"M*A*S*H" (1972)TV series 1972-1983

Directors:

Hy Averback
Jackie Cooper

Writers:

Larry Balmagia (writer) (8 episodes 1978-1982)
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (writer) (5 episodes 1973-1976)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Release Date:

17 September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Plot:

The staff of an army hospital in the Korean war find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.

Plot Keywords:

Dramedy | Corporal | Anti Authority | Combat Casualty | Lieutenant

Awards:

Won 8 Golden Globes. Another 41 wins & 128 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 20	12:30 PM	Fox	Last Laugh	#6.3
Sun. July 20	3:00 PM	Fox	Fallen Idol	#6.2

Cast

Alan Alda	...	Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce / ... (251 episodes, 1972-1983)
Loretta Swit	...	Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan / ... (234 episodes, 1972-1983)
Jamie Farr	...	Cpl. / ... (210 episodes, 1972-1983)
William Christopher	...	Lt. / ... (206 episodes, 1972-1983)
Mike Farrell	...	Capt. B.J. Hunnicut / ... (178 episodes, 1975-1983)
Harry Morgan	...	Col. Sherman T. Potter / ... (178 episodes, 1974-1983)
Gary Burghoff	...	Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly / ... (153 episodes, 1972-1979)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III / ... (130 episodes, 1977-1983)
Larry Linville	...	Maj. Frank Burns (115 episodes, 1972-1977)

Also Known As:

MASH (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

25 min (256 episodes) | 25 min (255 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | USA:TV-PG | Finland:K-7 (2006) (DVD) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Australia:G (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The series finale is the highest rated American show of all time, with a 60.2% ratings and 106 million viewers.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Many of the references to films and comics mention titles that appeared well after the Korean War.

Quotes:

Congressional Aide: But I want you to know, that you have been duped by a Communist sympathizer.
Charles: What a coincidence, so have you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Legend of Dinosaurs (#1.21)" (1989)

I'll never forget that day

... that day in 1975, when we were watching our favourite TV show, "M*A*S*H", "we" being big brother -- that's me! -- and little brother. "M*A*S*H" had always been our favourite, probably because it seemed so grown-up, but also because it was so irreverent (a word we wouldn't have used back then) and smart-alecky (a word we would have). And so funny. It was tough to say which was the top episode. The one with the wounded Luxembourg soldier? (And the crazy Turk, of course.) One of the ones mentioning our very own Canadian troops? Maybe the one about Capt. Tuttle, graduate of the Berlinisches Polyteschnicum, and the best friend Maj. Frank Burns had ever had? Or possibly any episode even alluding to the wacked-out Col. Flagg?

Anyway, this was an important day because Col. Henry Blake had received orders to ship back home to the States. We were feeling pretty sad; we really loved Henry. Hawkeye and Trapper were always putting things over on poor Henry, but Henry always took it with good humour. And probably a little wisdom, and common sense. So Henry had been sent home. The show went to commercial. We were both feeling a little glum. We were sitting quite close to the television; you had to adjust the controls by hand in those days. The show came back from commercial. Radar came into the operating room. "The plane containing Col. Henry Blake", if I may paraphrase from memory, "was shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors." My brother was to my left. We just sat there with our mouths open. Then we ran to tell our parents what had just happened. I can still get a little choked up thinking about it 25 years later. That was the first death I ever experienced in my "family"; the show seemed that real to us at the time.