Questions
What was M*A*S*H based on?
Larry Gelbart developed the series from Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors and the 1970 film adaptation written by Ring Lardner Jr.
When did M*A*S*H premiere and end?
It premiered on CBS on September 17, 1972 and ran for 11 seasons and 256 episodes, ending on February 28, 1983.
Where is the show set?
It follows the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital stationed in Uijeongbu, South Korea during the Korean War (1950 to 1953).
Even though it was about the Korean War, what was M*A*S*H really commenting on?
The show functioned as an allegory for the Vietnam War, which was still ongoing when the series began in 1972.
Who played Hawkeye, and how many episodes was he in?
Alan Alda played Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce, and he appeared in all 256 episodes.
Which original cast members left the show?
Wayne Rogers (Trapper John) and McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake) left after season 3, and Larry Linville (Frank Burns) departed after season 5. They were replaced by Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and David Ogden Stiers.
How big was the series finale?
"Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" drew roughly 125 million viewers on February 28, 1983, and it remains the most-watched TV series finale ever. It was the most-watched U.S. television broadcast from 1983 all the way to 2010.
Did soldiers in Korea get to watch the finale?
Yes, special TVs were reportedly installed at U.S. Army bases in Korea so troops could watch despite the 14-hour time difference.
Why did the cast dislike the laugh track?
Creator Larry Gelbart called laugh tracks "a lie" and said they tell an engineer when to push a button to produce a laugh from people who don’t exist. CBS compromised by keeping it out of the operating room, and several episodes plus the finale used none at all.
Is it true the writers made the cast film in fake winter to punish them?
Reportedly, when the cast gave excessive script notes, writer Ken Levine and his partner rewrote scenes as Korean winter "cold shows," forcing everyone to stand around barrel fires in parkas while real temperatures reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why did Klinger wear dresses?
Corporal Maxwell Klinger, played by Jamie Farr, cross-dressed in an attempt to earn a Section 8 discharge, and he dropped the antics once he became company clerk.
Where did the writers get so many character names?
Reportedly, the writing staff struggled to name all the characters and borrowed names from the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers roster for season 7.
Did the set really burn down?
A brush fire destroyed most of the outdoor set near Malibu on October 9, 1982, just as production wrapped, and the fire was written into the finale’s story.
How many Emmys did M*A*S*H win?
The show earned 14 Emmy Awards from more than 100 nominations, including Alan Alda winning Outstanding Lead Actor in 1974 and 1982.
What happened to Henry Blake?
The season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry" was ranked #20 on TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes list in 1997, a rare moment where a beloved character did not make it home safely.
