The creators of Airplane! often take credit for giving Leslie Nielsen his first comedic role. However, his first such role was in the M*A*S*H episode The Ringbanger. Nielsen played Colonel Buzz Brighton, a reckless commander who needlessly risks the lives of those under his command. In a hilarious outing directed by Hollywood legend Jackie Cooper, Buzz is tricked into believing he's insane by Hawkeye and Trapper.
