The Best Time Frank Burns Ever Broke Character On MASH
In the original "M*A*S*H" 1970 feature film, Frank Burns is played by Robert Duvall and is a frighteningly unstable, god-fearing antagonist to the goofy, anarchic doctors at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. The 1972 television series adaptation retained Frank's affair with "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) but made his character more incompetent than menacing. Duvall also didn't return, with the character played by stage and television actor Larry Linville.
Frank Burns remained a bumbling regular character on the series until the end of Season 5, when Linville, tired of being on the sitcom, left for good (via MeTV). Part of it may have been that Linville never expected the show to last that long, but he also hated the entitled surgeon. According to MeTV, Larry thought that "Frank is the type of character I personally despise".
Even if Linville didn't like making "M*A*S*H," this outtake suggests that the actor could still have fun on the set sometimes.
Larry Linville is visibly annoyed he can't remember his lines
Considering that "M*A*S*H" debuted 50 years ago, the show's bloopers definitely aren't available in high video and picture quality, but they are quite funny. Often the actors are screwing up their dialogue, kidding around, or accidents on set make everybody audibly crack up.
In one outtake, Larry Linville is trying to deliver a smug lecture in character as Frank Burns until he clearly forgets his line halfway through. Recognizing that he can't finish, he mutters "tear gas or whatever the **** it is," and makes a loud, exasperated noise for the camera. A similar blooper features Linville not remembering his lines as he remarks, "Aw, putz!"
The veteran actor's over the top irritation that he can't get these deliveries right is hilarious and might show one of the few times he was enjoying himself during production. Even if he didn't like "M*A*S*H" or his character, it's hard not to laugh when you're around people as funny as Alan Alda and Jamie Farr.