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)
Dear Sigmund - S5-E7
Visible crew/equipment: As Potter is panning with the binoculars, you can see the lights, camera and crew reflected in the lens.
Dear Sigmund - S5-E7
Other mistake: As the ambulance takes off rounding a corner, the back brightens as stage reflectors or lighting rigs shine on it.
Dear Sigmund - S5-E7
Visible crew/equipment: As Potter pans around looking with binoculars, the lighting rig and a crew member can be seen reflected in the lenses.
Dear Sigmund - S5-E7
Continuity mistake: As Frank talks with Sidney, hiss right wrist is beside his knee. A second later, his right fist is on his leg.
Continuity mistake: When Hawkeye and BJ unload the chopper, the dog, Corp. Cupcake, is lying on its paws in the long shots and on its side in the closeups. (00:03:35)
Continuity mistake: As Hawkeye talks to the wounded man on the chopper, the speed of the rotor blades changes several times in the scene. Looking at Hawkeye, the blades are moving fast; in the reflection, much slower.
Continuity mistake: As Hawkeye talks to the North Koren, the Korean has his hand across his lap. A second later, his arm is up, with his fingers on his temple.
Plot hole: This episode revolves around the doctors trying to "transfer" a north Korean surgeon to the outfit. To this end, they get him papers, uniform, dog tags, etc. In the end, the plot is toppled and The Korean Surgeon taken to a POW camp by the MP. In reality, it would not have ended quite so pleasantly. A combatant wearing the uniform of an enemy is usually automatically considered a spy, and Hawkeye, BJ and Radar would also have been considered guilty of espionage or at least complicity therein.
Continuity mistake: In the beginning of the episode Colonel Potter is painting a portrait of Hawkeye with his feet up, and Klinger's picture is hanging to the right of the door. But in the previous episode 'Korean surgeon' Klinger's portrait is on the left side of the door and the one of Hawkeye's is on the right side of the door, even though that portrait wasn't painted until the following episode. (00:03:15 - 00:17:55)
Continuity mistake: In the beginning, Colonel Potter is painting a portrait of Hawkeye. In the preceding episode, The Korean Surgeon, the painting is finished and hanging on the wall in Colonel Potter's office. It is hanging just to the left of the door. The time given is from The Korean Surgeon where you can see the painting hanging on the wall. (00:17:05)
Character mistake: After Potter mocks Hawkeye for not hitting anything, Hawkeye replies "You fired as many shots as I did". In fact, Potter fired seven shots, Hawkeye only five. On a side note, this also suggests that Hawkeye probably was supposed to fire seven times, but his weapon jammed after the fifth shot. (00:22:00)
Visible crew/equipment: As Potter and Hawkeye look at the totalled and burning jeep, the shadow of the camera's shade can be seen at the lower left corner of the shot.
Character mistake: As Potter and Hawkeye pull up to the MP checkpoint, Potter and the MP exchange salutes. As per Army regulations, no salutes are given under battle conditions. The reason is that if the superior officer, in this case Colonel Potter, returns the salute, he can be a target for snipers.
Factual error: While on the phone, Radar spells out BJ's father-in-law's last name, "H-A-Y-D-E-N" to which Hawkeye quips, "M-O-U-S-E" parodying the old line from the Mickey Mouse club. The M.M. club didn't air until 1955.
Factual error: In this episode, Col. Potter's horse has a colic, and Hawkeye and BJ have to give it a colonic to relieve it. Colonics aren't administered to congested horses; in fact, attempting the procedure might kill the horse. To avoid unnecessary discussion: No, neither is the word "colonic" ever mentioned, nor is it seen (obviously). But from the dialogue "we have to clean it out", "do you want the other end?", etc., there really isn't any reasonable doubt that that's what they are doing.
Continuity mistake: As the discussion about Burns draws to a close, Potter starts to grab the files on his desk. As he says "Dismissed", he grabs them again.
Continuity mistake: From the back, Potter is facing directly at Hawkeye and BJ. From the front, he's in quarter profile, left side forward.
Continuity mistake: As BJ mentions fingernails on a chalkboard, Potter hunches his shoulders up. A second later, after the angle changes, he repeats the action.
Continuity mistake: In this episode, a "Spirit Post" is placed in the middle of the compound, later removed, then replaced at the end of the episode. It is never seen again after that.
Suggested correction: It was probably left behind during one of the bug outs that happen. We have seen at least 2 in the series.
