"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 | Sergeant | Cultural Conflict | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym | Physician

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

Directed by
Alan Alda

Sound Department
Stephen Bass	....	sound mixer
Tony Romero	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	still photographer

Directed by
Hy Averback		(20 episodes 1972-1983)
Jackie Cooper		(13 episodes 1973-1974)
Larry Gelbart		(6 episodes 1974-1976)
William K. Jurgensen		(10 episodes 1975-1979)
George Tyne		(7 episodes 1975-1978)
William Wiard		(6 episodes 1972-1973)

Writing credits
Ring Lardner Jr.		(1970 screenplay) uncredited
Larry Balmagia		writer (8 episodes 1978-1982)
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason		writer (5 episodes 1973-1976) (as Linda Bloodworth)
Elias Davis		writer (17 episodes 1981-1982)
Sid Dorfman		writer (5 episodes 1973-1977)
Jay Folb		writer (5 episodes 1975-1977)
James Fritzell		writer (24 episodes 1974-1978) (as Jim Fritzell)
Larry Gelbart		writer (40 episodes 1972-1976)
Ronny Graham		writer (7 episodes 1978-1979)
Everett Greenbaum		writer (24 episodes 1974-1978)
Karen Hall		writer (6 episodes 1980-1983) (as Karen L. Hall)
David Isaacs		writer (17 episodes 1976-1979)
Robert Klane		writer (5 episodes 1972-1975)
Dennis Koenig		writer (15 episodes 1979-1983)
Ken Levine		writer (17 episodes 1976-1979)
Laurence Marks		writer (28 episodes 1972-1978)
Thad Mumford		writer (15 episodes 1979-1983)
Simon Muntner		writer (6 episodes 1975-1976)
David Pollock		writer (18 episodes 1980-1982)
Burt Prelutsky		writer (8 episodes 1975-1977)
Gene Reynolds		writer (12 episodes 1974-1980)

Produced by
Dennis Koenig	....	producer
Thad Mumford	....	producer
Dan Wilcox	....	producer

Cinematography by
Andrew Jackson
Sherman Kunkel
Vilis Lapenieks

Art Direction by
David M. Haber		(as David Haber)
John Leimanis
Frank T. Smith		(as Frank Taylor Smith)

Set Decoration by
Don Webb

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barbara Gelman	....	second assistant director
Russell Llewellyn	....	assistant director (as J. Russell Llewellyn)

Art Department
Michael Casey	....	assistant property master
Kurt V. Hulett	....	property man (season 8)

Sound Department
William Hartman	....	sound editor
David M. Ice	....	sound editor (as David Ice)
Don Isaacs	....	sound editor (as Don V. Isaacs)
Godfrey Marks	....	sound editor
Ed Rossi	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Sperber	....	sound editor
Will Yarbrough	....	production sound mixer (9 seasons)

Stunts
Jean Coulter	....	stunts
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Chuck Hicks	....	stunts
Leslie Hoffman	....	stunt: nurse M*A*S*H olympics
Pat Romano	....	stunts
Rick Sawaya	....	stunt performer
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double: Harry Morgan and Gary Burghoff (1975-1983)

Camera and Electrical Department
Curtis Foster	....	rigging gaffer (1979-1980)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer
Michael Hofstein	....	additional camera operator
Michael Hofstein	....	aerial director of photography
Al LaVerde	....	key grip (1978-1982)
Jim Sellars	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Bennett	....	costumer: women
Albert H. Frankel	....	costumer: men

Music Department
Leonard A. Engel	....	music editor (as Len Engel)
Joseph Silver	....	supervising music editor
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor

Other crew
Elias Davis	....	executive story consultant (1981-1983)
Rita Hudis	....	technical advisor: medical
David Pollock	....	executive story consultant (1981-1983)
Lee Sollenberger	....	animal handler

Production Companies

• 20th Century Fox Television

Distributors

• CBS Television (1980) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

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!!