"M*A*S*H"
Lend a Hand (1980)

Director:

Alan Alda

TV Series:

"M*A*S*H" (1972)

Original Air Date:

4 February 1980 (Season 8, Episode 20)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

Irritated that the 4077th is planning a "surprise" birthday party for him, Hawkeye aids a wounded surgeon...

Plot Keywords:

Dramedy | Asterix In Title | Captain | Helicopter | Combat Casualty

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
Loretta Swit	...	Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan
Mike Farrell	...	Capt. B.J. Hunnicut
Harry Morgan	...	Col. Sherman T. Potter
Jamie Farr	...	Cpl. / Sgt. Maxwell "Max" Q. Klinger
David Ogden Stiers	...	Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III
William Christopher	...	Lt. / Capt. Father Francis J. Mulcahy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Antony Alda	...	Jarvis
Robert Alda	...	Dr. Anthony Borelli
Daren Kelly	...	Sergeant Herbert
Shari Saba	...	Nurse

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Trivia:

The cast featured a guest appearances by Antony Alda, Alan Alda's brother. According to Alan Alda and Robert Alda, his father. "Lend a Hand" was his way of reconciling with his dad; he was always giving suggestions to Robert for their vaudeville act and in "Lend a Hand" Robert's character was always giving Hawkeye suggestions. It was Robert's idea for the doctors to cooperate as "Dr. Right" and "Dr. Left" at the end of that episode, signifying both reconciliation of their characters and in real life as well.

Quotes:

Lt.: With all due respect corporal, get the "h" out of there.

Exceptionally Special!!

The appearances by (the late) Robert Alda, Alan Alda, and Antony Alda in "Lend A Hand" made the episode special to me -- as the viewer. In the beginning, Captains Hunnicutt and Pierce have been bored with nothing to do at night. The entire camp was planning a surprise birthday party. And without warning, a jeep with Dr. Borelli arrived at the 4077th.

Dr. Borelli -- at the opening part of the episode -- entered the Officers' Club to discuss a new surgical technique on the heart the next day. Next, all the doctors were retiring to their tents for the night. Dr. Borelli had a private discussion with Captain Pierce about him staying warm and the drink he was enjoying at the bar. The constant intrusion of Dr. Borelli's advice to everyone marked the beginning of obnoxious conduct at his visit. Captain Pierce would be upset at how Dr. Borelli's ways were better than his during the show.

Meanwhile, Corporal Klinger was preparing a birthday cake for the party. He added one too many H's on the icing portion of the cake. Major Houlihan then told to fix the icing for Captain Hunnicutt's anniversary. Corporal Klinger was about at the end of his rope for spending five hours preparing the cake for the party.

Dr. Borelli and Captain Pierce were then heading to an aid station to perform surgery on the wounded soldier. Captain Pierce -- while driving -- was eating plain cheese on the way to the aid station. Dr. Borelli told him to eat the cheese right by using mustard ... with grief. They both get at each other's throats in preparation for surgery. Jarvis then arrived in the latter part of the episode for the surgery. Without warning, both Borelli and Pierce ended up with broken wrists -- on opposite ends -- during the surgery. In the end, their performance on the show earned a fat "A" in playing their roles well. A Fat 10!! A Highly Recommended Episode From The 1979-1980 Television Season!!