M*A*S*H (TV Series) Tuttle (1973) User Reviews

The first truly great episode

[jdollak · 10/10 · 22 April 2016]

The first season of MASH struggles to find the right tone, and writers don't have the character history to rely on in making seriously emotional episodes. There are some very effective ones in the first season, even episodes before this one. But this is the episode where everything works perfectly for the first time. Aside from the very careful wordplay, there's an absurdist undercurrent. A fairly simple premise is built on, and spirals into a bigger production. It's wonderfully satisfying.

My favorite thing is a single, strange joke that Radar has, regarding his imaginary friend. One of the strangest things that the show ever did.

He Was Without a Doubt the Best!

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 22 February 2015]

This is one of the cleverest episodes. When Hawkeye and Trapper smuggle penicillin to the local orphanage, they tell the nuns that a Captain Tuttle is to be given credit for it. Naturally, there is no Captain Tuttle. And, naturally, this person suddenly becomes real in the minds of all the camp. Because of his "kindness" and our boys' intervention, using records Radar is able to manipulate, he becomes a real person. Margaret immediately falls for him and Frank gets jealous. People who don't know who he is remember meeting him. What is great about this is the double entendre comments made by people concerning their knowledge. The problem is, of course, that at some point he is going to have to be present at something and the ruse will be exposed. The way this is all handled is outstanding writing.

Hilarious Tuttle

[jamesedward-john1 · 10/10 · 11 March 2021]

This is one of the Best episodes of MASH. Hilarious and very well written!

The quintessential episode of MASH and a perfect episode of TV.

[nickmaclaughlin · 10/10 · 20 February 2022]

This episode is a perfect example of how a comedic focused series with dramatic undertones should be written and acted out. An extremely witty storyline that provides perfect characterization to all of the series regulars. That character depth that is provided here is what's often missing in comedies. Any comedic tv writer should watch this episode to understand how to write a comedy.

A Clever Take on a 1920's Russian Novel (and a 1930's Russian film)

[reprtr · 8/10 · 7 March 2022]

I love this episode, and it is nicely played and executed, and probably close to a high point for the first season of the series. But let's give credit where it's due.

The story is derived from a 1928 novella by Yuri Tynyanov, based on a tale that was passed along from various sources across the 19th century -- the novella was filmed in 1932 under the title LIEUTENANT KIJE (also released as "The Tsar Wants to Sleep"), which included a very famous original score by Prokofiev, that has long outlived the recognition of the original movie (and was, in fact, re-purposed into the scoring of Alec Guinness film THE HORSE'S MOUTH and also Woody Allen's LOVE AND DEATH).

In the Tynyanov story, set during the short reign of Tsar Paul I, the monarch is awakened by noise from the cavorting of one of his officers with a lady-in-waiting to the court, and demands to know who is responsible. In order to shield the offender from the wrath of the tsar, the disturbance is blamed by the lady-in-waiting (whose shouts awakened the tsar) on a "Lieutenant Kije," who doesn't actually exist. But this being the 19th century military (Russian or anywhere else), no one wants to look foolish by admitting (especially to a subordinate) that they don't know this "Lieutenant Kije," and so the explanation is accepted -- "Kije" is ordered flogged and exiled, but there is no "Kije," of course. But the tsar changes his mind, and order "Kije" reinstated -- so now he has been created in the thinking of the tsar and takes on an existence administratively, and the officers have to keep coming up with diversions and other explanations for why "Kije" isn't present at this or that moment -- and neither their superiors nor their subordinates want to look foolish, and they go along with it. Meanwhile the "lieutenant's" reputation grows, along with his exploits. Finally, the tsar insists on having "Kije" serve him as part of his personal guard, and there seems to be no way around admitting the ruse.

And so it is announced -- that Kije died in battle, an honorable soldier to the end. And is buried with full military honors, mourned by the tsar and the entire court.

As Father Mulcahy once observed to Colonel Potter, when you've got good material, you can't miss. LOL.

The one where Captain Tuttle appears as himself

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 18 March 2023]

This is an episode that I was looking forward to seeing again. It's one of the best from the first season, and it is quite memorable. What distinguishes this story from the other ones is its writing, it's satiric performances and its clever spoofing of hero worship. And to some extent, its irreverent tone about organized religion.

Hawkeye and Trapper invent a man named Tuttle to explain where supplies are coming from that are being donated to a local orphanage run by Catholic nuns. We are never told why Hawkeye himself does not take credit for arranging the items for the orphanage with help from Trapper and Radar. Guess it's because he's uncharacteristically humble this time. The nun says she will pray for Tuttle, who of course isn't real. Right?

News about the fictional captain's generosity reverberates throughout the camp, and naturally, everyone has their own views about the man. This is where the episode gets a bit zany, because Henry acts like he's been with Tuttle on several occasions. Henry has an overactive imagination which isn't discouraged by Radar, as this helps support the idea Tuttle exists. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Trapper create a dummy personnel file on Tuttle when Margaret and Frank get suspicious since they've never met Tuttle. Eventually their imaginations take hold, after they read the phony file and like Henry, now believe in the existence of Tuttle.

What's fun about this classic episode of M*A*S*H is that Tuttle is sort of like a wartime messiah and he has specific meaning to everyone...from the nuns, to Henry, to Frank & Margaret, to the men who've invented him and are keeping his spirit alive. After General Clayton (Herb Voland) speaks to the nuns and learns about Tuttle's humanitarian efforts when his supposed back pay is donated to the orphanage, Clayton comes to the 4077th to award a citation to Tuttle and take a photo with him.

This is where Hawkeye must 'kill off' Tuttle, creating a story that Tuttle has died on the way to help wounded soldiers in the field. Everyone absorbs Tuttle's dramatic 'death' in their own unique ways, and this reflects the Christ-like sacrifice that real men in battle may make with their own lives.

All in all it's a brilliant and highly idiosyncratic offering from the long-running series. And in case things become too somber at the end, there's a funny entry in the closing credits which says Captain Tuttle was played by himself.

Fare thee well Tuttle

[safenoe · 8/10 · 9 March 2024]

James Sikking, who later became famous in Hill Street Blues around a decade later, played the Finance Officer on the hunt for the elusive Captain Tuttle, who is played by Self according to the end credits. Gwen Farrell plays a nurse, and I would love for the hosts of the M*A*S*H Matters podcast, superfan Ryan Patrick and Jeff Maxwell, to bring on Gwen as a guest as I would love to more about what it was like to be part of the first series of such a fine series. Anyway, I've seen I think every episode of M*A*S*H at least once, and I'm enjoying listening to Ryan and Jeff's reflections on such a fine series.