'M*A*S*H' - Margaret Houlihan Trivia Quiz

Answer: Loretta Swit

As fans of 'M*A*S*H' may know, Sally Kellerman did a marvelous job of portraying Hot Lips Houlihan in the 1970 movie version of 'M*A*S*H'. However, on the small screen it was Loretta Swit who took her turn as the voluptuous and brilliant head nurse at the 4077th.

A couple interesting things about Loretta Swit: She was actually the first choice to star as either Cagney or Lacey in the television show by that name, but couldn't get out of her contract at FOX (she would have left after the eighth season of the show) AND she was once married to an actor named Dennis Holahan (talk about life resembling art).

Answer: False

Oh no, a tricky question! Actually, Father Mulcahy appeared in both the pilot episode and the final episode, though two different actors portrayed the character. George Morgan played Mulcahy in the pilot episode (his only appearance on the show), while William Christopher was Mulcahy in the last episode (and all other episodes in between).

Answer: Fort Ord

Margaret's upbringing seemed somewhat difficult, having to move from place to place at the whim of the U.S. army. Her father was a military man and her mother an army nurse.

By the way, Fort Ord is an actual army base located not far from Monterey, California.

Answer: 'Howitzer' Alvin Houlihan

Margaret's father is a Colonel in the United States army. His nickname comes from the famous howitzer short gun used for firing shells at long distances on the battle field. The name is from the Czech for 'catapult'.

Answer: Her father

'Howitzer' Al appeared in the season nine episode 'Father's Day', and was portrayed by actor Andrew Duggan. In this episode, a series of misunderstandings, along with the unmilitary behavior of Hawkeye and BJ, creates a rift between Margaret and her father. However, by the end of the episode there is an understanding between the two and they part on good terms.

The names of both Margaret's mother and sister are never mentioned during the run of the series, nor do we ever see either of them.

Answer: Penobscott

Margaret first announces her engagement to Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott in the season five episode 'Margaret's Engagement', and she is married to him in the final episode of the fifth season, entitled 'Margaret's Marriage' (Terribly clever episode titles, don't you think?). Donald appears twice on the show, once in 'Margaret's Marriage' (actor Beason Carroll) and once in the sixth season episode 'The M*A*S*H Olympics' (actor Mike Henry). Following that episode, Margaret's marriage became sour, and she proceeded to file for divorce from Donald.

Her divorce papers are finalized in the year seven episode 'Hot Lips is Back in Town'.

Answer: Jack Scully

Joshua Bryant appeared in several 'M*A*S*H' episodes as Jack Scully, a macho army sergeant who takes his turn at wooing Margaret. He first appears in the seventh season episode 'A Night at Rosie's', where he has taken refuge while AWOL from his unit.

He also appears in the season eight episodes entitled 'Guerilla My Dreams' and 'Stars and Stripes'. In the end, Scully and Margaret part ways.

Answer: Never

The replacement ring's inscription reads: 'Over Hill, Over Dale, Our Love Will *Ever* Fail'. When Margaret discovers what Klinger (and the also complicit Hawkeye and BJ) has done she is furious. By the end of the episode, she comes to her senses and appreciates Klinger for the good sentiments.

Answer: Loud noises

While Hawkeye admits to an acute fear of enclosed spaces (otherwise known as 'claustrophobia'), Margaret reveals that she has an extreme fear of loud noises (the somewhat more obscure 'ligyrophobia'). This comes as a big surprise considering that Margaret has spent her entire life connected to the army. And her father fired howitzers!

Answer: Major

In the episode 'Hot Lips is Back in Town' she is offered a position on General Lyle Weiskopf's staff and a promotion to lieutenant colonel, but she turns this down when she discovers that the promotion is predicated on her performance as the General's lover and not her expertise. Incidentally, it was at General Weiskopf's party in Tokyo where we discover the first signs of trouble between Margaret and Donald in the episode 'Fade In, Fade Out'.

Thank you for playing this quiz. I hope you have enjoyed it and will try more of my 'M*A*S*H'-related quizzes (and perhaps some of my other stuff as well).