For a little more background, Hermann's character was a classic Cheever high functioning alcoholic who realized he had lost connection with his 8-10 year old daughter. He was trying to convey to her what adults like him had lost, without really talking to her (or owning up to himself) about the bleaker side of booze…

That episode of MASH was tremendous, and he carried out the transformation of the surgeon from jovial pro to victim of shell shock with a great, deft touch. He was also tremendous in the PBS adaptation of Cheever's The Sorrows of Gin, along with Sigourney Weaver. I still remember his great delivery of the line how…