M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H mistake picture

Dear Dad, Again - S1-E18

Continuity mistake: When Frank is getting drunk he spills gin down the front of his vest. A few shots later, just before he collapses, it suddenly dries out significantly. (00:13:20)

jle

End Run - S5-E17

Revealing mistake: In the mess, you can see everyone has their food on metal trays and ceramic dishes. Sgt Zale, though, has his lemon pie in a polystyrene dish - so that it doesn't hurt Klinger when he gets it in the face. (00:08:15)

jle

Hanky Panky - S5-E18

Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye is trying to find out whether there is anything going on between BJ and nurse Donovan, a jacket behind him disappears and the other one moves to the other side of him. (00:04:00)

jle

Iron Guts Kelly - S3-E4

Factual error: When Frank sits down on Margaret's bed, he pulls a single metal star out of his butt. Kelly being a Lt. Gen, he should have (and has, as can be seen in other scenes) a single bar of three interconnected stars, not three single ones. Therefore Frank shouldn't be able to find a solitary star in Margaret's bed. (00:19:00)

Officers Only - S2-E15

Revealing mistake: The first scene is set in the X-Ray room. There is an X-Ray up on a lightbox in the background. Towards the end of episode 14, there is a scene in the O.R. - the exact same X-Ray is visible in the background there as well. (00:45:00)

jle

Dear Sigmund - S5-E7

Factual error: Klinger says he would wear Hula Hoops(R) in his ears if it would get him a discharge. For several reasons, he is using a phrase that does not yet exist: 1) Show wise, Klinger will later try to convince Charles to invest in developing a new toy, a hoola hoop like plastic tube, being inspired by Korean children playing, and 2) plastic hoops which came to be called Hula Hoops were only introduced by Whamo in 1958. Setting episode dates is always difficult for MASH, but the Mash Olympics (inspired by the 52 Helsinki games) are still to come so we can say it must be 52. 3) The Hula Hoop trademark was only registered in 1962 to Whamo. No info. as to what name the hoops were marketed under prior to 62, but Klinger is using a term at probably ten years, at least 6 years, before it came into use. (00:04:00)

Rally 'Round the Flagg, Boys - S7-E21

Deliberate mistake: When Flagg turns out the light to escape. To make that effect they had to freeze a frame and then start again. If you look closely after Flagg turns out the light you can see Hawkeye and the Korean Man on the far right freeze. Then it shows Potter ordering the light back on.

Abyssinia, Henry - S3-E24

Continuity mistake: In one of the earlier episodes Henry becomes the father of a baby boy; his other two children have been established as Molly and Janey, both girls. In "Abyssinia Henry," Henry get his discharge papers and wanted to call home with the good news. He tells Radar that he will have to wait a while, as his son, Andrew, will be practising his trombone. As Henry only has one son, Andrew has to be the son who was born while Henry was in Korea. Even if Henry was in Korea from the very first days of the war, by the time he left his son can't be any older than 18 months - hardly likely to be playing a trombone.

Bug Out - S5-E1

Continuity mistake: When the chopper carrying the soldier with the wounded back takes off, the sky is cloudy and, even accounting for the poor quality of the film, the weather looks very dull. The shot changes to show Radar, Hawkeye and Margaret watching the chopper leave and it is now bright sunshine. (00:44:20)

jle

Abyssinia, Henry - S3-E24

Factual error: When reminiscing about Radar's appendectomy, Henry says it took a long time to find because it was behind his secum. The appendix is behind the secum in more than 50% of people, so this shouldn't have fooled a doctor of Henry's caliber. (00:09:00)

jle

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Trivia: Gary Burghoff's left hand was slightly deformed, and he often hid it behind his clipboard during filming.

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Dear Dad - S1-E12

Question: A number of times it is mentioned that the outfit is unarmed, yet several times, Frank has a rifle, or a pistol, and once Klinger had a grenade, and the guards and Klinger, while on sentry duty, has a rifle. Was this standard, or is this a mistake?

Answer: Even an Army field hospital would have SOME weapons for self-defense if the enemy attacked. What's meant is that it's not a combat outfit, and therefore wouldn't have enough weapons to actually attack anyone. (It's also mentioned a few times that the Officer of the Watch is supposed to carry a pistol at all times, but Hawkeye refuses to do it when he's in charge and Colonels Blake and Potter don't enforce the rule).

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: The Geneva Convention allows even doctors to carry a sidearm to be used in their self defense or the defense of their patients, however it is rare to do so.

stiiggy

Answer: As an old medical unit staffer, my experience is that med units have combat units assigned to defend them. Usually it was marines.

Answer: My old doctor (now deceased) served in Korea during the War. He was required to carry a sidearm anytime he was not in the hospital.

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