The third season of M*A*S*H aired Tuesdays at 8:30–9:00 pm on CBS.

M*A*S*H
Season 3
No. of episodes24
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 10, 1974 (1974-09-10) –
March 18, 1975 (1975-03-18)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 2
Next →
Season 4
List of episodes

Cast

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Actor Role
Alan Alda Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
Wayne Rogers Capt. "Trapper" John MacIntyre
McLean Stevenson Lt. Col. Henry Blake
Loretta Swit Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan
Larry Linville Maj. Frank Burns
Gary Burghoff Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly


Recurring roles:

Actor Role
William Christopher Lt. Father Francis Mulcahy
Odessa Cleveland Lt. Ginger Bayliss
Jamie Farr Cpl. Maxwell Klinger
Johnny Haymer SSgt. Zelmo Zale
Jeff Maxwell Pvt. Igor Straminsky
Kellye Nakahara Lt. Kellye Nakahara
Loudon Wainwright III Capt. Calvin Spalding †‡
  • † First season as a recurring player
  • ‡ Last season as a recurring player

Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [n 1]Directed by [n 2]Written by [n 2]Original air dateProd.
code [n 3]
491"The General Flipped at Dawn"Larry GelbartJim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumSeptember 10, 1974 (1974-09-10)B-308
A crackpot Major General wants to move the camp closer to the front. He then threatens to court-martial Hawkeye. Harry Morgan, who portrays the nutty General, would join the cast of M*A*S*H the following year as Colonel Sherman Potter.
502"Rainbow Bridge"Hy AverbackLarry Gelbart & Laurence MarksSeptember 17, 1974 (1974-09-17)B-301
Hawkeye and Trapper must put their relaxation plans on hold to retrieve wounded American prisoners from the Chinese. Japanese actor Mako portrays a Chinese officer involved in the transfer. Loudon Wainwright III makes his first of three appearances as guitar-playing Lieutenant Calvin Spalding.
513"Officer of the Day"Hy AverbackLaurence MarksSeptember 24, 1974 (1974-09-24)B-307

Hawkeye is made Officer of the Day, and Lieutenant Colonel Flagg wants him to patch up a North Korean prisoner so that he can be executed. He also deals with thieving kids, Koreans seeking medical attention and Klinger attempting to go AWOL.

Note – McLean Stevenson does not appear in this episode, despite being credited.
524"Iron Guts Kelly"Don WeisLarry Gelbart & Sid DorfmanOctober 1, 1974 (1974-10-01)B-304
Lieutenant General "Iron Guts" Kelly (James Gregory) dies whilst in bed with Hot Lips, but Lt. Gen. Kelly's aide (Keene Curtis) invents a more militarily meaningful way to mark Kelly's passing.
535"O.R."Gene ReynoldsLarry Gelbart & Laurence MarksOctober 8, 1974 (1974-10-08)B-306
The 4077th is overwhelmed with casualties. Note: This is the first episode without a laugh track. Timeline: A PA announcement at the end of the episode says Gen. Mark Clark was placed in command of all UN forces. This happened on May 12, 1952. Gene Reynolds won the Primetime Emmy Award for directing this episode while Larry Gelbart and Laurence Marks won the Writers Guild Award.
546"Springtime"Don WeisLinda Bloodworth & Mary Kay PlaceOctober 15, 1974 (1974-10-15)B-303
Spring is in the air at the 4077th, including marriage for Klinger. Alex Karras guest stars as one of Hawkeye's overly thankful patients, and co-writer Mary Kay Place as Radar's love interest.
557"Check-Up"Don WeisLaurence MarksOctober 22, 1974 (1974-10-22)B-312
Trapper's latest medical checkup reveals that he has an ulcer which could earn him a discharge from the Army.
568"Life with Father"Hy AverbackEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellOctober 29, 1974 (1974-10-29)B-302
Father Mulcahy tries to meet a request to perform a Jewish Bris, while Henry is worried that his wife's willingness to let him cheat on her may reflect her own guilty conscience, and Hawkeye and Trapper attempt to solve a puzzle to win a pony.
579"Alcoholics Unanimous"Hy AverbackEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellNovember 12, 1974 (1974-11-12)B-314

As acting commanding officer, Frank dismantles the Swamp's gin still and declares Prohibition at the 4077th. Hy Averback received Primetime Emmy and Directors Guild Award nominations for this episode.

Note – McLean Stevenson does not appear in this episode, despite being credited.
5810"There Is Nothing Like a Nurse"Hy AverbackLarry GelbartNovember 19, 1974 (1974-11-19)B-309
The men of the 4077th must cope without the nurses, who are evacuated due to the possibility of an enemy attack. Loudon Wainwright III makes his second of three appearances as the guitar-playing Lieutenant Calvin Spalding.
5911"Adam's Ribs"Gene ReynoldsLaurence MarksNovember 26, 1974 (1974-11-26)B-316

Fed up with eating the same food day after day in the mess tent, Hawkeye hatches a plan to order spare ribs from a restaurant in Chicago.

Note – Loretta Swit and Larry Linville do not appear in this episode.
6012"A Full Rich Day"Gene ReynoldsJohn D. HessDecember 3, 1974 (1974-12-03)B-311
A kill-happy Turk and a missing corpse are the main focus of a typical day of insanity at the 4077th, while a lieutenant coerces Hawkeye and Trapper into giving priority to his wounded sergeant. Fred W. Berger and Stanford Tischler won the ACE Eddie Award for this episode.
6113"Mad Dogs and Servicemen"Hy AverbackLinda Bloodworth & Mary Kay PlaceDecember 10, 1974 (1974-12-10)B-317
As the search goes on for a potentially rabid dog that has bitten Radar, the doctors suspect a patient suffering from paralysis (Michael O'Keefe) might have a psychological issue instead.
6214"Private Charles Lamb"Hy AverbackSid DorfmanDecember 31, 1974 (1974-12-31)B-310
A Greek colonel donates a baby lamb as the main course for an Easter barbecue for his wounded men and the 4077th, but Radar tries to protect it. Sid Dorfman received a Writers Guild Award nomination for this episode.
6315"Bombed"Hy AverbackJim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumJanuary 7, 1975 (1975-01-07)B-320
A wounded soldier arrives at the compound, booby-trapped, during heavy shelling; and Trapper and Margaret get locked in the supply closet together when an exploding shell jams the door. Henry is injured when the latrine he's in is destroyed. William Jurgensen received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for cinematography on this episode, and Hy Averback received a Directors Guild Award nomination.
6416"Bulletin Board"Alan AldaLarry Gelbart & Simon MuntnerJanuary 14, 1975 (1975-01-14)B-323
Henry Blake loses a patient and resists holding an outdoor picnic to benefit local orphans, but is revived by the activities even though casualties interrupt the fun. Alan Alda received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for directing this episode.Timeline:November 1952 Dwight Eisenhower vows if he is elected US President, he'll go to Korea. In the episode The Late Captain Pierce December 1952: Eisenhower does go to Korea after being elected President
6517"The Consultant"Gene ReynoldsStory by : Larry Gelbart
Teleplay by : Robert Klane
January 21, 1975 (1975-01-21)B-318
In Tokyo for R&R, Hawkeye and Trapper meet a veteran doctor (Robert Alda) whom they challenge to visit the 4077th for a look at 'real action.' Note: Robert Alda, the father of Alan Alda, would play the same character in the season 8 episode "Lend a Hand".
6618"House Arrest"Hy AverbackJim Fritzell & Everett GreenbaumFebruary 4, 1975 (1975-02-04)B-315
Hawkeye is placed under house arrest for punching Frank, while Margaret is nervous about a meticulous visiting colonel (Mary Wickes) who turns out to be quite warm for Frank's form.
6719"Aid Station"William JurgensenLarry Gelbart & Simon MuntnerFebruary 11, 1975 (1975-02-11)B-322
Hawkeye, Margaret, and Klinger are sent to a frontline aid station that is short-staffed and under heavy fire.
6820"Love and Marriage"Lee PhilipsArthur JulianFebruary 18, 1975 (1975-02-18)B-321
A skilled Korean medical assistant (Soon-Tek Oh) wants to see his pregnant wife. Meanwhile, a GI (Dennis Dugan) wants to marry a girl from Rosie's bar, but not for good reasons.
6921"Big Mac"Don WeisLaurence MarksFebruary 25, 1975 (1975-02-25)B-313
The 4077th is turned upside down by an announced visit from General Douglas MacArthur. Loudon Wainwright III makes his third and final appearance as the guitar-playing Lieutenant Calvin Spalding. Note:MacArthur did visit Korea but in September 1950
7022"Payday"Hy AverbackRegier & Markowitz[a]March 4, 1975 (1975-03-04)B-305
It's Hawkeye's turn as pay officer, but a $10 oversight causes major trouble.
7123"White Gold"Hy AverbackLarry Gelbart & Simon MuntnerMarch 11, 1975 (1975-03-11)B-319
Lt. Colonel Flagg shows up when penicillin is stolen, but Hawkeye and Trapper soon learn the real reason for his arrival.
7224"Abyssinia, Henry"Larry GelbartEverett Greenbaum & Jim FritzellMarch 18, 1975 (1975-03-18)B-324

Henry Blake receives his discharge, and the doctors send him off in style.

Note – This is the final episode for both McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers. 1952 is given as the current year, based on a present Radar gives Lt. Col. Blake. In 1997 and 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #20 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.[1][2]
  1. ^ John W. Regier & Gary Markowitz

Notes

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  1. ^ Titles taken from DVD
  2. ^ a b Credits from episode title cards
  3. ^ Production Code from end credits

References

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  1. ^ "Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28-July 4). 1997.
  2. ^ "TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes". Rev/Views. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
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