Doc

15th Nov 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Pilot - S1-E1

Other mistake: When Hawkeye has Lt. Dish draw the winner of the raffle, he turns the bottom of the glass towards the crowd - meaning they would be able to see Lt. Dish pick the raffle ticket that has been taped to the bottom of the glass, just like the audience does.

Doc

11th Oct 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

I Hate a Mystery - S1-E10

Plot hole: Hawkeye calls a number of people into the mess tent over the PA - the ones he allegedly suspects of being behind the thefts he is suspected of himself. Interestingly enough, Ho Jon, later revealed to be the guilty party, is not on Hawkeye's list - yet he shows up uninvited, just to be ensnared by Hawk's clever ploy. Note also that he had no way of knowing what the purpose of the meeting was, so we cannot ascribe to him the motive of wanting to find out how much Hawkeye knew.

Doc

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: Of course Ho-Jon would come to the tent; it makes perfect sense, since he is the "houseboy" of the Swamp and, consequently, a sort of personal assistant to the Swampmen (Hawkeye, Trapper, and Spearchucker). He simply followed Trapper and Spearchucker to the tent after the announcement, probably figuring they might need him in some way.

It's late evening. It's, as far as anyone knows, an official meeting. Ho Jon isn't "standing attendance", he's sitting at the table (which is very convenient for him to hide his hands later). If he WERE standing attendance, it would be the only time in the series he does so in the mess tent instead of the swamp. It would also be the only time he's attending a meeting anyone called. Also he isn't a "house boy" - that would be totally out of character for Hawkeye, see "The Moose" - he's more an adoptee and roommate who makes himself useful. And last but not least: What a convenient coincidence, that just the guy who turns out to be the culprit would turn up uninvited, because he "might be needed" instead of staying the hell away because he is guilty and suspicious of the whole affair! Had - HAD, which he hasn't - Trapper said "Ho Jon, you better come too", you could call it a Deus Ex, but the way it is, it's just a plot hole, to quote Margaret Houlihan, "period, end of sentence."

Doc

23rd Sep 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

That's Show Biz - S10-E1

Question: What is the title of the song Ellie Carlyle dedicates to Maj. Winchester, calling him "a swell guy - with a head to match"? Winchester's reaction implies the song is some kind of joke in its own right.

Doc

Chosen answer: The song is the accordion rendition of "Lady of Spain" by Robert Hargreaves and Stanley J. Damerell. It's Ellie's retort to Winchester's earlier quip in the mess tent, where he said "That's quite a retort from our lady of Spain"

LorgSkyegon

23rd Sep 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

3rd Jul 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Peace on Us - S7-E2

Revealing mistake: Klinger says "The sun is going to ruin my comb-out", fingering his hair net. He has curlers under his hair net, but his hair is not around the curlers, they're just stuffed into his hair net. (00:01:10)

Doc

4th Jun 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

The Kids - S4-E8

Plot hole: When the truck with the orphans arrives, Col. Potter and Nurse Cratty greet each other like one would an old friend. Being new to Korea, Col. Potter doesn't know Nurse Cratty - as becomes clear from his reaction to Hawkeye's explanation to BJ earlier (who doesn't know Nurse Cratty for the same reason, but that's not relevant for this mistake). Note that in other parts of the series Col. Potter is depicted mostly as somewhat old-fashioned and reserved towards strangers. (00:05:20)

Doc

25th May 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Tuttle - S1-E15

Character mistake: Hawkeye and Trapper make Tuttle an alumnus of "Berlin Polytechnic" and translate that (wrongly) as "Berlinishes Polytechnikum". Berlin's polytechnic university was named "Technische Hochschule Berlin" at the relevant time - and at no time offered a medical curriculum. To study medicine in Berlin, Tuttle would have to attend "Freie Universität Berlin" instead.

Doc

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: And how are Hawkeye and Trapper suppose to know that? They are after all, making all this up. It is never meant to be factual.

MasterOfAll

It is intended to fool Margret and Frank, so it has to be assumed that they meant to pull it off. Hawkeye says "It can't be any place they'll check", which is why they select a German university in the first place. That shows it is indeed meant to be if not watertight, then at least convincing. To use an university you don't know the proper name of doesn't make sense under these circumstances.

Doc

23rd May 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

The Merchant of Korea - S6-E14

Plot hole: In this episode, the military money, or scrip, is being called in and exchanged for a different color (and assumedly design - otherwise counterfeiters could just keep using their printing plates) to battle counterfeiting. However, in previous episodes several colors of scrip are being used equally and at the same time - e.g. in episode "Hey, Doc" (4-5), Sgt. Kimble collects a pot consisting of both blue and tan one-dollar scrip notes. No previous indication was given in the show that the army started a practice of using just one color at a time.

Doc

20th Feb 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Souvenirs - S5-E22

Factual error: The MP describes the antique vase Burns is supposed to have bought as "An 800-year-old seladon vase of the Ko-Yu dynasty". Later, Burns packs up a white vase to send to his wife. Seladon is by definition green, and that kind of color glazing definitely wasn't around in the 13th century. What Burns packs up looks most like early to middle Quing period - or rather a contemporary ripoff. (00:09:00 - 00:14:00)

Doc

19th Feb 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

19th Feb 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Heroes - S10-E18

Continuity mistake: When the Champ falls forward, he gets wine all over his sweater - you can see it when Potter and Hawkeye lift him. After the cut, his sweater is clean again. Considering the position of the stains relative to Hawk's hand, at least some stains would be visible. (00:08:10)

Doc

19th Feb 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

Bottle Fatigue - S8-E16

Continuity mistake: When Klinger refuses to give Winchester the letter from his sister, Winchester screams at him, Klinger jumps and falls to the ground next to Winchester's bunk. After the cut, Klinger is sitting next to Hawkeye's bunk (note the airplane seat in the background instead of the door) and Winchester is holding the letter in his hand opening it. Rightfully it should be on the floor next to Winchester's bunk. If you look closely, you can see it flying out of Klinger's hand towards the door. (00:16:25)

Doc

23rd Jan 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

12th Jan 2013

M*A*S*H (1972)

There is Nothing Like a Nurse - S3-E10

Stupidity: Hawkeye and Trapper park a jeep over a foxhole to trap Maj. Burns in it. While it is certainly possible to trap somebody in a hole with, say, a sports car, an off-road vehicle like a jeep is particularly unsuited for the task - the chassis has so much ground clearance, even a quite fat man could squeeze out past it. You can even see the gap when the camera cuts to Major Burns screaming "Let me out!" (00:18:10)

Doc

14th Dec 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

17th Jul 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

17th Jul 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

As You Were - S2-E20

Continuity mistake: Hawkeye pulls the blanket over Frank's right arm, then pulls his left arm up to take his pulse. In the following closeup Frank's right arm is uncovered, and the blanket is below the screen. (00:18:45)

Doc

17th Jul 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

Patent 4077 - S6-E16

Plot hole: When Hawkeye and BJ buy Margaret a new ring, it takes a typo in the inscription to give them away - which makes both of them and Mr. Shin almost clairvoyant. Not only did they somehow guess Margaret's ring size, but Mr Shin - phew, Houdini and Uri Geller together don't hold a candle to this guy - actually somehow divined the exact type and font of the inscription in the original so perfectly that Margaret actually only spotted the difference from the missing 'n.'

Doc

17th Jul 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

Hey, Doc - S4-E5

Revealing mistake: When Radar carries the field phone from Col. Potter's desk over to Hawkeye who is squatting in the corner, the phone doesn't have a phone line attached. It is an EE-8 Military Field Phone, which is a wired device, not a radio - even if Radar elsewhere says he has somebody "on the radio" when in fact he is using an EE-8. (00:17:35)

Doc

17th Jul 2012

M*A*S*H (1972)

Dear Ma - S4-E16

Plot hole: In this episode, Maj. Burns is trying to avoid the foot inspection because he has nail polish on his toenails. Having access to a fully outfitted hospital dispensory, he'd be able to remove that nail polish in a minute.

Doc

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