M*A*S*H Headlines 6: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” Gets Mixed Reviews

It has been over 42 year since the record-breaking M*A*S*H finale aired on CBS. It ranks as an important moment in the history of television as over 125 million watched the finale in the United States alone. The finale was a two and a half hour movie in deference to Fox and CBS because they didn’t want the M*A*S*H goodbye to be a half hour show that would run in syndication. That made the finale an event that would rarely show in reruns ensuring that M*A*S*H had a long and healthy life in syndication. It certainly has since M*A*S*H is still running in syndication more than 53 years after it debuted! The series has achieved legend status, and the finale is often praised for how it brought America together. In the years since the night of February 28, 1983, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” has consistently been ranked among the best television finales in the history of the medium. But, in the days after it aired in 1983, the reviews were mixed. Critics said it was too long and overly dramatic, a common criticism of the later seasons of M*A*S*H. Others praised M*A*S*H for sticking to its ethos and ending the war in a way that was respectful of the characters and fans. Despite the critics in the press, the American public largely liked the finale and there were hundreds of “M*A*S*HBashes” held across the U.S. Let’s take a look back to the days following the M*A*S*H finale and learn more about the initial reaction to “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.”

After reviewing more than seventy newspapers from across the United States and Canada for this post, I discovered there was a diverse set of reactions to the finale including articles about the development of AfterMASH. The Sacramento Bee had a headline stating, “M*A*S*H Sequel on the Drawing Boards at CBS.” M*A*S*H hadn’t even concluded yet when this article was published, and there was already speculation of a spin-off! In the lead up to the finale, there were several interesting pieces about doctors and nurses at real MASH units in Korea. The Mayfield Messenger had an article that stated, “Couple in Real MASH Unit Remember it a Little Differently.” The Statesman Journal featured an article about the portrayal of Koreans in M*A*S*H stating, “Koreans Say M*A*S*H Painted Distorted Picture.” This is true. The South Korea of the 1970s and 1980s looked very different from the Korea of the 1950s, and that is why M*A*S*H was banned from South Korean televisions. Of course, the most common article after the finale aired was discussing the ratings. Headlines such as “Final M*A*S*H Breaks all Ratings Records” (Anchorage Daily News) were common across the country. However, there was some strong critical analysis of the finale in the days that followed February 28th.

Despite the strong ratings, the M*A*S*H finale did receive a fair share of criticism. Trish Worren didn’t mince words in her review saying, “Gone was the razor sharp writing, the tight editing, the stories of personal conflict. Most sadly missed was the humor, which the surgeons had used to battle the confusion which surrounded them.” The lack of humor in the episode was a common critique. Janice Grauberger added, “M*A*S*H‘s characters, always so willing and able to bring a laugh, because so vulnerable it destroyed the staunch verdict of survival they have stood for all these years.” The strongest criticism was from noted syndicated communist Gary Deeb who argued that the M*A*S*H finale was not only badly written, but badly acted. His column was tough, and he concluded saying that the M*A*S*H finale came “four years too late.” Tom Dorsey took a different approach to M*A*S*H and blamed the lackluster reaction to the finale on the intense build-up to it. He argued that “M*A*S*H‘s swan song Monday night was a victim of media hype and great expectations.” And he went on to add that no show would have been able to hold up to the amount of hype that CBS, Fox, and the media as a whole had built in anticipation of the finale.

Not all of the feedback about “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” was that harsh, in fact, there were just as many positive reviews from critics and the general public alike. Michael Dougan argued that the mixture of sadness and happiness in the finale was justified because “this was, after all, the end of the war. Though saying goodbye, they were nothing but happy.” The personnel of the 4077th were happy to be going home, but sad to be leaving each other. It is a sentiment that is difficult to show, and one that is hard to empathize with unless you have experienced it. David Connelly argued that what mad the finale, and M*A*S*H, successful were the relationships the show explored. “The relationships between and among the people on M*A*S*H team kept the series alive and healthy,” he said. Gary Shellman praised the finale for showing how human relationships were magnified under shared adversity. He said, “For everyone at the 4077th, the joy of the cease-fire and the excitement about going home were tempered by the abrupt cutoff of the love, companionship, and sense of sharing that was necessary for surviving the deplorable task of patching together the shattered victims of war.” I agree with his sentiment completely in that only M*A*S*H could have shown the dichotomy of both being happy and sad that a war ended. In fact, Connelly concluded his story on the finale by simply saying, “This may have been the first time an entire country mourned the end of a war.”

As I went through the newspapers, I was surprised to find the number of “M*A*S*H Bashes” held across the country to celebrate the finale. Fans gathered in bars, hotel convention centers, and restaurants to watch the finale with fellow fans. There were costume contests, raffles, door prizes, food, drinks, and just about everything you’d expect to see on New Year’s Eve, but it was February 28th! I found articles about M*A*S*H Bashes held in just about every state including California, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and across Canada. Reading these local stories and the fan reactions, there isn’t any of the negative comments heard from the “professional critics” that published in the newspapers. I suspect that the party atmosphere added to the comrade and enjoyment of the finale in a way that cannot be replicated watching it with a critical eye as you are up against a publishing deadline. After reading what the critics had to say about “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” it was refreshing to read the public’s sentiment.

If there was one thing that everyone agreed on regarding the finale was the cost of and the number of advertisements in the finale. The ads during the M*A*S*H did cost more than the Super Bowl of 1983, but both of these complaints seem quaint in 2025. The actual runtime of ads during the finale was roughly only a half hour out of the two and a half hour long broadcast. But it is impossible to please everyone. There will always be criticisms, both fair and unfair. But what there is no denying that M*A*S*H did something special in 1983. It brought together hundreds of millions of people from across the country and the world. People from all walks of life tuned it. Fans and non-fans alike had to see how M*A*S*H ended. While there are Super Bowls that have a higher viewer count than M*A*S*H, the population has grown since 1983, so the percentage of the population watching the Super Bowl today is still far below the percentage that watched M*A*S*H. It’s an event that truly won’t be replicated. As I wrote in my Season 11 Wrap-Up last month, I have my own criticisms of the finale, but I will maintain my argument that the last half hour of that finale is the best half of television ever written because the emotion felt on the screen was real. The characters and actors were saying goodbye to each other, and us. That raw human emotion overpowers the weaknesses of the rest of “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.”

Newspaper Bibliography

• “Area Toasts M*A*S*H Finale.” The Daily Register. March 1, 1983, A5.
• The Associated Press. “251 Episodes Later, Korean War is Over.” Asbury Park Press. March 1, 1983, B7.
• The Associated Press. “America Celebrates M*A*S*H Finale.” The Times Leader. March 1, 1983, 5A.
• The Associated Press. “CBS Wins Ratings Race, February Sweeps.” Tallahassee Democrat. March 3, 1983, 11C.
• The Associated Press. “Farewell Episode May Shatter Ratings Record.” Spokane Chronicle. March 1, 1983, 19.
• The Associated Press. “Final M*A*S*H Episode True to Spirit.” The Glasgow Daily Times. March 1, 1983, 6.
• The Associated Press. “Final M*A*S*H Show Sends 4077th Home.” Seymour Daily Tribune. March 1, 1983, 11.
• The Associated Press. “Final M*A*S*H Takes Lions Share of Audience.” Casper Star-Tribune. March 3, 1983, D9.
• The Associated Press. “Humor at 4077th was Shakespearean.” Asbury Park Press. March 1, 1983, B7.
• The Associated Press. “Initial Figures Say M*A*S*H Finale Set Ratings Record.” The Albuquerque Tribune. March 1, 1983, A8.
• The Associated Press. “Koreans Say M*A*S*H Painted Distorted Picture.” Statesman Journal. March 1, 1983, 1A.
• The Associated Press. “Last M*A*S*H.” The Columbus Enquirer. March 1, 1983, A1-A2. 
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Cast Sees Episode Together.” The Columbus Enquirer. March 1, 1983, A2.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Finale Draws Largest Audience Ever.” Intelligencer Journal. March 9, 1983, 20.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Finale is Record.” Evening Express. March 2, 1983, 4.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Finale Tops Ratings.” The Edmonton Journal. March 2, 1983, B6.
• The Associated Press. “M*A*S*H Makes CBS No. 1.” Wisconsin State Journal. March 3, 1983, 11.
• The Associated Press. “Nation Fondly Says Goodbye to 4077th.” The Wichita Eagle-Beacon. March 1, 1983, 6A.
• The Associated Press. “Out in Style.” The Sumter Daily Item. March 1, 1983, 1A – 2A.
• The Associated Press. “Peace Marks end of M*A*S*H Series.” Great Falls Tribune. March 1, 1983, 2A.
• The Associated Press. “Real MASH Doctor Remembers War’s Folly.” Seymour Daily Tribune. March 1, 1983, 11.
• The Associated Press. “Show’s Fans Tune in to Watch as Peace Arrives on M*A*S*H.” The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 1, 1983, A2.
• “Bay Area M*A*S*H Bashes Snafued by Storm.” Oakland Tribune. March 1, 1983, A7.
• Bednarski, P. J. “A Farewell to M*A*S*H.” Public Opinion. February 28, 1983, 15.
• Belcher, Walt. “M*A*S*H: Last Day, Last Memories.” The Tampa Tribune. February 21, 1983, 1D.
• Belcher, Walt. “More M*A*S*H More of the Time.” The Tampa Tribune. February 21, 1983, 1D.
• Boone, Mike. “M*A*S*H Gone but ‘Scissors Caper’ Controversy Lingers.” The Gazette. March 2, 1983, C2.
• Brown, Marc. “Goodbye, Farewell…and Amen.” Tallahassee Democrat. March 1, 1983, 1A-2A.
• The Canadian Press. “Fans Bid Goodbye to Old TV Friend M*A*S*H.” Red Deer Advocate. March 1, 1983, 5B.
• The Canadian Press. “M*A*S*H Bashes Mark Show’s Finale.” The Standard. March 1, 1983, 1.
• The Canadian Press. “M*A*S*H Fans Across Canada, U.S. Join in Final Salute.” Saint John Times Globe. March 1, 1983, 5.
• Carman, John. “M*A*S*H Fadeout Guns Down J.R.” The Atlanta Constitution. March 3, 1983, 1B.
• Chellgren, Mark R. “Couple in a ‘Real’ MASH Unit Remember it a Little Differently.” The Mayfield Messenger. March 1, 1983, 2.
• Chellgren, Mark R. “Former MASH Physician Not Interested in Final Show. The Winchester Sun. March 1, 1983, 5.
• Chellgren, Mark R. “Hoosiers Recall Real MASH Unit.” Journal and Courier. March 1, 1983, C4.
• Christopher, William. “The Padre has a Few Words.” Asbury Park Press. March 1, 1983, B7.
• Connelly, David. “M*A*S*H Goes out with Style, Poignancy.” The Shreveport Journal. March 1, 1983, 6B.
• Curtright, Bob. “Farewell to M*A*S*H Spells Hello to Big Ad Bucks.” The Wichita Eagle-Beacon. February 28, 1983, 11A.
• Dagley, John. “Viewers Raise Glasses to Show.” The Columbus Enquirer. March 1, 1983, A1-A2.
• Deeb, Gary. “125 Million Treated to Bad M*A*S*H Finale.” St. Cloud Times. March 5, 1983, 16D.
• Deeb, Gary. “M*A*S*H Finale Nothing but a Big Bomb.” Kenosha News. March 3, 1983, 20.
• Deeb, Gary. “M*A*S*H Sequel on the Drawing Boards at CBS.” The Sacramento Bee. February 7, 1983, D18.
• Dorsey, Tom. “M*A*S*H Finale: The Anticipation was Better.” The Courier-Journal. March 2, 1983, C2.
• Dougan, Michael. “A Sort of Sad Farewell.” The San Francisco Examiner. March 1, 1983, aB.
• Fosdick, Dean. “M*A*S*H Exit Tops Ratings.” The Shreveport Journal. March 1, 1983, 6B.
• Fosdick, Dean. “M*A*S*H Finale Attracts High Ratings.” Tallahassee Democrat. March 2, 1983, 11C.
• “G*O*O*D*B*Y*E.” Reno Gazette-Journal. February 28, 1983, D1.
• Grauberger, Janice. “M*A*S*H Finale Bombs.” Star-Herald. March 3, 1983, 4.
• Hanson, Tom. “M*A*S*H: Parties Give Series an Appropriate Sendoff.” Spokane Chronicle. March 1, 1983, 19.
• Hickey, William. “Finale Not up to M*A*S*H Par.” The Plain Dealer. March 1, 1983, 5B.
• Hill, Mary and Kay Jones. “M*A*S*H Finale Draws a Crowd.” Kenosha News. March 1, 1983, 1, 3.
• Hill, Michael. “Reverberating Through a Decade of Our Memories.” The Evening Sun. March 1, 1983, C1.
• Jory, Tom. “Final M*A*S*H Breaks all Ratings Records.” Anchorage Daily News. March 3, 1983, C15.
• Kehoe, Tom. “Wine, Tears Flow at one of Largest Salutes in the Country.” The Courier-News. March 1, 1983, B1.
• Knott, John. “M*A*S*H Wins Battle for Viewers.” The Commercial Appeal. March 2, 1983, B7.
• Kraft, Scott. “A Rash of Farewells on Taps for M*A*S*H Finale.” The Fresno Bee. February 28, 1983, A2.
• Krebs, Sam. “M*A*S*H R.I.P.” The Germantown News. March 3, 1983, 2.
• Lawrence, Keith. “Last Kentuckian Wounded Watches War End — Again.” Messenger-Inquirer. March 1, 1983, 1A, 10A.
• “M*A*S*H is Bid Farewell Amid Reminiscence of Wars.” Akron Beacon Journal. March 1, 1983, A8.
• “M*A*S*H Bids Adieu While Fans Hold Farewell B*A*S*Hes.” The Daily Oklahoman. March 1, 1983, 8.
• “M*A*S*H Finale Sets TV Record.” The Pittsburgh Press. March 3, 1983, C18.
• “M*A*S*H Finale Top Video Show?” Merced Sun-Star. March 1, 1983, 1.
• “M*A*S*H Finale Wouldn’t be Right Without Trivia.” Reno Gazette-Journal. February 28, 1983, D1.
• “M*A*S*H Meant Memories to Illinois Woman.” Southern Illinoisan. March 2, 1983, 22.
• “M*A*S*H Parties Pay Tribute to Show.” The Glasgow Daily Times. March 1, 1983, 6.
• McCombs, Al. “Attending the M*A*S*H Bash.” Chino Champion. March 4, 1983, 20.
• Navarro, Mireya. “The M*A*S*H Farewell Fetes: Blood, Tears.” The San Francisco Examiner. March 1, 1983, A3.
• New York Times. “Hawkeye Bombs Competition; Final Show Likely to Beat J.R.” Southern Illinoisan. March 2, 1983, 22.
• “No ‘Hanky-Panky’ in Real M*A*S*H Unit.” Asbury Park Press. March 1, 1983, B7.
• Penk, Walt. “M*A*S*H Fans Couldn’t Let Pals Leave without a Party.” Statesman Journal. March 1, 1983, 1A.
• Republic Wire Services. “War Series Fades Away as M*A*S*H Fans Salute.” The Arizona Republic. March 1, 1983, C8.
• Roser, Mary Ann. “Armistice Night.” Messenger-Inquirer. March 1, 1983, 1A, 10A.
• Rothenberg, Fred. “Americans go Partying to Mark the End of M*A*S*H.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 1, 1983, 22.
• Rothenberg, Fred. “Final Episode was a National Event.” Messenger-Inquirer. March 1, 1983, 10A.
• Rothenberg, Fred. “The Korean War is Over!” Statesman Journal. March 1, 1983, 1A.
• Rothenberg, Fred. “The Nation Raises a Toast to the End of a War.” Tallahassee Democrat. March 1, 1983, 2A.
• Shales, Tom. “M*A*S*H Always Better than it Had to Be.” Tucson Citizen. March 1, 1983, 9E.
• Shales, Tom. “M*A*S*H Better than it Had to Be.” Reno Gazette-Journal. February 25, 1983, 4D.
• Shales, Tom. “M*A*S*H is Lovingly Mustered Out with Full Honors.” Public Opinion. February 28, 1983, 15.
• Shellman, Gary. “Farewell to M*A*S*H: People Under Adversity Prevail. The Oshkosh Northwestern. March 1, 1983, 1-2.
• “So you Think you Know M*A*S*H Trivia?” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 1, 1983, 22.
• Staff. “Just What the Doctor Ordered.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 1, 1983, 1A – 2A.
• Theobold, Redord. “I’ll Miss M*A*S*H…and Other Mish-Mash.” The Daily Sentinel. February 27, 1983, 34.
• United Press International. “125 Million Tune in for M*A*S*H Finale.” The Orlando Sentinel. March 3, 1983, A9.
• United Press International. “Early Figures are Smashing.” Richmond Times-Dispatch. March 2, 1983, C4.
• United Press International. “Final M*A*S*H Episode Tonight Expected to Attract Huge Audience.” The Berkshire Eagle. February 28, 1983, 13.
• United Press International. “Originals View Ending with Mixed Reaction.” The Berkshire Eagle. February 28, 1983, 13.
• Walker, Dana. “4077th in Farewell.” Kenosha News. March 1, 1983, 2.
• Wilkinson, Bud. “M*A*S*H Finale Attracts Media Blitz, Megabucks.” The Arizona Republic. February 28, 1983, B9.
• Wisehart, Bob. “Tomorrow’s M*A*S*H Finale Could Make Television History.” The Morning Call. February 27, 1983, C18.
• Wolf, Mark. “Charlotteans Give High Ratings to M*A*S*H Finale, Winds.” The Charlotte Observer. April 6, 1983, 15A.
• Worn, Trish. “…But the Show was a Flop.” Red Deer Advocate. March 1, 1983, 5B.