MishM*A*S*H 23: Licensing Conference Kit

Last month, I reviewed a Licensed Product Kit that was sent to retailers by 20th Century Fox Television highlighting the M*A*S*H licensed products that they could carry in store. This week, we look at the other side of the licensed products strategy by reviewing a packet from a M*A*S*H licensing conference held in 1981. This folderContinue reading “MishM*A*S*H 23: Licensing Conference Kit”

M*A*S*H-ish 7: 70th Anniversary of the End of the Korean War

On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with a ceasefire agreement being signed by representatives for South Korea, North Korea, China, and United Nations. The agreement was signed with the stipulation that the two sides would continue to negotiate and agree to a final peace treaty. Today, 70 years later, that treaty still doesContinue reading “M*A*S*H-ish 7: 70th Anniversary of the End of the Korean War”

MishM*A*S*H 22: Licensed Product Kit

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”

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””

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””