By the end of the M*A*S*H series run, the show had been successful in ratings, won dozens of awards, and had performed well in retail sales. There were countless licensed products for M*A*S*H that were sold beginning in the 1970s and through today. The height of the product popularity, however, was the early to mid-1980s.Continue reading “MishM*A*S*H 22: Licensed Product Kit”
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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’””
Script Spotlight 22: “Edwina”
This week, I pulled a script for what is probably one of the most consistently worst rated episode of the series. The episode “Edwina” (01×13) was one of the weakest episodes in season one, and there are a few weak episodes the first season. Today, the storyline would never get approved, and there was controversyContinue reading “Script Spotlight 22: “Edwina””
M*A*S*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts
When Richard Hooker published his novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, in 1968, 20th Century Fox bought the rights to produce a film. At the height of the Vietnam War, anti-war sentiment was high and a movie based on wise-cracking surgeons during the Korean War was a risky bet. When the film wasContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 6: MASH (1970) Scripts”
MishM*A*S*H 20: M*A*S*H DVDs from China
We’ve seen websites like Wish.com and AliExpress where you can buy direct from China products. The majority of the products are knockoffs of popular items, especially electronics. There are also a lot of bootleg DVDs available in that market. I do not recommend buying items in this way because in the end, the product youContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 20: M*A*S*H DVDs from China”
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 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 16: 1976 Emmy Award Nominations
Entering a new year, television show runners begin to turn their attention to award season, specifically the Emmy Awards. This was no different when M*A*S*H was on the air in the 1970s and early 1980s. In fact, the awards were even more important then because there were only three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC)Continue reading “Press Pass 16: 1976 Emmy Award Nominations”
MishM*A*S*H 5: Goodbye, Farewell and Amen Production Documents
February 28 is the 39th anniversary of “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” bringing M*A*S*H to a close. The finale broke viewership records and is often listed among the best series finales in the history of television. To celebrate, the next two weeks, let’s explore the production documents and script for the finale. Since the two andContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 5: Goodbye, Farewell and Amen Production Documents”
The M*A*S*H Historian 