Season four was a pivotal year for M*A*S*H. At the end of season three, many fans were upset about the decision to kill off Lt. Col. Henry Blake. Then, over the summer, it was announced that M*A*S*H would also have to replace Trapper since Wayne Rogers had decided to leave the show. Introducing one character into a successful series is difficult, but it had been done. Bringing in two new characters at the beginning of a new season must have felt impossible. But M*A*S*H did it. Introducing a new character to audiences is a challenge, but imagine being the actor playing the new character. What must that feel like to come into a successful series? In this undated press release, we learn a little about what the experience was like for Mike Farrell as he introduced the world to Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt.
Farrell had the impossible task of bring to live a character who was replacing the beloved Swamp rat, Trapper John McIntyre. But the character of B.J. was vastly different from Trapper while serving as a friend to Hawkeye and a foil to Maj. Frank Burns. Jumping into a successful show and mixing with established characters can be exciting, but it can also be terrifying. Farrell was up to the challenge. “The role is going great and is getting better. It was a little tough to get into the role, but the other members of the the cast are so professional that the made it easy for me,” Farrell said. The openness of the cast to Farrell joining, I believe, was the key to the success of the addition of B.J and Harry Morgan’s Col. Potter. The transition could have been rough, but the cast and crew wanted the show to succeed, and Farrell admitted, “I look forward to going to work every day.” What a great way to feel about your new job!
This release is undated, but it seems like it was released around the time of the season four premiere episode as that was when B.J. was introduced. Again, this was no easy feat. Adding a new character and immediately fitting in is a challenge, but I believe this press release offers a hint as to why Farrell was able to jump in. He was a fan of the show. “I’m not an avid television viewer, but I wouldn’t miss M*A*S*H,” he admitted. How many times have we heard an actor admit that they had never seen an episode of a show before joining? Sometimes that works, but M*A*S*H was an ensemble show, so I believe the fact he was a already a fan of the show helped him jump right in since he was already familiar with the series’ characters. The title of the release calls Farrell a “Happy Actor,” and joining a show he was already a fan of must have been a dream come true as he admits, “It is still difficult for me to believe I am now part of it.”
The M*A*S*H Historian 