Tuesday, October 28, 2014

TUESDAY NEWS DAY HAT SQUAD: REMEMBERING MARCIA STRASSMAN


Here at Toobworld Central, determining the age of a TV character is simple: unless other reasons are given, the character is as old as the actor playing the part.  An example of an exception: Adrian 'Monk', who was played a few years younger than Tony Shalhoub based on the timeline established in at least one flashback episode.

Marcia Strassman had two major roles in Earth Prime-Time:
  • Nurse Margie Cutler, 'M*A*S*H'
  • Julie Kotter, 'Welcome Back, Kotter'


Julie was concurrent with Ms. Strassman, so she was born in 1948 like the actress.  On the other hand, Margie Cutler's time on 'M*A*S*H' occurred during the Korean War.  Her six episodes were broadcast in the 1972-1973 season and the conflict lasted from 1950-1953 (although it took 11 TV seasons for the show!)  Therefore, based on Ms. Strassman's age at the time of filming, Margie Cutler was about 24 years old when she was stationed in Korea.  That means she was born in 1927.

This is speculation on our part, but fanficcers are welcome to run with it......

In 1948, Margie was 21 years of age, certainly old enough to have become pregnant and given birth.  It's the wishcraft of Ye Olde Caretaker of the Toobworld Dynamic that this actually happened to Margie Cutler, and that she gave the child up for adoption.  That child, a baby girl, would be adopted and raised by the name of Julie and she would one day marry a high school teacher named Gabe Kotter.

This theory of relateeveety is dedicated to the memory of Marcia Strassman, who just died from breast cancer.

Good night and may God bless......

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