"The Incubator" was the 36th episode of the ''

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 ...

'' television series, and the twelfth episode of season two. The episode aired on December 1, 1973.

Plot

Henry Blake has taken delivery of a new barbecue, and with Radar's help, is assembling it in preparation for barbecuing steaks. Meanwhile, Hawkeye and Trapper express concern that a cell culture will have to be sent to a laboratory in Tokyo, which will mean a 72-hour wait for the results. They look into requisitioning an incubator for the 4077th. Supply Officer Captain Sloan (

Eldon Quick Eldon Quick (born April 4, 1937, in San Joaquin County, California) is an American character actor. He is an alumnus of the American Shakespeare Festival and has numerous stage, screen, and television roles to his credit. Quick's debut as a pr ...

) tells them they cannot have one, according to the Basic Equipment List for a M*A*S*H unit, but they can have a pizza oven or other non-essential equipment. Another supply officer, Major Morris (

Ted Gehring Theodore Edwin Gehring Jr. (April 6, 1929 – September 28, 2000) was an American film and television actor. He is known for playing the recurring role as "Charlie" on 16 episodes of the American sitcom television series '' Alice''. Life and ca ...

), has hoarded three incubators but refuses to release any of them, and his superior Colonel Lambert (

Logan Ramsey Logan Carlisle Ramsey Jr. (March 21, 1921 – June 26, 2000) was an American character actor of television and film for nearly 50 years. Early life Ramsey was born in Long Beach, California, the son of Harriet Lillian (née Kilmartin) and Capt ...

) is selling military equipment for personal profit. Hawkeye and Trapper eventually take their frustrations to General Mitchell (

Robert F. Simon Robert Frank Simon (December 2, 1908 – November 29, 1992) was an American character actor. Earlier years Simon began acting with Mansfield's Community Players organization when he worked as a clerk in a meat market. Following that experience ...

) at a press conference, leading to chaos as the journalists begin questioning both the doctors and Mitchell. Back at the camp, Hawkeye and Trapper have to explain their actions to Blake. As they leave his office, Radar reveals his latest acquisition—an incubator, for which he has traded away Henry's barbecue.

Notes

Eldon Quick would make two further guest appearances in M*A*S*H, in the episode "

Payday A pay day or payday is a specified day of the week or month when one is paid, usually workers collecting wages from their employers. Pay Day, PayDay or Payday may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Pay Day'' (1918 film), a ...

" (Season 3, March 1975) returning as Captain Sloan, and in the episode "

The Late Captain Pierce "The Late Captain Pierce" is an episode from ''M*A*S*H''. It was the fourth episode of the fourth season and aired on October 3, 1975 (first-run) and April 6, 1976 (repeat). It was written by Glen Charles and Les Charles and directed by Alan Ald ...

" (Season 4, October 1975) as Captain Pratt, a character with a very similar affinity for army bureaucracy to Sloan. Series regular

Loretta Swit Loretta Jane Swit (born Loretta Szwed; November 4, 1937) is an American stage and television actress known for her character roles. Swit is best known for her portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on ''M*A*S*H'', for which she won two E ...

(

Hot Lips Houlihan 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 ...

) does not appear in this episode. This episode features a rare mention in prime time TV of the word "abortionist", as Henry advises Hawkeye and Trapper to not "show up looking like a couple of freelance abortionists" when they request an incubator. Abortion was not legal in most areas of the United States until earlier in the year this episode was released, following the US Supreme Court's ''

Roe v. Wade ''Roe v. Wade'', 410 U.S. 113 (1973),. was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States conferred the right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many federal and st ...

'' decision of January 22, 1973. At the time of the Korean War, "freelance abortionists" would have implied people practicing medicine without a license and committing felonies.

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Incubator M*A*S*H season 2 episodes 1973 American television episodes Television episodes directed by Jackie Cooper