The other day TV Land aired the episode "Patent 4077" where they create a new surgical clamp. Hawkeye and BJ sure were a--holes to Sgt. Zale when he wanted to help work on it. He even came up with an initial prototype, that while it had its flaws, was at least a start. He offered to make modifications, but Hawkeye and BJ were not having it. I don't recall his character being so disliked in previous episodes and I wondered why they were so indignant toward him. Any suggestions?

Maybe it was just so important to them that they wanted it done right away and correct. I don't really know though. I never really paid that much attention to how they treated Sgt. Zale before reading this though. I knew that Charles looked down on Zale, which probably is why I over looked it when Hawkeye and BJ were doing the same to him.

The other day TV Land aired the episode "Patent 4077" where they create a new surgical clamp. Hawkeye and BJ sure were a--holes to Sgt. Zale when he wanted to help work on it. He even came up with an initial prototype, that while it had its flaws, was at least a start. He offered to make modifications, but Hawkeye and BJ were not having it. I don't recall his character being so disliked in previous episodes and I wondered why they were so indignant toward him. Any suggestions?

The last couple times I watched this episode, I thought the same thing, why turn down willing help, and even though the first one didn't work exactly right, it was a step in the right direction. I don't know why the writers chose to make it this way. Maybe they simply saw it as a chance to aim some witty barbs at Zale (Go back to your drawing board----and blow it up!)

Or maybe it was meant to be a portayal of how highly educated specialists can be dismissive of lay people when it comes to their field of expertise.

But it did seem out of character for Hawkeye, who was always standing up for the enlisted men - agitating to allow them into the Officers Club for example, and for BJ who was willing to counsel Zale a coiuple of seasons earlier when Zale's wife had been unfaithful back home.