A Look Back At Mash The TV Show

Written by ysdata on January 3, 2009 – 1:27 am

Mash Series show M*A*S*H

MASH, the trend setting television shows began as a book written by Richard Hooker, and then as a movie that grossed $36 million at the box office. The war humor show (M*A*S*H) first aired in 1972 on the smallest CBS set — stage 9 at 20th Century Fox. After the first season, Mash rated 46 and was due to be canceled. However, one of the executive’s wives love the show and MASH returned for a second chance.

After the 2nd season Mash rating improved to 4th and that began MASH’s 4077 history. Who were the characters on MASH? Hawkeye- the woman chasing doctor with a heart of gold; Trapper John – Hawkeye’s faithful sidekick; Max Klinger – the crazed woman dressing solider; Father Mulchay- the priest; Frank Burns – the strange Major; Hot Lips – the nurse with a man’s command; Henry Blake – The commander with a sense of humor; Radar – the adorable.

In 1975 two of these characters real life actors wanted out their contracts. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) was often seen filling in for Johnny Carson and had other movie deals. Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) was not originally slated to be Hawkeye’s sidekick therefore the actor wanted out his contract. Henry Blake was killed off the show andreplaced by Sherman Potter. Trapper John was replaced with BJ Hunnicut.

In the 4th season more characters would leave the 4077 line up. Executive producer Larry Gelbart left the show and then in 1977 Frank Burns (Larry Linville) followed. Frank Burns was replaced by Charles Emerson Winchester III. Winchester was the upper class doctor. Then in 1979 Radar (Gary Burghoff) left the show too.

The MASH show lasted for 10 1/2 season (11 years). The last show was aired in Feb, 1983 and 125 million views tuned in to watch. The “After Mash” a spinoff of MASH featuring Father Mulchay, Max Klinger, and Sherman Potter didn’t work and was cancel after the 2nd season.

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Mash

There were times MASH wasn’t funny, but it always managed to touch your heart.

Mash Line-Up – Meet the Cast