A question about M*A*S*H (tv series)...

[DerekG]

I'm a youngin', but M*A*S*H has become one of my favorite television shows. But like many other fans, I must admit that the series got a little preachy in its last few seasons. In one respect, this was good. Each character evolved over time and none were spared from the horrors of war (the final, masterful episode hits this point home). The bad news...most of these episodes aren't easy to watch.

A question: The last two years of the program were the most outspokenly liberal--could the Reagan presidency have accounted for this? His inauguration was in January '81--were the writers (especially Alan Alda) consciously attempting to counter the conservative movement that was looming on the horizon?

[boobooday]

1. I think I've seen every episode

I don't think that Alan Alda was writing until later in the series.

I met one of the writers, John Rappaport. It was apparently considered very dangerous to make a "sitcom" about an unpopular war/police action (if you've seen the movie, it is much more political than the early episodes of the series). When the show first started, they kept it mild. As they built a loyal audience, the writers began to take more chances as far as addressing a "message."

A truly breakthrough show, like "All in the Family."

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Torgo4]

3. Although "Saint Hawkeye" got pretty tiresome!

They made Alda's character such a surgical saviour, the piety was a little overweening.

The series lost it's comedic edge when Larry Linville (Frank Burns) left! That's when it ran out of gas!

[HawkerHurricane]

4. Must disagree...

Frank Burns (and the jokes played against him) were never funny, just annoying. Replacing Burns with Winchester gave us a character I liked to see deflated, but could still sympathize with. Likewise, the replacement of Lt.Col. Blake with Col. Potter helped the series. Both Potter and Winchester were more believable characters.

Of course, the earlier episodes where Hawkeye was always a perfect surgeon were annoying, too... so I agree with you there.

[NightTrain]

5. Couldn't have put it better myself!

I have to admit, though, I liked the series better when Radar was company clerk and Klinger paraded around in dresses.

[HawkerHurricane]

6. Whoops, I meant to mention Radar...

His leaving left a gap that wasn't filled by a better character, unlike the earlier leavings.

As an aside, did anyone else notice that the guys who left M.A.S.H. had thier careers go down in flames...

[boobooday]

7. Winchester was much more three dimensional

Frank was more of a Barney Fife character.


http://www.wgoeshome.com

[lolly]

9. A worthy opponent

I think the fact that Winchester, stuffy and sometimes as clueless as he was, was a BETTER surgeon than Hawkeye, and pretty good at getting his licks in, made the show better. The years with him were better than anything with Frank.

[DieboldMustDie]

8. They should have left Klinger in drag...

even after he became company clerk.   Never understood why they didn't. :shrug:

[lolly]

10. Farr wanted out of role

Jamie Farr--I think that's the actor's name--felt he was just a "one-joke sight gag" and wanted to do some real stuff.

His company clerk wasn't as fun as Radar (by the way, did you know that Big Bird's teddy bear is named Radar, after him?), but I think he did bring his own style, some new storylines.

[mantis49]

15. I loved Winchester! n/t

[DerekG]

12. Although Burns was a wonderful character...

I think Winchester was far more nuanced--the patrician to Hawkeye's anarchist.

While I like the fact Burns was a sociopathic right-winger, the writers made a vital mistake in making him cowardly and (professionally) unskilled. There were times when I actually felt sorry for Frank--the guy had no chance against Hawkeye and Trapper.

[m-jean03]

14. Saint Hawkeye can inspect my tonsils

anyday. :) I never get tired of him. Mmm mm.

[NightTrain]

2. Interesting question

Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to it! :)

Whatever the case, if you love M*A*S*H even half as much as I do, then I recommend this website:

http://www.mash4077.co.uk/index.php

[lolly]

11. Thanks!

For the website.

As for "Saint Hawkeye," hasn't Alda made a conscious effort to play total jerks ever since M*A*S*H? I have mixed feelings about how successful he's been at it, but he sure has been trying!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. As a writer, this show never fails to blow me out of the water

The way they packed into so much humor and drama into an half-hour show is astounding. Definitely in the top ten all-time best TV shows as far as I am concerned.