Kind of Humorous

Self | 31 January 2023 | Cobol2Java

[COBOL2Java]

I was chatting with a young friend of mine the other day (he in his 30s, me upper 60s). We were talking about the TV show M*A*S*H.

We started talking about the opening theme song, and he caught me off guard - he said "It's a nice tune, I wonder if they gave it a title."

I responded "Suicide is Painless". He thought that was a weird title. "Why on earth would they call it that?" I said it's from the movie.

"Movie?" he asked, "what Movie?" I said "The TV show came from a movie of the same name, and in the movie, that song actually has lyrics."

He had no idea!

Then I gave him the pièce de résistance when I said "the movie is based on a novel of the same name - although in the book it was just 'MASH', not 'M*A*S*H' with the stars between each letter. And Radar is the only character in both the movie and the TV show."

He had no idea! I suggested he read the novel, and then watch the movie. Notwithstanding the political tone the TV show later took (thanks to Alan Alda), I generally enjoy M*A*S*H, especially in the episodes featuring MPs - my father-in-law was an MP in the Korean conflict.

[KitJ]

If you haven’t seen the original movie the theme song, sarcastic as it was, is used during the fake suicide scene for Painless (a Dentist).

***spoilers***

Painless apparently swings Big Meat. He had an event where he couldn’t get it up and wanted to kill himself. The docs addressed his depression and his desire for a “living funeral” where he would ultimately take the Black Pill. It was a knock-out pill (not a real black pill) and he woke up to the ministrations of a nurse. Who cured his depression.

~Finis

Kit