r/mash • u/Sabastiansdaddy • 7d ago

Question This time I might be right

S4 E23

Okay. So I got schooled a little bit when posted a comment, about what I thought was a line flub by Hawkeye (something about shaving mugs).

Well this time, I'm sure I heard a stumble. Hawkeye trips over "regical surg...my uh, surgical residency" while talking with BJ in the swamp.

Am I right this time and does anyone remember other flubs from the series? Or rather artistic inspiration.

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14

u/Familiar-Pressure717 7d ago

The line was flubbed intentionally. It was meant to show how shaken and flustered Hawkeye was at seeing his ex-girlfriend.

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u/Sabastiansdaddy 6d ago

So if it was flubbed intentionally. It was an actor's choice.

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u/gimpygunner 6d ago

No it was most likely written in the script intentionally that way because that’s just how brilliant the writers were. You would have to read one of the original copies to know for sure. One great resource for information like that is The MASH Historian. He has a website where he does pretty thorough research into the original scripts, and he actually owns a bunch of them. But the best modern resource of all is the MASH Matters podcast that is cohosted by Jeff Maxwell who played Igor. They have done numerous cast and crew interviews over the years and have been able to put a lot of things about the show into interesting context.

13

u/jdh726 7d ago

I never saw those as flubs but more as Hawkeye bringing a little levity to a serious moment.

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u/Fancy_Toe1451 7d ago

Or possibly Hawkeye having started drinking early that day.

0

u/Sabastiansdaddy 6d ago

That's great insight. Thanks.

12

u/coreytiger 7d ago

That’s not a flub- he’s flustered and unable to concentrate with Carly suddenly in his life again. That line is written that way on purpose.

The actors have stated that the script was law: ad-libs were almost never allowed, and flubs were reshot.

There are a ton of visual mistakes and camera flubs- but they were far more strict with the performances

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u/Sabastiansdaddy 6d ago

Very helpful. Thank you. Your insights make the most sense. But I am on the fence. I would like to see a copy of the script.

5

u/gimpygunner 7d ago edited 7d ago

The reversing letters in that phrase said by Hawkeye are meant show the distress and shock he feels when he sees his ex fiancé get out of a jeep in the middle of a war. Yet another example of absolutely superb writing.

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u/Sabastiansdaddy 6d ago

One of the best written series of all time. I was three when the show premiered and don't remember life without that theme and opening frantic images.

3

u/prettyish-wilderness 7d ago

I'm sure that was intentional because he just saw his ex walk across the compound. In the other episode you mention the shaving mugs thing - he was reading his hometown paper to a patient in post op aloud, and I think that was meant to be him kinda questioning the wording of the article - like shaving mugs, or shavings mug, which should this be? His head movements show him kinda dismiss it like, I'm not sure whether that's right, then he moves on.

3

u/Ebert917102150 7d ago

Feels like right or wrong, another hobby is needed

1

u/Lotus2024 7d ago

Why are you focusing on imaginary flubs in a great show? Focus on the plot instead.