M*A*S*H
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May 30th, 2011 at 1:51:17 AM
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This show came on when I was 23 and went off when I was 34. People who weren't around then don't know what a monster hit this show was. It was in the top ten for 9 of its 11 years, and the final episode was the most watched TV program in history for 28 years, until it was barely bested by a Superbowl in 2010. Most of its stars are in their 70's now, Harry Morgan is 95.
I haven't seen it in at least 10 years and have been watching reruns lately. It came on almost 40 years ago and hasn't aged at all. The comedy is still funny, the stories are relevant, the characters are believable. I don't know any other shows from that era I can say that about. It went out on top, #3 in the ratings, the stars were just getting too old for their parts and the Korean War only lasted 3 years, not 12 or 15. Though Hogan's Hero's got by with having most of the episodes for the 6 season show happen in the winter of 1942-43. Towards the end, it was 1944, but most of the show was in winter, 42-43.
I haven't seen it in at least 10 years and have been watching reruns lately. It came on almost 40 years ago and hasn't aged at all. The comedy is still funny, the stories are relevant, the characters are believable. I don't know any other shows from that era I can say that about. It went out on top, #3 in the ratings, the stars were just getting too old for their parts and the Korean War only lasted 3 years, not 12 or 15. Though Hogan's Hero's got by with having most of the episodes for the 6 season show happen in the winter of 1942-43. Towards the end, it was 1944, but most of the show was in winter, 42-43.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 3:14:39 AM
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Some odd trivia:
Harry Morgan is 95? Wow. Time flies. Well, I guess he was already representing the oldest character on the show when he replaced Stevenson.
Loretta Swit's website
http://www.switheartgallery.com/
Quote:Mclean Stevenson was recovering from bladder cancer surgery in a Los Angeles hospital on February 15, 1996, when he went into cardiac arrest and died. Roger Bowen, who had played Henry Blake in the film version of MASH, also died of cardiac arrest the day after Stevenson’s death.
Harry Morgan is 95? Wow. Time flies. Well, I guess he was already representing the oldest character on the show when he replaced Stevenson.
Loretta Swit's website
http://www.switheartgallery.com/
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May 30th, 2011 at 4:03:08 AM
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The show was ineed great, however the last third are not nearly as good as the early seasons and it was maintaining its top rating because people were watching what the show had been, not what it was at the time. After Alan Alda got to diretct and had so much creative control it turned from a funny, black comedy to more of a copmedy-drama. There were "serious" shows in the early years but in the end it got preachy. When I watch a late episode now my reaction is, "war is horrible, I get the point. Would you make the show funnny again?"
Anyone else care to share a favorite episode? My favorite was the one where the Korean family was moving into the compound and had a disaster a minute for Henry.
Anyone else care to share a favorite episode? My favorite was the one where the Korean family was moving into the compound and had a disaster a minute for Henry.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
May 30th, 2011 at 5:44:24 AM
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Quote: AZDuffmanThe show was indeed great, however the last third are not nearly as good as the early seasons
The show changed when Radar left. Fans rate it this way. Before Radar it was a comedy show, after Radar it was a drama. The extreme ultra Lib Alan Alda indeed is the one that changed it. He became writer and director and basically ruined the show, like Cosby ruined the last few years of his show. Alda was a Hollywood brat, his father was the famous actor, Robert Alda. He had the Lib nonsense pounded into his head from an early age, its not his fault. The show came on only 19 years after the Korean War ended and many of the actual MASH doctors were still in private practice. They routinely praised the show for its historical accuracy of the surgical scenes, which was no accident. The show had MASH doctors as advisers on the set, and they listened to what they said. What amazes me is, the show looks like it was made last year, its still that fresh. I'm running thru my mind many of the other 70's shows and I can't say that about any of them. MASH is still shown in 25 countries, and these guys have made a fortune off of residuals for 40 years. Good for them..
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 5:50:36 AM
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Quote: rxwineSome odd trivia:
Loretta Swit's website
http://www.switheartgallery.com/
Hot Lips is 74. Makes me sad. Harry Morgan was 96 last month and has seen and done it all. He made his first movie in 1942 and was never out of work till he retired in his 80's. A true American icon.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 6:36:32 AM
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Except for the last year, when they admitted that they were running out of story ideas, I think it got better with age.
The first few years, it was way too corny to be truly believable, but as it turned more dramatic, the realism improved.
I particularly like how, with the exception of Frank Burns, the characters grew and developed. In a way, it was entirely correct and within Frank's character to NOT develop.
Some of the best episodes are those that involved Dr. Sidney Friedman. Some of the stupidest, but funny in a slap-stick sort of way, involved Col. Flagg.
The first few years, it was way too corny to be truly believable, but as it turned more dramatic, the realism improved.
I particularly like how, with the exception of Frank Burns, the characters grew and developed. In a way, it was entirely correct and within Frank's character to NOT develop.
Some of the best episodes are those that involved Dr. Sidney Friedman. Some of the stupidest, but funny in a slap-stick sort of way, involved Col. Flagg.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
May 30th, 2011 at 6:59:48 AM
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Wasn't Hawkeye a bit of a ripoff of Groucho Marx?
The movie was very different from the show. I liked the book best.
The movie was very different from the show. I liked the book best.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
May 30th, 2011 at 7:02:51 AM
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Quote: EvenBobHarry Morgan was 96 last month and has seen and done it all. He made his first movie in 1942 and was never out of work till he retired in his 80's. A true American icon.
As far as I could tell , at the time he did a marvelous job of winning over people in my age group. It was the 70s I guess and people groaned that it was that guy from Dragnet , a show that was starting to grate on a lot of liberal nerves. Within a few shows all that was forgotten and he became quite beloved in the role, from what I could tell.
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
May 30th, 2011 at 8:06:43 AM
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Anybody remember Harry Morgan as the sheriff in the Flim Flam man. George C Scott was the Flimflam man. Movie has as much a ring of truth as Scott's other movie " The Hustler".
May 30th, 2011 at 9:03:26 AM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearExcept for the last year, when they admitted that they were running out of story ideas, I think it got better with age.
The first few years, it was way too corny to be truly believable, but as it turned more dramatic, the realism improved.
I particularly like how, with the exception of Frank Burns, the characters grew and developed. In a way, it was entirely correct and within Frank's character to NOT develop.
Some of the best episodes are those that involved Dr. Sidney Friedman. Some of the stupidest, but funny in a slap-stick sort of way, involved Col. Flagg.
Funny I was thinking the oppisite. The early ones with Sidney were funny, like when he offered to let Klinger out as long as he signed a form saying he was a transvestite homkosexual. Klinger, knowing that such an admission would follow him for life, said no way. Proved he was not crazy I guess. Flagg OTOH, was always good for a gag. My favorite line of his was "don't play bumb with me, I'm better at it than you are!"
I guess it depends what you wanted from the show, drama or black comedy.
BTW: I was always told M*A*S*H was supposed to be "Vietnam in disguise" so they could make comentary on a Vitenam War still going very strong when the pilot (and movie) aired. Anyone else ever hear that?
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
May 30th, 2011 at 10:06:34 AM
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I love MASH, and quite like the fact it changes from straight comedy to more dramatic as it evolved. Alan Alda is vamping Groucho Marx a lot of the time (I think there's one episode he -plays- Marx for Hallowe'en). This is not a bad thing, as Groucho Marx was brilliant to watch, and more Groucho is a good thing in my book.
I had heard that the film was definitely a take on the chaos and confusion of Vietnam disguised as the Korean war... but I don't think the original author appreciated Altman's take on it. The TV series is more commenting on the general "war is hell, the army is dumb at times, politicians don't care about the men" view.
I had heard that the film was definitely a take on the chaos and confusion of Vietnam disguised as the Korean war... but I don't think the original author appreciated Altman's take on it. The TV series is more commenting on the general "war is hell, the army is dumb at times, politicians don't care about the men" view.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
May 30th, 2011 at 10:15:38 AM
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Quote: thecesspitAlan Alda is vamping Groucho Marx a lot of the time (I think there's one episode he -plays- Marx for Hallowe'en). This is not a bad thing, as Groucho Marx was brilliant to watch, and more Groucho is a good thing in my book.
I love Groucho, too (Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Insisde of a dog it's too dark too read.) But I don't think Alda doing Groucho qualifies as more Groucho.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
May 30th, 2011 at 10:58:56 AM
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Quote: buzzpaffAnybody remember Harry Morgan as the sheriff in the Flim Flam man.
You reminded me -- I liked him as the mayor in "Support Your Local Sheriff". A fine comedy filled with quirky characters.
Quote: thecesspitI had heard that the film was definitely a take on the chaos and confusion of Vietnam disguised as the Korean war... but I don't think the original author appreciated Altman's take on it.
Check out the extra features on the DVD version of the film. As I recall, director Robert Alman explains how he had to keep everyone and everything at a very low profile for the whole production process, so that the studio bigwigs didn't find out what he was up to -- they thought he was making some sort of conventional war-hero movie. They weren't too keen on the idea of mocking the military. The book itself is comedy, so I'm not sure what the conflict might have been between author and director.
May 30th, 2011 at 11:31:44 AM
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Your right, Hooker didn't like Alan Alda's Hawkeye, rather than Altman's film.
I can't stand the film, personally. But I don't like much of Altman's stuff.
I can't stand the film, personally. But I don't like much of Altman's stuff.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
May 30th, 2011 at 5:30:37 PM
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Quote: thecesspit
I had heard that the film was definitely a take on the chaos and confusion of Vietnam disguised as the Korean war...
This was discussed in one of the reunion shows. They went out of their way to avoid any comparison to Vietnam, because that war was so immensely unpopular. They had real MASH doctors on the set as advisors, and many of the stories in the first 2 seasons were taken from those doctors. It was to be against all war, not just the Korean.
Whats always been funny to me is, Gary Burghof, who played Radar, was the only member of the cast who didn't get along well with everybody. He was smug and aloof and argued a lot with the producers. He thought he was gods gift and eventually left the show because he wanted to make movies. He never did anything after MASH, he was Radar and that was that. His character changed in the opposite direction as the years went by. In the first season, he was pretty hip, drinking in the Swamp, smoking cigars, playing poker, messing around with nurses. Then they had him regress, so he became the innocent farm boy who drank grape Nehi, was terrified of women, talked in a higher pitched voice and slept with a teddy bear. Watch the first season, you won't recognize him.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 6:02:52 PM
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Wow. I had no idea Burgoff didn't get along. Generally, actors that don't get along with the other cast members tend to not get along with the writers and directors too. You'd think the opposite since Radar was beloved by the other characters, which suggests the actor was well liked as well.
I wonder if that's why there were so many "short" jokes. After all, that's an obvious character attribute that also applies to the actor...
I wonder if that's why there were so many "short" jokes. After all, that's an obvious character attribute that also applies to the actor...
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
May 30th, 2011 at 6:15:48 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearWow. I had no idea Burgoff didn't get along. Generally, actors that don't get along with the other cast members tend to not get along with the writers and directors too. You'd think the opposite since Radar was beloved by the other characters, which suggests the actor was well liked as well.
I wonder if that's why there were so many "short" jokes. After all, that's an obvious character attribute that also applies to the actor...
I also had no idea he was like that. I do know the last season or two he took several episodes off. After he left M*A*S*H he did a guest shot on AfterMASH. They made a pilot W*A*L*T*E*R which was so bad only the east coast saw it. Later he was some kind of spokesman for Boron/Sohio which later rebranded BP. After the BP takeover he did not last.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
May 30th, 2011 at 6:27:52 PM
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Quote: DJTeddyBearWow. I had no idea Burgoff didn't get along. Generally, actors that don't get along with the other cast members tend to not get along with the writers and directors too..
Even during the reunion shows, Burghoff is standoffish and doesn't say a whole lot. He was the only one from the original movie version that made it to the TV show and he felt that made him above the others, somehow. He rarely gives interviews to this day. Burghoff was very ambitious and thought he had more talent than he did. Loretta Swit was hard to get along with too, moody and demanding.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 7:28:39 PM
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Quote: EvenBobWhats always been funny to me is, Gary Burghof, who played Radar, was the only member of the cast who didn't get along well with everybody. He was smug and aloof and argued a lot with the producers. He thought he was gods gift and eventually left the show because he wanted to make movies. He never did anything after MASH, he was Radar and that was that.
We could probably make a nice list of TV actors who overestimated their talent and left popular shows.
Shelly Long (Cheers), That red headed guy from the cop show, (he now has a steady career on another cop show).
People who didn't overestimate: John Travolta -- Based on his performance in welcome back Kotter, I wouldn't have guessed he'd continue to be a big star. (although I don't think he has much range, and can bomb pretty badly when miscast).
Chevy Chase is a toss up. He was successful for quite awhile, but he left SNL after the first year when it was just getting rolling which seems like a pretty dumb gamble generally.
Sanitized for Your Protection
May 30th, 2011 at 7:37:23 PM
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Don't forget to add McLean Stevenson to that list!Quote: rxwineWe could probably make a nice list of TV actors who overestimated their talent and left popular shows.
Chevy didn't want to do it in the first place, so he only signed on for one year, and refused the option to renew.Quote: rxwineChevy Chase is a toss up. He was successful for quite awhile, but he left SNL after the first year when it was just getting rolling which seems like a pretty dumb gamble generally.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
May 30th, 2011 at 7:57:21 PM
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Quote: rxwine
Chevy Chase is a toss up. He was successful for quite awhile, but he left SNL after the first year when it was just getting rolling which seems like a pretty dumb gamble generally.
Chevy is another actor nobody has any use for. He has a huge ego, mistreats hotel staff's and anybody who waits on him, and thinks he's a huge star. He used to travel like a king, until the money ran out.
One of the few actors I respect is Johnny Depp. He's a true professional in every sense. Immensely talented, he always knows his lines, and goes out of his way to get along with everybody on the set. He's not afraid to try new material, I can't say he's ever done a movie I didn't like. He claims the pirate is his favorite role, because he can get away with being so outrageous.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
May 30th, 2011 at 7:59:43 PM
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Checy Chase was a reason to avoid watching anything he was in until Community came along.
Like Micheal Bolton's piece for "The Lonely Island"(1), he gained a lot of respect for that role.
(1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY - NSFW if it bothers you with bad language.
Like Micheal Bolton's piece for "The Lonely Island"(1), he gained a lot of respect for that role.
(1) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY - NSFW if it bothers you with bad language.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
May 30th, 2011 at 8:29:44 PM
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Quote: thecesspitChecy Chase was a reason to avoid watching anything he was in until Community came along.
C'mon, he was good in the Vacation movies. I still watch them and they're still hilarious.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
