hospital because of his race.
[edit] "The Incubator" (ep. 2.12)
  • In "The Incubator" (episode #2.12), Colonel Lambert (played by actor Logan Ramsey) makes reference to the B-52 bomber, which made its first flight in 1954 (a year after the war ended) and did not enter service until 1955.
[edit] "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" (ep. 2.14)
  • In episode (#38/Season 2) repeats the old wives' tale that coffee can sober up a drunk. In the episode a drunken Houlihan appears as a nurse during a busy OR session; in real life she would have been court-martialed for endangering the lives of patients.(dubious; discuss)

[edit] Season Three (1974-1975)

[edit] "Rainbow Bridge" (ep. 3.02)
  • In a 1974 episode (#50/season 3), the Chinese exchange wounded with MASH 4077 doctors – despite Frank Burns attempt to bring a pistol along. In actual fact, there was an exchange of wounded by both sides – but this occurred from April 20 to May 3, 1953.
[edit] "A Full Rich Day" (ep. 3.12)
  • In 1974, episode (#60/season 3), a wounded lieutenant forces the M*A*S*H doctors to work on his wounded sergeant. The incident this episode was based upon actually happened in 1944 during World War II during Operation Market Garden; this was recreated in the movie A Bridge Too Far. (Coincidentally, William Watson, who played the Lieutenant, and Loretta Swit appeared together on an episode of Gunsmoke; he was a prisoner who tries to get to freedom with an empty gun smuggled to him by Swit.)
[edit] "Bulletin Board" (ep. 3.16)
  • In episode #64 "Bulletin Board", when Margaret asks Frank for a loan for key money for an apartment for her younger sister, Frank responds by asking about money she inherited from her (dead) father. She then mentions that her mother is an alcoholic kleptomaniac who was caught stuffing a radio up her jumper. Margaret's father, "Howitzer" Al Houlihan (very much alive) appears in episode #198. In episode #169 "The Party", her parents (both alive) are mentioned as being divorced, but spend the whole evening together. Her sister is never mentioned again.
[edit] "Big Mac" (ep. 3.21)
  • In 1974, episode (#69/season 3), Douglas MacArthur visits M*A*S*H. This episode shows him wearing olive-drab khaki in the summertime. Actually, he visited the Korean front from January-March 1951 in an overcoat in winter. Furthermore, Margaret Houilihan claims her father served with MacArthur against the Huks; in actual fact the Huk War in the Philippines was from 1946 to 1954; from 1946 to 1952 MacArthur was in Japan and Korea; and after 1952, MacArthur was in the United States.
[edit] "Abyssinia, Henry" (ep. 3.24)
  • It is mentioned in this episode that the doctors can be sent home depending on how many "points" they accumulate. In reality, this point system had been used only in World War II and was discontinued before the Korean War began. There was, however, a new version of the point system instituted during September 1951, for Army personnel, but doctors were not eligible for rotation in that system.<ref name="army_koreanyears">"The Korean War: Years of Stalemate". United States Army. (Accessed October 27, 2006).</ref> Furthermore while Blake is going home, he was still a member of the Armed Forces until his official discharge; appearing in civilian cloths he would have been arrested by MPs for appearing out of uniform.(dubious; discuss)

[edit] Season Four (1975-1976)

  • Early in his stint at the 4077th, Colonel Potter mentions going home to Nebraska. Later, Hannibal, Missouri became his hometown. In at least one episode, Oklahoma is referenced as his home state.
[edit] "The Bus" (ep. 4.07)
  • In episode (#78/season 4), a "North Korean" soldier gives himself up to Potter, Burns, Hawkeye, BJ, and Radar while wearing a Viet Cong Black pajama uniform; in Korea, the Chinese and North Koreans wore light colored quilted uniforms[1].


[edit] "The Gun" (ep. 4.14)
  • In episode (#85/season 4), Radar remarks to Major Burns that he keeps the key to his bicycle so his sister can't ride it; when Radar leaves MASH on a hardship discharge, it's because he's the only child of his mother.his uncle has died and he must help with the farm , never says he doesn't have a sister.
[edit] "Der Tag" (ep. 4.17)
  • At the beginning of "Der Tag" (episode #4.17), Radar has an issue of The Avengers lying on his bed. However, The Avengers debuted in 1963. Further, between shots, the exact issue changes between two radically different covers (one with the older 1960s logo, and another with the later 1970s logo, an "A" with an arrow.)

[edit] Season Five (1976-1977)

[edit] Season Seven (1977-1978)

[edit] "Peace On Us (M*A*S*H episode)" (ep. 7.02)
  • Once again, the system in which the doctors can be sent home depending on how many "points" they accumulate is mentioned (the other episode being "Abyssinia, Henry". In reality, this point system had been used only in World War II and was discontinued before the Korean War began. There was, however, a new version of the point system instituted during September 1951, for Army personnel, but doctors were not eligible for rotation in that system.
  • While complaining about the monotonous, olive-drab color of everything around him, Hawkeye yearns for some kind of color-"like, I don't know, a little red alligator over the chest on the shirts.." This was reference to shirts made by the company Izod, on which a crocodile was emblazoned on the left breast. These shirts were not produced until 1952; while it is possible that Hawkeye was aware of this, the shirts were popular in the late 1970s, when the episode was produced.[citation needed]

[edit] Uncategorized

  • In an early episode, Radar mentions that Syngman Rhee was re-elected. Rhee's second term as President came on August 15, 1952.
  • In episode (#88/season 4), Colonel Potter is wounded in the backside by shrapnel and is up and about in no time; in real life he would have needed at least a month to recuperate from his injuries; likewise 5 other characters from MASH-Blake (episode 19/season 1); Burns (episode 44/season 2) Trapper John (Episode 55/Season 3); Hawkeye (Episode 90/Season 4) and Houlihan (episode 109/season 5) – either underwent operations or suffered injuries/medical conditions which would in real life have required at least 4 weeks recuperation[2].
  • In Episodes {#98/99/Season 5} M*A*S*H 4077 under Potter has a "bug out". {In real life MASH Korean Hospitals "bugged out" in November 1950}[citation needed]. In episode (#130/season 6), M*A*S*H holds an "Olympics" concurrent with the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, which were held from July 19th to August 3, 1952; in episode (#142/season 6), an undercover intelligence officer is sent to report on M*A*S*H 4077 by a disgruntled armored division colonel. No American armored divisions were in the Korean War.[citation needed] The only tank units were those of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, which was in the war from the summer of 1950 to January, 1952; in another episode (#220, season 10), Colonel Potter informs the camp that Li'l Abner has married Daisy Mae, which occurred March 29th, 1952 – in real life[citation needed], these events occurred twenty-three, one, eight, and six months before Potter arrived, in September, 1952.
  • Additionally, if the series had kept to a realistic timeline when Potter first arrived on September 19, 1952, he would have celebrated New Years Eve on December 31, 1952.
  • In episodes prior to the ones described above, the public address system reports that Douglas MacArthur had been replaced by Matthew Ridgeway, which happened on April 21, 1951. In addition, Hawkeye asked if Vice-President Nixon was going to marry Elizabeth Taylor. But Richard Nixon was only elected Vice President on Nov 4, 1952 and did not take office until January 20, 1953.
  • The public address system also reports that the Chinese had entered the war. While they did enter the war, it was not in 1952, but on October 25, 1950. In one of the last season episodes, the public address system carries news of the French at Dien Bien Phu, a battle that did not take place until March-May 1954.
  • Numerous references to pop culture items such as Godzilla, the Blob, The Mickey Mouse Club and Spider-Man are made throughout the show, even though none of these existed until after the Korean War.
  • From the overhead establishing shot during the opening credits, the C.O.'s office windows should face the post-op tent. However, the view outside the window is sometimes post-op, and sometimes an exterior of the camp. This opening overhead shot remains constant throughout the series, but never truly matches the ground plan seen in the episodes.
  • It is mentioned twice (at the end of the third season and at the beginning of the seventh) that the doctors can be sent home depending on how many "points" they rack up. In reality, this point system had been used only in World War II and was discontinued before the Korean War began. There was, however, a new version of the point system instituted during September 1951 [3], for army personnel, but doctors were not eligible for rotation in that system.
  • In episode #102 (season 5), Hot Lips goes down the road to deliver a baby; Klinger forgets where she's gone, and Colonel Flagg almost activates an Airborne Division to search for the missing Hot Lips. Of three US parachute units in 1950-1953 (the U.S. 17th Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne, and the 101st Airborne), none were in Korea.[citation needed] The 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment which had been changed to a regimental combat team-not Division-made two combat jumps in Korea, but those took place in 1950 and 1951; see Airborne Forces. (In an early M*A*S*H episode, the doctors operate on a wounded Airborne General, which would be impossible because in the Korean War, the 187th R.C.T. jumps were behind enemy lines.)[citation needed] It is clear from the context of Flagg's behavior that he is almost certainly a certifiable lunatic, so this course of action may well be the ranting of deranged madman. In the same episode Flagg appears at the MASH disguised as an Italian soldier; Italy sent no troops to Korea.
  • In one episode, Major Winchester turns down Klinger's idea to invest in a hula-hoop prototype. In an earlier episode, well before Winchester's arrival, Klinger says at a poker game that he'd wear hula hoops in his ears if it would get him out of the army, when a comment is made at a poker game about his hoop earrings. The hula-hoop arrived in 1958 (historically, Wham-O just reinvented and trademarked the name Hula Hoop; the term itself can be traced back to the 18th century). (See: Hula Hoop.)
  • Frank's birthday moves from winter to summer. In the episode "For Want of a Boot", Hawkeye throws Frank a birthday party in what is clearly wintertime with wind, snow, and everyone wearing winter gear. In a later episode, when Hawkeye and B.J. have a fight as a "gift" for Frank's birthday, it is obviously sunny, dry, and B.J. wears a short-sleeved Hawaiian shirt.
  • In episode #182 (season 8) an Australian Military Police Unit is next to MASH 4077; units of the Royal Australian Regiment were never stationed at Uijeongbu. Likewise in several episodes, such as episode #54/season 3, the U.S. Marines are featured at MASH 4077; in actual fact, only the U.S. 1st Marine Division and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve were in Korea from September-December, 1950 at Inchon and Chosin but were never at Uijeongbu; the U.S. 3rd Marine Division arrived in Japan in August, 1953 to support the 1st Marine Division in Far East Command. The U.S. 2nd Marine Division and the U.S. 4th Marine Division were never in Korea while the U.S. 5th Marine Division and U.S. 6th Marine Division were World War II formations.
  • In episode #198 (season 8), BJ falls in love with a war correspondent named Aggie O'Shea. Fictionalized story of a real female Korean war correspondent was Maggie Higgins-who was in Korea only from summer to December 1950.
  • In episode #205 (season 9), Klinger's latest get rich quick scheme is to learn electronics on the camp Public Address system so as to make a fortune repairing TV sets stateside. See History of Television under Television - TV sets didn't become common in the US until the mid 1950s.
  • In episode #218 (season 10), Hawkeye writes a letter of complaint to President Harry S. Truman; Truman's term as President ended January 20th, 1953. (Also, this material in #218 was reused – in Season 2/Episode 25 Hawkeye sends a telegram to Truman asking who started the war). Likewise in episode #223 (Season 10) Potter has Boxing Day take place in MASH 4077. In a real timeline "Boxing Day" would have taken place December 26 1952! #218 takes place 126 episodes and #223 takes place 6 episodes later and both episodes are 6 seasons after Season 4/episode #92 – "Novacaine Mutiny" October, 1952.
  • In Episode #241 (Season 11}, Hawkeye and Winchester spread a tall tale that Marilyn Monroe is going to visit MASH 4077. Marilyn Monroe did not visit troops in Korea until February,1954. Likewise in another episode Potter goes into a tirade when he thinks his wife is going to sell their Missouri home to buy a Florida houseboat and learn scuba diving. In fact the first US Scuba certification class was held in October, 1954.
  • In episode #243 (season 11), Hawkeye and BJ see a movie banned in Boston called The Moon is Blue; however any real life M*A*S*H doctor would not have seen this in Korea; the armistice was signed July 27th, 1953; and the movie only premiered in the United States in July, 1953.
  • In episode #248 (season 11), Potter reports an old friend who is an inept field commander during a North Korean attack; during the last year of the war, it was the Chinese who attacked US/ROK Positions, such as the Battle of Pork Chop Hill.
  • In episode #251 (season 11) several Chinese POWs befriended by Major Winchester are killed while going to be exchanged. In actual fact, after the armistice of July 27, 1953, the first exchange of POWS happened on August 5, 1953. Furthermore, in episode #238 (season 11), a North Korean Pilot defects prior to July 27, 1953; in fact, a North Korean pilot defected in September, 1953.
  • In several pre-Winchester episodes (most notably G-520 "Hawkeye" in which he spends the whole episode babbling to a Korean family after he is injured in a jeep accident) Hawkeye refers to having a practice in Boston before the war. This fact is not ever mentioned again after Winchester, who is from Boston joins the cast.
  • In at least one first-season episode, a model of a Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter is seen suspended from the ceiling in Henry Blake's office. The UH-1 was not used by the military until 1959.
  • In episode #64 "Bulletin Board", when Margaret asks Frank for a loan for key money for an apartment for her younger sister, Frank responds by asking about money she inherited from her (dead) father. She then mentions that her mother is an alcoholic kleptomaniac who was caught stuffing a radio up her jumper. Margaret's father, "Howitzer" Al Houlihan (very much alive) appears in episode #198. In episode #169 "The Party", her parents (both alive) are mentioned as being divorced, but spend the whole evening together. Her sister is never mentioned again.
  • Margaret's husband, Donald Penobscott, appears in two episodes, and is played by different actors both times. He is first played by Beeson Carroll in episode 120, "Margaret's Marriage", and later played by Mike Henry in episode 130, "The M*A*S*H Olympics".
  • In one latter season episode Major Winchester talks as if Douglas MacArthur as still great military leader in Korea-depsite that historical fact that MacArthur had been releived from command in of April, 1951'{see above}; and that if MASH Had been written to the real Korean War timeline Winchester would not have arrived in Korea until after October 1952-- 18 months after MacArthur had left.

[edit] Footnotes

<references/>
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