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””
Tag Archives: fox
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]”
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”
From the M*A*S*H Library 20: “Three Magical Miles”
What is it? Rooney, Brian. Three Magical Miles: L.A.’s Amazing Historical Neighborhood, Fourth Edition. Canada: Friesens, 2018. Why should M*A*S*H fans care? Rooney’s book offers a glimpse into the history of the area surrounding Malibu Creek State Park and what was the Fox Ranch. The book explores the area’s M*A*S*H connection in addition to the history ofContinue reading “From the M*A*S*H Library 20: “Three Magical Miles””
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 12: “The Move that was ‘Almost Permanent'”
The first episode of season five is called “Bug Out,” and in it, the 4077th has to pack everything up and move down the road. We see how much work and effort went in to moving a MASH unit, but what I am sure many fans don’t know is that M*A*S*H almost had to bugContinue reading “Press Pass 12: “The Move that was ‘Almost Permanent’””
MishM*A*S*H 9: M*A*S*H Video Games (1983)
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, video games were gaining in popularity. 20th Century Fox joined in on the action by creating a division called Fox Video Games. The idea was to create games for popular platforms using Fox’s intellectual property. At the time, many studios would license their IP to other video gameContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 9: M*A*S*H Video Games (1983)”
MishM*A*S*H 7: Bradley Time Watches and Concept Drawings
M*A*S*H has spun off countless licensed products over the last fifty years, and it isn’t too often you get to see the finished products along with some of the documentation from the development process. This week, let’s take a look at two watches produced by Bradley Time Division (at the time part of Elgin). WeContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 7: Bradley Time Watches and Concept Drawings”
The M*A*S*H Historian 