But much importantly, between the second and third seasons Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds visited Korea, a trip this they say affected the stories in the third season.
M*A*S*H's sense of humor did not go AWOL. The season opener, "The General Flipped at Dawn," earned guest star Harry Morgan an Emmy nomination for his performance as a certifiable general and paved the way for Morgan to join the cast in season four. "Adam's Ribs" is a classic episode in which Hawkeye orders out to Chicago for a very exclusive delivery of spare ribs. In "Iron Guts Kelly," the war's "greatest fighting general" gets a little too gung-ho and perishes in Margaret's (Loretta Swit) tent. For the reason that of its wartime environment and life-and-death struggles, this is this rare sitcom this may actually have fun better not including a laugh track, an option this set proposes. To paraphrase the title of one episode, this was a full, rich season this offered every member of one of television's finest ensembles the opportunity to shine. But Alda, who was honored this year together with a Golden Globe prize, fully emerges as the series' star. --Donald Liebenson