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{{short description|American television pilot}}
{{short description|American television pilot}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| name = W*A*L*T*E*R
| image = W*A*L*T*E*R title card.jpg
| image = W*A*L*T*E*R title card.jpg
| creator = [[Larry Gelbart]]<br />[[Gene Reynolds]]
| creator = [[Larry Gelbart]]<br />[[Gene Reynolds]]
| based_on = The character of [[List of M*A*S*H characters#Radar O.27Reilly|Walter O'Reilly]] created by [[Richard Hooker (author)|Richard Hooker]]
| based_on = {{based_on|[[List of M*A*S*H characters#Radar O.27Reilly|Walter O'Reilly]]|[[Richard Hooker (author)|Richard Hooker]]}}
| writer = [[Bob Weiskopf]]<br/>[[Bob Schiller]]<br/>[[Everett Greenbaum]]
| writer = [[Bob Weiskopf]]<br/>[[Bob Schiller]]<br/>[[Everett Greenbaum]]
| director = [[Bill Bixby]]
| director = [[Bill Bixby]]
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| runtime = 30 minute pilot / CBS Special Presentation
| runtime = 30 minute pilot / CBS Special Presentation
| company = [[20th Century Fox Television]]
| company = [[20th Century Fox Television]]
| distributor = [[20th Television]]
| network = [[CBS]]
| network = [[CBS]] ''([[Eastern Time Zone|ET]]/[[Central Time Zone|CT]] only)''
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|07|17}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|1984|07|17}}
| num_episodes = 1
| num_episodes = 1
| preceded_by = ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]''<br/>''[[AfterMASH]]''
| related = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]''
* ''[[AfterMASH]]''
}}
}}
}}


'''''W*A*L*T*E*R''''' is a 1984 [[television pilot]] for the third [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' that was never picked up. It starred [[Gary Burghoff]], who reprised his ''M*A*S*H'' character.<ref>{{Citation|title=Walter pilot episode, 1984|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/O2xBPCIEQvDV/|language=en|access-date=2021-07-03}}</ref>
'''''W*A*L*T*E*R''''' is a 1984 American [[television pilot]] for the third [[spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' that was never picked up. It starred [[Gary Burghoff]], who reprised his ''M*A*S*H'' character.<ref>{{Citation|title=Walter pilot episode, 1984|url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/O2xBPCIEQvDV/|language=en|access-date=2021-07-03}}</ref>


The episode relates the adventures of [[List of M*A*S*H characters#Radar O.27Reilly|Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly]] after he returns home from the [[Korean War]]. He is no longer calling himself "Radar" and has moved away from [[Iowa]] after he sent his mother to live with his aunt. Settling in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], by the beginning of the series he has become a police officer.<ref>David Scott Diffrient, ''M*A*S*H'' ([[Wayne State University Press]], 2008), {{ISBN|978-0814335529}}, p. 142. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CAdN-I5KqFUC&lpg=PT150&dq=W*A*L*T*E*R%20burghoff&pg=PT150#v=onepage&q=W*A*L*T*E*R%20&f=false Excerpts available] at [[Google Books]].</ref><ref>Vincent Terrace, ''Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937-2012'' ([[McFarland & Company]], 2013), {{ISBN|978-1476602493}}, p. 316. [https://books.google.com/books?id=XxTx1xK-q14C&lpg=PP1&dq=W*A*L*T*E*R%20burghoff%201984&pg=PA316#v=onepage&q=W*A*L*T*E*R%20burghoff%201984&f=false Excerpts available] at [[Google Books]].</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Maçek III, J.C.|title=What Happens When Happy Shows Turn All X-Files on You?|date=12 January 2017|work=[[PopMatters]]|url=http://www.popmatters.com/column/what-happens-when-happy-shows-turn-all-x-files-on-you/}}</ref>
The episode chronicles the adventures of [[List of M*A*S*H characters#Walter "Radar" O'Reilly|Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly]] after he returns home from the Korean War. He is no longer calling himself "Radar" and has moved away from Iowa after he sent his mother to live with his aunt. Settling in St. Louis, Missouri, by the beginning of the series, he has become a police officer.<ref>David Scott Diffrient, ''M*A*S*H'' (Wayne State University Press, 2008), {{ISBN|978-0814335529}}, p. 142. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CAdN-I5KqFUC&q=W%2AA%2AL%2AT%2AE%2AR+&pg=PT150 Excerpts available] at Google Books.</ref><ref>Vincent Terrace, ''Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937-2012'' (McFarland & Company, 2013), {{ISBN|978-1476602493}}, p. 316. [https://books.google.com/books?id=XxTx1xK-q14C&dq=W%2AA%2AL%2AT%2AE%2AR+burghoff+1984&pg=PA316 Excerpts available] at Google Books.</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Maçek III, J.C.|title=What Happens When Happy Shows Turn All X-Files on You?|date=12 January 2017|work=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/column/what-happens-when-happy-shows-turn-all-x-files-on-you/}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
⚫
No longer using his army nickname "Radar", Walter O'Reilly is now a rookie police officer living in St. Louis with his colleague and cousin Wendell Micklejohn. As they get ready for work they are watching the start of a television interview by [[Clete Roberts]], who is following up with various former staff from the 4077th; the previous week Roberts had interviewed [[Hawkeye Pierce]], and this week Walter's interview was being televised. At the police department and through a store front window, Walter and Wendell catch bits of the interview, giving viewers of the pilot a chance to bridge the events of ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' and ''[[AfterMASH]]'' with ''W*A*L*T*E*R''.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Walter03.jpg|thumb|left|[[Gary Burghoff]] as Walter O'Reilly<br/>{{deletable image-caption|Sunday, 26 November 2017|PROD}}]] -->
⚫
The episode opens with Walter O'Reilly in his cousin Wendell Micklejohn's apartment. They are getting ready for their workday while watching the start of a television interview. The interview shows journalist [[Clete Roberts]] following up on the members of the M*A*S*H 4077th. The previous week Roberts had interviewed [[Hawkeye Pierce]], and this week he is catching up with O'Reilly. At the police department and through store windows on the street, O'Reilly and Micklejohn catch pieces of the television interview, giving viewers of the pilot a chance to sample the potential series and to build a bridge between the events of ''M*A*S*H'' and ''W*A*L*T*E*R''.


Viewers learn that O'Reilly returned to [[Iowa]], where he failed at farming. He sold the farm and the livestock and sent his mother off to live with his aunt. His bride left him for another man during their honeymoon. O'Reilly decided to take his own life, and went to a drug store to buy sleeping pills for an overdose (as well as aspirin, because sleeping pills give him headaches). The drugstore clerk, Victoria, cheered him up and they became good friends. His cousin Wendell helped him get a job on the police force. Walter solves a dispute between two strippers, and gets his wallet back from a young would-be thief whose father had died in Korea.<ref name=" Best Care Anywhere ">{{cite web|url =http://www.bestcareanywhere.net/walter.htm|title =W*A*L*T*E*R|access-date = 2013-08-21|date = 2006-06-02|publisher = Best Care Anywhere }}</ref>
In flashbacks during the interview scenes, viewers learn that Walter had returned home to Iowa but failed at farming and was forced to sell the farm and livestock and then he sent his mother to live with his aunt. After marrying his bride in River Bend (as shown in an episode of ''AfterMASH''), she left him for his best friend during their honeymoon in St. Louis. Having hit rock bottom, a wandering Walter went to a drug store to buy an overdose of sleeping pills (and aspirin, as sleeping pills gave him a headache), but the drugstore clerk, Victoria, dissuaded him and they became friends. Wendell then helped Walter get a job with the city police. Walter solves a dispute between two strippers, and gets his wallet back from a young would-be thief whose father was killed in Korea.<ref name=" Best Care Anywhere ">{{cite web|url =http://www.bestcareanywhere.net/walter.htm|title =W*A*L*T*E*R|access-date = 2013-08-21|date = 2006-06-02|publisher = Best Care Anywhere }}</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
* [[Gary Burghoff]] as Walter O'Reilly
* [[Gary Burghoff]] as Officer Walter O'Reilly
* [[Ray Buktenica]] as Wendell Micklejohn
* [[Ray Buktenica]] as Officer Wendell Micklejohn
* [[Victoria Jackson]] as Victoria
* [[Victoria Jackson]] as Victoria
* [[Noble Willingham]] as Sergeant Sowell
* [[Noble Willingham]] as Sergeant Sowell
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* [[Bobby Ramsen]] as The Singer
* [[Bobby Ramsen]] as The Singer
* [[Dick Miller]] as The Theater Owner
* [[Dick Miller]] as The Theater Owner

==Relationship with ''M*A*S*H''==
In the pilot episode of ''W*A*L*T*E*R'', only three main characters from the original series, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce, and Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan were mentioned by Walter O'Reilly. He had kept a photograph of all of his former Army buddies from the 4077th MASH unit in his wallet.


==Production==
==Production==
===Timeline===
===Timeline===
The episode takes place after the series finale of ''M*A*S*H'', and a two-part guest appearance on ''[[AfterMASH]]'', in which Radar was forced to leave the family farm.
The episode takes place after the series finale of ''M*A*S*H'', and a two-part guest appearance on ''AfterMASH'', in which Radar was forced to leave the family farm.


===Broadcast difficulties===
===Broadcast difficulties===
Since the pilot was never picked up by [[CBS]] as a series, it was shown as a "CBS [[Television special|Special]] Presentation" on July 17, 1984. It was shown once in the Eastern and [[Central time zone]]s of the United States, but pre-empted on the West Coast by [[CBS News]] coverage of the [[1984 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]]. This is the only known broadcast of the pilot.<ref name=" Television Obscurities ">{{cite web|url = http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/walter/|title =W*A*L*T*E*R|access-date = 2013-08-20|date = 2005-02-15|publisher = Television Obscurities }}</ref>
Since the pilot was never picked up by CBS as a series, it was shown as a "CBS Special Presentation" on July 17, 1984. It was shown once in the Eastern and Central time zones of the United States, but pre-empted on the West Coast by ''[[CBS News]]'' coverage of the [[1984 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]]. This is the only known broadcast of the pilot.<ref name=" Television Obscurities ">{{cite web|url = http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/walter/|title =W*A*L*T*E*R|access-date = 2013-08-20|date = 2005-02-15|publisher = Television Obscurities }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1984 American television episodes]]
[[Category:1984 American television episodes]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox Television films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox Television films]]
[[Category:American television pilots]]
[[Category:1980s American television specials]]
[[Category:American television spin-offs]]
[[Category:American television spin-offs]]
[[Category:CBS television specials]]
[[Category:CBS television specials]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bill Bixby]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bill Bixby]]
[[Category:Films set in St. Louis]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Missouri]]
[[Category:Television pilots not picked up as a series]]
[[Category:Television pilots not picked up as a series]]
[[Category:M*A*S*H]]
[[Category:M*A*S*H]]

Latest revision as of 01:31, 30 April 2024

W*A*L*T*E*R
Created byLarry Gelbart
Gene Reynolds
Based onWalter O'Reilly
by Richard Hooker
Written byBob Weiskopf
Bob Schiller
Everett Greenbaum
Directed byBill Bixby
StarringGary Burghoff
Ray Buktenica
Victoria Jackson
Noble Willingham
Music byPatrick Williams
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1
Production
Executive producersBob Schiller
Bob Weiskopf
Michael Zinberg
ProducerMichael Zinberg
CinematographyWilliam Jurgensen
EditorsStanford Tischler
Noel Rogers
Running time30 minute pilot / CBS Special Presentation
Production company20th Century Fox Television
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJuly 17, 1984 (1984-07-17)
Related

W*A*L*T*E*R is a 1984 American television pilot for the third spin-off of M*A*S*H that was never picked up. It starred Gary Burghoff, who reprised his M*A*S*H character.[1]

The episode chronicles the adventures of Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly after he returns home from the Korean War. He is no longer calling himself "Radar" and has moved away from Iowa after he sent his mother to live with his aunt. Settling in St. Louis, Missouri, by the beginning of the series, he has become a police officer.[2][3][4]

Plot[edit]

No longer using his army nickname "Radar", Walter O'Reilly is now a rookie police officer living in St. Louis with his colleague and cousin Wendell Micklejohn. As they get ready for work they are watching the start of a television interview by Clete Roberts, who is following up with various former staff from the 4077th; the previous week Roberts had interviewed Hawkeye Pierce, and this week Walter's interview was being televised. At the police department and through a store front window, Walter and Wendell catch bits of the interview, giving viewers of the pilot a chance to bridge the events of M*A*S*H and AfterMASH with W*A*L*T*E*R.

In flashbacks during the interview scenes, viewers learn that Walter had returned home to Iowa but failed at farming and was forced to sell the farm and livestock and then he sent his mother to live with his aunt. After marrying his bride in River Bend (as shown in an episode of AfterMASH), she left him for his best friend during their honeymoon in St. Louis. Having hit rock bottom, a wandering Walter went to a drug store to buy an overdose of sleeping pills (and aspirin, as sleeping pills gave him a headache), but the drugstore clerk, Victoria, dissuaded him and they became friends. Wendell then helped Walter get a job with the city police. Walter solves a dispute between two strippers, and gets his wallet back from a young would-be thief whose father was killed in Korea.[5]

Cast[edit]

Relationship with M*A*S*H[edit]

In the pilot episode of W*A*L*T*E*R, only three main characters from the original series, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce, and Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan were mentioned by Walter O'Reilly. He had kept a photograph of all of his former Army buddies from the 4077th MASH unit in his wallet.

Production[edit]

Timeline[edit]

The episode takes place after the series finale of M*A*S*H, and a two-part guest appearance on AfterMASH, in which Radar was forced to leave the family farm.

Broadcast difficulties[edit]

Since the pilot was never picked up by CBS as a series, it was shown as a "CBS Special Presentation" on July 17, 1984. It was shown once in the Eastern and Central time zones of the United States, but pre-empted on the West Coast by CBS News coverage of the Democratic National Convention. This is the only known broadcast of the pilot.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Walter pilot episode, 1984, retrieved 2021-07-03
  2. ^ David Scott Diffrient, M*A*S*H (Wayne State University Press, 2008), ISBN 978-0814335529, p. 142. Excerpts available at Google Books.
  3. ^ Vincent Terrace, Encyclopedia of Television Pilots, 1937-2012 (McFarland & Company, 2013), ISBN 978-1476602493, p. 316. Excerpts available at Google Books.
  4. ^ Maçek III, J.C. (12 January 2017). "What Happens When Happy Shows Turn All X-Files on You?". PopMatters.
  5. ^ "W*A*L*T*E*R". Best Care Anywhere. 2006-06-02. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  6. ^ "W*A*L*T*E*R". Television Obscurities. 2005-02-15. Retrieved 2013-08-20.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=W*A*L*T*E*R&oldid=1221456149"