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Big Daddy O'Reilly

Posted:
8/16/2017 3:29:55 PM

Yet Another One of My Minor Observations

Father Mulcahy was a character who was already established in the original novel and movie, and was one of the characters who was on the show from the very beginning.

Klinger came later: Larry Gelbart invented him, basing him on the antics of comedian Lenny Bruce who wore dresses while in the Navy.

Both started out as recurring characters on the show, but Klinger became a main character in Season Four (Season Three according to Jamie Farr, they hadn't added his name to the opening yet), and Mulcahy a season later.

I don't know, but considering Mulcahy was already an established character carried over from the source material, while Klinger was created for the show, that perhaps during the main titles, William Christopher should have been billed before Jamie instead of after.

BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
8/16/2017 8:51:35 PM

Jamie may have received the billing before William because Klinger was originally to be a one appearance character who gained popularity faster?

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
8/17/2017 10:21:02 AM

As a character, Klinger was more fun than Mulcahy. Mulcahy had much more depth than Klinger. It seems that fun is easier to use in a TV show than depth, so Klinger was easier to use.

The fact that Klinger was created by the show's creators probably gave him a more favored status.

In the end though I think the show did all right for both characters.

Ruptured Brook

Posted:
8/18/2017 1:58:16 AM

I'd argue that Farr was more of a "star" than Christopher, and that's my guess as to why they did it that way.

Klinger was always a supporting character in those early years, but even in S2 and S3, he was carrying scenes (most of which were with Blake or Hawkeye). Mulcahy was always a supporting character in the early years too, but he was often a straightman for a punchline, there for contrast and seasoning rather than as a main course. I don't intend that as a knock on Mulcahy/Christopher, of course; much of the show's writing relied on someone to fill that role, whether it was Mulcahy, Frank, a Korean, or even Hawkeye.

But where I could imagine viewers tuning in to see what shenanigans Klinger was going to pull in that week's episode, it seems unlikely that was never true of Mulcahy.

Ruptured Brook

Posted:
8/18/2017 1:59:18 AM

***EVER true, that is. Whoops :)

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
8/20/2017 11:15:28 AM

I agree that as actors, Jamie had more "star" potential than did William. However, in the early seasons Mulcahy was not used where he could have been bigger either. With issues around life, death, morality, and the like, a priest character could have a great deal to say; these contributions were mostly left to the surgeons.

When they focused on Mulcahy in later seasons, I thought he did quite well. In Nurse Doctor, he showed his comedic chops - "she hugged the stuffing out of me!" In the Patrick Swayze episode, he was faced with life and death issues and his own selfish desires.

Ruptured Brook

Posted:
8/21/2017 10:57:22 PM

I'll grant you that the dynamics of Klinger and Mulcahy are ultimately up to the writers. And Christopher could certainly hold his own, and got more opportunities to do so later on.

But it seems obvious to me that plenty of people working on the show were pushing Klinger.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
8/23/2017 2:04:56 AM

I have to admit I got a kick out of Klinger's escapades: the attempted glider escape, his imaginary camel, kissing generals, dressing as a nun, and so many more.

BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
8/28/2017 6:31:19 PM

Klinger was hilarious in all his attempts to get out of the army. I enjoyed his creative schemes to be discharged while being dedicated to his work as a corpsman then company clerk.

phantomeagle

Posted:
8/28/2017 11:50:54 PM

klinger...
BeccaLeo1972 wrote:
Klinger was hilarious in all his attempts to get out of the army. I enjoyed his creative schemes to be discharged while being dedicated to his work as a corpsman then company clerk.

As we say in "Red/White Blues". Margaret and Hawkeye thought that Klinger was being a Goldbrick when Potter needed to get his blood pressure down.

Turns out he was anemic. Margaret had told Goldman he should lay down. Klinger, flabbergasted said:

Klinger: Sure, you believe him I've got the same symptoms, and I'm a Goldbrick.
Margaret: It's not the same. He's tired and his back hurts.
Klinger: Uh hu. It's the same, only I had it first.
Margert: Well, I never know when to believe you with all the stunt you pulled.
Klinger: I never pulled anything on the job and would ever ever pull anything on the Colonel.

Klinger always did his job and never ever shirked his responsibilities.

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
8/29/2017 12:42:42 AM

I'm paraphrasing...

...but I love one of Klinger's lines, "When I get out of the army, I'm going to do it the honorable way - with a Section 8!"

I'll second what phantom said; screwy as he was, Klinger was a worker.

BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
9/2/2017 9:37:45 PM

Anyone notice that the sweater Hawkeye's sister sent to him in Season 2 "Mail Call" was worn by Hawkeye and B.J. through the later years of the show?

FinestKindinTN

Email: ryvan@aol.com

Posted:
9/3/2017 10:33:42 AM

BeccaLeo1972 wrote:
Anyone notice that the sweater Hawkeye's sister sent to him in Season 2 "Mail Call" was worn by Hawkeye and B.J. through the later years of the show?

Hadn't noticed that. I'll have to remember to keep an eye out for that!

Did you notice that Hawkeye's sister must have went with Chuck Cunningham from Happy Days, never to be heard from again??

BeccaLeo1972

Posted:
9/9/2017 5:28:59 PM

FinestKindinTN wrote:
Hadn't noticed that. I'll have to remember to keep an eye out for that!

Did you notice that Hawkeye's sister must have went with Chuck Cunningham from Happy Days, never to be heard from again??

Yes. I would've liked to know more about her instead of a passing mention several years later in a Season 8 episode.

phantomeagle

Posted:
9/10/2017 2:01:19 AM

picture

There's also, from what I've read, a picture that circulated from member to member. Frank's wife,and then it was in other tents, and places as well.

wdm1219inpenna

Posted:
9/16/2017 11:27:29 PM

Many years ago, and I apologize that I cannot remember where I read or heard this, but Bill Christopher's only complaint about the opening credits was the fact that his lettering was in smaller type than the others. It was explained to him it's due to his having such a long last name yet if you notice in Season 8, his lettering was made taller and a bit skinnier. As for Jamie appearing in the credits before Bill, I think that was right since Jamie appeared in many more episodes during the first 3 seasons than had Bill.

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