M*A*S*H TV Season 4

I watched MASH back in the CBS days but never in syndication. Between the ridiculous amount of missing scenes and extra commercials, I just wasn't interested. Then it came out on DVD and I was hooked again. Others have pointed out there isn't much in the way of special features here and that is true, however, here and with the entire series we are allowed to push a button and eliminate the obnoxious laugh track CBS forced on the producers of this great program. Big deal. Big deal? Let me briefly explain. When you watch MASH without the laugh track it is an extremely different experience. The jokes and comedy are still there of course but somehow it seems more real. The characters seem more real. They are simply using humor to survive and get through the horrors of war they face every day. I was at my neighbor's house the other day and actually watched an episode that still contained the laugh track and it was painful to watch. The price of this is now very low. Watching MASH minus the laugh track is very entertaining.

Such an iconic show, with an Amazing cast

good quality. arrived on time

Other than M*A*S*H, there's only one other show I can watch repeatedly, and still laugh outloud I (Frasier).For the episodes themselves, M*A*S*H has never been better, more convenient, and funnier (thanks to long edited scenes rarely seen in syndicated TV)! It's almost like seeing it for the first time. I was surprised to notice that many episodes had close to five (5) minutes edited out in Syndication.One allure of DVD's, in addition to the Sound and Picture Quality, are the "Extras". Other than the ability to take out the laugh tracks (Yes!), this has none. There are no cast interviews, no bloopers, no Director's/Producers/Writers Commentary, not even Cast Biographies. Even the insert is rather plan and has nothing extra to it. The episode description look as though they were written by some one who hadn't even watched the show. I was hoping for more when the DVD's came out. Like the book "Complete Book of M*A*S*H" was not complete in it's fullest sense by leaving out that which would have made it truly complete (the secondary story lines, etc.), this is not complete in the DVD's fullest sense...the extras we've all come to expect in them. In that respect I am disappointed. But I am not disappointed in having a whole season on only 3 DVD's! I am not disappointed in the quality of the sound and picture (much better than the Video's from Columbia House and the Broadcast versions).This season introduces us to the series most significant new characters: Harry Morgan as Col. Sherman T. Potter (regular Army -- God help us all!!), and Mike Farrel as Cpt. BJ Honnicutt. While I enjoyed the first three seasons, personally, I like Potter much better than Blake, and BJ more so than Trapper, who had become rather boring (no fault of Wayne Rogers). So this season I think the show simply got much better, both in comedy and in Drama, something it mixed better than any show before or since.My only other complaint is with their painfully slow release schedule of only two seasons per year. At this rate, it's going to be the end of 2006 before the whole series is available.

This is the season I've been waiting for -- the year that M*A*S*H evolved from a great comedy to an excellent social commentary. The previous three seasons had focused mostly on practical jokes and other silly hijinks, along with the whiny relationship between Frank and Margaret. Some fans consider those the best years of the show in terms of comedy. But for me, the arrival of Colonel Potter marks the point when I began to really love M*A*S*H as more than "just another sitcom." The humor is still there, but it has grown beyond mere verbal slapstick.In addition, the anti-war focus has become more daring. One of the most unconventional episodes is the last in the season, "The Interview." It was done in black-and-white like a 1950s newscast, and the M*A*S*H characters tell the folks at home what war is really like for the people at the 4077th.. This episode received very positive feedback when it first aired, and set the stage for including more serious drama in the future.Another of my favorites in Season Four is "Dear Mildred," where Radar gives Colonel Potter a horse for his anniversary -- and the old ex-calvaryman almost cries, he is so touched by the gesture. "A horse, a beautiful horse..." From that moment on, we know that this "regular Army" guy has a sentimental side, too.Regarding the format of the DVD set, I was disappointed that the discs themselves were done in olive drab instead of the full-color portraits of the characters on the previous three seasons' discs. With two new major characters (Potter and Honeycutt) arriving this season, it would have made more sense to feature them on the discs instead of a helmet and a champagne glass. Was the olive drab intended to represent the change from flaky Henry Blake to "regular Army" Potter, or was it just a cheap-out?

I am at a loss what to try next,my player is multi regional,I have watched the first dvd,low and behold the other dvds will not play,it comes up saying no disc inserted,yet the disc in in there,I have a varied collection of films and all others I have put in the player have come on no problems,to say it’s getting on nerves is an understatement.HELP please someone.

Series 4 is where I think MASH really starts to mature and become a comedy drama series rather than a sitcom. The introduction of Colonel Potter and BJ Hunnicutt are superb additions to the already excellent cast. I particularly enjoy the several 'letters home' episodes, which give cameo insights into life in a MASH unit. My only complaints would be in the change of format, the DVD case has changed in size and design - not a major issue, but a bit annoying. What is annoying is the insistance of showing the copyright warnings before EVERY episode and you can't even fast forward past them - aaarrggh. Apart from these minor irritations, this is a superb addition to my collection. Best feature continues to be the option to remove the canned laughter track. Can't wait until series 5 hits the streets.

Had Series 3 and 5 bought as Christmas present and this was missed. With the death of Henry at the end of No. 3, to go to 5 would have missed the arrival of the new 'Boss' instead of the promotion of Frank and the loss of Trapper. This is a great series for those who remember the first screening and want to relive old memories.

Once again I bought this for my husband..... he didn't see it first time around , I did. He was sceptical at first, but soon got to enjoy the fun and games of Hawkeye and trapper John. We are rationing ourselves to when we watch the series. Much too good to rush such juicy morsels.

What is going on at 20th Century Fox? M*A*S*H is totally brilliant and anything I say is nothing to do with the content of the shows.BUT to change the format is criminal, the first three series were very well packaged, but series 4 is awful. Plus the sound is a bit dodgy, compared to the previous series. License notices with each episode gives you time to put the kettle on I suppose.Their must be a wealth of extra's that could be offered with M*A*S*H box sets it the vaults of 20th Century Fox, but we've not seen any yet.All that, however, does not take anything away from the pure genius that is M*A*S*H. It's just sad that it is obviously not a M*A*S*H fan putting these box sets together.