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]”
Tag Archives: series
Script Spotlight 21: “End Run”
Flipping through my archive for a script to review this week, I ran across this script for the episode “End Run” (05 x 17). I was intrigued by the name on the cover, but initially, the neon green cover is what caught my attention! As I began to research the script and then rewatch theContinue reading “Script Spotlight 21: “End Run””
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””
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””
MishM*A*S*H 19: Banning M*A*S*H
When the series M*A*S*H debuted in 1972 on CBS, it was the third act in M*A*S*H reaching American audiences following the successful Robert Allan film and the Richard Hooker novel. However, M*A*S*H wasn’t only released in the United States, and it wasn’t an instant classic. In its first season M*A*S*H did poorly in the ratings,Continue reading “MishM*A*S*H 19: Banning M*A*S*H”
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””
Script Spotlight 19: “No Laughing Matter”
This week I chose a script from later in the series, “No Laughing Matter” (09×13). I don’t just have one script for this episode, I have two! One of the scripts, like several others in my collection, belonged to Albert Frankel, the men’s wardrobe director. The other script I got from the actress who usedContinue reading “Script Spotlight 19: “No Laughing Matter””
The M*A*S*H Historian 