“Heal Thyself” (s08e17) opens as Sherm is being diagnosed with the mumps. It’s con

“Heal Thyself” (s08e17) opens as Sherm is being diagnosed with the mumps. It’s concluded that he became infected at the orphanage, to which Hawk retorts, “Gee, I just thought those kids were doing great Charles Laughton impressions.” I have great respect for this weird reference to the thick-necked actor, famous for roles like Dr. Moreau in Island of Lost Souls and Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty. It is possibly the strangest, most arcane joke in all of MASH, it’s completely awkward in the context, and it doesn’t land very well at all. I love it.