As we begin September, we are quickly approaching fall. In 1976, this meant it was almost primetime television premiere season, and M*A*S*H began its fifth season that year. That premiere episode was “Bug Out” (05×01), and it was the second season in a row that the season premiered with an hour episode. This episode isContinue reading “Script Spotlight 24: “Bug Out””
Tag Archives: season
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”
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)”
Script Spotlight 20: “Check-Up”
As we roll into May, I was struggling to find an episode to review this week. The first one that came to mind was “Springtime” (03×05), but I don’t have a script for it. However, I do have the script for the next episode, “Check-Up” (03×06), so I pulled it out to look through. IContinue reading “Script Spotlight 20: “Check-Up””
Press Pass 13: “Ninth-Season Premiere Episode [Letters]”
Released October 28, 1980, this press release announced the season nine premiere episode, “Letters.” However, if you look at the DVDs and any M*A*S*H episode guide that is in broadcast order, you quickly notice that is wrong! According to the release, on November 17, 1980, M*A*S*H would premiere on CBS with that episode. However, “Letters”Continue reading “Press Pass 13: “Ninth-Season Premiere Episode [Letters]””
Script Spotlight 11: “Henry in Love”
Early scripts from M*A*S*H are pretty hard to find, especially season one. In season two, the series began to hit its stride, and with Larry Gelbart firmly at the helm, the show seemed to start over from season two, episode one. They started to write episodes that didn’t just focus on Hawkeye and the doctorsContinue reading “Script Spotlight 11: “Henry in Love””
Press Pass 10: Season 1 Promo Images
This is a bonus post this week to make up for the July 4th holiday. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the M*A*S*H pilot episode, I started looking through my collection of press releases and press photos to see if I had anything from season one. Materials from the first season are very hardContinue reading “Press Pass 10: Season 1 Promo Images”
Press Pass 3: Season 10 Press Kit
In the history of television, there are countless series that don’t get renewed for a second season. In 1981, it was a major accomplishment that M*A*S*H was beginning its tenth season. As the season was about to begin in October 1981, Twentieth Century Fox Television and CBS sent out a press kit to hype theContinue reading “Press Pass 3: Season 10 Press Kit”
Script Spotlight 2: “Hey, Look Me Over”
This month’s Script Spotlight is for the episode “Hey, Look Me Over” from season 11 (11×01). This episode is the first episode of season 11, but it is interesting to note the date of the cover of the script: March 22, 1982. This episode was originally intended for season 10, which we can tell basedContinue reading “Script Spotlight 2: “Hey, Look Me Over””
Press Pass 1: Season 11 Press Kit
Before the days of the internet and social media, production companies such as 20th Century-Fox Television didn’t communicate directly with the consumers of their television shows. They relied on publications such as TV Guide and local newspapers to run stories about new shows and the latest season of a series. For M*A*S*H, there is noContinue reading “Press Pass 1: Season 11 Press Kit”
The M*A*S*H Historian 