Here's how Jamie Farr dealt with Klinger-haters

People spoke their minds about Klinger's clothes.

No matter what we do, or how well we do it, somebody somewhere is going to dislike it. That's just how life works. No matter how hard you try, there will be haters. 

Here's some proof: M*A*S*H is one of the most critically acclaimed shows of all time. Not only did the show have critics on its side, but it also had the ratings to back up the glowing reviews. The show was massively popular, and the finale was one of the biggest telecasts of all time. Hindsight allows us to see that, if anything, M*A*S*H was actually underrated in its time. Whereas other shows reveal themselves to have "aged poorly," M*A*S*H is an even richer experience as a '70s time capsule. 

Despite all that, though, series regular Jamie Farr still had haters. That is, of course, due to his character Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, just one of many deep, believable soldiers that populated the 4077th. Klinger chose to wear clothes typically worn by women. This was, at first, an attempted ruse to evade military combat. Klinger initially thought that his choice of wardrobe would preclude his involvement in the war. However, Klinger was actually a vital member of his unit. It was the person Klinger was, not the clothes he wore, that made him reliable to his friends and brothers-in-arms.

But, small people will find anything to project their insecurities onto, so Klinger's wardrobe became a much-contested part of Jamie Farr's life. Farr spoke candidly and even joked about the ways Klinger's wardrobe affected his every day in a 1975 interview in the Lexington Herald.

"I especially enjoy watching people at a restaurant when I go to the restroom," said Farr. "I watch their faces as they lay bets on which room I'll use.

"I was working one day and I heard someone holler out at me about how stupid I must be to play a role dressed like that. I looked back and it was a fellow in line for Let's Make a Deal. I was being told how silly I looked by an ear of corn."

Let that be a lesson to all of us. No matter what someone has to say about us, we must first consider the source. Chances are, their words won't hurt nearly as much if we picture them dressed like an ear of corn.

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27 Comments

CoreyC 12 months ago
Klinger was my favorite M*A*S*H character. Jamie was funny and never brought politics in his character unlike Alan Alda.
Adamtwelvia CoreyC 11 months ago
Agreed! I love Klinger. He made the whole show, even during the bad eps
JHP 12 months ago
"Let that be a lesson to all of us. No matter what someone has to say about us, we must first consider the source. Chances are, their words won't hurt nearly as much if we picture them dressed like an ear of corn."

A quote of gold - in the land of the "Free" HAHA
Coldnorth JHP 12 months ago
Words of wisdom to be sure
Pacificsun 12 months ago
Nicely done story and point well made. Especially because of Jamie Farr's observation and experience! Glad he maintained a sense of humor and basically the last laugh regarding a multi-faceted Series! He was the right personality (actor) for the role in particular! Thank you MeTV Staff Writer.
Coldnorth Pacificsun 12 months ago
He threw himself in the role, meaning he didn’t look mortified or embarrassed. The most touching scene to me when he gave Margaret his wedding dress. He played that part perfectly
cperrynaples 12 months ago
Could you imagine what would happen if Klinger were introduced today? All the Fox newspeople would say he was "woke"...LOL!
Adamtwelvia cperrynaples 11 months ago
And CNN would want him to.be the spokesman for Transgender rights, even though that wasn't the point of Klinger
MikeSR78 cperrynaples 11 months ago
Oh I'm sure there are Trumpists who bash him today even in reruns lol
Adamtwelvia MikeSR78 11 months ago
I'm a Trumpet and I DON'T!!! In fact a lot of us Trumpets LOVE him and can't stand Hawkeye!!
LoveMETV22 12 months ago
Klinger explained it to Colonel Potter:

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However the same heckler stopped by the M*A*S*H set later on :
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Coldnorth JHP 12 months ago
The big one looks filling but kind of hard to cook thru
JHP Coldnorth 12 months ago
well you and I read from the same book - I do exactly the same thing - but another pleasure of doing it this way is how your fingers smell after the deed is done - it's worth enduring shucking the husks while they are so hot
Coldnorth JHP 12 months ago
Corn on the cob has a nice sweet smell. Popcorn is even a very pleasant smell
JHP Coldnorth 11 months ago
sure does - am an oldie and still make in a hand crank popper and oil ; and then butter
Suzies1952 12 months ago
People are just plain stupid! Klinger along with each member of the crew played a part in the show, they are actors playing a role and Farr did his part very well, people have to remember that when watching any show, or movie, the role they play, isn’t who they are as a person in real life, it’s their role as an actor, klinger was my 2nd favorite person on mash, father mulcahy probably spelled it wrong, but you know who I mean the priest!, he was my favorite actor on mash! He was so sweet, kind and gentle and nice to everyone.
Coldnorth Suzies1952 12 months ago
And could throw one heck of a punch when needed
Adamtwelvia Suzies1952 10 months ago
I dunmo, I think Alan Alda was the later-years Hawkeye in real life.
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