HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Trapper John, M.D.'' is an American
medical drama A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the chara ...
television series and
spin-off Spin-off may refer to: *Spin-off (media), a media work derived from an existing work *Corporate spin-off, a type of corporate action that forms a new company or entity * Government spin-off, civilian goods which are the result of military or gove ...
of the film ''
M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker. The ...
'' (1970).
Pernell Roberts Pernell Elven Roberts Jr. (May 18, 1928 – January 24, 2010) was an American stage, film, and television actor, activist, and singer. In addition to guest-starring in over 60 television series, he was best known for his roles as Ben Cartw ...
portrayed the title character, a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
for seven seasons, from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986. Roberts played the character more than twice as long as had
Wayne Rogers William Wayne McMillan Rogers III (April 7, 1933 – December 31, 2015) was an American actor, known for playing the role of Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre in the CBS television series ''M*A*S*H'' and as Dr. Charley Michaels on ''House Calls'' ...
(1972–75) on the TV series ''
M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker. The ...
''. The role of
Trapper John This is a list of characters from the ''M*A*S*H'' franchise, covering the various fictional characters appearing in the novel '' MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors'' and its sequels, the 1970 film adaptation of the novel, and the televisio ...
was played by
Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. He began acting in Hollywood films during the 1960s. Elliott's breakthrough role was in the ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination f ...
in the film.


Overview

''Trapper John, M.D.'' focuses on Dr. "Trapper" John McIntyre (
Pernell Roberts Pernell Elven Roberts Jr. (May 18, 1928 – January 24, 2010) was an American stage, film, and television actor, activist, and singer. In addition to guest-starring in over 60 television series, he was best known for his roles as Ben Cartw ...
) 28 years after his discharge from the 4077th
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals were U.S. Army field hospital units conceptualized in 1946 as replacements for the World War II-era Auxiliary Surgical Group hospital units, which had become obsolete. MASH Units were in operation from the Korean ...
(MASH) in the
Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
. During that time after the war, the character had mellowed considerably. He did not merely learn how to stop fighting the system but became a part of it, in a sense, as the Chief of Surgery at San Francisco Memorial Hospital. Trapper shows tremendous compassion toward his patients, often violating "established hospital procedures."


Seasons 1–6

Working with Trapper is an aspiring young professional named Dr. George Alonzo Gates (
Gregory Harrison Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Chandler in the 1987 film ''North Shore (1987 film), North Shore'', as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John ...
), usually referred to as Gonzo, who has a lot in common with Trapper, having also served in a MASH unit (albeit during the later
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
). His sense of humor and love of life also reflect elements of Trapper's younger days. Gonzo resides in his motor home (dubbed "The Titanic") in the hospital parking lot. The show also involves several other characters that serve as hospital staff. *Stanley Riverside II (
Charles Siebert Charles Alan Siebert (March 9, 1938 – May 1, 2022) was an American actor and television director. As an actor, he is probably best known for his role as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the television series ''Trapper John, M.D.'', a role he portra ...
) is a pompous, status-seeking, but nonetheless capable doctor whose father is the head of the hospital board of directors. He later marries a dentist named E.J. (
Marcia Rodd Marcia Rodd is an American actress. She made her film debut playing a leading role in the 1971 film ''Little Murders'', and later had supporting roles in films and television series. In 1973, she acted on Broadway in ''Shelter''. Early years The ...
) *Justin "Jackpot" Jackson (
Brian Stokes Mitchell Brian Stokes Mitchell (born October 31, 1957) is an American actor and singer. A powerful baritone, he has been one of the central leading men of the Broadway theater since the 1990s. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2000 for ...
) is a young doctor always interested in wagers. *Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi ( Christopher Norris) is a young nurse who later adopts a sickly, homeless girl, Andrea. Her nickname Ripples was dropped after the first few episodes. *Clara "Starch" Willoughby ( Mary McCarty) is an experienced nurse who had served in the Korean War with Trapper. McCarty died after the first season. In the show's continuity, at the beginning of season 2 her character is said to have gotten married, retired, and moved away. *Ernestine Shoop (
Madge Sinclair Madge Dorita Sinclair CD (née Walters; April 28, 1938 – December 20, 1995) was a Jamaican actress best known for her roles in ''Cornbread, Earl and Me'' (1975), ''Convoy'' (1978), ''Coming to America'' (1988), ''Trapper John, M.D.'' (1980– ...
) replaces Starch as the experienced older nurse from season 2 onwards. Sinclair picked up three Emmy nominations for her work as the dedicated and dignified Nurse Shoop. *Arnold Slocum ( Simon Scott) is the hospital administrator who often clashes with Trapper and Gonzo, though there is strong mutual respect between all parties. Slocum—though charged with operating within regulations and keeping to a budget—clearly has sympathy and compassion for the patients. Scott suffered from Alzheimer's and made his final appearance in season six before retiring from acting. *In season six, Trapper's son, J.T. McIntyre (
Timothy Busfield Timothy Busfield (born June 12, 1957) is an American actor and director. He has played Elliot Weston on the television series ''thirtysomething''; Mark, the brother-in-law of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in ''Field of Dreams''; and Danny Concann ...
), graduates from medical school and arrives at the hospital to work on his internship. He stays for the remainder of the run of the show.


Season 7

The show underwent a number of changes during ''Trapper Johns seventh and final season. *Christopher Norris left the series at the end of season six. Her character Gloria is replaced by new nurse Libby Kegler (
Lorna Luft Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American actress, author, and singer. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Sidney Luft and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli. Early life Luft was born on November 21, 1952, at Saint John's Health Cent ...
) at the start of season seven. *Simon Scott, suffering from
Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in short-term me ...
, had made his final appearance partway through season six. At the beginning of season seven, his character of hospital administrator Arnold Slocum is said to have retired. Slocum is replaced by administrator Catherine Hackett (
Janis Paige Janis Paige (born Donna Mae Tjaden; September 16, 1922) is an American retired actress and singer. Born in Tacoma, Washington, she began singing in local amateur shows at the age of five. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles, where she b ...
). *Added as a recurring player beginning with the season's third episode is ER service helicopter pilot and surgeon, Dr. Andy Pagano ( Beau Gravitte). *Mid-way through the season, Gregory Harrison elected to leave the show. The character of Gonzo is written out, as he retires from medicine after having suffered a stroke. Gonzo is replaced by Dr. Jacob Christmas (
Kip Gilman Kenneth David Gilman (born November 18, 1946) is an American television actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Hank Kaplan in the American sitcom television series ''Nurses''. Gilman was born in Revere, Massachusetts. He began his care ...
), a doctor who loses his wife in an accident, and is forced to become a single parent to his young son while adjusting to his new work environment. Only nine further irregularly-scheduled episodes of ''Trapper John'' were produced after Harrison's departure. After Harrison's last episode, the show was off the air for three weeks, then brought back on a different night before being pre-empted three times in the next four weeks. A top 30 hit for most of its run, ''Trapper John, M.D.'' fell out of the top 30 during season seven, and was canceled by season's end. The final four episodes were aired late in the summer of 1986, well after the show's cancellation had already been announced.


Cast


Main cast

*
Pernell Roberts Pernell Elven Roberts Jr. (May 18, 1928 – January 24, 2010) was an American stage, film, and television actor, activist, and singer. In addition to guest-starring in over 60 television series, he was best known for his roles as Ben Cartw ...
as Dr. "Trapper" John McIntyre, M.D. *
Gregory Harrison Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Chandler in the 1987 film ''North Shore (1987 film), North Shore'', as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John ...
as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, M.D. *
Charles Siebert Charles Alan Siebert (March 9, 1938 – May 1, 2022) was an American actor and television director. As an actor, he is probably best known for his role as Dr. Stanley Riverside II on the television series ''Trapper John, M.D.'', a role he portra ...
as Dr. Stanley Riverside II, M.D. *
Brian Stokes Mitchell Brian Stokes Mitchell (born October 31, 1957) is an American actor and singer. A powerful baritone, he has been one of the central leading men of the Broadway theater since the 1990s. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2000 for ...
as Dr. Justin "Jackpot" Jackson, M.D. * Christopher Norris as Nurse Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi (1979–1985) * Mary McCarty as Nurse Clara "Starch" Willoughby (1979–1980) * Simon Scott as Arnold Slocum, Hosp. Administrator (1979–1985) *
Madge Sinclair Madge Dorita Sinclair CD (née Walters; April 28, 1938 – December 20, 1995) was a Jamaican actress best known for her roles in ''Cornbread, Earl and Me'' (1975), ''Convoy'' (1978), ''Coming to America'' (1988), ''Trapper John, M.D.'' (1980– ...
as Nurse Ernestine Shoop (1980–1986) *
Timothy Busfield Timothy Busfield (born June 12, 1957) is an American actor and director. He has played Elliot Weston on the television series ''thirtysomething''; Mark, the brother-in-law of Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in ''Field of Dreams''; and Danny Concann ...
as Dr. John "J.T." McIntyre, Jr., M.D. (1984–1986) *
Lorna Luft Lorna Luft (born November 21, 1952) is an American actress, author, and singer. She is the daughter of Judy Garland and Sidney Luft and the half-sister of Liza Minnelli. Early life Luft was born on November 21, 1952, at Saint John's Health Cent ...
as Nurse Libby Kegler (1985–1986) *
Janis Paige Janis Paige (born Donna Mae Tjaden; September 16, 1922) is an American retired actress and singer. Born in Tacoma, Washington, she began singing in local amateur shows at the age of five. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles, where she b ...
as Catherine Hackett, the new administrator (1985–1986) *
Kip Gilman Kenneth David Gilman (born November 18, 1946) is an American television actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Hank Kaplan in the American sitcom television series ''Nurses''. Gilman was born in Revere, Massachusetts. He began his care ...
as Dr. Jacob Christmas (1986)


Recurring cast

*
Jessica Walter Jessica Walter (January 31, 1941 – March 24, 2021) was an American actress who appeared in over 170 film, stage and television productions. In film, she was best known for her role as a psychotic and obsessed fan of a local disc jockey in t ...
as Melanie McIntyre, Trapper's ex-wife. (10 episodes, seasons 1–2, 4–7) *
Richard Schaal Richard Schaal (; May 5, 1928 – November 4, 2014) was an American film and television actor born in Chicago, Illinois. Career In 1962, Schaal joined Chicago's famed Second City, becoming skilled in sketch and improvisational comedy. He was ...
as Dr. David Sandler, who becomes Melanie's fiancé. (8 episodes, seasons 2–4, 6–7) *Beau Gravitte as Dr. Andy Pagano, ER service helicopter pilot and surgeon. (10 episodes, season 7).


Cast notes

*Character actress
Lurene Tuttle Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 – May 28, 1986) was an American actress and acting coach, who made the transition from vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring impact was as one of network radio's more versatile a ...
guest-starred six times in different roles.


Episodes


Development

In a suit filed in New York state court,
Ingo Preminger Ingwald "Ingo" Preminger (25 February 1911 – 7 June 2006) was a film producer. He was also the literary agent for several writers, including Dalton Trumbo and Ring Lardner Jr., both of whom were blacklisted in the McCarthy era. He was the brot ...
, producer of the 1970 motion picture ''M*A*S*H'', claimed that under his deal with 20th Century Fox, his production company had both the right of first refusal to produce any spin-off of the movie, and the right to fees from the use of the book and film's material.
New York State Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the New York State Unified Court System. (Its Appellate Division is also the highest intermediate appellate court.) It is vested with unlimited civ ...
Justice Martin Stecher found that Preminger's agreement with Fox did not give him the right to produce ''Trapper John M.D.'', but did entitle him to a 25% share in profits from the show. This decision was later cited by the same court in its 2008 decision in ''Kellman v. Mosley'', involving a claim for royalties involving the
Easy Rawlins Easy may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Easy'' (film), a 2003 American romantic comedy film *''Easy!'', or ''Scialla!'', a 2011 Italian comedy film * ''Easy'' (TV series), a 2016–2019 American comedy-drama anthology ...
detective series. It has sometimes been reported that the producers of the television series ''M*A*S*H'' filed suit claiming they were entitled to royalties from the new show, arguing that it was based on the character as portrayed in their series by
Wayne Rogers William Wayne McMillan Rogers III (April 7, 1933 – December 31, 2015) was an American actor, known for playing the role of Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre in the CBS television series ''M*A*S*H'' and as Dr. Charley Michaels on ''House Calls'' ...
, but the producers of ''Trapper John, M.D'' successfully argued that it was based only on the earlier film and
Richard Hooker Richard Hooker (25 March 1554 – 2 November 1600) was an English priest in the Church of England and an influential theologian.The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church by F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor) Oxford University ...
's '' MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors''. In fact, these reports appear to be a confused description of ''Preminger v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.''''New York Law Journal'', New York County, April 24, 1982, p. 12, col 2-3 Both TV series were produced under deals with
20th Century Fox Television 20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
, and the film was produced by parent company
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
. The pilot includes photos and video clips (part of a dream) taken from the ''M*A*S*H'' film and TV series, including a publicity photo of Trapper (as portrayed by Wayne Rogers) and Hawkeye (
Alan Alda Alan Alda (; born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo; January 28, 1936) is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for playing Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the war co ...
), and the character mentions Radar and Hawkeye by name. However, none of the other M*A*S*H characters appeared as characters, and references to Trapper's time in Korea were rare.


References


External links

* {{Mash 1986 American television series endings 1970s American drama television series 1970s American medical television series 1979 American television series debuts 1980s American drama television series 1980s American medical television series CBS original programming English-language television shows Fictional military medical personnel M*A*S*H Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television shows set in San Francisco Works set in hospitals