M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H was an American drama series that originally aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983. The series was based on the 1970 Robert Altman film titled MASH. Both the series and the film are based on a 1968 novel by H. Richard Hornberger titled MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors.

Fast Facts:

1. Creator: H. Richard Hornberger
2. Developed by Larry Gelbart
3. M*A*S*H stands for Mobile-Army-Surgical-Hospital
4. Based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors
5. Original Run: September 1972 - February 1983
6. Original Channel: CBS
7. Currently aired in syndication on TV Land
8. Starring: Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr
9. Spinoffs: AfterMASH and W*A*L*T*E*R
10. Theme Song: "Suicide is Painless" composed by Johnny Mandel
11. Distribution rights owned by the Hallmark Channel

Background

After a successful string of novels in the late 1960s and the popularity of the 1970 theatrical release of the film, CBS television executives green-lit a comedy series called M*A*S*H in 1972. The series would stay on the air for 11 seasons, and would become one of the most watched and honored in American television history. The story followed the exploits of the doctors and staff members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

The series was not only a regular fixture in the Nielsen Top 20 ratings, but it's series finale episode, Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen, drew the largest audience in American television history with over 106 million viewers. The series also won 14 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, including actor Alan Alda winning three for acting, one for writing, and one for directing. Actors Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, and Harry Morgan also won Emmys during the series.

The Stellar Cast

Actors that appeared during the entire run of the series included: Alan Alda as Captain B.F. "Hawkeye" Pierce; Loretta Swit as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan; William Christopher as Father John Mulcahy; and Jamie Farr as Corporal Maxwell Klinger. As for the rest of the group: Hawkeye's original bunkmates in "The Swamp" were Wayne Rogers as Captain John "Trapper" McIntyre and Larry Linville as Major Frank Burns; they were replaced during the series run by Mike Farrell as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt and David Ogden Stiers as Major Charles Winchester; the original commanding officer was McLean Stevenson as Liuetenant Colonel Henry Blake; he was replaced by Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman Potter; and the only actor to reprise his role from the film, Gary Burghoff, played Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly for the first 8 seasons.

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