Trapper John, M.D.

By Wikipedia

Trapper John, M.D. was a television series spinoff of the show M*A*S*H that ran on CBS from September 23, 1979 to September 4, 1986. It featured 'Trapper John' McIntyre 28 years after he had left the 4077th MASH. The series had Trapper working as chief of surgery at the San Francisco Memorial Hospital. In this incarnation, Trapper was played by Pernell Roberts.

One of the other characters in the show was Doctor George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, who was played by Gregory Harrison. Harrison had also had a guest role on M*A*S*H when he spotlighted the discrimination against male nurses. Gonzo was a man who had just returned to the states as serving in a Vietnam-era MASH unit, and who was much like what Trapper had been earlier.

In this series, Trapper had mellowed somewhat, and had become more a part of establishment than what he had been in his younger days. Eventually his son, J.T., joins him at the hospital. While the show had a comedy element, it also dealt with serious subjects, such as AIDS.

Legally, the show is considered a spinoff of the original movie M*A*S*H, rather than the M*A*S*H television show. This was due to a court case where the producers of the series had sought royalty payments on the grounds that Trapper John, M.D. was a spinoff of their television series. However the court found that the series was a spinoff of the original movie. As a result, the series did not receive any royalties from Trapper John.

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This was my favorite show because it showed how different generations could be bet friends. The characters of Trapper John and Gonzo Gates just seem to click in the first episode. They helped each other alot in the years they worked together. Like when Trapper had to operate on the man his ex-wife was going to marry, or when Gonzo found his long lost father. The most touching scene I think was when Gonzo was leaving after his stroke, as much as Trapper wanted him to stay he knew he needed to go. Just as fast as the young doctor rode into his life he rode out again. Everyone, should have a friendship like that at least once in their lives. --jo1973646

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