From the M*A*S*H Library 59: “TV ’74” (Alan Alda)
What is it? Herz, Peggy. TV 74: The Stars – The Shows – The Action. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1973. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? This unique children’s book from 1973 profiled 16 different actors on newer shows. The book includes a chapter on Alan Alda, but there is…
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Press Pass 52: Burt Metcalfe Profile (1978)
In August 1978, the seventh season of M*A*S*H was about to debut on CBS. In addition to press releases from CBS and 20th Century Fox Television as a part of the lead up to the new season, it was not uncommon for cast members, producers, and directors of popular television…
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MishM*A*S*H 58: M*A*S*H Wrap Party Wine
On January 14, 1983, the entertainment world paused to celebrate the end of M*A*S*H. As the cast and crew filmed the penultimate episode of the series, “As Time Goes By” (11×15), hundreds of members of the press were on the set to capture the moment. Headlines around the world heralded…
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Script Spotlight 59: “Old Soldiers”
I was recently thinking about the cast of M*A*S*H and how, while they worked well together as an ensemble, there were episodes that highlighted the talents of each of them individually. Some great examples of this are David Ogden Stiers in “The Life You Save” (09×20), Loretta Swit in “The…
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From the M*A*S*H Library 58: “TV People” (1974)
What is it? Herz, Peggy. TV People. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1974. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? In the 1970s, Scholastic books that featured compilations of Peggy Herz’s interviews with popular celebrities and TV stars were popular sellers for the Scholastic Book Clubs. This volume features two interviews with…
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Press Pass 51: Cast Collage Photo (1976)
Most of the M*A*S*H press photos I have in the collection are posed cast photos, individual actor photos, or scenes from episodes. This press photo from 1976 is unique in that it features a collage of scenes from various episodes of M*A*S*H and highlights each of the main characters in…
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Script Spotlight 58: “Run for the Money”
I recently watched an episode of Cheers, and it was one of the infamous episodes featuring the rivalry between the Cheers gang and Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern. That led me to think about how, in M*A*S*H, the 4077th rarely challenged rival MASH units despite that being a central premise of…
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M*A*S*H-ish 19: Gary Burghoff Art Print (1994)
M*A*S*H is frequently lauded for having a talented, ensemble cast. Many of the actors have had successful careers outside of the series with prominent roles on stage, film, and television. A few of M*A*S*H’s actors had talents that went beyond acting. Larry Linville made teddy bears. Alan Alda has had…
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MishM*A*S*H 57: Wrap Party Invitation (1983)
February 28, 1983 was an important day in the history of television. On that night, when the M*A*S*H finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” aired on CBS, it became the most watched television event in history. To this day, it still holds the record as the most watched scripted episode of…
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From the M*A*S*H Library 57: “TV Album” (1978)
What is it? Herz, Peggy. TV Album. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1978. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? M*A*S*H was part of a rich era in the history of television, and children and teens made up a large part of the television audience. Herz places M*A*S*H in the context of the other…
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Press Pass 50: 15th Anniversary Press Kit (1987)
I have written about M*A*S*H press kits for season ten and season eleven in the past, and those kits were released as previews before those seasons aired on CBS. I was really surprised to find out that Twentieth Century Fox Television sent out a kit celebrating M*A*S*H’s 15th anniversary in…
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Script Spotlight 57: “War Co-Respondent”
Finding episodes to review each month can be a challenge. For some months, it is easy to find a connection between a holiday or event and an episode of M*A*S*H. For June’s Script Spotlight post, the episode came to me in a different way. I listen to some podcasts that…
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MishM*A*S*H 56: TV Guide Cover Art (1974)
In the 1970s, television fans primarily had two ways to find out what was going to air each week: their local newspaper and TV Guide magazine. TV Guide has been around since the 1950s, and it is still published today. Each issue listed what would air each night in local…
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From the M*A*S*H Library 56: “Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History”
What is it? LaPlaca, Laura and Ryan Lintelman, eds. Funny Stuff: How Comedy Shaped American History. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2026. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? M*A*S*H is part of the long history of television and comedy in American culture. This book places M*A*S*H in context of the…
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Press Pass 49: “Season 6 Press Releases (1977)”
As anticipation built for each new season of M*A*S*H, Twentieth Century Fox Television and CBS each promoted the series ahead of its fall premiere. I have previously written about press kits from Twentieth Century Fox Television for season ten and season eleven, but those kits were prepared and sent in…
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