In the first of two appearances in the series, real-life reporter Clete Roberts interviews the camp about their experiences in the war.
Attention all personnel! Clete Roberts is here to interview you about the following tropes:
- Breakfast Club: Hawkeye compares the camp to "when it rains in New York", and total strangers gather under store overhangs and start getting friendly.
- Callback: Radar refers to the trip to Tokyo he won in "Soldier of the Month" – not that he could remember much. Also to the earthworms he was worried about dying while he was in the stockade in "The Gun".
- Captain Ersatz: Of a sort. Clete Roberts really did serve as a war correspondent in Korea, but when he was in his late 30s and early 40s, not (of course) in his early 60s as when he filmed the episode.
- Deliberately Monochrome: Since the interviews are supposed to be broadcast on 1950s television, the episode is presented in black and white. They would repeat this for Season 7's "Our Finest Hour".
- For a while, Hulu streamed the episode in color, which makes the announcement "The following is in black and white" ludicrous. As of late 2019, the issue seems to have been corrected.
- Documentary Episode: Chronicling the people behind the 4077th MASH and their work.
- Laugh Track: Does not appear in the episode.
- Mildly Military: Discussed. Potter argues in favor of this practice since so few of the personnel are regular army, saying being gung-ho wouldn't yield the results they've been getting. B.J. describes himself as "a temporarily mis-assigned civilian".
- Precision F-Strike:
- Hawkeye offers one of these when asked about whether his war experience has changed him. While the offending word is naturally bleeped out, it can clearly be seen on Alan Alda's lips as he speaks."I may care about things more than I ever have before, because there's so much more to care about here. On the other hand, I really don't give a shit what happens, 'cause it just doesn't matter anymore."
- When he's asked if he's looked on as a father figure by those under him, Col. Potter replies, "I suppose they do, and that gets to be a pain in the ass, too." Again, the profanity is bleeped out.
- Later, when asked if he "see(s) anything good coming out of" the war, Potter answers, "Not a damn thing." This time it isn't bleeped, although he does shoot a quick, self-conscious glance at the camera.
- Hawkeye offers one of these when asked about whether his war experience has changed him. While the offending word is naturally bleeped out, it can clearly be seen on Alan Alda's lips as he speaks.
- Self-Deprecation: Unintentionally from Frank, in response to Roberts' question about whether his postwar plans would see him retire from medicine.Frank: Some people think I could be more useful if I did.
- Stiff Upper Lip: Potter doesn't take up Roberts' offer to say hello to someone at home, saying he doesn't think it's dignified.
- Take That!: From Potter's interview:Roberts: What do you think of President Eisenhower?Potter: Well, he's a general.
- War Is Hell: The general consensus of those interviewed.
