Big Mac was the 21st episode of Season 3 of the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H, also the 69th overall series episode. Written by Laurence Marks and directed by Don Weis, it first aired on February 25, 1975.
Synopsis[]
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur has scheduled an inspection of the 4077th because of its outstanding performance, and the camp is busy trying to prepare for its illustrious visitor.
The entire camp anxiously prepares for General Douglas MacArthur's visit in the "Big Mac" episode.
Full episode summary[]
Big news: General Douglas MacArthur is going to visit the 4077th because the unit has the most impressive medical record in Korea. Henry is bursting at the seams, confiding in Radar, “This is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me” since he did his first strangulated hernia, and dreams of the headlines in the Bloomington (his hometown) paper.
Colonel Whiteman, from MacArthur's staff, arrives to brief the medical staff about the General's impending visit. He had encountered Klinger at the first sentry post and pointedly tells Henry not to have him stationed when MacArthur arrives. Whiteman has a strict minute-by-minute itinerary and feels an operation for MacArthur to view is a good way to wrap up the visit. Frank volunteers for the operation, so Hawkeye suggests a hysterectomy be performed on the Major.
Preparations are made for the General's arrival: Spalding is writing a song to commemorate the occasion, Radar is decorating the VIP with 5-star touches, and Frank is...burning books. Hawkeye stops “Dr. Hitler” and informs him MacArthur is going to see the camp for what it really is and saves the books from a fiery demise.
Henry arranges for Klinger to take three days of R&R in Tokyo during MacArthur's visit, but Klinger demurs, hoping to get an immediate discharge from the General. Henry threatens tent arrest and tying Klinger to his bedpost if he stays in camp (this scene is usually cut from syndicated airings). Frank and Margaret inspect the VIP tent, which has been converted into a 5-star shrine, complete with flags, bunting, and an enormous blow-up photo of the General. They're so caught up in the glamor and power of the furnishings, they make love on MacArthur's bed, Margaret even calling out the name “Doug.”
Radar, posing as MacArthur in the camp prep for the General, along with the MPs, stop Klinger from putting on his "Section 8" act in this scene.
A dress rehearsal is staged, with Radar standing in as a pint-size MacArthur. True to form, Klinger interrupts the rehearsal with his crazy schtick, claiming he needs to rehearse, too. Klinger is dragged off, and the rehearsal continues about as well as could be expected, with Henry stumbling over his welcome speech and Hawkeye and Trapper cracking wise, as usual. Suddenly, an announcement is made MacArthur has passed the first checkpoint and will arrive in seconds.
A sloppy formation is hastily assembled (including Radar still dressed like MacArthur) and the General and his detail drive through the compound. And they keep driving. Big Mac barely looks up from his reading to return the camp's group salute as his envoy doesn't even slow down. However, the General takes time to give a smart salute to Klinger, who is dressed as the Statue of Liberty on the road leaving camp.
In a very brief coda often cut from syndication, the personnel return to their tents as Captain Spalding sings a snippet of his MacArthur song.
Research notes/Fun facts[]
- Third and final appearance of Loudon Wainwright III as Captain Calvin Spalding. In this episode, we briefly get to see Spalding as a surgeon in the O.R.; he also gets to sing, as usual.
- The nurse who appears with Hawkeye in the O.R. has several lines, but is not named and is uncredited. Behind the mask, the role would appear to be played by Jeanne Schulherr who appeared in a few small roles in Season 3.
- The actor playing MacArthur (who has no lines, but is seen very prominently in several close shots) is uncredited.
- MacArthur did indeed visit Korea in real life. However, unlike this episode, he did not wear his sun-bleached khakis from World War II - when in Korea, he rather sensibly wore cold weather clothing.
- Houlihan claims that her father and MacArthur fought the Huks in post-World War II Philippines. This is historically impossible, as from 1945 to 1950, MacArthur was the American Proconsul in Japan.
- Cast member (then recurring character) Jamie Farr regarded this episode, along with "Officer of the Day", as his favorite episode.
- When Frank is burning books, Trapper takes them and names them by title except one. He just mentions the author "Norman Mailer", and Frank retorts, "It's got that word in it". This might be The Naked and the Dead, published in 1948, which has several prominent uses of "the F word." (The original publishers infamously censored the word to read "fug".)
- Anomaly: Assuming the final scene occurs in real time, there was no possible way Klinger would have had time to change from his Japanese kimono into his elaborate Statue of Liberty get-up AND make it back to the security checkpoint in time for MacArthur to see him.
- Anomaly: The epilogue scene that is usually cut from syndicated airings shows Captain Spalding with his guitar singing another MacArthur-themed diddy. However, this scene supposedly takes place immediately after the previous one, and he did not have his guitar anywhere near him then.
- Timeline: MacArthur's visit is scheduled for "the 19th" and when Henry flips through the planner the page is marked "Friday 19". The show follows an ambiguous timeline so it is unclear which year this would be, but there are 4 possibilities: 19 January 1951, 19 October 1951 (Most likely considering how early in the show this is set and the weather for the episode), 19 September 1952, and 19 December 1952.
Recurring cast/Guest stars[]
- Graham Jarvis as Colonel Whiteman
- Jamie Farr as Klinger
- Loudon Wainwright III as Captain Calvin Spalding
Uncredited:
- Todd Susman as the P.A. announcer
- Jeanne Schulherr as O.R. Nurse
- Dennis Troy as the Colonel's driver
- Kellye Nakahara as Kellye (no lines, but Hawkeye addresses her by name in the O.R.)
- Gwen Farrell (in the assembly)
- Robert Courtleigh as Gen. Douglas MacArthur (more likely Christopher Lee)