By the time the M*A*S*H TV series was around seven years old, now quite established as a mainstay of American television, actor Gary Burghoff had started to tire of working on the set. He missed his family and wanted to spend more time with them, and this ultimately led him to quit.
Mike Farrel tried to keep him from leaving but failed. Four years after his departure, TV columnist Mike Drew wrote about it saying, “No castmates cried much over the departure of Burghoff,” to which the latter bantered, “While there may not have have been tears shed by my cast members over my leaving the show, they did know – and still do – of my contribution.”
At The End Of The Day
No matter how well-created a show may be, how original the idea, and punctiliously wrought from start to finish, there is no guarantee how viewers will take it. There is no sure insulation against flopping. With such a variegated audience as there is in America, the challenge for M*A*S*H’s creators was amplified. But they did it.
One true measure for the series’ success is its longevity. Like a true classic, M*A*S*H has withstood the test of time; its messages and humor remain relevant, even to the current generation and quite possibly the next.
Hot Lips & Empty Arms
It would be sacrilege to forget a bombshell like an actress, Loretta Swit, who played the role of Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan; especially considering she was quite the gal surrounded by an ocean of men. That, and she played the role for all of M*A*S*H’s 11 seasons.
Looking back on the M*A*S*H series, Swit says her favorite episodes were “Margaret’s Engagement,” “Hot Lips & Empty Arms,” and “The Nurses.” All those titles seem perfectly fitting to her personality, but she further admits that she’s given up watching the program’s reruns.
Not The Same Man Off-Air
Actor Harry Morgan, who played the role of Col. Sherman Potter, resurfaced years after the M*A*S*H TV program had been off air. Nobody really knew what he’s been up to in 1996, so him making the headlines out of nowhere raised eyebrows, as well as curiosity among the show’s long-time followers.
As it turned out, Morgan was arrested for beating up his seventy-year-old wife, Barbara, who was found battered in their home when the police got there. The actor was charged with misdemeanor spousal battery, and faced up to one year of jail time and/or a $6,000 fine.
Raising Awareness
William Christopher played the role of Father Mulcahy in the M*A*S*H series. The sweet Irish priest was the chaplain of the 4077th, but all the while he had looked forward to serving another cause when the TV program wrapped up.
Christopher and his wife were both very devoted to their adopted son, Ned’s condition. Ned was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Christopher committed himself to helping the National Autistic Society bring awareness to the public. The couple even published a book detailing their experiences raising an autistic child. Christopher died in 2016, but the developments he and his wife made regarding autism remain a real-life blessing.