Ranking the best MASH episodes of all time
Ranking the best MASH episodes of all time
Some television shows transcend time and genre—and leave an indelible mark on culture long after they've left the airwaves. "M*A*S*H" is one of those shows.
Created by comedic writer and playwright Larry Gelbart, the legendary, Emmy-winning series was adapted from the 1970 Robert Altman film of the same name, which was based off a book by wartime-surgeon Richard Hooker. The comedy-drama, which focused on the lives of the doctors and staff stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War, ran from 1972 to 1983 and aired more than 250 episodes in its 11 seasons. It lasted longer than the actual Korean War by around eight years. The "M*A*S*H" series finale still ranks as the most-watched TV finale of all time, with nearly 106 million viewers tuning in to say farewell.
"M*A*S*H" remains the gold standard for TV writing; in 2013, the Writers Guild of America voted it the fifth best-written TV series of all time. It's inspired countless shows today, partly because the show's talented writers weren't afraid to take risks with its characters and storytelling. The show pioneered narrative techniques like 30-minute episodes with two plotlines, usually one funny and one serious. The writers also refused to shy away from hard truths about war and the human condition despite network pressure, leading to some of the series' most powerful episodes.
In the beginning of 2024, more than 40 years after the "M*A*S*H" series finale aired, a documentary exploring the enduring appeal of the show was released called "M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television." Combining show clips with never-seen-before interviews with cast and crew members, it provides a deeper insight into the making of one of the most successful shows in television history. Those insights have extended outside of the documentary itself—while promoting the special, series star Mike Farrell revealed in a January 2024 interview with Fox News that some believed "M*A*S*H" would be canceled within its first season.
Of course, that's hard to imagine now. Over the years, fans have passionately debated the best storylines and the most dramatic or funniest scenes—with iconic characters like Hawkeye (Alan Alda), Charles Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) or Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit). Alda himself joined the conversation and revealed his favorite episode in an interview in April 2024. But debate no further: Stacker created a definitive list of the top 25 "M*A*S*H" episodes based on IMDb user ratings as of Feb. 12, 2025. Ties were broken by the number of IMDb user votes; further ties remain. See if you remember these episodes or if it's time for a rewatch!
#25. Fade Out, Fade In (tie)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Number of IMDb votes: 656
- Season 6, Episode 1
- Air date: Sept. 20, 1977
This one-hour season premiere chronicles the arrival of Winchester, whose assignment starts out as temporary fill-in duty but becomes permanent when news arrives that Frank Burns (who's been AWOL) has received a transfer and a promotion. The debate between over who was the show's better nemesis, Frank or Charles, continues even today. Charles was certainly a more nuanced character in the long run, and in many instances it would be difficult to imagine Frank, who was more of a caricature, partaking in some of the more serious storylines later in the show's run.
#25. Bug Out (tie)
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Number of IMDb votes: 656
- Season 5, Episode 1
- Air date: Sept. 21, 1976
This was the second of three consecutive hour-long season premieres. When the 4077th is forced to "bug out" under threat of an enemy attack, Hawkeye, Margaret, and Radar stay behind to care for a patient with spinal cord damage who can't be moved. The set piece in which the hospital is dismantled stands out as an impressive piece of choreography in a show that isn't usually thought of as being too visually ambitious.
#23. Crisis
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Number of IMDb votes: 726
- Season 2, Episode 21
- Air date: Feb. 9, 1974
Facing critical shortages in supplies, Henry calls an emergency meeting to inform the 4077th that firewood, blankets, and other items won't be coming anytime soon. Still, the wounded continue to arrive and nearly everything has been burnt in a desperate attempt to keep warm. But just before the worst happens, supplies finally arrive. Jeff Maxwell makes his first series appearance in this episode as camp cook Igor.
#22. Carry On, Hawkeye
- IMDb user rating: 8.4
- Number of IMDb votes: 754
- Season 2, Episode 11
- Air date: Nov. 24, 1973
Most of the hospital's doctors are out of commission with the flu, leaving Hawkeye to work with only a few nurses and Frank at his side—until Frank also succumbs. When a flu shot is sent in, Hawkeye and Margaret administer it to each other. She takes hers in the arm, but Hawkeye demands his in "his tushie." Despite such moments of clowning, Hawkeye and Margaret develop a begrudging respect for each other over the course of the episode, kicking off a long relationship arc that wouldn't resolve until the show's final episode, which sees them finally burying the hatchet.
#21. Aid Station
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 636
- Season 3, Episode 19
- Air date: Feb. 11, 1975
Hot Lips, Hawkeye, and Klinger are sent to the front on an emergency relief mission under dangerous and difficult conditions. Returning to the 4077th, where Trapper and Frank are complaining over petty grievances like their dislike of the food, they realize how much they take for granted. This episode accidentally divides the cast up along prescient lines: the principal characters sent to the front are those who will remain part of the show for its entire run, while those who stay home will depart before the final episode
#20. Movie Tonight
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 731
- Season 5, Episode 21
- Air date: Feb. 22, 1977
Potter schedules a special screening of "My Darling Clementine" as a treat for his overworked staff. The projector keeps acting up, so the men and women of the 4077th take it upon themselves to act out parts of the movie—complete with musical numbers. The plot of this episode is paper thin, but it's jam-packed with hilarious moments, essentially playing like a crossover episode of M*A*S*H Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Father Mulcahy Soundalike Contest is perhaps the funniest bit, with Radar delivering an especially good impression.
#19. Change of Command
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 738
- Season 4, Episode 2
- Air date: Sept. 19, 1975
The staff is relieved when new C.O. Colonel Potter arrives after suffering through Frank's leadership for a week (following Col. Henry Blake's tragic departure). He's a more traditional Army man: experienced, courageous, and firm, but also warm. Fans adjusted to the new arrival seemingly well—they loved the different viewpoint the character brought to the camp.
#18. The Trial of Henry Blake
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 833
- Season 2, Episode 8
- Air date: Nov. 3, 1973
Henry is on trial for a number of charges, ranging from minor infractions to major allegations, including aiding the enemy—but that doesn't mean there can't still be lots of laughs. Hawkeye and Trapper want to help, but Margaret and Frank won't let them. After all, they're the ones who levied the charges against Blake in the first place. McLean Stevenson (who played Blake) is credited for writing the episode, which packed plenty of dramatic and comedic punch.
#17. The General Flipped at Dawn
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 845
- Season 3, Episode 1
- Air date: Sept. 10, 1974
In the Season 3 premiere, a visiting general named General Hamilton Steele arrives at the 4077th with crazy new rules. The role was played by Harry Morgan, who would later become Colonel Potter the following season. He earned a Primetime Emmy for the performance—which apparently required extra takes on set because his scenes with the other leads had everyone in stitches.
#16. 5 O'Clock Charlie
- IMDb user rating: 8.5
- Number of IMDb votes: 920
- Season 2, Episode 2
- Air date: Sept. 22, 1973
A daily North Korean plane visit by an incompetent pilot seems to provide much-needed relief for the staff at the 4077th, who make it a social occasion. Fans rate the episode high for its laughs. Actor and writer Keith Walker, who provided the story for this episode and co-wrote the teleplay, has only three other scriptwriting credits to his name, including the screenplay for the film, Free Willy, which he co-wrote in 1993.
#15. April Fools
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Number of IMDb votes: 627
- Season 8, Episode 25
- Air date: March 24, 1980
April Fools at the 4077th brings with it an inspection from tough-as-nails Colonel Tucker, who isn't impressed with all the pranking going on. When he starts threatening court-martials all around, Hawkeye, B.J., Margaret, and even Winchester team up to pull one final prank on him before they're presumably headed off to a military tribunal. They dump a bucket of beer on his head, sending him into an inconsolable rage. Everyone is unnerved by his reaction until he reveals that the whole inspection bit was an April Fool's prank he and Potter orchestrated and that the two of them are old friends. In a series full of pranks, it's a gratifying twist to have Potter pull one over on the resident jokesters for once.
#14. The Interview
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Number of IMDb votes: 780
- Season 4, Episode 24
- Air date: Feb. 24, 1976
Yet another format-buster, this episode sees real-life war correspondent Clete Roberts appearing as himself to interview the staff of the 4077th. Roberts's presence lent an air of gravitas to the episode, as did the exclusive use of black and white footage.
#13. Adam's Ribs
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Number of IMDb votes: 882
- Season 3, Episode 11
- Air date: Nov. 26, 1974
With a break from dealing with the wounded, Hawkeye can no longer deal with the same old fish and liver meals served day after day in the mess hall: "The Geneva convention prohibits the killing of our taste buds! I simply can not eat the same food day after day. Fish! Liver! Day after day!" It's a fan-favorite, relatable rant. He takes matters into his own hands and orders in ribs from the fictional Adam's Ribs restaurant in Chicago (its name inspired by Gelbart's newborn son). Fans to this day still search for the restaurant as described in the episode in real life, though it doesn't exist.
#12. Deal Me Out
- IMDb user rating: 8.6
- Number of IMDb votes: 893
- Season 2, Episode 13
- Air date: Dec. 8, 1973
The late John Ritter guest stars in this episode as a distressed soldier who holds Frank hostage in the shower with a pistol. It marks the second appearance of Allan Arbus as Sidney Freedman, who along with Trapper, disarms him. It also marks the first appearance of Edward Winter as an intelligence officer, who later became known as Col. Flagg (in this episode, he uses the alias Capt. Halloran).
#11. The Party
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 668
- Season 7, Episode 25
- Air date: March 12, 1979
In a show with many a party-centric episode, this one stands out for its clever and heartwarming premise. B.J., inspired by the idea of recipe-trading amongs family members back home, organizes a big party back in New York City for all the relatives of the men and women of the camp. While we never witness the party firsthand, B.J.'s wife Peg describes it in a letter—everyone got along swimmingly, even the Winchesters!
#10. Death Takes a Holiday
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 715
- Season 9, Episode 5
- Air date: Dec. 15, 1980
The title of this fan-favorite episode, borrowed from a 1934 film (later remade into Meet Joe Black), remarks on B.J.'s attempts to keep a mortally-wounded soldier alive through midnight on Christmas. Sadly, even with the help of Margaret and Hawkeye, he isn't successful, but Hawkeye literally moves the clock forward after the soldier dies. Elsewhere, Charles and Klinger share a powerful moment after a Christmas dinner party with orphans. Six writers contributed to the script for this memorable episode.
#9. Point of View
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 776
- Season 7, Episode 10
- Air date: Nov. 20, 1978
As in other innovative, high-concept episodes M*A*S*H became known for, "Point of View" is known for breaking boundaries in format and style. The episode is shot entirely from the viewpoint of a wounded soldier who's rushed to the 4077th for surgery. The viewer sees everything Private Rich sees: the explosion that wounds him, the chopper ride, prepping for surgery, and waking up post-op. You could say it was a visionary precursor to today's attempts to use VR to immerse people in the realities of war. Writer Ken Levine has given props to director Charles Dubin for successfully shooting the episode, noting that Steadicams weren't widely available in 1978.
#8. Dear Sigmund
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 797
- Season 5, Episode 7
- Air date: Nov. 9, 1976
Written and directed by Alan Alda, "Dear Sigmund," focuses on psychiatrist Sidney Freedman's visit to the 4077th and how he copes with the suicide of a patient whom he thought he had helped. Freedman decides to write a letter to the late Dr. Freud, detailing stories about the members of the camp and their trials and tribulations. It's one of Alda's favorite episodes, and for good reason: it was nominated and won several awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, and a nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
#7. Welcome to Korea
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 880
- Season 4, Episode 1
- Air date: Sept. 12, 1975
In the first hour-long episode of the series, this opener for season 4 introduces the audience for the first time to the new surgeon B.J. Hunnicutt. It also marks the departure of Trapper, who leaves without saying goodbye to Hawkeye, must to his dismay. Wayne Rogers, who had played Trapper for the first three seasons, had left the show while it was on hiatus, so the producers reportedly had to quickly adjust. Part of what made the episode a fan favorite was its music: jazz composer Pete Rugolo was brought in to score the episode, providing a jazzy, space-age version of "Suicide is Painless" used during the roll-call montage, among other noteworthy sounds.
#6. Sometimes You Hear the Bullet
- IMDb user rating: 8.7
- Number of IMDb votes: 1,022
- Season 1, Episode 17
- Air date: Jan. 28, 1973
In a classic, defining episode for the series, "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" marks the moment of truth for whether or not comedy and tragedy could be combined successfully on television. Hawkeye is forced to face the realities of war when an old friend dies on the operating table. Ultimately, it's Hawkeye and Colonel Blake's realization that death is an unavoidable part of what goes on at the 4077th that makes this episode and the series altogether work. Writer Larry Gelbart later said he believes the episode resonates because of its "courage" in reaching a tone the show—nor others on the air at the time—had yet achieved.
#5. Life Time
- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Number of IMDb votes: 698
- Season 8, Episode 11
- Air date: Nov. 26, 1979
Told using real-time narration, a sitcom format that was later used in the popular TV series "24," this episode follows a wounded soldier who arrives at the camp so badly injured that Hawkeye must start operating on the helipad. The race against the clock—-shown on screen—feels more real than ever. Alda told CNN in 2005 it's one of his favorite episodes.
#4. Good-Bye Radar: Part 2
- IMDb user rating: 8.8
- Number of IMDb votes: 725
- Season 8, Episode 5
- Air date: Oct. 15, 1979
In the second half of this beloved two-episode arc, Radar tries to fight his discharge orders, worried about how the camp will survive without him. Each character has a unique response—while Winchester seems not to care much at all, the arrival of more wounded and the ongoing search for a new generator leaves little time for proper goodbyes. Still, Hawkeye insists that he must go home and Klinger convinces him that he will make him proud. Reportedly, the Radar goodbye was supposed to have taken place as part of the season 7 finale, but the network moved (and prolonged) the episode for ratings reasons.
#3. Tuttle
- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- Number of IMDb votes: 1,208
- Season 1, Episode 15
- Air date: Jan. 14, 1973
In one of the funniest early episodes from the series, "Tuttle," focuses on the fictional Captain of the same name—created entirely by Hawkeye and Trapper, and named for Pierce's childhood imaginary friend. What starts as a little white lie turns into a hilarious comedy of errors, cultiminating in Tuttle earning an award and Hawkeye eulogizing him upon his "death," saying, "There's a little bit of Tuttle left in all of us—in fact, you might say that all of us together made up Tuttle." The episode marks the first appearance of Sparky's character (a.k.a. Sergeant Pryor) and pays homage to a 1934 Russian film called Lieutenant Kijé, a satire about an imaginary military officer living a pretend life of intrigue and glory.
#2. Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
- IMDb user rating: 8.9
- Number of IMDb votes: 4,018
- Season 11, Episode 16
- Air date: Feb. 28, 1983
In the legendary 2-hour series finale, which is still ranked as the most-watched finale in TV history, the doctors and staff at the 4077th must go their separate ways as the war draws to a close. Dr. Freedman is working to piece together the apparent mental breakdown of Hawkeye, while Winchester considers what will become of him and his career when he returns home. B.J. has received discharge papers and should soon finally get to meet his newborn daughter. In the most memorable final moments, Hawkeye sees that B.J. has spelled out "GOODBYE" using stones on the helipad as he leaves the camp in the chopper for the last time. Anticipation for the episode led to huge ratings for the network—commercials were sold for more than the going rate for the Super Bowl that year.
#1. Abyssinia, Henry
- IMDb user rating: 9.4
- Number of IMDb votes: 1,572
- Season 3, Episode 24
- Air date: March 18, 1975
In the highly rated season 3 finale, "Abysinnia, Henry" is most remembered for its unexpected and poignant ending. Colonel Blake is informed he has been discharged, and he phones home to Illinois to share the good news. After saying his goodbyes to many of the members of the 4077th, Hawkeye whispers to Blake: "Why don't you go over and give Hot Lips a nice goodbye kiss?" Blake then leaves the camp by helicopter. But in a shocking TV twist, he doesn't make it home—a commentary on the realities of the Vietnam War. Says producer Gene Reynolds of the reaction from fans: "It was a surprise, it was somebody they loved. They didn't expect it but it made the point. People like Henry Blake are lost in war."
