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| Trapper John, M.D. | |
|---|---|
 Title card |
|
| Format | Drama |
| Starring | Pernell Roberts Gregory Harrison Charles Siebert Mary McCarty Madge Sinclair Brian Mitchell Christopher Norris Timothy Busfield Lorna Luft |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 151 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
20th Century Fox Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | CBS |
| Original run | September 23, 1979 – September 4, 1986 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, about a lovable doctor who became a mentor, father figure, who also owns a teaching hospital in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986.
Background
Trapper John, M.D. was a long-running medical show focused on the balding Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Bonanza alumnus Pernell Roberts) during the 28 years following his discharge from the 4077th M*A*S*H unit in Korea. In this time the character had mellowed considerably. He didn't just 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 showed tremendous compassion towards his patients, often violating "established hospital procedures." Trapper's bookie, Arnold Slocum (Simon Scott), taught him how to appease hospital administration towards this end. Trapper's partner was an aspiring young professional named Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates (played by actor/director Gregory Harrison). Gates also had a lot in common with Trapper John as he had served in a M*A*S*H unit during the Vietnam War. His childish, irresponsible behavior, and love of life also reflected elements of Trapper's younger days. In the show he resided in a motor home in the hospital parking lot. He worked himself up to becoming the Chief of Surgery, years before he had a stroke, just before he married Fran. Interestingly, Harrison was featured in a 1976 episode of M*A*S*H as Lt. Tony Baker: the husband of one of the nurses at the 4077th.
The show also involved many minor characters that served as hospital staff. One was Nurse Clara "Starch" Willoughly (Mary McCarty), a nurse who served her time during the M*A*S*H era (McCarty died midway throughout the first season). She was replaced by the young and sexy Nurse Ernestine Shoop (Madge Sinclair). Other characters included: Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi (Christopher Norris) who later adopted a sickly, homeless lad; Andrea; Dr. Stanley Riverside II (Charles Siebert), a crazy doctor who later married dentist Dr. E.J. Willoughly Riverside (Marcia Rodd) and gave her a job working at the hospital; and the cocky intern Dr. Justin "Jackpot" Jackson (Brian Stokes Mitchell), who owed his job more to his father's work on the hospital board of directors than to his own skill.
In the 1984-85 season, Trapper John's son J.T. MacIntyre (Timothy Busfield) graduated from medical school and arrived at the hospital to work on his internship. When Nurse Brancusi left, she was replaced by Nurse Libby Kegler (Lorna Luft). Subsequent additions included the beautiful and mature administrator Catherine Hackett (Janis Page), an ER service helicopter, and Dr. Andy Pagano (Beau Gravitte).
Legally, the show is considered a spin-off of the original movie MASH, rather than the M*A*S*H television show. This is due to a court case in which the producers of the television series sought royalty payments on the grounds that Trapper John, M.D. was a spin-off of their series. The court found, however, that the series was a spin-off of the original movie. As a result, the series producers did not receive any royalties from Trapper John, M.D.
Cast
- Pernell Roberts as Dr. John 'Trapper John' McIntyre, M.D.
- Gregory Harrison (1979-1985) as Dr. George Alonzo 'Gonzo' Gates, M.D.
- Charles Siebert as Dr. Stanley Riverside, III, M.D.
- Mary McCarty (1979-1980) as Nurse Clara 'Starch' Willoughby
- Madge Sinclair (1980 - 1986) as Nurse Ernestine Shoop
- Brian Stokes Mitchell as Dr. Justin 'Jackpot' Jackson, M.D.
- Christopher Norris (1979-1985) as Nurse Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi
- Timothy Busfield (1984-1986) as Dr. John 'J.T.' McIntyre, Jr., M.D.
- Lorna Luft (1985-1986) as Nurse Libby Kegler
- Simon Scott as Arnold Slocum, Hosp. Administrator
- Jessica Walter as Melanie McIntyre
External links
- Trapper John, M.D. at the Internet Movie Database
- Trapper John, M.D. at TV.com
- Finest-Kind.net - M*A*S*H website w/info on Trapper John, M.D.
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