Season 1 Quality Rolls:
Script Quality:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 61
Do describe the first batch of episodes, you could only describe it as mediocre... with glimpses of Brilliance. That meant that for every scene that was bad, there was at least one scene that had glimmers of hope for this wonderfully funny show.
And the Writers did not have the freedom that you thought they would have.
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 2
You didn't have a script for these episodes. At least not completed scripts.
You had ideas where you had to improvise the entire episode. Hell Episode 13 only had a single sentence of an idea. "The Crew Getting told that supplies were delayed, and have to make do with what they have."
Turns out, half the writers that worked on the show were completely told to work on other projects, as the network needed to crank out a few more episodes later in the year.
And dear god, it put the remaining producers on suicide watch, as they battled the suits for every scrap they could get their hands on as they were left out to dry.
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 79
On the bright side, the writers that were remaining on the project finally saw the absurdity that could bleed into the entire script process.
And they must have been on something fierce. insanely good pacing, tight dialogue, and even compelling drama in between the laughs and tears.
They outdid themselves.
Alan Ada SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 + 10 => 103
And Alan showed himself as the greatest actor you worked with, as he effortlessly made these mediocre scripts that he had, and knocked them out of the park.
He was completely in control of every scene that he had, and there was plenty and they had to do so many takes because everyone couldn't stop laughing.
Episodes 6-13: D100 + 10 => 71
Episodes 14-24: D100 + 10 => 61
However, he seemed to lose his touch, or rather the scripts involving his character were not as strong (Or nonexistent in the middle episodes), as many of the scenes he did in the later episodes were very... well not as funny.
He was still a knock-out laugh, but not to the point where entire takes were ruined by laughter.
Even on the disastrous middle episodes where the entire show had no screenwriters to speak of, his natural charisma of Alan carried over, and his jokes, while on the top and completely improvised were sure enough to keep the entire thing moving.
Loretta Jane Swit SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 92
To say that a poor script could stop Loretta was like saying that she needed anything. She took what little she had, and it blossomed into hilarious zingers, powerful characters and of course, laughter. She made Alan seem like a second fiddle in some of those scenes they were in, and-
Well, the tension of romance, or at very least mutual attraction was there.
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 9
But for as good an actor that she was, nothing could help he with such a terrible chaos of the scripting fiasco of the middle episodes.
Her lines fell flat, and she seemed confused and befuddled, unable to really keep up with the improvisation finznza as everyone else did.
She was just there, being pretty, and she hated the stress and struggle that was occurring.
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 74
And then she came back with a rousing second half.
The scripts were very good, and she had plenty of time to gain some much-needed confidence back when she looked at the whole body of work, and it showed.
Even then, she was unsatisfied with the whole entire process and knew she was going to raise hell at the people that just abandoned the show.
Wayne Rogers SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 - 10 => 69
Wayne showed that he was fantastic in the roll, a more comedic, though gruffer character than Hawkeye.
And frankly, the entire crew was very impressed with his medical speech after the first episode.
Inspired, although a little gruesome of the details he went into when stitching up a boy that would clearly not make it. He was angry, upset, and raging at the futility of the situation that he was in.
Episodes 6-13: D100 - 10 => 27
A shame such a strong performance came with mediocrity.
He was just so lifeless, and the script and improvisation didn't help at all.
And of course, there was the elephant in the room. You.
He seemed to not wish to be with you any longer than he had to.
Episodes 14-24: D100 - 10 => 88
But that was in the past, as everyone had a script they could work with, he showed just how well he could carry a show.
in fact, he outshone Alan and did so well. Especially in his scenes with you, where he wanted to outdo you at every turn.
William Christopher SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 67
William had to deal with being more into the background in those first episodes, and his actions in them were rather minor, all things considering it was not what was needed.
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 97
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 96
Then in the disaster script episodes (as it was now being called by the crew), he showed just how funny he could be. He was just constantly coming up with everything that was funny for them, and his character on the show just exploded with laughs and funny lines.
And he really did act like a good shepherd to his flock. There were a few on set, even you, who asked if he had been a brother of the cloth, with his many introspection and lines from the book.
He nodded and said no.
He just realized that that was what people needed. Hope and meaning in the world, so he would do his best to show it.
McLean Stevenson SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 87
Stevenson was very strong at the season's beginning, capturing a career officer and a man who had gone to war before who was very personally tired of getting several civilian doctors who wanted nothing more than to screw around and to show him little respect.
It was hilarious letting the man show his anger at the crew. Or rather the suits who were leaving the show out to die.
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 51
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 1
But it seems that even he had his limits.
He quit before the 15th episode.
He said that this set was cursed.
Larry Linville SP:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 82
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 82
Larry seemed to be the only sane man, professional, and happy that everything was going well.
Even the scriptless episodes showed he was a quick-thinking, happy, and funny man, despite the chaos.
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 25
But even he struggled greatly with the final episodes, with Mclean leaving and many of the scenes being rewritten and many of the long sleepless nights on set trying to get scenes just right, without any rehearsal.
In fact on the last day of the shoot, he fell asleep on set due to the arduous seven-day shooting schedule that you embarked on just so you could all avoid getting fired for going over budget, and someone had to take him home.
Bruce "The Goose: O'Brien:
Episode 1-5: D100 - 5 => 93
Controlled chaos and fun. That was what you thought of when you took this part. You were chaotic, quick with wit, words, and fists on every turn, keeping order.
Then came the fun part. You came up with increasingly ingenious pranks that no one could think of, and also come up with, as well as made on an army base in Korea.
There was so much that you did, that it was quickly becoming apparent that everyone thought you were an actual soldier.
Or at least had training.
Which you had. the fact more people didn't pay attention to your off-set antics was both sad and encouraging.
Sad because everyone seemed to ignore you
encouraging because no one cared. and you could surprise them.
Episodes 6-13: D100 - 5 => 92
And once the scripts became nothing but a memory, you showed just how talented you are.
You allowed yourself to have not only key moments of comedy but also of drama. The ammo dump explosion that occurred (an accident on set when a fire went off because one of the set crew was smoking and a stray ember set it alight.) was a stroke of genius, and while you had seen confidence and good...
Well, things like that showed how young and inexperienced you were.
Episodes 14-24: D100 - 5 => 64
But you were just average because everyone else needed development.
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Alan/Loretta Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 17
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 54
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 59
They had chemistry. It wasn't much, they acted more like distant coworkers and the tension was there... but-
That was about it.
Alan/Wayne Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 40
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 47
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 41
They showed themselves well, but there is a truly antagonistic undertone that bled over from the chaos of the set. Anger and stress and frustration and so much more unbearable even when the set became less chaotic.
And while it did not get any worse than a mean glare, things were going to be better.
Alan/Christopher Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 67
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 74
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 59
But Alan and Chris had a riot, acting as good men and good friends.
It was amazing.
Alan/Steavenson Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 91
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 88
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 14
The chemistry between the subordinate and officer who was not happy was something incredible.
The enmity in the scripts was insanely funny and well done.
Then Steavenson left and everything went to hell.
Alan/Linville Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 63
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 5
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 71
A wonderful Wonderful friendship that could blossom if there was
After several moments of sheer boredom and stupidity.
Unfortunately, with chaos on set, it was insane.
Alan/Bruce Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 + 10 => 88
Episodes 6-13: D100 + 10 => 44
Episodes 14-24: D100 + 10 => 63
There is only one thing that you can say about the screen, sharing it with Alan.
He treats you as a young man lost, and in need of direction, and that series, for you, in life... it was perfect.
Bruce/Wayne Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 - 10 => 26
Episodes 6-13: D100 - 10 => 50
Episodes 14-24: D100 - 10 => 51
He was your most hated enemy off the camera.
Yet a close ally in front of it. In fact, as he saw your work, the disruption was quietly... and brilliantly used to make everything better, and his moments of serenity were earnest and helpful. At least in ways that were not absolutely disruptive like others.
Showbiz everyone.
Bruce/Linville Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 49
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 84
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 11
It was quite a crazy thing, with an officer and his private clerk.
But there were a lot of funny things that went through, especially when the no-script episodes were being made. He had no longer saw you as a kid on set and started treating you better, both off and on camera. It was quiet.
Yet after that, energy was gone, and even if you wanted to share it, the stress took a lot out of everyone. He was annoyed, angry, and frustrated at every possible step in those final episodes, wishing that it is over, so that he can rest for a few weeks. And not see your face.
Bruce/Christopher Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 60
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 64
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 82
If Chris were a priest, you would have never missed mass again.
He was a good man and a good friend on set. Once the initial marks were done, he showed quiet confidence, both in you and himself. It was something that was amazing to see.
Loretta/Wayne Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 76
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 40
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 58
You honestly didn't know how to say a good thing, but that was a very good thing indeed.
It was like someone had a genie and wished for funny lines between them.
Loretta/Christopher Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 18
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 83
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 31
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Loretta, who was having trouble, and despite the horror of the second batch of episodes, she had a good time.
Loretta/Stevenson Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 88
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 62
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 95
Before he left, the strongest relations on the set were between Stevenson and Loretta, it was a nice bit of camaraderie in the time that showed between the characters.
It was a shame he quit because, by god, it was something insane. It would have been something special.
Loretta/Linville Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 69
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 66
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 91
The same could be said between Linville to a lesser extent. As many of the times that it showed that there was a good working relationship,
it just wasn't that great.
Christopher/Stevenson Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 92
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 68
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 97
Chirs and Stevenson had an amazing working relationship... before he quit.
It was amazing to watch them work together. It was like watching two friends that had been working together for years, perfectly going off each other, and then, it was just... gone, in an instant.
Christopher/Linville Chemistry:
Episode 1-5: D100 => 33
Episodes 6-13: D100 => 35
Episodes 14-24: D100 => 5
Do you think Linville is the reason Christopher might quit the show? Maybe. However, his attitude was not helping the matter.
But there was nothing but hostility between the two. And near the very end, they almost came to blows.
You actually had to break up a fight between the two right before Christopher Quit and everyone started
====================
Production Design: D100 => 73
The Set that was set up for the MASH hospital was out in the fields of California, and it was a wonderful thing because it was like a dilapidated forward hospital for a frontline unit.
Muddy, dirty, and put together with ducktape and wire. Some of the craters and holes that were filled and broken down by the movement of trucks and crew made it even look like it was shelled
It was authentic. It was magical.
It was also painful and you were glad the boots were good because otherwise you would have had blisters for weeks.
The problem was, that it also added to the frustration of everyone else. On hot days under the California sun when there was almost no shade, no one was hydrating properly or were hydrating with whisky and beer on set... it lead to anger and frustration all around.
Makeup:
D100 => 71
Hm... you actually looked well.
Neat. Now if only everyone else could. That would be nice.
The fact that makeup involved also being covered in mud and acting as if they were constantly under enemy artillery fire that was dangerously close by?
It was nice. It also made it easy, as you just had to roll around in the mud for a few minutes before filming.
Environment:
D100 => 75
The environment, and the entire show itself... was amazing, and it really felt like you were in the mountains of Korea.
Or rather a war zone. it may be California, but by god was it pretty shitty?
Choreography:
D100 => 75
You got to show off a bit, and it even found a way into the disaster Script episodes, as you decided to ask the producers if Rader could start learning how to do martial arts. They accepted and managed to make five minutes of you punching a heavy bag
That was nice because otherwise, it would have been boring. Even though you did Jeet Kun Do, instead of the more realistic and historically accurate... Judo.
And then there was the fire... and you carried everyone out of the burning tent, mostly the people who extras acting as patients, who were to bandaged up to move quickly, and they would have been set on fire.
SFX/Soundtrack:
D100 => 73
Suicide is Painless.
What a helluva song.
Everything else was good. And they managed to not have a laugh track playing overhead.
The songs that the composers came up with were the perfect blend of old jazz and orchestral brilliance. You wouldn't be surprised it was nominated for an Emmy.
Flaws During Production:
D100 => 96
Let's count down the production bullshit that occurred over filming.
CBS gave up on the show after the first three episodes and gave only the bare minimum of resources to allow it to continue to the first season to its completion.
Half the writer's room was forced onto other shows for CBS, forcing only 5 people, including the showrunners who did not have script writing experiences to make decent episodes, regardless of their writing talents, to helm and write episodes that only had the most basic of concepts.
And they expected you all to get the entire show done, in less then two months.
That forced you all to just improvise with only a single day of rehearsal... And you managed to somehow oner three episodes in three days, with only those concepts.
Primarily surgery stories and anti-war messages that somehow, naturally blended into the stories themselves.
Mclean Stevenson broke the contract, and quit at the 15th episode, after trying to get some script changes and to prevent another fiasco of having no scripts. Even with the new scripts, he was so stressed out from the fiasco...
He left to set, and checked himself into a mental health hospital, for exhaustion, stress, and other ailments.
Then there was the fire that nearly killed everyone, and you had to rescue them. Someone was smoking, and in the dry conditions and medical alcohol, was set ablaze, and was spilled onto the ground, setting the whole tent ablaze.
You heroically carried all 10 extras out of the burning tent.
And the crew actually filmed it. The Crazy bastards.
After that incident... and a safety and health board inspection at the site to make sure it was safe and a no smoking policy on set for obvious reasons.
The Studio gave an ultimatum,
Turns out they had no faith in the program after so many disasters and incidents, even though it was all their fault, to begin with.
People nearly died, and they blamed the crew, instead of themselves for that shit.
They said:
If the viewership numbers weren't off the charts, or the critics didn't praise it for its amazing show... the entire show was canceled.
Well shit, that was news you didn't know you were getting this morning.
================
The Company will only have one month for reshoots, and editing.
Do you take them?:
[]Yes (Rerolls one of your Screen Presence and one Chemistry roll of your choice Please chose them with a line tail below. Begins the turn in April)
[]No (Will keep your rolls and chemistry rolls where they are at. Begin turn in March)
