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» » M*A*S*H Alcoholics Unanimous (1972–1983)

Short summary

With Henry in Tokyo giving a lecture, Frank turns into Carry Nation. He calls Trapper and Hawkeye alcoholics; his surveys show 57.230% of all military personnel in the Asian theatre have a drinking problem. So Frank declares Prohibition. Fr. Mulcahy is asked to give a temperance lecture and he has a packed house; naturally, he is a bit nervous. He is better with the standards. Klinger suggests a "bracer" that will take the good priest there and back again. When all hell breaks loose, will the 18th Amendment be repealed, for good?

The film playing in the opening scene is "Tin Pan Alley"- 1940 with Alice Faye.

McLean Stevenson ( LTC Henry Blake) does not appear in this episode.

The Bible verse which is repeated by Father Mulcahey is Leviticus 10:9.

The title refers to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a worldwide organization of people who share a desire to stop drinking alcohol.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Zodama
    I guess the message here is that alcoholism is a laughing matter. This series, which will always remain one of my favorites, really glorifies drunkenness. The two doctors who are central here are on the sauce continually. It makes one wonder how they can be so accomplished. I know it's fiction, but there is such a thing as verisimilitude, and the imbibing goes on endlessly. That said, I will keep my moralistic nose out of this. The episode involves Frank once again taking command while Henry is away. He decides to make the camp dry. Radar is forced to take down the still. The guys eventually begin to question their own behavior. The sad thing is that this is seen as silly and unproductive. There are some wonderful moments here involving Father Mulcahy. One is his story about a film about a couple of men who take different paths when it comes to sexual experimentation. The guy who goes to the trailer with the girl has a sorry ending. Later, when he tries to give a temperance sermon, Klinger gives him a triple shot of whiskey to calm his nerves. Imagine the sermon. It's a funny episode but there are some messages that aren't all that healthy if you've ever been there.
  • Episode credited cast:
    Alan Alda Alan Alda - Capt. Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce
    Wayne Rogers Wayne Rogers - Capt. 'Trapper John' McIntyre
    McLean Stevenson McLean Stevenson - Lt. Col. Henry Blake (credit only)
    Loretta Swit Loretta Swit - Maj. Margaret 'Hot Lips' Houlihan
    Larry Linville Larry Linville - Maj. Frank Burns
    Gary Burghoff Gary Burghoff - Cpl. Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly
    Jamie Farr Jamie Farr - Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger
    William Christopher William Christopher - Father Francis Mulcahy
    Bobbie Mitchell Bobbie Mitchell - Lt. Baker, RN
    Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
    Alice Faye Alice Faye - Herself (archive footage)
    Jeff Maxwell Jeff Maxwell - Pvt. Igor Straminsky
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