Adam's Ribs (26 Nov. 1974)

After literally being fed up with mess hall food, Hawkeye goes on a desperate quest to order barbecue spare ribs from his favorite restaurant, Adam's Ribs, at Dearborn Station in Chicago.

Director:

Gene Reynolds

Writers:

Larry Gelbart (developed for television by), Laurence Marks,

Stars:

Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Alan Alda	...	Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce
Wayne Rogers	...	Captain John McIntyre
McLean Stevenson	...	Lt. Colonel Henry Blake
Larry Linville	...	Major Frank Burns (credit only)
Loretta Swit	...	Major Margaret Houlihan (credit only)
Gary Burghoff	...	Corporal Walter Eugene O'Reilly
Jamie Farr	...	Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger
Joseph Stern	...	Master Sgt. Tarola
Basil Hoffman	...	Major Pfiefer
Jeff Maxwell	...	Igor Straminsky

Storyline

After literally being fed up with mess hall food, Hawkeye goes on a desperate quest to order barbecue spare ribs from his favorite restaurant, Adam's Ribs, at Dearborn Station in Chicago.

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Plot Keywords:

barbecue | mail delivery | throwing food

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 1974 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title has a biblical connotation since Eve came from Adams' Rib.

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Goofs

The actor who plays the Sargent where the ribs are being held is shown as Joseph Stern - Master Sgt. Tarola. But the actor is wearing Staff Sargent strips, consisting of three chevrons up and one rocker. A master Sargent would have three chevrons up and three rockers down.

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Quotes

Master Sgt. Tarola: What's in the package?
Hawkeye: Ribs and sauce from Chicago.
Master Sgt. Tarola: Adam's Ribs?
Hawkeye: You know it?
Master Sgt. Tarola: Are you kidding? I'm from Joliet. I'd walk all the way on my knees for a takeout order.
Trapper: He's one of you.
Master Sgt. Tarola: How much?
Hawkeye: 40 pounds.
Master Sgt. Tarola: I want 20 pounds and a quart of sauce.
Hawkeye: 10 pounds and a pint of sauce.
[...]

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Connections

References Adam's Rib (1949)

User Reviews

Liver or fish, anyone?

Ten straight days of eating the same food can grow monotonous and downright tedious to most men, and guys like Hawkeye and Trapper are no exception. On this particular day, Hawkeye decides he's had enough and absurdly puts into words that he cannot stand liver or fish. He's ready to grow gills from the ocean of fish he's eaten, and the river of liver makes it so he is only able to make love if he is smothered in onions. By the way, watch the expression on Alda's face as he delivers this line. I think he can't believe he's really saying those things. So, to further prove his point, more or less, he throws a tantrum in the mess tent, rallying everybody to join him in his plea for "something else", which they all start chanting. Henry Blake is furious with Pierce and makes it known by asking him to never do it again. They want real food, and Hawkeye suddenly thinks of the absolute perfect entrée: barbecue spare ribs. This notion is brought on spur-the-moment by Henry saying, "I don't find that such a rib-tickler, McIntyre." Hawkeye paints a lovely picture of scrumptious ribs that should make the audience's mouths water. This got me hooked on ribs, by the way. Aiding Hawkeye on his fool's quest for ribs, is Radar, more or less against his will. He manages to patch a call into Adam's Ribs, the utopia of rib joints, in Chicago and Hawkeye places a rather large take-out order. Jumbo ribs and a gallon of sauce. All is well, except he realizes he's forgotten one important side dish: coleslaw. Now that the ribs have been ordered, how to get them to Korea? They ask Klinger for help and not only does he refuse, due to Hawkeye's uprising stained his stole, but because he doesn't know anybody in Chicago. Trapper, however, suddenly remembers a one-night stand from the Windy City, and he somehow manages to convince her to pick up and ship the ribs. So, after acquiring his barbecue gold, you would think Hawkeye would invite everybody to bask in its sweetened glory. The people he got all riled up over wanting something else to eat. Nope, wrong. He only invites his close friends- Trapper, Henry, Radar and Klinger, I guess as compensation for enduring all his crap. Watch how Igor and Goldman slowly walk out, awaiting their invite, which does not come. No matter, before they can eat, wounded arrive, and so after the gallant effort, Hawkeye does not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Poetic justice.

"Adam's Ribs", it's not a bad episode, actually I kinda like it because of the way they present the ribs. M*A*S*H episodes about food always seem to make you hungry for the food. I know this one made me hungry for spare ribs, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Hawkeye is incredibly selfish here. He whines about the food, in fact, in almost every episode some dumb joke is made about the food. It's amazing how fickle the people at the 4077th really are. I mean, there's a war on (a point the later episodes drive home continually) and these guys get upset over the food. At least they get food, when some Koreans are probably starving; Hawkeye forgets the coleslaw. Big whoop, at least he's getting his ribs! Finally, Klinger's stole. Good God, people are dying in the war, and all that fool can worry about is his stupid ladies' getup. But anyway, it's not my favorite episode, the story is weak and the premise shows promise, but comes off as inferior. It's alright. If you're in the mood for ribs, order up some and watch this episode, knowing you can enjoy them but Hawkeye can't. Again, poetic justice!