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Jane Fonda will receive the William O. Douglas Award for her commitment to social causes at Public Counsel’s annual gala dinner on Feb. 27 at the Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles.

She is known for her work as an activist alongside her on-screen roles, most notably speaking out during the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

“Jane Fonda’s lifelong dedication to justice and equality is extraordinary,” Public Counsel’s president and CEO Kathryn Eidmann said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Beyond her legendary career in film and television, she has used her platform with courage and conviction to champion civil rights, women’s rights, and social justice. Her fearless advocacy has inspired generations and created meaningful change for countless communities. We are honored to recognize her.”

Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee will present Fonda with the award.

Earlier in the week, Fonda will receive the SAG...

On Tuesday January 28 2025, History broadcasts Hunting History With Steven Rinella!

The Final Hunt for D.B. Cooper Season 1 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Hunting History With Steven Rinella,” titled “The Final Hunt for D.B. Cooper,” promises to be both thrilling and intriguing. In this episode, Steve Rinella travels deep into the Cascade Mountain range, a region known for its rugged beauty and challenging terrain. This setting provides the perfect backdrop for exploring one of America’s most famous mysteries.

D.B. Cooper is a name that has fascinated many since the mysterious hijacking incident in the 1970s. In this episode, Steve takes a fresh look at the case, focusing on how Cooper might have survived his daring leap from the plane. The dark and stormy night adds an element of danger and uncertainty to the story, making viewers wonder about the choices Cooper had to make during his escape.

A new angle on the D.B. Cooper mystery arrives with “Hunting History with Steven Rinella.” Instead of another deep look into the skyjacker’s identity, the series premiere focuses on the practical question of whether the man could have possibly survived his jump into the wilderness. Rinella, a wilderness expert, brings his unique skillset to the […]

D.B. Cooper: Could He Have Survived? “Hunting History” Investigates...

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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 premiere episode of “Hunting History With Steven Rinella” titled “The Final Hunt for D.B. Cooper” promises an exciting journey into the unknown. Set to air on January 28, 2025, at 10:03 Pm on the History channel, this episode takes viewers deep into the Cascade Mountain range. Rinella, known for his adventurous spirit and passion for history, dives into one of America’s most intriguing mysteries.

In this episode, Steven Rinella explores the infamous case of D.B. Cooper, the man who famously hijacked a plane in 1971, parachuted away with a ransom, and vanished without a trace. With a fresh perspective, Rinella asks a compelling question: how could Cooper have survived such a dangerous jump into a stormy night? The episode promises to blend thrilling outdoor exploration with a deep dive into the mystery that has baffled many for decades.

As Rinella navigates the rugged terrain, he seeks clues and insights that...

Some of the most interesting details in the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe haven't been given enough attention by Marvel Studios. Marvel's world-building since the dawn of the MCU in 2008's Iron Man has been outstanding, as the version of the world in the MCU, dubbed Earth-616, is incredibly believable and as close to real life as it can be when inhabited by all manner of superpowered beings. Marvel Studios has fleshed out an entire history for the MCU, which includes some interesting facts and surprising details.

Over the last 17 years, Marvel Studios has crafted a vibrant and complex world, and interwoven its adapted characters through every fiber of it. The world of the MCU is, of course, wildly different and far removed from the real world, so while many historical events are the same in both, in the MCU, they come with a twist. New historical events in...

Will NCIS couple Special Agent Jessica Knight and Dr. Jimmy Palmer ever going to get together? Recently, the series’ showrunner teased about an upcoming episode that could reunite the pair. This scenario could both pull this couple apart as much as it could reunite them.

Here is what fans of the military procedural should expect.

Pictured (L-r): Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer and Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Could Upcoming NCIS Undercover Operation Reunite Knight And Palmer?

Although NCIS is on a month-long winter break, fans are waiting for details on upcoming episodes. One of those details is whether or not Jimmy and Jessica will reunite. Will the special agent and the doctor find they want to be together again? According to a recent interview with TV Insider, showrunner Steven D. Binder hints that this romance may soon be reignited.

A new NCIS season 22 story tease from executive producer Steven D. Binder teases yet another change in Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer's relationship. Knight (Katrina Law) and Palmer (Brian Dietzen) began dating at the very end of season 19, becoming the CBS procedural's rare example of an established romantic pairing within the main team. However, the NCIS season 21 ending saw them break up when Knight accepted a new job within the agency, despite Palmer wishing her to remain close. The ongoing season 22 features them trying to navigate being separated while still working together.

However, they might not remain split up for long. In a new interview with TV Insider, Binder previewed an upcoming NCIS season 22 episode where Knight and Palmer will be drawn back together. The installment will also feature a new appearance from Palmer's daughter Victoria, who will be working with her father on a case. This will pave the...

It sounds like there’s hope for Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) and Special Agent Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) on NCIS. They may have broken up at the end of Season 21, then decided to remain that way early on in Season 22, but that just means there’s time for them to find their way back to one another. Now that they’re apart, there are fun storylines for the writers to explore with them as individuals and together. That includes an incoming episode in which Palmer’s daughter Victoria — who perhaps took the breakup the hardest, sending reminder texts to both — gets involved in. case. She’s “going to team up with her father to help take down an infamous bank robber, like a D.B. Cooper type person, and Knight’s going to be involved in this episode,” executive producer Steven D. Binder tells TV Insider. “Jimmy’s going to have to go undercover.

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...

Author and podcast host Steven Rinella dives into some of America’s strangest mysteries on the History Channel’s Hunting History with Steven Rinella. The eight-episode season premieres on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 10pm Et/Pt.

Among the mysteries explored on season one are the cattle mutilations in the American West and what really happened to skyjacker D.B. Cooper.

“The stories of past explorers and adventurers remind us that a thirst for danger and wild places is firmly rooted in the human spirit. These stories teach us resilience and they deepen our connection to the natural world,” stated host and executive producer Rinella. “In Hunting History, we’re diving into the intersection of historical mysteries and the wild. We push the boundaries of what is known and understood, and we explore the ways in which nature always has the upper hand.”

Warm Springs Productions’ Marc Pierce, Morgan Fallon, Ben Ford, and...

Exclusive: History Channel is getting back outdoors.

The A+E Networks-owned cable channel has greenlighted Hunting History with Steven Rinella.

Set to premiere on Tuesday, January 28, the eight-part series is hosted and exec produced by Rinella, who was previously the host of MeatEater, a series that started on the Sportsman Channel before moving to Netflix in 2018.

Hunting History dives into some of American history’s greatest and most perplexing mysteries through a new lens.

Rinella brings his expert skills as a survivalist to trace what were thought to be untraceable steps and reveal new evidence along the way. He teams up with historians, archaeologists, and a cast of outdoor professionals as he takes viewers on an immersive journey, per the network. Throughout the series, Rinella hunts for answers to questions that have long baffled experts, including: what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke? Did skyjacker D.B. Cooper survive his famous jump?...

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 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,...

The classic sitcom series "M*A*S*H" had a pretty expansive cast of characters as it followed the servicemembers assigned to the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and the main crew had some major changes over the years. In fact, only Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) appeared in every episode. Both Wayne Rogers, who played Hawkeye's roommate and Bff Trapper John, and McLean Stevenson, who played camp commander Colonel Henry Blake, left the series after the third season in large part because they felt like they were playing second fiddle to Alda, and that meant replacing their characters in some way. Both Trapper and Col. Blake were sent home by the army, and that meant the 4077th needed two new surgeons.

Enter Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, a good-natured Californian wife guy who becomes Hawkeye's new roommate and soon his soulmate new best friend, played by Mike Farrell. It had to be...

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.

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...

It is not uncommon for TV stars to direct episodes of the series on which they appear. Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan and David Ogden Stiers all directed more than one episode of "M*A*S*H;" Peter Bonerz became a prolific director of television shows and films after directing 29 episodes of "The Bob Newhart Show;" and Penny Marshall might never have brought us such big screen classics as "Big" and "A League of Their Own" had she not started out directing on "Laverne & Shirley."

For the directing curious, the set of a long-running television show is a great place to cut one's teeth, so it's no surprise that two members of the Jeffersonian Institute Medico-Legal Lab found their way behind the camera during the 12-season run of "Bones." The most frequent guest in video village was David Boreanaz, who played the hard-charging FBI Agent Seeley Booth. He...

The continuity of Mash became so messy that the last seven seasons of the classic sitcom took place in under a year. Mash ran for 11 seasons, and it's fair to say that nobody involved with the series expected it to run nearly so long. The Korean War lasted for three years, though given the high-stress environment the 4077th are operating in, the "premature" aging of the main characters is easy to explain. Mash's record-breaking finale saw the surgeons finally heading home following the end of the conflict.

Now, it should be noted Mash was almost canceled during its first season due to terrible ratings and was only saved thanks to re-runs performing well. While most episodes told self-contained stories, during the earlier seasons the show would occasionally reference years and dates with little concern about the timeline. For instance, the first episode of Mash season 4 "Welcome To Korea" clearly...

A very special episode of Mash took place over the course of a whole year - and created a lot of continuity holes in the process. Mash ran for 11 seasons, and later series had to get downright experimental with certain episodes just to keep things interesting. Alan Alda's divisive "Dreams" was a horror-infused dive into the dreams (and nightmares) of the 4077th, while season 8's "Life Time" took place entirely in real-time.

Some of these efforts were more successful than others, but they often resulted in the most unique episodes too. Of course, another problem the show often ran into was the passage of time. The Korean War lasted for three years while Mash ran for eleven, which resulted in some big timeline errors towards the end. Mash's 200th episode decided to throw caution to the wind with its unique premise that had to break continuity into pieces to function.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Agatha All Along episode 6, "Familiar By Thy Side."

One of Loki's best moments was copied by Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness years before Agatha All Along. WandaVision episode 8 revealed that Agatha Harkness was a young MCU witch during the time of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1600s, meaning she has been alive for over three hundred years. This long life means she's been around the block, and this was proven in Agatha All Along episode 6, "Familiar By Thy Side," which saw Billy Maximoff - in his new body - research the powerful witch before joining her coven.

Billy Maximoff's research in Agatha All Along episode 6 revealed that Agatha Harkness had been involved in some major disasters throughout the 20th Century, including the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Hindenburg disaster of 1937. Since acquiring the ability to absorb the power and life...

Mash was a unique mixture of tragedy and comedy, and while it could heartbreakingly sad, it still had its share of hilarious episodes too. This medical sitcom debuted in 1972, and while it was always intended to have an anti-war tone, it was much more of a comedy initially. The death of Henry Blake in Mash season 3 stunned audiences after it aired, and underlined the fact its main characters faced life-or-death situations daily. From there, the series evolved into one of the first real dramedies on television.

Some fans are split on this evolution. There was still plenty of humor, but outings like Mash's divisive "Dreams" or "Follies of the Living - Concerns of the Dead" - both of which were helmed by star Alan Alda - were felt to be too self-serious for their own good. Mash saw plenty of actor exits during its early seasons too, which had...

One of the worst Mash episodes tried to force the drama so much that it forgot the show is also supposed to be funny. Fans of this legendary sitcom are divided on how it evolved. Mash ran for 11 seasons in total, and there were some big tonal changes in that time. It transitioned from being a wild sitcom with an anti-war message into a sometimes deathly serious dramedy. The very best outings were able to balance these tones, though Mash's best episode "The Interview" is also borderline gag free.

It ultimately comes down to personal preference, but Mash's various actor exits and its willingness to experiment kept the show a hit for over a decade. Of course, it also ran for over 250 episodes, meaning it had to weather some dud outings. Alda's least-favorite episode from season 1, for instance, involved a silly treasure hunt scheme. The season 4 episode "Hawkeye" is highly divisive too,...

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,...

Alan Alda and co-star Mike Farrell argued over the ethics of a surgery scene in Mash season 7, which was written into an episode. Farrell argued his character B.J. wouldn't take part in an unnecessary surgery, even if it involved saving lives. This clash between Farrell and Alda added tension and moral complexity to "Preventative Medicine."

A classic Mash episode was improved by a genuine argument between Alan Alda and a co-star over the ethics involved in a key surgery sequence. Many Mash actors exited the show during its early years, despite the medical sitcom becoming a runaway hit for CBS. These exits accidentally added to the show's longevity, since the ensemble was periodically refreshed with great new characters like Potter (Harry Morgan) or Major Winchester (David Ogden Stiers).

Wayne Rogers' Trapper left Mash following season 3, with the actor feeling his role kept being diminished by the increasing focus put on Alda's Hawkeye.

Mash's inaccurate portrayal of Korean language is highlighted by the rise of K-dramas. Locals in Mash mostly speak Hangeul incorrectly, a glaring inaccuracy compared to modern Korean shows. The series also inaccurately depicts the length of the Korean War and the presence of African-American surgeons in Mash units during the conflict

The rise of specific genre in recent years makes it difficult to get past Mash's most inaccurate detail about the Korean War. Despite being released during the early '70s, creator Larry Gelbart decided to stick with Richard Hooker's 1968 novel Mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors for the CBS show's backdrop. There have been theories that Mash was a commentary on the divisive Vietnam War, which was at its tail end during the medical comedy/drama's first year, although there is no confirmation about this. Regardless, however, its storytelling remained and remains ever-relevant.

While Mash's...

B.J. cheated on wife Peg during "Hanky Panky" episode of Mash. This storyline is controversial, with some fans finding B.J.'s actions completely out of character. Farrell's B.J. had another close call with temptation in season 8, but ultimately reaffirmed his love for his wife.

Mash's B.J. Hunnicut was always shown to be hopelessly devoted to his wife Peg, but did he cheat on her as one controversial episode suggests? Many Mash actors exited the acclaimed dramedy during its run, but that's one reason it lasted so long. While many shows during this era made the mistake of replacing a departing character with somebody who was virtually identical, Mash opted to do the opposite. A key example is Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) replacing Burns (Larry Linville), with the former being a refined snob while the latter was a cartoonish coward and hypocrite.

When Mike Farrell's B.

Bj Hunnicutt replaced Trapper John McIntyre in Mash, developing a strong friendship with Hawkeye. Bj's mustache was introduced to differentiate him from Hawkeye. It was suggested by Alan Alda after the producers became worried about the characters being too alike. The change in Bj's appearance marked a shift in Mash's storytelling, reflecting character growth and a more serious tone.

Bj Hunnicutt went through one divisive change in his time in Mash, and it was all because of Alan Alda's Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce. On the heels of Wayne Rogers' exit as Trapper John McIntyre in Mash season 3, the famed war comedy/drama brought in Mike Farrell to fill the spot that he left. Playing the straightlaced family man from Mill Valley, California, Bj was quick to develop a good rapport with Hawkeye. Amid all the great things about the groundbreaking comedy, their friendship became the backbone of Mash for the...

Scott Scurlock, inspired by Bodhi in "Point Break," pulled off a series of heists, amassing over $2 million. Seattle saw an uptick in bank robberies; Scott's low-profile crimes initially went unnoticed by the police. Scott and his associates almost pulled off one last heist and quit for good, but they were tracked by police.

Netflix's latest true-crime documentary, How to Rob a Bank, tells the story of Scott Scurlock, a bank robber who operated in the 1990s in Seattle. Scott was known to authorities as "Hollywood" due to the movie-grade prosthetics he wore during his heist to conceal his identity. Alongside his accomplices, Scott pulled a series of heists and stole over $2 million before his death in 1996.

Netflix has plenty of true-crime documentaries, and How to Rob a Bank is another great addition to the streaming platform's collection. The movie uses interviews from Scott's friends and accomplices as well as...

My Adventures with Superman is one of the most brilliant superhero animated series. Created by Brendan Clougher, Jake Wyatt, and Josie Campbell, the Adult Swim series tells the story of Superman aka Clark Kent as he starts his new job at The Daily Planet, with his roommate Jimmy Olson, and his senior intern at The Daily Planet who is none other than Lois Lane. They quickly become a team and try to bring in big stories so that they can become real reporters while Clark also tries to become the hero he is meant to be. My Adventures with Superman has great action but the brilliant thing about the series is that it isn’t an action series about Superman, it’s a series about a superhero and his relationships as he figures out who he really is. So, if you love the heart, optimism, great story, and fantastic animation...

Given her one-of-a-kind awards resume and irrefutable status as an acting legend, it’s no wonder Meryl Streep is widely expected to be honored at this year’s Emmys for her work on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” Taking the gold for her first regular comedy series role would be impressive enough, but the noteworthiness of her win would extend far beyond that. Having joined her show in its third season, she would be only the 10th non-original comedy series cast member to ever pull off a lead or supporting Emmy victory.

Not including sketch performers, Streep would be said winners club’s first new entrant in over three decades. The last was Kirstie Alley, who replaced Shelley Long as the female lead of “Cheers” at the start of season six and prevailed on her third Emmy bid in 1991. That same year, supporting “Cheers” actress Bebe Neuwirth achieved...

The cast of Mash held a vote during season 10 to end the show. The actors who voted to keep the show running then became the stars of AfterMASH. AfterMASH is now considered one of the biggest mistakes in TV history.

A vote by the cast of Mash had the accidental effect of leading to the franchise's biggest blunder. Acclaimed as the long-running CBS sitcom might be, certain creative decisions didn't sit well with some viewers. Some fans much prefer the earlier seasons, which put more of an emphasis on comedy. The death of Henry Blake in Mash season 3 saw the show move into more dramatic terrority, with this dramedy approach proving divisive. Of course, some devotees loved this tonal shift and feel the show lasted so long because of this blend of humor and heartbreak.

Mash ran for 11 seasons in total, but like any long-running series, it was starting to...

The classic sitcom series "M*A*S*H" was incredibly ahead of its time, managing to get quite a bit of mature material past network censors. Sometimes that material had to deal with the anti-war nature of the series and the difficult conditions the characters found themselves in, and sometimes that material was just bawdy. Seriously, there are a lot of sex jokes in "M*A*S*H" and quite a few people are knocking combat boots, but originally there was going to be even more sex, and more adultery. There's already an awful lot of adultery on "M*A*S*H," with several major characters cheating on their spouses, but the original plan would have taken that up several notches.

The adultery in "M*A*S*H" has a complicated legacy — the early seasons are a bit more laid-back with the characters' morals and there's quite a bit of marital infidelity, while...

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,...

Trapper John McIntyre's exit from Mash is the saddest departure due to the lack of closure for his character. Mash handles character exits uniquely, with Trapper's departure standing out for its abruptness and aftermath. Trapper's decision to never contact his former team adds a layer of sadness to his Mash exit, differentiating it from others.

One key detail makes Trapper John McIntyre's Mash exit the saddest. Wayne Rogers was paired with Alan Alda's Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce for the 4077's original disruptors. Despite their rowdy behavior and lack of military respect, they are the unit's best surgeons. So, everyone tries to tolerate their antics, which range from harmless pranks to dangerous dares. Alda and Rogers have great chemistry, and that is evident throughout the years that they spend together in Mash. So when the Trapper actor left, it was a big blow to the groundbreaking CBS war medical comedy/drama.

Dan Wilcox, an Emmy-winning writer, producer and longtime union man who penned dozens of M*A*S*H episodes including co-writing its record-setting series finale and had many other TV credits including Sesame Street and Fernwood/America 2-Nite, has died. He was 82.

His niece, Julie Merson Rothenberg, told the WGA that he died February 14 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. No cause was given.

A six-decade WGA member and longtime former board member who was active in the 2007-08 strike, Wilcox was a fierce champion of unions and equal rights. In 2017, he received the Morgan Cox Award in recognition of his exemplary service to the Guild. Wgaw President Howard A. Rodman said at the time: “Dan Wilcox has been, in a sustained and deeply moving way, a voice for the voiceless. His work, at once passionate and effective, has been on behalf of those who might otherwise lack the...

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...

Ahead of the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, the Television Academy has compiled a list of the 75 Most Impactful TV Moments.

In collaboration with a group of academic professionals, the Television Academy scoured eight decades on television in search of the moments that have made the most impact on viewers, the industry and culture.

Chosen were classic moments (from the late 1940s until the 2020s) of TV’s most beloved programs, as well as news events that brought the U.S. and the world together to watch them in real time. Many of the selected televised events influenced politics and shifted the common wisdom about race, Lgtbq+ representation and more.

At the top of the list is the Apollo 11 moon landing, followed by coverage of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade center and the Beatles’ 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

You can read the entire list here and watch a video compilation above.

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...

Over 50 years ago, the war dramedy series "M*A*S*H" broke new ground by transforming Robert Altman's film of the same name into what would become one of the most important television shows in history. Given the series' wartime background, for as funny as the show was, it was also deeply emotional and tackled some seriously harrowing subject matter. But what episode impacted the cast the most? In the new TV special "M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television," actor Mike Farrell (Captain B.J. Hunnicutt) talked about filming "Old Soldiers," getting choked up thinking about the gravity of the episode's meaning.

For those who have seen the episode, it's definitely one that packs an emotional wallop. Directed by Charles S. Durbin and written by Dennis Koenig, season 8, episode 18, "Old Soldiers," centered on Colonel Potter after he discovered that he was the last surviving member of his WWI veteran friend group. The...

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,...

The recently-released Mash reunion lacked the magic of previous reunions due to the actors doing their interviews separately, preventing interactions among the cast members. The format of the 2023 special focused more on the history of Mash, rather than fun anecdotes and stories shared by the actors. Despite its shortcomings, the 2023 Mash reunion was still a good project, considering the age of the cast members and its significance as a milestone year for the show.

The Mash reunion co-executive producer John Scheinfeld reveals the harsh reality of doing the special. In celebration of its legendary finale's 40th anniversary, the surviving cast members of the groundbreaking war series came together for a two-hour look back at their time on the show. As exciting as it was, however, some production secrets somehow tone down the magic of the recently-released Mash reunion.

Speaking to TV Line, Scheinfeld opens up about how the Mash project came to be,...

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.

Mike Farrell knew he had a lot to live up to when he joined the 4077th Unit and cast of M*A*S*H as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt. The well-versed actor already had an impressive career including a stint on Days of Our Lives. However, this was a completely different kind of pressure coming into season 4 of a highly successful series after the exit of Wayne Rogers, who played Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre. He was up to the challenge with viewers connecting with the devoted family man and what would be a long-time bond with Alan Alda’s Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce. Viewers will ever forget the shot during the historic series finale where B.J. yells out that he left a note for Hawkeye. As he flies away in the helicopter, he soon notices that his good friend spelled out the word “Goodbye” with rocks on the ground.

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...

Comedic breaking: it's been around for pretty much as long as performances. Flip through classic TV channels and you'll find Rue McClanahan delivering her lines into the back of her hand to hide giggles in episodes of "The Golden Girls," Mary Tyler Moore barely suppressing her grin in"The Dick Van Dyke Show," and Horatio Sanz wiping away tears with Mickey Mouse waffles on "Saturday Night Live." Breaking seems like an unstoppable phenomenon, especially once more than one castmate well and truly gets the giggles, but it's also a surprisingly controversial one: for every person who laughs along with the actors, there seems to be another who thinks breaking is unfunny and unprofessional.

Larry Gelbart, who created the influential and long-running '70s sitcom "M*A*S*H," was apparently not into character breaks, and he told author Ed Solomonson that one actor in the show's ensemble cast did it more than any other.