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Books and TV shows have had a special relationship for over a century now. There have been countless TV adaptations of popular books, and even if we count this year (which isn’t over), there have been over seven or eight. While there have been many brilliant books that were adapted through the years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the TV shows are also good, and that’s why we decided to compile a list of the absolute best TV shows that were based on books. As a side note, we also decided not to include Game of Thrones and Dexter, mainly because of how they ended.

True Blood Credit – HBO

True Blood is a fantasy horror drama series created by Alan Ball. Based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by author Charlaine Harris, the HBO series is...

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Mash is a medical war comedy-drama series created by Larry Gelbart. Based on the 1968 novel by author Richard Hooker and its 1970 film adaptation by Ring Lardner Jr., the CBS series is set during the Korean War and it revolves around a group of military doctors as they defy orders and rely on humor to deal with the heartbreaking consequences of war. Mash stars Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and David Ogden Stiers. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, heartfelt drama, and likeable characters in Mash, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Bluestone 42 (Prime Video & Pluto TV) Credit – BBC Three

Bluestone 42 is a British sitcom series co-created by Richard Hurst and James Cary. The BBC Three series is set in Afghanistan,...

We can all agree that M*A*S*H remains one of the greatest shows ever, and even the outstanding ratings prove so. The acclaimed dramedy, developed by Larry Gelbart, premiered on CBS on September 17, 1972, and ended with a laudable finale titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" on February 28, 1983, which to date is the most-watched finale of any TV series. Much of the classic’s success can be attributed to the stellar cast ensemble, which originally featured Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Larry Linville, Loretta Swit, McLean Stevenson, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher.

However, over the years, some changes were made to the original M*A*S*H cast, one of which was the replacement of Rogers after his sudden disappearance. He was popularly known for portraying "Trapper" John McIntyre in the show's first three seasons before Mike Farrell took over as B. J. Hunnicutt. Rogers was one of the...

M*A*S*H star and Hollywood icon Alan Alda says "she created" her unforgettable role while discussing Loretta Swit's impact on the series.

Per Deadline, Alda offered up a touching tribute to the late Swit on social media, noting that his fellow M*A*S*H star was "a supremely talented actor" who "deserved all her 10 Emmy nominations and her 2 wins. But more than acting her part, she created it." Alda explained, "She worked hard In showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one joke sexist stereotype into a real person — with real feelings and ambitions. We celebrated the day the script came out listing her character not as Hot Lips, but as Margaret. Loretta made the most of her time here."

Based on Richard Hooker's 1968 novel, Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, the long-running M*A*S*H television series...

Mash actress Loretta Swit died on May 30, 2025, from natural causes at the age of 97. She was at her home in New York City at the time of her death. Swit rose to prominence with her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in the war comedy-drama, Mash (stylized as M*A*S*H). She was one of the four cast members who remained throughout the eleven seasons of the show, and one of the two actors who appeared both in the pilot and the finale.

With Swit’s death, there are only a handful of members of the original Mash cast who are alive today. This includes the lead of the show from day one, Alan Alda, who played surgeon Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce. Alda is still active in the industry, last appearing in Tina Fey’s recent Netflix outing, The Four Seasons.

After Loretta Swit’s death, who are the...

Loretta Swit, who won two Emmys playing “Hot Lips” Houlihan on the classic CBS sitcom M*A*S*H, has died at the age of 87, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Swit died just after midnight on Friday of suspected natural causes at her New York City home, her publicist Harlan Boll says.

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A native of New Jersey, Swit trained as an actor, dancer and singer, landing early...

Actress Loretta Swit, best known for her role as fan favorite character Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on the beloved TV series M*A*S*H, has passed away. She was 87 years old.

Per Variety, Swit died on Friday at her home in New York City. According to her rep, Harlan Boll, her death was reported to be at 12:01 p.m. due to "suspected natural causes." No other information about the circumstances of her passing were revealed. Her death came just three days after she shared a post on Instagram to pay tribute to real-life fallen soldiers.

Posting an image of her M*A*S*H character, Swit said, "With loving gratitude they served and protected and gave their lives. Rest In Peace. God is nigh." This followed another recent post Swit made two days prior, which acknowledged co-star Gary Burghoff's birthday with several images of the actor,...

Larry Gelbart's TV adaptation of the 1970 Robert Altman movie "M*A*S*H" was, it should be remembered, one of the biggest hits of all time. The series debuted in 1972 and ran a chonky 256 episodes over the course of its 11 seasons. The show's finale episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," remains the highest-watched TV event in American history, excluding live broadcasts and Super Bowls. It was such a massive event, in fact, that there has been no attempt to cash in on, re-up, reboot, or make any follow-up shows to "M*A*S*H." Why mess with perfection? The show was an eloquent mix of slapstick gallows humor and wartime melancholy. It was so popular that it lasted longer than the actual Korean War (during which it was set).

Oh, wait. That's not accurate. The show "Trapper John, M.D.," itself a spinoff of Altman's film, aired for seven seasons from 1979-1986. It...

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Pulse is a medical drama series created by Zoe Robyn. The Netflix series is set in the extremely chaotic and busy Miami trauma center. It follows the personal and professional lives of doctors and hospital staff as they treat injured people during a destructive hurricane. Pulse stars Willa Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Justina Machado, Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Daniela Nieves, Chelsea Muirhead, and Jessy Yates. So, if you loved the intense medical drama, swoon-worthy romance, and compelling characters in Pulse, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The Pitt (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Max

The Pitt is a medical drama series created by R. Scott Gemmill. The Max series is set in the emergency ward of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, and it follows a group of doctors, nurses, and medical interns during an intense 15-hour long shift.

The series premiere of St. Denis Medical, which launched on NBC last fall, employs a time-tested trick for getting the audience up to speed on a workplace show’s setting and cast: starting on someone’s first day. In this case, the newcomer is Matt, an ER nurse from Montana. While that description primes his colleagues to expect someone tough and rugged, Matt is played by Mekki Leeper, so he’s kind of short, definitely slight and very nervous.

Matt finds his new situation overwhelming partly because he’s working in a hospital ER, and partly because he grew up on an extremely strict religious compound, so he doesn’t have much practice interacting with secular strangers. This means he missed a lot of pop culture, but he is extremely conversant about the Bible! It also means that, even as a medical professional, he’s suspicious of organ donation; he...

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Going Dutch is a comedy series created by Joel Church-Cooper. The Fox series follows Colonel Patrick Quinn, an arrogant and narcissistic man who is reassigned to the “least important Army base in the world” after an offensive rant. When he gets there, he discovers that his estranged daughter is already there. Going Dutch stars Denis Leary, Taylor Misiak, Danny Pudi, Lacy Mosley, and Hal Cumpston. So, if you loved the military humor, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Going Dutch, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Enlisted (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox

Enlisted is a military fiction comedy series created by Kevin Biegel. The Fox series revolves around three brothers who are soldiers in the US Army as they serve their nation by taking care of those who are left behind after the soldiers deploy.

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The Pitt is a medical drama series created by R. Scott Gemmill. The Max series is set in the emergency room at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital and follows a group of doctors and nurses working an extremely tense 15-hour shift. The Pitt stars Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine Lanasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Shabana Azeez. So, if you loved the medical drama, compelling storylines, and complex characters, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – BBC

This Is Going to Hurt is a British medical dark comedy-drama series created by Adam Kay. Based on Kay’s 2017 nonfiction book of the same name, the AMC series follows Adam Kay as he works as a junior doctor...

Mash's Wayne Rogers exited the show early and went on to front his own medical comedy - a hit show that was quickly ruined by a disastrous firing. Wayne Rogers left Mash after season three, largely due to his role being gradually reduced. When the star signed on, the sitcom was intended as a two-hander focused on Rogers' Trapper John and Alan Alda's Hawkeye. When it became clear Alda was the breakout star, the writers focused their attention on him, while Trapper increasingly became the sidekick.

Following the shock death of Henry Blake in Mash's season 3 finale, Rogers decided to leave before the fourth series. Compared to many of the actors who exited Mash during its run, Rogers did quite well in the years that followed, including fronting the detective series City of Angels and appearing in gender-flipped It's a Wonderful Life remake It Happened One Christmas in...

The supporting character. It can be a thankless job, playing foil to the comic antics of the lead in a sitcom, the proverbial "beautiful wife married to the buffoon that gets the laughs," for example. But every once in a while, a supporting character becomes synonymous with the show they're on, and at times becomes more popular than the lead. Take Gary Burghoff's Radar O'Reilly from M*A*S*H*, a minor character that grew to become one of the series' most beloved. Long-running CBS series NCIS has one in Pauley Perrette, whose Abby Sciuto quickly became a favorite. Make that NCIS had one in Perrette, who left the show in 2018. And she isn't coming back anytime soon.

Mash had many shocking moments, but the death of a major character not only transformed the show, but also impacted television itself in the decades that followed. Mash ran for 11 seasons, and during that time, evolved from a wild sitcom to a full-on dramedy. The show was groundbreaking on many fronts, such as dropping the laugh track during surgery scenes to actually exploring the trauma the main characters were experiencing. The shock death of Henry Blake in Mash season 3 proved especially controversial.

It may have lost its impact thanks to series like Game of Thrones or Walking Dead killing off main characters like and right, but prior to Blake, it was unheard of for a major supporting player to die. While McLean Stevenson came to regret leaving Mash so soon, Blake's demise was a groundbreaking moment in many ways. It even stands out among divisive entries like "Dreams" - a...

McLean Stevenson came to regret his decision to leave Mash during its third season - despite his character's death becoming a landmark moment on American television. Many Mash actors exited the show during its early years, though this arguably helped it in the long run, as it meant new characters kept the cast dynamic fresh. "Abyssinia, Henry" from the third season was hugely important since it featured the last appearances of both Wayne Rogers' Trapper and the shock death of Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson).

Rogers and Stevenson enjoyed their time on the show and recognized its quality - but they both wanted to front their own projects too. After Stevenson announced he was leaving, it was the showrunner's call to kill Blake off. It was decided his departure opened up a unique opportunity to underline the show's anti-war message, and that not everybody is going home alive. Blake's death led...

The long-running classic sitcom "M*A*S*H" went through quite a few changes throughout its 11 seasons, both in front of the camera and behind it. Even series creator Larry Gelbart left after the fourth season because the show had become all-consuming in his life due to its immense popularity. In fact, there were so many cast change-ups over the years that there is only one episode (albeit a two-parter) that features every single starring cast member. And all in all, only one character, head surgeon Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda), appears in every episode. It makes sense that faces would change in a wartime situation, especially when the real-life Korean War lasted for only three years and "M*A*S*H" went on for eleven. 

Over the years, the show lost not only Gelbart but stars Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Larry Linville, and Gary Burghoff, who played Hawkeye's best friend "Trapper" John McIntyre,...

A dark season four episode of Mash teased the impending exit of a major character, and could also explain why Trapper never tried to contact Hawkeye again. Mash ran for 11 seasons and season four was one of the most impactful. It arrived in the aftermath of Henry Blake's shock death in Mash season 3, while "Trapper" John actor Wayne Rogers also left between seasons. Thus, season four introduced major new characters like B.J. (Mike Farrell) and Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan), and was the first to lean on the show's emerging dramedy tone.

One of the earliest episodes, "The Late Captain Pierce", saw Alan Alda's Hawkeye being declared dead due to a clerical error, and learning his father back in America is mourning his demise. Mash's "The Late Captain Pierce" is a blackly comic outing, with B.J. and the 4077th even throwing Hawkeye a wake so they have an excuse to party.

Back in March 1975, TV viewers were thoroughly blindsided by the shocking death of MASHs Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, in what became one of the show's most shocking plot twists. Played by McLean Stevenson, Blake was the lovable and usually bumbling commanding officer of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, best known for his laid-back, yet compassionate leadership style and an all-consuming love for fishing. Blakes warm demeanor compared to some of Mash's other characters helped balance the rigors of war all around the dark edges of the show during its first three seasons.

The season 3 finale, "Abyssinia, Henry," opens with the happy news that Blake has earned his necessary rotation points and is receiving his long-awaited discharge. The mood is celebratory and upbeat, seasoned with poignant goodbyes. As he preps for a return to his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois, Blake bounces between disbelief and joy, revealing how much hes...

Watching the classic 1970s sitcom "M*A*S*H," it's easy to imagine that everyone involved was just as close behind-the-scenes as their characters were onscreen, but that wasn't always the case. Like any workplace, there were occasionally some disagreements and clashing personalities, though they could be exacerbated by the stresses of making a television series. The show achieved wild popularity early on and inflated that stress even more, leading to all kinds of casting change-ups as the actors pursued roles on shows that weren't big ensembles and even leading series creator Larry Gelbart to walk away from "M*A*S*H" after season 4. One of the actors who left the series was McLean Stevenson, who portrayed Colonel Henry Blake, the commanding officer of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. He was frustrated because he felt like he was playing second fiddle to Alan Alda's character, Captain Hawkeye Pierce, and ended up being written out...

Only one major character appeared in every iteration of the Mash TV franchise, and it wasn't Alan Alda's Hawkeye. There is a reality where Mash was canceled after season 1 thanks to poor ratings and became a forgotten curio. Instead, it was given a second life thanks to re-runs and evolved over its first few seasons into one of the first real dramedies on television. The death of Henry Blake in Mash season 3 sealed this transformation, while the departure of Wayne Rogers' Trapper also cemented that Alda's Hawkeye was the show's true leading man.

Mash ran for 11 seasons, coming to an emotional close in 1983. Despite being such an iconic series, there have been no attempts to reboot it in the decades since. It was actually a cast vote that led to the series ending, with the ensemble wanting to close on a high - in addition to moving on to new projects,...

Mash's most hated character left the series during a time when the better option would have been to give him some redemption. Many actors exited Mash during its run, which in hindsight, actually helped keep the show on the air. The death of McLean Stevenson's Blake in Mash season 3 changed the series forever, pushing it in a more dramatic direction in later seasons. It helped that Blake's replacement Potter (Harry Morgan) was the total opposite of his predecessor, which shook up the formula.

The showrunners made a choice early on that once an actor left, their replacements would be totally different. When Larry Linville exited as Frank Burns following the fifth series, the weaselly second-in-command was replaced by the snobbish Charles (David Ogden Stiers). The latter was again the polar opposite of Frank; a great surgeon, an intellectual and a professional. In a sense, Frank leaving Mash completed the show's dramedy evolution,...

A season 2 episode of Mash managed to sneak a big f-bomb right by censors and audiences - until high definition arrived. Mash ran for 11 seasons, and it's fair to say it got considerably more dramatic in its later years. The show was often at its best with a mix of comedy and drama, but it's undeniable that the early seasons were more fun. The sitcom was still finding its feet during these first few years, and while it toned down the gore and dark humor of Robert Altman's 1970 movie, it felt closer in tone to the film.

Like the latter, the series originally revolved around the antics of surgeons Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers). When Trapper's role began to get downgraded in favor of Hawkeye, Rogers was one of the first Mash actors to exit the show. Also leaving the party early was McLean Stevenson, who, despite...

Though much of the cast remained until the end of the series, several actors such as Harry Morgan left Mash throughout its 11-season run. Mash was the second adaptation of the novel following the Robert Altman movie, which followed the experiences of a medical unit during the Korean War. Mash began as a comedy that nevertheless took the core theme seriously, and while the showrunners were forced to include a laugh track, they were able to drop it from scenes involving surgery. In later seasons, it evolved from a sitcom to a dramedy, with some episodes being borderline laugh-free.

The series ended up lasting eight years longer than the Korean War itself, with Mash's finale being the most-watched scripted TV episode of all time. Mash's unique fusion of laughter and drama had never quite been attempted before and would prove influential on future shows like Scrubs. Considering it ran for 11 years,...

Played by Gary Burghoff, Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly became a staple of the Mash franchise, delivering some of the show's best lines. Mash ran for 11 seasons, though Radar only appeared on eight before making his exit. While Burghoff was one of several actors to leave Mash, his legacy went beyond just the show. Burghoff appeared as Radar in the film, also titled Mash, which preceded the comedy drama. He was the only actor to play a significant character in both projects. In 1984, a Radar-centric spinoff was pitched and produced, though it was never filmed beyond the pilot.

For the series, Radar was developed into a softer and more sensitive character, with many other characters pointing that out as one of his most admirable traits, especially during a war. Because of his innocence and upbeat demeanor, Radar is considered one of the most likable characters on Mash. He's also highly quotable,...

When one Mash cast member refused to return for the show's spinoff, a jaw-dropping replacement idea was suggested. Mash ran for 11 seasons between 1972 and 1983 and proved groundbreaking for many reasons. From the shocking death of Henry Blake to the record-breaking finale, the impact and legacy of the show are still being felt. It was a Mash cast vote that ended the show, with the ensemble sensing during the tenth season it was time to wrap things up before the quality took a serious nosedive.

Of course, Mash was still a solid ratings success, and CBS wanted to keep it running. It was then suggested that the actors who voted to keep it on the air should front a spinoff instead. On paper, this sounded like a solid pitch, but in reality, AfterMASH was a disaster. Taking place in a Veteran's Hospital, the spinoff may have been better served as a drama instead of a sitcom,...

Mash almost had a terrible send-off for Radar due to Gary Burghoff's insistence on a dramatic moment that didn't work out. Radar's subdued farewell episode worked better for Mash, especially in light of its backdrop. Radar not getting his party and seeing his friends work in the operating room made for a more powerful send-off.

Mash's send-off for Walter "Radar" O'Reilly was almost terrible because Gary Burghoff insisted on including one sequence. Early on its run, Mash experienced a cast exodus that could have killed the series. Losing fan-favorites such as Henry Blake and Trapper John McIntyre posed big challenges for the show on how to move forward. Somehow, Mash was able to come out of it even better, bringing in 4077's new leader, Sherm Potter, and surgeon, Bj Hunnicutt. Despite expertly navigating this period, the series' last big departure almost ended up being a disappointment had Burghoff gotten his way.

Joseph Hardy, the stage director who introduced the enduring charmer You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, won a Tony Award for 1970’s Child’s Play and, as an executive producer in daytime drama, attempted to rescue the fading serial Ryan’s Hope with some of the most controversial changes in soap history, died June 6. He was 95.

His death was confirmed by New York’s Primary Stages Off Broadway theater company. A resident since 2020 at the Actors Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey, his passing was not widely reported at the time of his death.

Born March 8, 1929, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, Hardy graduated from the Yale School of Drama and began his show business career working as a script editor for New York-based soap operas. He was soon making his way into the Off Broadway world, working extensively in small theaters before making his early mark with the 1967 original production of You’re A Good Man,...

Quick Links Burghoff Needed A Break From Radar and to Spend Time With His Family Burghoff's Exit From the Show Radar Returned Gary Burghoff left M*A*S*H to spend time with his family after feeling burned out from playing Radar. Burghoff's final episode in M*A*S*H, titled "Good Bye, Radar," is considered one of the best in the series. Despite leaving M*A*S*H, Burghoff returned to reprise his role as Radar in the spin-off series "After M*A*S*H" for two episodes.

M*A*S*H is one of the most iconic and critically acclaimed television shows. Airing from 1972 to 1983, it is a spin-off adaptation of the 1970 film M*A*S*H, which in turn was an adaptation of the 1968 novel Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by author Richard Hooker. The series follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed...

Loretta Swit's absence in Mash's best episode "The Interview" was due to her commitment to a play. Swit never missed another episode of the show after "The Interview." Swit eventually appeared in a sequel to "The Interview" in Mash season 7, correcting Margaret's missing interview.

One key Mash character is missing from the show's most acclaimed episode, but they had a great excuse. Despite becoming one of the biggest shows on television during the 1970s, many actors exited Mash during the early years. It quickly became clear that Alan Alda's Hawkeye was the Mvp, but the attention the showrunners paid to him led to cast members like Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson feeling like their characters were pushed aside. Stevenson's decision to leave led to Mash killing Herny Blake in season 3's finale, which became a watershed moment in television.

While it wasn't intended to be that way,...

Walter "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) is one of the most beloved characters on M*A*S*H, which is what makes it so hard when Season 8's two-part episode "Goodbye, Radar" signaled that he would be exiting the program. But why did Burghoff decide to step away from this hit series? You would think that being one of the main actors on, arguably, the most popular show of the 1970s would be a gig that no one would ever want to walk away from, but some things in life are greater than fame and fortune. Even though Radar didn't stick around for every single season until the series finale, his impact on the world of M*A*S*H would be felt all the way until the end.

The original Mash ended with the most-watched scripted TV episode ever, and spawned unsuccessful spinoffs that struggled to find an audience. AfterMASH, the sequel series, faced challenges with its tone and character absences, ultimately struggling against The A-Team in ratings. AfterMASH's final episode "Wet Feet" was elusive in the US for decades, but was finally made available online in 2016, showing potential despite its flaws.

The Mash franchise ended on an abrupt note, and not only did its final episode never air in America, but it was near impossible to watch for decades. It feels odd labeling Mash as a franchise, but the descriptor fits. There is the 1970 Robert Altman movie, which was a good deal darker and more cynical than the eventual TV series. CBS' Mash has left a large cultural footprint, from its memorable cast of characters to its then-unique blending of comedy and drama.

Mash ran for 11 seasons in total,...

The classic Korean War-set sitcom series "M*A*S*H" seems like it's almost universally beloved, but over the years it managed to collect its fair share of high-profile haters. Perhaps the most famous of all is director Robert Altman, who helmed the 1970 movie of the same name but absolutely loathed the television series. He made his dislike of the series very clear and even claimed that he hated everyone involved (which is a little harsh), saying some less-than-flattering things about the show's star, Alan Alda, who played Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce. He wasn't the only person involved with a previous version of "M*A*S*H" to absolutely abhor the dramedy series or even Alda, however, as the author of the book that inspired both the movie and series hated Hawkeye.

In an interview with Newsweek, author Richard Hornberger once said that the series "tramples on my memories" because he wrote the novel "Mash:...

Mash broke ground by mixing laughter with heartbreak, straying into serious topics despite being labeled a sitcom first. "The Interview" is considered the best Mash episode, focusing on character depth and wartime despair, presented in black and white. The show's experimentation with formula and dropping the laugh track set Mash apart, making it a groundbreaking dramedy on television.

Arguably Mash's greatest-ever episode is remarkably light on jokes, but with good reason. Despite being set during the Korean War, CBS viewed Mash as a sitcom first and wanted the showrunners to avoid overt political commentary or serious topics. Naturally, straying into those areas is precisely what made it so groundbreaking, with the show mixing laughter with heartbreak on a regular basis. Across Mash's 11 seasons the show changed dramatically, becoming one of the first real dramedies on television.

Mash was also one of the first sitcoms to drop the laugh track,...

Gary Burghoff's Radar superhero script was rejected, but it was later partially recycled in Mash season 8. Burghoff believes "Radar's Dream" was rejected because he was viewed as too young and naive to write and direct. Mash episode "Dreams" was divisive and reused parts of Burghoff's dream concept.

Gary Burghoff once had a great idea for a Radar-focused episode of Mash that turned the character into a superhero, and a later outing recycled part of his idea. As is often pointed out in Mash trivia, Burghoff's Radar is the only actor from the movie to return for the show. Of course, the Robert Altman film was darker and more adult than the CBS sitcom was allowed to be. This can be reflected in the changes made to Radar himself; in the movie, he's a more cynical, opportunistic figure, while in the series, he's sweet and naive.

Burghoff's boyish looks allowed...

What do "Happy Days" and "M*A*S*H" have in common? Well, for one thing, they're both era-defining TV shows of the 1970s that took place in the 1950s. "M*A*S*H" was set during the Korean War (even if its satirical target was the more recent Vietnam War), which unfolded from 1950 to 1953. It's a well-known joke that thanks to its 11-season run (1972 to 1983), the series lasted longer than the war it was set in.

That's not the only historical incongruity in "M*A*S*H" — there's a small but telling one in season 4, episode 21, "The Novocaine Mutiny," as first noted in "TV's M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book" by Ed Solomonson and Mark O'Neill. In this episode, Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville) is left in command and predictably behaves like a tyrant. He begins searching officers' quarters for "stolen" (actually gambled) money. When he gets to Radar's (Gary Burghoff) office,...

Recently, more than half a century after its premiere, Fox released a retrospective special about the storied anti-war sitcom "M*A*S*H" that included rare and previously unseen interviews with the show's cast and crew. When they weren't reminiscing about their characters and opening up about cast changes over the years, former members of the fictional 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital discussed episodes of the show that broke the TV mold, pushing the medium beyond its established boundaries and yanking on viewers' heartstrings in unexpected ways.

Among the spotlighted episodes in "M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television" was "The Interview," the season 4 finale that saw the show briefly take the form of a black-and-white war documentary. The late writer and executive producer Burt Metcalfe said the experiment took inspiration from Edward R. Murrow's 1950s newsreel show "See It Now," which included interviews in Korea during the war. "We'd always had a...

Quick Links A Change in Timeslot After the First Season Changed Everything The Network Was Not Happy About the Shift to Dramedy at First McLean Stevenson Left Because He Wanted His Own Show Henry's Fate Was Kept Secret So the Cast's Performances Would Not Change Hawkeye and Trapper Were Meant to Be Equals, Which Ended Up Not Being the Case Larry Linville Felt He Got to the End of the Line With Playing Frank Burns Burt Metcalfe Had a Great Eye For Casting Gary Burghoff Had to Film His Final Scene Twice In "The Interview" Episode, the Actors Were Trusted to Answer in Character The Series Finale Was Meant to Throw Everyone a Curve Ball and Have Each Character Leave With a Wound

On New Year's Day, Fox aired the special M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television. Nearly 52 years after the series premiered, the special was...

The 2023 Mash reunion featured separate interviews with the cast members, which made it feel like a documentary-style program rather than a true reunion. The reunion didn't delve deep into Mash's storytelling, only providing generic stories rather than new and interesting insights. Despite its flaws, the Mash reunion was a privilege to witness, especially considering that it may be the last time the cast reunites on screen to discuss the beloved show.

Some elements of Mash's new reunion worked, while others were ultimately let-downs. The announcement that the legendary sitcom would ring the new year with a special was met with great enthusiasm for several reasons. For starters, the news came out of nowhere and was a welcome development, considering how beloved the series was. Secondly, it had been decades since the last Mash reunion, which took place back in 2002 for the show's 30th anniversary. Some of the cast had gathered in other venues,...

Actors are a confounding creative breed. They can be wonderfully inventive one moment and then turn right around and surrender to their most vain impulses the next. Fortunately, most actors are eminently directable. They might put up a bit of a fight and insist that they know better than their director, but if the director has earned their trust, they'll eventually come to their senses and realize they aren't always the best judge of their own work.

It's also important to understand that, in most cases, actors aren't being difficult out of diva-like entitlement. They're the only person who's spending all of their time on- and off-set thinking about this specific character, so, of course, they're going to get protective every now and then -- especially if they're a television actor who's been playing the same part for multiple seasons. It's a well-meaning impulse and one that a sensitive director...

After twelve seasons running from 2016 to 2023, the popular Canadian comedy series Letterkenny has come to a planned end just in time to close out the year. Running for six episodes, all directed by series co-developer and executive producer Jacob Tierney, Letterkenny's final season runs with a much tighter focus than preceding seasons and a loose, overarching narrative rather than complete standalone episodes. And while Letterkenny doesn't end with a definitive conclusion, giving itself room to revisit and explore, it does feel bittersweet watching these familiar characters go off into an uncertain future.

Set within the fictional small Ontario rural town of Letterkenny, with a population of approximately 5000 people, the tight friendships forming the core of the show are tested in the final season. Sick of being teased and not feeling like he fits in with protagonist Wayne and his sister Katy, Daryl decides to hang out with the town's resident degenerates,...

Long before streaming, DVRs, and even the popularity of VCRs, there were certain shows considered appointment television. Perhaps no other series fits the description more than M*A*S*H. Fox celebrated the landmark sitcom with M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, a reunion special executive-produced by John Scheinfeld and Andy Kaplan. The two-hour show delved into what made the beloved series about the 4077th Medical Corps on the front lines of the Korean War strike such a cord. Many of the stars and important figures from M*A*S*H reflect on its historic 11-season run, 40 years after the series finale, still the most-watched telecast in history. Among them Alan Alda (Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce), Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly), William Christopher (Father Francis Mulcahy), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Maxwell Q. “Max” Klinger), Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt), Wayne Rogers (Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre) and Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips...

On Monday, Jan. 1, M*A*S*H fans are invited to ring in the new year with M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, a two-hour special airing on Fox and featuring new interviews with series vets Alan Alda (who played Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce), Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan), Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Maxwell Q. “Max” Klinger) and Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt), as well as the late Wayne Rogers (Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre) and William Christopher (Father Francis Mulcahy).

M*A*S*H executive producers Gene Reynolds and...

Gary Burghoff was so unhappy with how his final scene looked for M*A*S*H that he insisted on having it refilmed.

Per Entertainment Weekly, a clip was released from the upcoming M*A*S*H reunion special, M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, with Burghoff addressing his role as Radar O'Reilly. He reflected on filming the very last scene for his character's exit, and at the time, the actor thought it may be best for him to let the tears flow. After hating how he looked while crying as the cahracter, however, Burghoff requested to shoot the scene again, and the director was happy to oblige.

Related M*A*S*H Travels Through Time and Space with the Avengers In their latest spotlight on comics showing up in outside media, Csbg shows how two Avengers issues traveled through time and space in a Mash episode.

"I said to myself,...

Actor Gary Burghoff said goodbye to M*A*S*H twice, revealing in a new TV special that he asked to reshoot his final scene as the hit CBS show’s Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly. At the end of Season 8’s “Good-Bye Radar: Part 2,” which aired on October 15, 1979, the arrival of wounded interrupts Radar’s farewell party, meaning the character never gets a meaningful goodbye with friend Hawkeye (Alan Alda). And Burghoff reflects on his departure from the show in the special M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, airing Fox on Monday, January 1, at 8/7c. “I said to myself, ‘What a wonderful moment, I can cry my eyes out, and I can do this wonderful dramatic moment, I can just completely fall apart,’” Burghoff says in an excerpt shared by Entertainment Weekly. “And the director said, ‘If I were you, I would fight the tears.’ And I said,...

The upcoming Mash reunion will feature a never-before-seen interview with Wayne Rogers, the actor who played Trapper John McIntyre. Wayne Rogers left the show due to being unhappy with his character's role, but remained tied to the series and participated in a reunion in the early 2000s. Rogers' inclusion in the reunion separates it from a previous impromptu reunion and offers new content from other actors who were on the show.

The upcoming Mash special reunion will debut a never-before-seen interview with Wayne Rogers — the actor who played Trapper John McIntyre. For the 40th anniversary of its iconic finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," Fox is re-assembling all the surviving cast of the groundbreaking war comedy/drama in a special two-hour broadcast that will air on Fox on January 1. Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Maxwell Q. “Max” Klinger), Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt), and Loretta Swit (Maj.

Gary Burghoff initially wanted a tearful and emotional finale for Radar's exit in M*A*S*H, but the director advised against it. Burghoff insisted on his idea but later realized it was a mistake when he saw the awful result on screen during dailies. Burghoff asked for a reshoot and the director allowed him to do it again, highlighting the importance of listening to professional advice.

After the failure of Gary Burghoff's first attempt to shoot Radar's final scene in M*A*S*H, the show needed some major reshoots. Having begun in 1972, during the Vietnam War, the show followed an enormous cast of soldiers living in a military camp in South Korea. It ran until 1983 and was originally adapted from the 1970 movie of the same name. Burghoff stayed with the show until season 8, when he decided to retire from his role as Radar.

Having spent so many...

"M*A*S*H" is famous for having some of the sharpest scripts in sitcom history, but even a TV giant can occasionally be improved with some ad-libbing. That was apparently the case in the third season episode "Love and Marriage," in which head surgeon Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and naive company clerk Radar (Gary Burghoff) help a local Korean woman deliver her baby.

In a 2018 retrospective by The Hollywood Reporter, Burghoff (who's one of a handful of 'M*A*S*H' actors still with us today) told the outlet he heavily improvised the episode's climactic scene. "There's an episode in which Hawkeye and I are alone on a moving bus with a pregnant Korean girl who suddenly gives birth," the actor recalled. "He tries to get Radar to help with the delivery. Radar comes totally unhinged."

By season 3, viewers had likely caught on that young Radar wasn't especially well-versed in the birds and the bees,...

AfterMASH, the Mash sequel series, did not feature some notable characters like Hawkeye, Bj, and Trapper due to different reasons. Hawkeye's absence was explained by him returning to his hometown to practice medicine, while Bj couldn't easily be involved because of his family commitments. Trapper's post-Korea life was explored in the semi-spin-off Trapper John M.D., making it logical for him not to appear in AfterMASH.

Several notable personnel from the 4077 didn't appear in the Mash sequel series, AfterMASH, for different reasons. After 11 years on the air, the legendary war comedy finally wrapped up its run with the feature-length iconic finale, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen." It gave each prominent character their respective ending as it marked the end of their stint in Korea. Despite the constant complaints about being forced to be in the middle of the war, Alan Alda's Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce and his cohorts' departure from...

Mash's upcoming reunion will celebrate the legacy of the series and reunite the surviving cast, who previously came together in 2019. The series effectively blended humor and serious topics, serving as a commentary on the horrors of war. The reunion is significant as it commemorates the 40th anniversary of the iconic finale and allows fans to see the cast together with visuals and never-before-seen content from the series.

Mash's upcoming reunion is exciting, but the surviving cast came already together just five years ago. CBS' groundbreaking war comedy-drama is re-assembling its remaining actors for a special that will celebrate the legacy of the series. Running for 11 years, Mash is widely regarded as one of, if not the best in its genre, effectively marrying humor with more serious topics. It functioned as a commentary on the horrors of war, whether intentional or not, all while providing great and consistent entertainment throughout...