By the premiere of season nine, M*A*S*H had moved to Monday nights on CBS. It was a tentpole series for the network, and the start of a new season was a major event. In a press release, CBS announced the season nine premiere episode would air on Monday, November 17, 1980. The episode, “The BestContinue reading “Press Pass 26: Season 9 Premiere”
Category Archives: Press Pass
Press Pass 25: Alda, Swit Win Emmys (1982)
M*A*S*H is a highly regarded series by its fans and in television history, but it was also a widely awarded series during its eleven year run. The series, its cast, and its production staff all won awards on many stages including at the Emmys, Golden Globes, Peoples’ Choice, and even the Peabody Awards. Following itsContinue reading “Press Pass 25: Alda, Swit Win Emmys (1982)”
Press Pass 24: Season 5 Preview Documents
Before the start of each season, 20th Century Fox Television sent a set of press release documents for M*A*S*H (see full press kits for season 10 and season 11). These press materials typically included information about the series, the premiere episode, and cast photos. For season five, I do not have a full set ofContinue reading “Press Pass 24: Season 5 Preview Documents”
Press Pass 23: Advance Program Information (Reruns)
UPDATE (8/14/2023): Thanks to Dan Harrison for adding an additional layer of context to this discussion. Broadcast year 1978-79 was the final year before M*A*S*H went into syndication, meaning that CBS was trying to cash in on M*A*S*H reruns as much as possible before they lost the exclusive rights to the series. There is aContinue reading “Press Pass 23: Advance Program Information (Reruns)”
Press Pass 22: “Mike Farrell: ‘Happy Actor'”
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 characterContinue reading “Press Pass 22: “Mike Farrell: ‘Happy Actor’””
Press Pass 21: “M*A*S*H Notes” [Updated]
UPDATED (6/13/2023): Thanks to Dan Harrison, I am able to answer some of the questions I posed in my original concluding paragraph. See the additional paragraph for more information on how “Dial Turner” really was! When 20th Century Fox Television distributed press releases, they were mostly anonymously written by someone (or a team) within PR.Continue reading “Press Pass 21: “M*A*S*H Notes” [Updated]”
Press Pass 20: “Burt Metcalfe Promotes Quartet to M*A*S*H Creative Positions”
In the summer of 1981, M*A*S*H was headed into its tenth season, and executive producer Burt Metcalfe had been at the helm of the show since Larry Gelbart left the series after the fourth season. Metcalfe had creative control, and this week’s press release announces some decisions he made in the show’s creative staff. ThisContinue reading “Press Pass 20: “Burt Metcalfe Promotes Quartet to M*A*S*H Creative Positions””
Press Pass 19: “M*A*S*H won’t Last Forever and Jamie Farr’s Preparing”
In October 1980, M*A*S*H had begun its ninth season and was humming along in the ratings. In the television world, however, there are not many shows that run beyond nine seasons. That reality was not missed by many of the M*A*S*H cast members, and in this 20th Century Fox Television Feature Story press release, weContinue reading “Press Pass 19: “M*A*S*H won’t Last Forever and Jamie Farr’s Preparing””
Press Pass 18: “M*A*S*H Move is Almost Like Starting New”
The first season of M*A*S*H was not a ratings success. Far from it, in fact. But the show’s second season was more successful and finished the year solidly in the top ten in ratings. While M*A*S*H did see some ratings success during the summer re-runs, it was CBS’s decisions to move the show from SundayContinue reading “Press Pass 18: “M*A*S*H Move is Almost Like Starting New””
Press Pass 17: “It’s ‘Goodbye, Farewell and Amen’ to M*A*S*H”
Tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the M*A*S*H finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.” It would be the most viewed television program ever to that point, and would gain critical success. The two-and-a-half hour finale ended the Korean War and allowed fans to say goodbye to their favorite characters. The last half hour of the finaleContinue reading “Press Pass 17: “It’s ‘Goodbye, Farewell and Amen’ to M*A*S*H””
The M*A*S*H Historian 