Post by brenth on Sept 21, 2016 11:06:53 GMT -5
THE TOOTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
Production: 1-G11 (228)
Aired: February 8, 1982 (228)
Writers: David Pollock and Elias Davis
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Guest Stars
Tom Atkins - Major Weems
Jason Bernard - Major Rockingham
Larry Fishburne - Corporal Dorsey
John Fujioka - Duc Phon Jong
Kelly Nakahara - Nurse Kellye
Bill Snider - corpsman
"Let's have a toast to some good old American values."
Wounded come in. Later their commander, Major Weems, comes to visit his men. Hawkeye and BJ, who take a liking to the man, invite him to spend the night with them. The next day, Major Weems tells Hawkeye to try to get a compassionate discharge for a Black soldier, Private Dorsey. He also wants Hawkeye to return a White soldier, Private Sturdiman, who is getting sent home, back to his unit. Hawkeye finds out that the story Weems gave about Dorsey's family was all a lie and wonders why the major would tell the tale. Then three more soldiers from Weems' unit are brought in. They are all Black. The doctors can only conclude Major Weems is a racist, but they have no proof. Outside the Swamp, later, Weems admits to the doctors that he doesn't want any Negroes in his unit. Inside the Swamp, listening is Captain Quentin Rockingham, playing a major. "Major" Rockingham has Weems resign his commission or go before a court martial. Weems leaves in distress. Meanwhile, Winchester is trying to hide a toothache from everyone. He tries to get a remedy from a Korean medicine man, but can't stand the smell of it. Captain Rockingham is actually a dentist called in by Colonel Potter. The doctors end up treating the captain's bitten finger.
Trivia: Where is Private Dorsey from? How many brothers and sisters does he have?
Bonus: How long had it been since Winchester had a dental checkup?
Laurence Fishburne is a mostly unknown actor here, but will become well known later on. First, he will appear regularly on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" as Cowboy Curtis. Later he will star in big screen movies including his Oscar nominated breakthrough as Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do with It", Morpheus in "The Matrix" movies, and lately in the latest Superman movies as Perry White.
Jason Bernard would appear as Inspector Marquette on "Cagney and Lacey" among many other TV guest appearances, and then starred in "Herman's Head" as Paul Bracken. Tom Atkins was already a familiar face on TV. He was Tom Sullivan on "Serpico" and often guested as Lieutenant Diel on "The Rockford Files". This is John Fujioka's second of three appearances on M*A*S*H.
Not a bad episode. Though I wonder how differently the story would be if the writers remembered that they were writing for a show that portrayed a time period 30 years earlier. I believe, during the Korean war, even though the troops were under order to integrate, there were still groups that continued to be segregated. I'm not sure that much consequence would have come to Major Weems despite all the witnesses. But it probably feels good to someone in the 80's.
Production: 1-G11 (228)
Aired: February 8, 1982 (228)
Writers: David Pollock and Elias Davis
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Guest Stars
Tom Atkins - Major Weems
Jason Bernard - Major Rockingham
Larry Fishburne - Corporal Dorsey
John Fujioka - Duc Phon Jong
Kelly Nakahara - Nurse Kellye
Bill Snider - corpsman
"Let's have a toast to some good old American values."
Wounded come in. Later their commander, Major Weems, comes to visit his men. Hawkeye and BJ, who take a liking to the man, invite him to spend the night with them. The next day, Major Weems tells Hawkeye to try to get a compassionate discharge for a Black soldier, Private Dorsey. He also wants Hawkeye to return a White soldier, Private Sturdiman, who is getting sent home, back to his unit. Hawkeye finds out that the story Weems gave about Dorsey's family was all a lie and wonders why the major would tell the tale. Then three more soldiers from Weems' unit are brought in. They are all Black. The doctors can only conclude Major Weems is a racist, but they have no proof. Outside the Swamp, later, Weems admits to the doctors that he doesn't want any Negroes in his unit. Inside the Swamp, listening is Captain Quentin Rockingham, playing a major. "Major" Rockingham has Weems resign his commission or go before a court martial. Weems leaves in distress. Meanwhile, Winchester is trying to hide a toothache from everyone. He tries to get a remedy from a Korean medicine man, but can't stand the smell of it. Captain Rockingham is actually a dentist called in by Colonel Potter. The doctors end up treating the captain's bitten finger.
Trivia: Where is Private Dorsey from? How many brothers and sisters does he have?
Bonus: How long had it been since Winchester had a dental checkup?
Laurence Fishburne is a mostly unknown actor here, but will become well known later on. First, he will appear regularly on "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" as Cowboy Curtis. Later he will star in big screen movies including his Oscar nominated breakthrough as Ike Turner in "What's Love Got to Do with It", Morpheus in "The Matrix" movies, and lately in the latest Superman movies as Perry White.
Jason Bernard would appear as Inspector Marquette on "Cagney and Lacey" among many other TV guest appearances, and then starred in "Herman's Head" as Paul Bracken. Tom Atkins was already a familiar face on TV. He was Tom Sullivan on "Serpico" and often guested as Lieutenant Diel on "The Rockford Files". This is John Fujioka's second of three appearances on M*A*S*H.
Not a bad episode. Though I wonder how differently the story would be if the writers remembered that they were writing for a show that portrayed a time period 30 years earlier. I believe, during the Korean war, even though the troops were under order to integrate, there were still groups that continued to be segregated. I'm not sure that much consequence would have come to Major Weems despite all the witnesses. But it probably feels good to someone in the 80's.