Even today it is heavily watched on some of those channels that specializes in old shows.
The last episode of MASH was watched by half of the TVs tuned at the moment. If your neighbor was watching something else, you were watching MASH.
I watched a fair amount of the show over the years. I had friends who were active duty military, and one in specific that served in Korea. I couldn't tell you what he did over there since he closed up when he came home. He told me very clearly that there was an ongoing "shooting war" over there at the time, but it isn't publicized.
I did watch enough MASH to have picked up some of the jargon of the shows, and use some of it to this day. If something looks confused I quote Radar O'Reilly by saying "It doesn't look like Mom's Nash".
One other thing I got in the habit of saying was "Incoming!" when someone was approaching. The house, me, doesn't matter. I'd fire off "Incoming" and usually whoever I was with would realize that we're about to be joined.
Well. That someone does not have to be two legged.
Rack. My "Respect The Process" furry tape recorder who knows that I am going out to the back yard at 7:30 AM for Yard Inspection because I either move my feet from the ottoman or I put the wireless keyboard on the table. He's learned the secret of "Incoming!".
Actually he's learned all too well.
You see if I say "Incoming!" He trots over to the large hurricane glass front door window and starts grumbling if he sees someone. If he likes the person, or dog, he'll stand there and whine or wag his tail.
It's become a game. Not teasing the dog, that is, but seeing just exactly what he will go on alert at the front door with.
Sure, Radar has trained me, and I have trained the dog, but the dog has also trained us back.
I've learned that if I say Hello like I'm actually greeting someone at the door, he does an Incoming! alert regardless.
Too bad because I have a habit of talking at my computer as well and Rack isn't that selective.
Incoming!, Hello, OK, Who's that?, and quite a few others will get him up off his mat and to the door. Just don't use those words in conversation, especially if he's asleep.
So the other night I was actually watching MASH. We found it, and are watching the series from Season 1 Episode 1, at the rate of a couple episodes a week.
In the very first episode though, Hilarity Ensued.
Out on the street in front of the house was someone walking their dog, and someone else across the street. Rack didn't know any of them.
As the show introduced characters, Radar O'Reilly was there, and said "Incoming!". As they explained on the TV what that meant to them, get ready for incoming choppers and some busy hours, My Dog Went into Action.
Dingus.
He stood up, and went on full alert, barking the sleep away.
"WOO WOO WOO..."
I said, laughing, "Rack, Shaddap, go look!"
He ripped tires across the living room scrabbling for purchase and traction. Four paws does not mean Four Wheel Drive sure footedness.
He collided with the coffee table, knocking a few papers into the air.
At this point we were all just kind of in shock laughing away as he slipped around to the door. It was really only about a few heartbeats.
The Choppers were landing, Hawkeye and Trapper John were getting prepped for surgery.
Rack spotted the Interlopers, and went full stupid.
"WOO WOO WOO..."
I said "Damnit, you're a McNab not a yapper, shaddap!"
He started to calm down to a grumble with "MROWMROWmrow mlum mlum" coming from the front door.
The people on the street looked at the door from 50 feet off or so confused as to why he was being so radical, and began to disperse.
He finally went quiet and off to the mat to repeat.
All this because a 30 or so year old TV show went to make a plot point.
So I'll ask you. If you do come by for a visit, try not to use "Incoming!". Or "Hello" or "OK"...
Or never mind, he's got to learn not to overreact.
But that Doorbell? It's off limits, OK?
"WOO WOO WOO!!!!"
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