In my opinion, there are three eras in the widely successful 11 year television series MASH, the story of a group of doctors and nurses at the 4077th who try to keep their humanity through the horrors of war.
The First Era, consisting of Seasons 1-3,is what many refer to as the golden years of the series. The first episode premiered on September 17, 1972, presenting itself, easily, as a comedy, using its irreverent humor and extreme undertones. The first season, however, ended up 46th in the ratings. The second season was about to change that. Instead of it premiering in the Sunday Evening slot, which they did in Season 1, they moved it to the Saturday Evening slot in between All In the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Shortly after the second season took off on September 15, 1973, it immediately became a hit and by the end of the third season, it boosted from 46th to 2nd in the ratings. MASH was a Huge Success! Season Three took off on September 10, 1974. However, it was apparent to some that by the middle of Season 3, McLean Stevenson, the man who played the crazy CO Henry Blake, wanted out. The Season Three finale"Abysinnia Henry" premiered on March 18, 1975. The show marked the departure of Henry, but it ended in shock, the shock which would forever change the series for years to come. Radar, the company clerk, came into the OR to say an announcement."Luitenant Colonal Henry Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors." this is also the final episode for Hawkeye's friend, Trapper. A new era of MASH had begun.
The second era is Seasons 4-8, known as the times of change. During this time period two more cast members and two producers would leave the show and the tone would radically change."Welcome to Korea" premiered on September 12, 1975. in this episode, we are introduced to Trapper's replacement, Captain BJ Hunnicut, and Henry Blake's replacement, Colonal Sherman Potter. Season four was, in a sense, a major turning point for MASH. Two of the three major characters have left and the tone had changed as well. Gone was the chaotic humor of the early days and in was a far more dramatic tone and mood. By the end of Season Four, one of the shows major crew members, Gene Reynolds, left the show. Season Five began as any other would, but someone was not a very happy person.Larry Linville, Frank Burns in MASH, was sick of being "Dumped On" after Gene Reynolds left after season Four. By the end of Season Five, Larry Linville was gone, along with another producer, Larry Gelbart. Season Six began with Frank being transferred and replaced with Charles Emerson Winchester III , a Harvard graduate, who was known as snobbish. Now, Alan Alda, the guy who plays Hawkeye Pierce, decides he wants to get more involved in production. So he becomes creative consultant and would later write,produce, and direct some of the later shows, which some believe would leave to it's eventual downfall. By Season Eight, the tone had once again dramatically changed. Also by Season Eight another character wanted out. Gary burghoff, who plays corporal Radar O'Rielly, decided he didn't want to do the show anymore, which lead to "Goodbye Radar" which premiered on October 8, 1979, in which the fourth and final cast member leaves the show. By the end of Season Eight, many believed that the show had begun to go on a nose dive.
The Third and final era, which is seasons 9-11, is what many consider the three worst seasons of the show. By this time, the show had gone from a sitcom to a drama. Alan Alda now had a strong grip on the show, causing him to make shows that show the horrors of war. People became immediately aware that the show has become more political, liberal, and rarely comical. The show has many times accused Alan Alda of "preaching" to the viewers. By Season ten, most of the cast and crew voted to make season ten their last. But CBS and 20th Century Fox wanted one more season so they can make a grand finale. The television finale,"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" aired on February 28, 1983 to an audience of over 77% of people watching it that night, making the finale the most watched scheduled television program in history. The 2 1/2 hour finale began with Hawkeye in a mental institution because he carried the memory of a woman who smothers her child to save the lives of fifty others. Hawkeye eventually gets out and not too long after he returns, the peace treaty was signed and the war was finally over. Everybody has left when BJ and hawkeye say their final goodbyes. As Hawkeye's chopper lifts off, the word"Goodbye" is marked off in stone, and he flies aways.
Thank you MASH for 11 years of comedy and drama.
The First Era, consisting of Seasons 1-3,is what many refer to as the golden years of the series. The first episode premiered on September 17, 1972, presenting itself, easily, as a comedy, using its irreverent humor and extreme undertones. The first season, however, ended up 46th in the ratings. The second season was about to change that. Instead of it premiering in the Sunday Evening slot, which they did in Season 1, they moved it to the Saturday Evening slot in between All In the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Shortly after the second season took off on September 15, 1973, it immediately became a hit and by the end of the third season, it boosted from 46th to 2nd in the ratings. MASH was a Huge Success! Season Three took off on September 10, 1974. However, it was apparent to some that by the middle of Season 3, McLean Stevenson, the man who played the crazy CO Henry Blake, wanted out. The Season Three finale"Abysinnia Henry" premiered on March 18, 1975. The show marked the departure of Henry, but it ended in shock, the shock which would forever change the series for years to come. Radar, the company clerk, came into the OR to say an announcement."Luitenant Colonal Henry Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. There were no survivors." this is also the final episode for Hawkeye's friend, Trapper. A new era of MASH had begun.
The second era is Seasons 4-8, known as the times of change. During this time period two more cast members and two producers would leave the show and the tone would radically change."Welcome to Korea" premiered on September 12, 1975. in this episode, we are introduced to Trapper's replacement, Captain BJ Hunnicut, and Henry Blake's replacement, Colonal Sherman Potter. Season four was, in a sense, a major turning point for MASH. Two of the three major characters have left and the tone had changed as well. Gone was the chaotic humor of the early days and in was a far more dramatic tone and mood. By the end of Season Four, one of the shows major crew members, Gene Reynolds, left the show. Season Five began as any other would, but someone was not a very happy person.Larry Linville, Frank Burns in MASH, was sick of being "Dumped On" after Gene Reynolds left after season Four. By the end of Season Five, Larry Linville was gone, along with another producer, Larry Gelbart. Season Six began with Frank being transferred and replaced with Charles Emerson Winchester III , a Harvard graduate, who was known as snobbish. Now, Alan Alda, the guy who plays Hawkeye Pierce, decides he wants to get more involved in production. So he becomes creative consultant and would later write,produce, and direct some of the later shows, which some believe would leave to it's eventual downfall. By Season Eight, the tone had once again dramatically changed. Also by Season Eight another character wanted out. Gary burghoff, who plays corporal Radar O'Rielly, decided he didn't want to do the show anymore, which lead to "Goodbye Radar" which premiered on October 8, 1979, in which the fourth and final cast member leaves the show. By the end of Season Eight, many believed that the show had begun to go on a nose dive.
The Third and final era, which is seasons 9-11, is what many consider the three worst seasons of the show. By this time, the show had gone from a sitcom to a drama. Alan Alda now had a strong grip on the show, causing him to make shows that show the horrors of war. People became immediately aware that the show has become more political, liberal, and rarely comical. The show has many times accused Alan Alda of "preaching" to the viewers. By Season ten, most of the cast and crew voted to make season ten their last. But CBS and 20th Century Fox wanted one more season so they can make a grand finale. The television finale,"Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" aired on February 28, 1983 to an audience of over 77% of people watching it that night, making the finale the most watched scheduled television program in history. The 2 1/2 hour finale began with Hawkeye in a mental institution because he carried the memory of a woman who smothers her child to save the lives of fifty others. Hawkeye eventually gets out and not too long after he returns, the peace treaty was signed and the war was finally over. Everybody has left when BJ and hawkeye say their final goodbyes. As Hawkeye's chopper lifts off, the word"Goodbye" is marked off in stone, and he flies aways.
Thank you MASH for 11 years of comedy and drama.