Goodbye Radar - Official Discussion

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GOODBYE RADAR - Part 1
Production: S-610 (179)
Aired: October 8, 1979 (173)
Writers: Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Director: Charles S. Dubin

Guest Stars
Arell Blanton - Pvt. Hough
Gary Burghoff - Radar
Tony Cristino - Sgt. LaGrow
Johnny Haymer - Zale
Marilyn Jones - Patty
Michael O'Dwyer - Sergeant Olsen
Richard Lee Sung - driver
Jon St. Elwood - Pvt. Reuss
Sean Fallon Walsh - Forster

"Boy, some guys just can't be bought."

The personnel are in O. R. when the generator goes out. Zale and Klinger try to fix it and it explodes. Then they find that the backup generator has been stolen. Klinger is not able to find another generator so the camp just waits until Radar gets back from R and R. Hawkeye gets his finger caught in a rib spreader when the lights go out. BJ and Colonel Potter rig up a Wangensteen suction machine for a patient. Radar, meanwhile, is on his way back to the 4077th and he tries to bribe Sergeant Olson at the airport with four dollars. Sergeant Olson makes him wait. While waiting, Radar meets a young nurse who likes grape Nehi and is returning home. Radar, however, is rushed on a plane before he really gets to know her. They kiss and promise to meet at home. On the way to camp Radar's driver stops to pick up three tired soldiers who all have to sit in the back seat with Radar, forcing Radar out of the jeep. Choman Chin brings him home. When he arrives in camp, everyone wants him to get a new generator before doing anything else. It turns out that even Radar can't find a generator. Then Colonel Potter comes in with news of Radar's Uncle Ed passing away. Radar is told that he is going home.

Trivia: What is the name of the girl Radar met and where is she from?

Potterisms: "Carolina cow pies!", "Pigeon pellets!"

It would be nice to learn later in the series about what happened between Radar and the girl who received his first voluntary kiss of the episodes. Who knew Radar could be so fast! But she is gone and forgotten. The Wangensteen suction apparatus is a real thing (hsl.lib.umn.edu/wangensteen/benefactor).

Arell Blanton was a "red shirt" in the "Star Trek" episode "The Savage Curtain".

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GOODBYE RADAR - Part 2
Production: S-611 (180)
Aired: October 15, 1979 (174)
Writers: Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Director: Charles S. Dubin

Guest Stars
Gary Burghoff - Radar
Lee DeBroux - Major Van Kirk
David Dozer - dispatcher
Whitney Rydbeck - Hondo

"If you're not a certifiable fur-lined, 24-karat hero I'll kiss your tootsies at the commandant picnic."

While Radar is packing he is finding things he forgot he had such as the thermometer Henry Blake gave him at the colonel's departure. Klinger wants to be shown how to clerk, but Radar doesn't have time to teach him. Winchester and Margaret discuss their appreciation of Radar and Margaret gives Radar a kiss. Then wounded come and Radar organizes O. R. outside under the light of jeeps. After this he feels that he is needed and decides to stay. Finally a call comes in about an available generator and Klinger answers it. Hoping to show up Radar he goes to get it himself. When he arrives at the quartermaster's headquarters, though, he finds a loud major butting in on his generator. As the paperwork is being filled out for the major to get the generator, Klinger steals it and brings it back to the 4077th. When Radar sees this he decides that maybe they don't need him and he changes his mind again. There is a party ready to start in the mess tent, but wounded come and everyone rushes to O. R. During the haste of triage, everyone except Hawkeye has a chance to say goodbye to Radar. After saying goodbye to his animals and tasting his cake, he leaves camp leaving behind only his teddy bear.

Trivia: How does Hawkeye say goodbye to Radar?

Potterism: "Hot diggety dog tags!"

The thermometer is from "Abyssinia Henry" (S3). The Purple Heart is from "Fallen Idol" (S6). Leaving behind the teddy bear was prophesied in "War of Nerves" (S6).

These are not too bad episodes. A little sad, but you kind of got the feel from the last few episodes that Gary Burghoff was getting tired. Or at least tired of playing a naive 18-year-old.