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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...

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 played the groundbreaking character Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the classic war comedy drama M*A*S*H, has died. As per Variety, the animal rights advocate and beloved actress passed away on Friday, May 30, at her home in New York City. Harlan Boll, Swit's representative, said the New York Police reported her time of death at 12:01 Pm due to natural causes. She was 87. The actress is also known for being on the game shows Match Game, and Pyramid.

Swit was a trailblazer, being one of the first actresses to have a prominent starring role in a production full of men. Her portrayal of the 4077th's Head Nurse and the highest-ranking female officer in the unit earned her Emmy nominations from 1974-1983 for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy. She won two of the prestigious awards in 1980 and 1982. Alongside Alan Alda, William Christopher,...

Emmy-winning actress Loretta Swit, best known for her iconic portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H's 11 seasons, passed away on May 30 at the age of 87. Beyond her unforgettable role on the hit series, Swit leaves behind an incredible legacy, including an Emmy record that may never be broken.

From 1974 to 1983, Swit earned 10 consecutive Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Series nominations for playing "Hot Lips" — the most consecutive bids ever in this category. This incredible streak also ties Swit with Rhea Perlman for the most nominations in the category overall. However, Swit’s achievement stands out because all 10 of her nominations were consecutive, while Perlman’s 10 nods for playing Carla Tortelli in Cheers were not; Perlman missed a nomination in 1992 before earning her 10th in 1993.

Swit's first of two wins came on her seventh try, but unfortunately she wasn't there to accept it.

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.

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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...

The co-creator of Mash's failed sequel AfterMASH once hilariously summarized why it bombed so completely. Despite Mash having run for 11 seasons, it was still a ratings hit for CBS when it ended. This led the network to greenlight some ill-advised Mash spinoffs, with AfterMASH being the first. This saw returning characters like Potter (Harry Morgan), Klinger (Jamie Farr), and Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) working together in a Veteran's hospital after the war ended; the resulting series was a total disaster, as was the second failed spinoff, W*A*L*T*E*R.

It's easy to forget that goodwill from Mash's groundbreaking finale saw the sequel show earn solid ratings for its first season. Still, AfterMASH's ratings tanked so badly that its final episode wasn't even aired, and it's now considered one of the worst TV series ideas ever. A major issue was that it lacked a major star like Alan Alda to frontt,...

The long-running Korean wartime sitcom "M*A*S*H" is something of a workplace comedy, but since it was set in the 1950s and aired in the 1970s, most of the main characters are men. "M*A*S*H" follows the antics of the personnel of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, especially surgeons Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) and his best friend B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell). 

Nurses are mostly secondary characters who exist only to serve as romantic interests for the guys, though head nurse Major Margaret Houlihan, played by Loretta Swit, gets to have a pretty fantastic character arc. Swit was responsible for helping to shape Houlihan into a more fully-realized character and even pitched her best story arc herself, leading to Margaret becoming one of the most compelling characters in the whole series. She even had enough agency to shoot down a proposed plot that would have seen Margaret put petty...

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,...

There a lot of lovable characters on the classic sitcom "M*A*S*H," but Father Frances Mulcahy, played by William Christopher, is easily among the most lovable. He's kind of an odd duck, an Irish Catholic priest who is wise beyond his years in many ways but is also occasionally rather childlike. Despite being a priest, he rarely harps on his comrades for any perceived moral failures, understanding that morality is complicated (especially in wartime), and people's morality is between them and their maker. He's complicated and compelling, and Christopher's performance is integral to making him feel real. It's funny, because Christopher originally completely tanked his audition, but he ended up bringing so much to Mulcahy that he and the character became somewhat inextricable. Heck, writer and co-star Alan Alda even created an episode around Christopher's bout with hepatitis in a case of art mirroring life.

There was...

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,...

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 had a mysterious unseen character named Tony, voiced by two actors, adding to the show's unique charm. The long-running show wrapped up after 11 seasons with a record-breaking finale, featuring only a few original characters. Fans speculate about Tony's true identity, with some theories connecting him to the character of Private Baker.

There was one Mash character who, despite appearing in every season, was never actually seen onscreen. Many actors exited Mash during its decade-plus on the air, which had the unexpected benefit of occasionally refreshing the cast dynamic. The shock death of Henry Blake in Mash season 3 led to him being replaced by Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan), who became a beloved figure in his own right. Just like any other long-running series, the show's later seasons became increasingly reliant on recycled storylines or character arcs to keep going.

It was the right call for the CBS sitcom to wrap...

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...

Mash thrived by embracing cast exits, creatively refreshing the show every few years. Trapper's exit allowed his replacement B.J. to shine, balancing Hawkeye's dynamic. Radar's departure during season 8 is one of Mash's most moving scenes.

Mash had several high-profile cast exits throughout its run, which is why it had such longevity. Following on from the success of Robert Altman's 1970 movie, few could have predicted the success of the spinoff show when it arrived on CBS. Indeed, Mash came close to being canceled after season 1, since the initial ratings were so poor. Instead, Mash ran for 11 seasons, with its mixture of drama and comedy influencing other series for decades to come. The show was also held together by a terrific ensemble, led by Alan Alda as motormouthed surgeon Hawkeye.

Like any long-running show, several cast members exited over the years to pursue different projects. By the time the finale "Goodbye,...

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 second season of AfterMASH bombed against The A-Team and lost in the ratings battle. The failure of AfterMASH marked the end of the Mash franchise spinoffs. Attempting to revive Mash would not work as the original had a unique impact on television.

The Mash franchise was killed off by the success of a major 1980s series - which was for the best. Much has been written about how big of an impact Mash had on television. Putting aside its great gags and ensemble cast, it took big creative swings, such as killing off Henry Blake during the third season. Killing off a major character was a big no-no during the 1970s, but not only did the medical sitcom take the risk - which received major backlash - but it went on to pioneer blending comedy with drama.

Mash ran for 11 seasons in total, but of course, any show that...

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,...

Wild audition stories are a dime a dozen in Hollywood, but McLean Stevenson's "M*A*S*H" casting is one of the stranger bits of classic sitcom mythology. According to casting director Eddie Foy III (per MeTV), the actor who would go on to play beloved buffoon Colonel Henry Blake for three seasons of the long-running series first earned the part in an especially roundabout way. The casting department didn't simply have Stevenson audition but instead put him in an entirely different TV movie to get him on executive producer Gene Reynolds' radar.

"I remember McLean Stevenson, I got McLean to do [the series]," Foy recalled in an interview with the Archive of American Television. "In fact," he continued, "we snuck him in on a picture called 'Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones,' where he played an eccentric minister, and we showed it to Gene Reynolds. He said, 'I love the guy.

When it comes to talking about TV shows with a real-world message, actors, writers, and others involved have to walk a fine line between self-deprecating and self-important. Can a show make its viewers better people? Can it actually change the world? These are questions the cast and crew of "M*A*S*H" seem to get asked a lot, as a recent retrospective on the series titled "M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television" demonstrates.

The special includes commentary from "M*A*S*H" alums who tell stories about the impact the groundbreaking dramedy series had on them personally and on the world at large. In one archival footage scene, someone at a press conference asked actor William Christopher about whether the Vietnam-era show could've changed Americans' opinions about the war. "'M*A*S*H,' in its development, began to deal with social issues, and we all felt that the...

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...

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,...

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...

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.

The M*A*S*H reunion special came together after years of planning and collaboration between the executive producers and the original cast members. The special includes interviews with the living cast members and archival interviews with those who have passed away. Despite facing challenges in selling the special to networks in the past, Fox finally decided to produce it, allowing the team to create a compilation of the best clips from the show's 251 episodes.

The executive producer behind the upcoming M*A*S*H reunion special, John Scheinfeld, explains how the event came together decades after the show ended. Beginning its TV run in 1972, the Korean War series lasted 11 seasons during its original run. M*A*S*H featured a leading cast of Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Jamie Far, William Christopher, and Harry Morgan.

Speaking with TVLine, Scheinfeld explains how the M*A*S*H special came together after years. Check out the full quote from...

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...

Several original cast members of the classic TV series M*A*S*H will reunite once again for an all-new television special.

Per TVLine, it was announced that a two-hour special reuniting M*A*S*H cast members while looking back at the hit show will air on Fox on Jan. 1, 2024. The special will include all-new interviews with Alan Alda (Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce) along with several other surviving cast members. That includes Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt), Gary Burghoff (Walter "Radar" O'Reilly), Jamie Farr (Maxwell Q. "Max" Klinger), and Loretta Swit (Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan). Executive producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe will also be included.

Related New Frasier Reboot Clip Reveals Emotional Reunion From the Original Show A clip from the Frasier reboot's Christmas-themed season finale reunites the title character with an old friend from the original sitcom. Close

Fox is touting the special as a "definitive" look into the history of M*A*S*H.

Few shows in the history of broadcast television can ever claim they were as successful as "M*A*S*H." Based on Richard Hooker's book "Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors," and the Robert Altman film that previously adapted that same book, the series aired for 11 seasons on CBS from 1972 to 1983 totaling a whopping 256 episodes. Its series finale remains the most-watched finale of any TV series. Unfortunately, the spin-off "AfterMASH" couldn't recapture that same magic — and the show's creator thinks he knows why.

The spin-off series only lasted two seasons, with the second season having its run cut short after the ratings plummeted. It was a short-lived experiment that failed to live up to its predecessor. In "TV's M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book," author Ed Solomonson spoke with "AfterMASH" co-creator Larry Gelbart, who also developed the original show. When asked about the spin-off, Gelbart first...

The iconic M*A*S*H TV series is being celebrated on New Years' Day. Fox will air an all-new special, M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, celebrating the groundbreaking comedy with new cast interviews and more. The series aired on CBS for 11 seasons between 1972 and 1983.

Starring Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, and David Ogden Stiers, the series followed those working at the 4077th, a U.S. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

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M*A*S*H reunion happening after 40 years, titled "The Comedy That Changed Television," airing on January 1st on Fox. The show celebrates the iconic sitcom's achievements through interviews with surviving cast members and executive producers. Special pays tribute to deceased cast and crew through clips, archival interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage.

A M*A*S*H reunion is happening on Fox, with the network announcing that the original cast will get together after 40 years for what has been described as the “definitive” reflection on the beloved comedy-drama series. The reunion special, titled M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, is now all set to air in the new year on January 1st, and promises to bring together Alan Alda, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, and more (via TV Line).

“M*A*S*H is among the most iconic sitcoms in the annals of television history,” said Dan Harrison, Fox’s EVP of Program Planning & Content Strategy, in a statement.

Fox is kicking off the new year by celebrating one of television’s greatest ever shows. The network will air a two-hour special M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television on Monday, January 1, 2024 at 8/7c. In it, those who made M*A*S*H celebrate one of the most beloved, enduringly popular, often quoted and influential comedies ever created. The special about the television classic will feature new interviews with original cast members 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” Houlihan) and series executive producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe. These will reveal the creation and evolution of the show’s iconic characters as well as rare and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage,...

Fox is ringing in the new year by turning back the clock four decades.

The network announced Wednesday that on Jan. 1 it will air M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, a two-hour special featuring new interviews with surviving cast members Alan Alda (Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce), 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. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan), as well as EPs Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe.

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Fox will celebrate Mash: The Comedy That Changed Television in a new two-hour special set to air Monday, January 1 at 8 pm on the network.

A definitive look at the 14-time Emmy-winning television classic, the special centers around new interviews with original cast members 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” Houlihan) and series executive producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe.

“In these intimate, highly personal remembrances, the creation and evolution of the show’s iconic characters are revealed, alongside rare and never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage, photos and stories,” according to Fox.

Writer/producer Larry Gelbart, as well as additional series stars Larry Linville (Maj. Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Col. Sherman T. Potter), McLean Stevenson (Lt.

If you caught up with "M*A*S*H" sometime after the beloved wartime sitcom ended its much-lauded original run, you'd be forgiven for having no clue about the series' spinoffs. After all, 50 years after it first aired, "M*A*S*H" remains a major pillar of TV history -- for its rollicking anti-authority spirit and bleeding heart attitude, its genre-blending and experimental episodes, and its record-breaking finale telecast, which is still by some measures the most-watched in the history of television. "AfterMASH," though? Well, not so much.

It's a testament to the flagship series' strengths that decades after it ended, its bizarre and short-lived spinoffs haven't tainted its reputation at all. In fact, they've mostly been forgotten, in part because they're unavailable on streaming and tough to find on home video. Three "M*A*S*H" spinoffs were made in hopes of capitalizing on some of the original series' magic, but only one -- the...

"M*A*S*H" famously pulled from real life across its historic eleven-season run. The team behind the sitcom spoke with actual doctors and nurses who worked during wartime in order to come up with many of the show's most heartbreaking -- and hilarious -- plotlines. In season 5, though, the show ended up incorporating a real-life event that was a lot closer to home: Father Mulcahy actor William Christopher's battle with hepatitis.

Hepatitis, which in 1977 was still being researched and categorized (the Nobel Prize in Medicine the year before went to a scientist who had discovered the Hep-b virus), was no joke for anyone who contracted it at the time. Unfortunately, Christopher did, and in Suzy Gershman's (née Kalter) 1984 book "The Complete Book of M*A*S*H," he explains that he ended up bedridden for eight weeks. According to one MeTv article, "He became very sick and many people thought that he wouldn't make it.

The popularity of "M*A*S*H" is well-documented: Its record-setting finale telecast, which captivated 125 million people in total, is cited in media studies lessons, bar trivia games, and world record books alike. But when we talk about how "M*A*S*H" went out on a high note with the most-watched non-Super Bowl telecast of all time, we don't often talk about what those viewership numbers make clear: The show ended while plenty of fans were still clamoring for more.

"M*A*S*H" ran for 11 seasons before bowing out with the feature-length finale, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen." But unlike most shows that fizzle out after a long run or are canceled after a short one, "M*A*S*H" didn't have trouble getting audiences' attention. According to classic TV ratings databases, nine of the show's seasons were among the top 10 most-watched shows on TV, and millions of fans tuned in regularly even before its big finish. By all indications, the...

The beloved, classic TV series M*A*S*H benefited from some great writing, a deft balance of comedy and drama, and the bravado to run with anti-war themes. One of its greatest strengths lay in the host of memorable characters and the powerhouse actors behind them: Alan Alda's "Hawkeye" Pierce, Loretta Swit's "Hot Lips" Houlihan, Father Mulcahy (William Christopher), and the eccentric Klinger (Jamie Farr), always looking for that Section 8 discharge. But it would be hard to argue against Gary Burghoff's Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly being the most beloved, as he was an innocent one amidst the chaos and a character we could relate to. So when M*A*S*H had its series finale, it seemed only right that the character was given a shot at his own series: W*A*L*T*E*R. Don't remember it? Consider yourself lucky.

The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital wouldn't have been the same without Father Mulcahy (William Christopher). The army chaplain gave "M*A*S*H" a sense of soulfulness, and helped the show talk about serious topics that its jokester characters might otherwise be too zany to pull off without his thoughtful input. Father Mulcahy was also just nice. As played by Christopher, the Catholic priest was non-judgemental and supportive, willing to meet each character where they lived in terms of religiosity — and he was kind of just a charming goofball.

Mulcahy started "M*A*S*H" as a recurring character, but by season 5 he was a series regular. Across the show's run, he delivered some of its most memorable moments and sometimes got substantial plotlines of his own: helping to run a local orphanage, having a crisis of faith when he felt his spiritual work was less helpful than the doctors' physical work,...

Mash was used to several cast exits, but it also featured a subtle recasting early on its run. Premiering in 1972, the CBS war comedy went on to run for 11 brilliant seasons, only getting better as it went along. Set in the Korean War in the '50s, Mash centered on the 4077th mobile army surgical hospital and the personnel that ran it. While the show was essentially an ensemble, it eventually became clear that Alan Alda's Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce was the anchor character of the series. However, Mash's success was only made possible by the string of supporting characters that he was surrounded by.

Despite its show's increasing popularity, Mash had a cast exodus early in its run. Original cast members such as McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre left the series for personal reasons. Eventually, Larry Linville's Frank Burns...

Actress Judy Farrell, best known for playing Nurse Able on hit 1970s-’80s sitcom “M*A*S*H”, has died at age 84.

The actress’ son, Michael Farrell, told TMZ that she died Sunday in hospital, having suffered a stroke nine days earlier.

Farrell appeared in eight episodes of “M*A*S*H”, and at the time was married to series star Mike Farrell, who joined the cast in 1975 as surgeon B.J. Hunnicutt.

Mike Farrell and then-wife Judy. (Photo by Tony Korody/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images)

In addition to “M*A*S*H”, Farrell’s acting career also included guest-starring appearances on such TV series as “Get Smart”, “The Partridge Family” and “Quincy, M.E.”. On the big screen, she was featured in the movies “J.W. Coop” (1971), “Chapter Two” (1979) and “Long-Term Relationship” (2006).

Read More: Alan Alda Commemorates 50 Years Of ‘M*A*S*H’, Recalls Emotional Episode That ‘Shocked’ Viewers

Following the Farrells’ divorce in 1983, she subsequently married actor/producer Joe Bratcher.

Walter was the final spin-off of Mash and easily the rarest, but it's easy to seek out online. Mash debuted on CBS in 1972, and like the acclaimed Robert Altman movie that proceeded it, was based on the 1968 novel of the same name. The show started poorly in the ratings, but it soon became one of the most popular shows on television. While the Korean War itself lasted three years, Mash ran for 11 seasons. It's a sign of how much it became part of the culture in the U.S. that Mash's finale is the most-watched scripted episode in television history.

Gary Burghoff's Walter "Radar" O'Reilly was one of Mash's most popular characters and famed for his borderline supernatural ability to know what his superiors needed at any given moment. Burghoff left Mash during season 8, but returned for a guest appearance in spin-off AfterMASH, followed by a pilot for his own series Walter.

M*A*S*H was a landmark show, and its success spawned a few spin-offs - though some lasted much longer than others. Robert Altman's M*A*S*H movie debuted in 1970 and was based on the novel of the same name by Richard Hooker. The story was based on the author's experiences as a combat surgeon during the Korean War, and the film's success - in turn - led to the TV series. M*A*S*H debuted on CBS in 1972 and evolved from being a mostly irreverent sitcom to more of a dramedy.

While some of the show's humor and stereotypes have aged poorly, it could often be incredibly moving and touched on topics like Ptsd and homosexuality in the military long before most other shows, and inspired the likes of Scrubs (which was canceled after nine seasons). The show concluded in 1983 after 11 seasons, and here's every M*A*S*H spin-off explained.

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Former 4077th M*A*S*H roommates Alan Alda and Mike Farrell reunited on Saturday to toast the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed war comedy’s premiere.

“Mike Farrell and I today toasting the 50th anniversary of the show that changed our lives – and our brilliant pals who made it what it was,” Alda wrote on Twitter, sharing the photo below of him and Farrell sharing some proper wine versus anything from the Swamp’s still. “Mash was a great gift to us.”

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Hawkeye and Trapper’s antics. Hawkeye and B.J.’s pranks. Frank and Hot Lips’s torrid romance. Klinger’s cross-dressing. Colonel Blake and Colonel Potter’s attempts to reign in the craziness. On September 17, 1972, “M*A*S*H” premiered, and for the next 11 years, the friendships, the tragedies and the hijinks of the 4077th captivated audiences. Let’s now celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CBS premiere with our photo gallery ranking the 25 best episodes. All episodes are now streaming on Hulu. Reelz also has a new documentary titled “M*A*S*H: When Television Changed Forever” that recently debuted.

The long-running series based on the three-year Korean War was adapted from a hit 1970 film, which in turn was adapted from a best-selling 1968 novel by Richard Hooker. Debuting at the height of the controversial Vietnam war, the series subtly mocked government bureaucracy and the senselessness of war, balancing the heaviness of tragedies...

Hawkeye and Trapper’s antics. Hawkeye and B.J.’s pranks. Frank and Hot Lips’s torrid romance. Klinger’s cross-dressing. Colonel Blake and Colonel Potter’s attempts to reign in the craziness. On September 17, 1972, “M*A*S*H” premiered, and for the next 11 years, the friendships, the tragedies and the hijinks of the 4077th captivated audiences. Let’s now celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CBS premiere with our photo gallery ranking the 25 best episodes.

The long-running series based on the three-year Korean War was adapted from a hit 1970 film, which in turn was adapted from a best-selling 1968 novel by Richard Hooker. Debuting at the height of the controversial Vietnam war, the series subtly mocked government bureaucracy and the senselessness of war, balancing the heaviness of tragedies that come through the surgical camp with the comic relief of the character’s efforts to survive the war with humor and compassion.

The first...

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Burt Metcalfe, the onetime actor from Canada who served as a producer, director and writer on all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H, collecting 13 Emmy nominations along the way, has died. He was 87.

One of the show’s unsung heroes, Metcalfe died Wednesday in Los Angeles of natural causes, his wife of 43 years, actress Jan Jorden announced. (She had a recurring role as Nurse Baker on the series.)

Before he gave up full-time acting to work on the other side of the camera, Metcalfe played the surfer Lord Byron opposite Sandra Dee and James Darren in Gidget (1959), appeared on the first season of The Twilight Zone and starred on the 1961-62 CBS sitcom Father of the Bride.

Metcalfe was a producer on all but five of M*A*S*H‘s 256 episodes from 1972-83 and its showrunner for its last six seasons. He...