# The bullying of Frank Burns in M\*A\*S\*H
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted
**Created:** [October 6, 2020, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329 "2020-10-06T10:53:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 12
### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/221 "2020-10-20T19:29:24Z")
Will say, watching 1970s-era TV I sometimes miss the days when EVERYTHING WAS MADE CLEAR.
A good looking nurse arrives at the 4007… does Hawkeye notice? YES, IT IS OBVIOUS. Does Trapper immediately give in to Hawkeye’s desire? YES, IT IS OBVIOUS.
Sometimes this clarity makes for simple pleasures, long forgotten.
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### Author:  [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/222 "2020-10-20T19:41:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> In regards to problematic MASH episodes, in the first 6 episodes of Season 1 we’ve seen:
>
> 1. A racist charicature of a Chinese smuggler (John Ho)
> 2. Hawkeye buy a Korean slave.
> 3. Houlihan being set up, and having to endure, a sexual assault by a visiting psychiatrist.
1. Actually one of my favorite episodes where they steal Henry’s desk. Now how the heck henry ever got it over there was never explained. I wonder if this episode was suggested by a veteran who might have done something similar.
2. Hawkeye bought the slave (a moose) to buy her away from her previous owner. And she had been sold by her family. He later gives her her freedom.
3. Dont remember that episode.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/223 "2020-10-20T19:44:52Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Does Trapper immediately give in to Hawkeye’s desire? YES, IT IS OBVIOUS.
Trapper? (That said, I have absolutely no doubt that there is Hawkeye/Trapper “slash” fanfic out there somewhere…)
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/224 "2020-10-20T19:57:05Z")
> [@urbanredneck2](#):
>
> I wonder if this episode was suggested by a veteran who might have done something similar.
I wouldn’t be surprised. AFAIK, the majority of plots originated with some veteran(s). Here’s an old post on the subject:
> [@Embarassingly obvious question about M\*A\*S\*H](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarassingly-obvious-question-about-m-a-s-h/760253/29):
>
> Much of the series and some of the book were inspired by the memories of Lt. Dale Drake and his wife Cathy (née McDonough). The two met while at the 8055th with Hornberger. Cathy was a nurse and Dale an anesthesiologist, and the inspiration for “Ugly John” Black.
>
> According to Drake, Trapper John was based on Jim Dickson, a surgeon with a penchant for wearing a parka and nursing a beer when not on duty. Head Nurse Ruth Dixon at least partly inspired “Hot Lips”.
>
> Max Klinger may have spawned from one of the stories the pair related to co-creator Gene Reynolds, that of an otherwise shy and straight-laced doctor named Hall who dressed up one Halloween as Marilyn Monroe.
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### Author:  [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/225 "2020-10-20T21:49:18Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Speaking of…who exactly WAS announcing on the PA?
Most times the announcer was Igor, FWIW.
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### Author:  [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/226 "2020-10-20T23:49:06Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Houlihan being set up, and having to endure, a sexual assault by a visiting psychiatrist.
> [@urbanredneck2](#):
>
> Dont remember that episode.
> [@](#):
>
> Hawkeye pulls Radar aside and concocts a scheme to foil Sherman’s plans. In the mess tent, Radar plants the idea in Sherman’s mind that Margaret really does have the hots for him, in spite of spurning him in the past. Meanwhile, Trapper swaps the signs on Margaret’s and Sherman’s tents. Sherman returns to “his” tent and notices the lights are out. Radar promises to fix them, and Sherman settles into his cot for the night. Outside, Trapper switches the signs back. When Margaret comes into her tent and starts undressing in the dark, Sherman awakes and comes to the mistaken conclusion that she is undressing in “his” tent because she’s finally giving in to her desire for him. He excitedly launches himself at her and pulls her onto the cot. Margaret screams out, Radar quickly reconnects the lights, and various members of the camp rush in, making it appear that Sherman was attempting to force himself on Margaret.
I formatted it as one paragraph to make the quote marks work.
> **[Bananas, Crackers and Nuts (TV series episode)](https://mash.fandom.com/wiki/Bananas,_Crackers_and_Nuts_(TV_series_episode))**
>
> Bananas, Crackers and Nuts is an episode from M\*A\*S\*H. It was the eleventh episode to be produced but was the seventh episode to be broadcast, first airing on November 5, 1972 and repeated April 22, 1973. It was written by Burt Styler and directed by...
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/227 "2020-10-21T00:57:56Z")
Just saw the Tuttle episode and it was genuinely funny, with Radar’s reactions to Hawkeye’s eulogy being the capper.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/228 "2020-10-21T02:11:00Z")
Klinger makes his first appearance in drag in S1E18, ‘Dear Dad… Again’. His first appearance was a few episodes ago where he was going to kill Henry Blake with a grenade, until talked out of it by Mulcahey.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/229 "2020-10-21T14:43:09Z")
Let’s see…that’s 2 different people who try to frag Henry, 1 person who threatens Frank with a .45 and nobody who tries to do in Potter. I would have thought Frank would have gotten more attention in this manner.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/230 "2020-10-21T14:47:40Z")
If memory serves, wasn’t it John Ritter who took Frank hostage in the shower with a pistol?
And Frank was wearing a shower cap, just because well, he’s Frank.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/231 "2020-10-21T14:48:20Z")
Yep. Ritter during his “character role” period. Of course I’m only counting people who are ostensibly on “Our” side. Snipers and crazed North Korean patients don’t count.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/232 "2020-10-21T14:49:57Z")
Threatened Frank, married Ted and Georgette - John got around.
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### Author:  [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/233 "2020-10-21T14:59:29Z")
John Ritter was the minister on the Waltons - his first significant role
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### Author:  [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/234 "2020-10-21T15:03:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Threatened Frank, married Ted and Georgette - John got around.
Just saw him as a criminal in Mannix.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/235 "2020-10-21T15:10:04Z")
What happens in Korea stays in Korea…
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2020, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/236 "2020-10-23T02:55:45Z")
S1E22, Frank’s country club and _30-foot yacht_ (!) are mentioned, as his his rich (inheritance) wife.
Also, the devolution of Radar from nebbish clerk to child begins with the 1st appearance of his Teddy bear.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2020, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/237 "2020-10-23T05:31:25Z")
I feel like I just took a 300-level college course on MASH after reading this.
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### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/238 "2020-10-23T12:03:43Z")
There will be an exam.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2020, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/239 "2020-10-23T12:09:46Z")
… and math.
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329/240 "2020-10-23T14:55:05Z")
Or M\* A\* T\* H
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