Summary

• "Major Fred C. Dobbs" is considered a low point in MASH due to the silly plot and the cast acting out of character.
• Alan Alda disliked the episode and cited it as a regrettable choice, finding it lacking in creativity.
• MASH season 1 struggled in ratings and nearly got canceled, saved only by solid re-run numbers.

Alan Alda's least favorite episode of MASH ran for 11 seasons, and the first series is generally considered the weakest of the bunch. That's not to say that it's bad, as the cast has great chemistry and even the lesser episodes are filled with witty gags and wordplay. As opposed to the dramedy it evolved into though, season 1 is more of a wacky sitcom with an anti-war tone.

Many MASH actors exited the show during its early years too, and Alan Alda - alongside co-star Loretta Swit - were the only cast remaining from the pilot to the 1983 finale. Alda took a heavy creative hand as it became a success too, going on to direct over 30 episodes.

Alan Alda's Least Favorite MASH Episode Is Season 1's "Major Fred C. Dobbs"

One of MASH season 1's final episodes is a true clunker

A fundamental flaw with "Major Fred C. Dobbs" is that Hawkeye and Trapper's dislike of the weasely Frank is so intense that they would be celebrating his imminent departure, so having them work to prevent it is wildly out of character.

A fair complaint about the first year is that it feels more scattered than later seasons, as it was still figuring itself out. One episode that Alan Alda cited as his least favorite is "Major Fred C. Dobbs," where the buffoonish Frank Burns (Larry Linville) becomes so fed up with Hawkeye (Alda) and Trapper's (Wayne Rogers) shenanigans that he demands a transfer. His lover Margaret (Loretta Swit) soon requests the same, but when Hawkeye and Trapper realize their mortal enemies leaving means more work for them, they concoct a scheme to keep them at the 4077th.

A fundamental flaw with that premise is that Hawkeye and Trapper's dislike of the weasely Frank is so intense that they would be celebrating his imminent departure, so having them work to prevent it is wildly out of character. The subplot of tricking Frank into believing there's gold buried near the camp is also silly in the worst way. It's a dud of an episode, and while not totally devoid of laughs, it's one of the more skippable outings.

The episode's title is a reference to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, where Humphrey Bogart's Fred C. Dobbs is also undone by his own greed and lust for gold.

Why MASH Struggled With Ratings During Season 1

"Major Fred C. Dobbs" capped off a mixed run of episodes

"Major Fred C. Dobbs" was the 22nd episode of season 1, and is arguably its worst. The first series contains some great episodes too, including the pilot or "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet," which was one of the first to blend comedy with tragedy. Despite being based on a hit movie, MASH was almost canceled after one series due to its terrible ratings. According to the 2002 TV special MASH's 30th Anniversary Reunion, the cast wasn't even sure they would be reassembled for season 2 following the wrap party.

Alda believes that since audiences had experienced most of the first-run shows when they aired, MASH was only saved due to people giving it another try on re-runs. This is where viewers who missed it the first time gave it a chance, and its numbers impressed to the point that CBS greenlit another year. Showrunner Larry Gelbart also cited that the wife of then CBS head William Paley loved MASH, which may have been another factor in it getting a reprieve.

It's shocking to think such an important series came so close to being cut short, and if it wasn't for its solid re-run numbers, it probably would have. Of course, mediocre outings like "Major Fred C. Dobbs" didn't help it pull in viewers the first time around, and may have even convinced them it wasn't something worth watching.

Why Alan Alda Considers "Major Fred C. Dobbs" To Be MASH's "Low Point"

"Major Fred C. Dobbs" wasn't a popular outing with MASH's cast

In 2005, Alda listed his favorite episodes to CNN, citing the controversial "Dreams" and fan favorite "The Interview" as among the best. Alda also said of "Major Fred C. Dobbs" that "There are a few all of us wish we didn't have to do because the idea didn't work. The one about a gold jeep was a low point." This quote references the episode's ending, where Hawkeye and Trapper drive past Frank in a jeep they painted gold just after he discovers he's been duped by them once more.

Reportedly, the concept behind "Major Fred C. Dobbs" was pushed on the showrunners by the network, and none of the cast ever liked the idea. Again, the notion that Hawkeye and Trapper would try to stop Frank leaving makes little sense, while the cast had logic issues with the script, such as where Hawkeye and Trapper would have gotten the gold paint for the jeep in the first place. It's a little harsh to call "Major Fred C. Dobbs" MASH's worst episode, but there is a reason it's regarded so poorly by the fanbase (and Alan Alda).

Source: CNN