Did you grow up during the 1970s? If you did, chances are you love MASH. For those of you who are from a younger generation, it’s time to binge-watch one of the best American war comedy dramas ever. But what are the biggest behind-the-scenes secrets of this beloved show? Who loved who and who couldn't stand their co-stars?
WHILE true MASH fans know all this already, we’ve decided to let everyone in the secrets! We’ve gathered 57 fun facts from the sitcom sure to surprise MASH lovers from every generation. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.
WHILE true MASH fans know all this already, we’ve decided to let everyone in the secrets! We’ve gathered 57 fun facts from the sitcom sure to surprise MASH lovers from every generation. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.
Radar Became a Wildlife Painter
It’s safe to say that Radar was everyone’s favorite nerd. This Iowa boy turned Army whiz always gave us a good laugh. After he was turned away by the Marines because he wore glasses, Radar's wish was to get in the Signal Corps, but he was appointed to the 4077th MASH instead, and he brought his teddy bear with him.
We loved his innocence and the father/son relationship he developed with Colonel Blake throughout the series. In real life, Gary Burghoff doesn’t sleep with a teddy bear and isn’t clueless when it comes to women. He’s a happy, successful wildlife painter with three children.
The Cast Didn’t Like Radar (aka Gary Burghoff) in Real Life, Either
Poor Radar can’t catch a break. It turns out the cast didn’t like him in real life, either.
Here’s the sad part. We don’t even know why. When he finally left the series in 1979, TV columnist Mike Drew put out a piece stating that none of the cast members cried. Burghoff wrote Drew a personal note, saying “While there may not have been tears shed by my cast members over my leaving the show, they did know - and still do - of my contribution.” Of course, the cast refuted those accusations in a personalized message published in TV guides. We think this was more publicity than comradery. What do you think?
Here’s the sad part. We don’t even know why. When he finally left the series in 1979, TV columnist Mike Drew put out a piece stating that none of the cast members cried. Burghoff wrote Drew a personal note, saying “While there may not have been tears shed by my cast members over my leaving the show, they did know - and still do - of my contribution.” Of course, the cast refuted those accusations in a personalized message published in TV guides. We think this was more publicity than comradery. What do you think?
Here’s the sad part. We don’t even know why. When he finally left the series in 1979, TV columnist Mike Drew put out a piece stating that none of the cast members cried. Burghoff wrote Drew a personal note, saying “While there may not have been tears shed by my cast members over my leaving the show, they did know - and still do - of my contribution.” Of course, the cast refuted those accusations in a personalized message published in TV guides. We think this was more publicity than comradery. What do you think?
Gary Burghoff Is Actually Pretty Cool
We might have forgotten one minor detail. He was in a band with Wonder Woman. How would you feel if you were one of Gary’s kids? Honestly, we don’t know if we would be proud or die of embarrassment? Either way, Gary used to be in a band with DC’s most awesome female superhero.
This was all prior to his big break, but we’re pretty sure being a drummer in Lynda Carter’s band would do the trick. Now, that’s something to add to your resume.
MASH’s Main Character Hawkeye Pierce Is a Real-Life Veteran
While Alan Alda might have played a fictional role as an army captain in the Korean War, he actually served in Korea post-war.
No wonder why he was so convincing on-screen! Right after graduating from Fordham University in New York City, Alda signed up to enlist as a gunnery officer. And the gentleman in the picture above is in reality Alan's father, Robert Alda. He appeared in two episodes of the series.
Corporal Klinger Wasn’t Originally Supposed to Be a Long-Term Character
Well, if it isn’t everyone’s favorite cross-dressing Corporal. If you ask us, Klinger was the highlight of the show. However, he was only supposed to be a one-time character. *Gasp*
MASH’s writers originally wrote Klinger’s character as a gay man serving in the army. He was only supposed to appear in one or two episodes. However, the writers decided to change his character and make him a straight male who likes to crossdress instead. His character proved to be an immediate hit and needless to stay, he stuck around for the show’s eleven seasons, making us all laugh at his get rich quick schemes. We couldn’t imagine what MASH would be like without him.
Some of the Characters Had Real-Life Baseball Player’s Names
Did you know that some characters from MASH were named after famous California baseball players?
They say imitation is flattery and it didn’t seem like the Los Angeles Angels minded their names being used on the big screen. MASH writer Ken Levine admitted that in seasons six and seven, he named some of the show’s characters after the infield players. Here’s another fun fact. Levine also used the names of some of his ex-girlfriends (“Patty Haven” and “Linda Nugent”) to play Radar’s crushes.
The Finale’s Most-Watched Series Records Is Still Yet to Be Beaten
MASH fans died a little inside when the show aired its final episode on February 28, 1983. A whopping 106 million people tuned in to see their favorite characters one last time (well, until it’s rerun season). This record-high number has yet to be beaten by any other television airing, even the Super Bowl.
As you remember, the show ran for eleven amazing seasons. Afterward, a spin-off called AfterMASH was aired, but it didn’t take off. The original show went on to become a cult classic series, ranked in the top 20 most-watched programs in television history. The producers definitely threw a bone the fans’ way; the final episode lasted for two and a half hours.
Believe It or Not, The Show Was Almost Canceled in 1973
While MASH ended up being a hit show, it wasn’t always that way.
Ten years earlier, things weren’t so great for the cast and crew. Did you know that MASH was almost pulled off the air in 1973? In fact, it ranked 46th in the Nielsen ratings, depressingly low for a sitcom. The network seriously considered pulling the series altogether. So what saved it? CBS decided to move the airing time between two other popular shows on Saturday night. Eventually, MASH just became part of American families’ wind-down weekend routines. And the rest is history.
The Show Was Almost Canceled Again in 1980
Did you think that MASH was in the clear? Nope. Guess again! The show was also almost canceled in 1980. How could it be?
MASH’s main star Alan Alda opened up to the Chicago Tribune in 1979 with a bitter pill for fans to swallow - the show might not make it past its eighth season. At that point, the writers were struggling to come up with more original material to carry on the plot. In order to develop the plot, they needed staff who could contribute more energy to the production. Thankfully, the show did go on, and the material was great.
There Was Actually Three Spin-Off Shows Following MASH
Unfortunately, none of them were that good. Maybe we’re a little biased, but nothing comes close to the original.
Of the three spin-offs, the first one definitely got the best buzz. The show, Trapper John, M.D. focused on the life of the title’s character after the Korean War. The main actor of the spinoff (Pernell Roberts) went on to have more screen time than Wayne Rogers did in MASH. Can you believe that this spinoff lasted for seven seasons? The other two spinoffs did not get quite as much luck. AfterMASH was canceled after only two seasons, and W*A*L*T*E*R only aired once. Oddly enough, the final episode of AfterMASH never aired on TV. Sometimes producers should just leave well enough alone.
Harry Morgan (aka Col. Potter) Was Charged With Spousal Abuse in 1997
You never want to hear that your favorite TV character is a tool in real life. Sorry to burst your bubble, but Harry Morgan had some serious issues.
Everyone’s favorite Colonel who starred in MASH for eight seasons wasn’t so lovable off the big screen. In 1997, he was charged with spousal battery. After going into counseling for six months, the charges were dropped. Harry Morgan passed away fourteen years later at the age of ninety-six.
William Christopher Advocates for Autism Awareness
Who else remembers Father Mulcahy from MASH? Today, he works as an advocate for autism awareness.
Since his son Ned is autistic, Christopher developed a clear passion for advocating for the spectrum disorder. Today, he plays a significant role in the National Autistic Society, bringing greater awareness through public service roles and announcements. His wife, Barbara penned a book about their son’s and family’s experience in a work titled Mixed Blessings.
Did You Know That Alan Alda Directed the MASH Series Finale?
Honestly, we’re not surprised that Alan Alda is multi-talented.
If you didn’t already know, everyone’s favorite MASH star directed the final episode, “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen.” He helped write thirteen of the show’s episodes and directed thirty of them. It’s no wonder that he won an Emmy Award for his hand in the show. After all, this was for the series.
CBS Canceled One Episode for Being ‘Unpatriotic’
The original plot of the episode revolved around soldiers who were competing to see who could get sick and sent home to the U.S. One of the show’s writers, James Wittebols said: “such an anti-military event was deemed too unpatriotic for mass audiences.” That was one of the biggest problems the show had. The writers wanted to be realistic with wartime struggles but had to cater to an audience who only knew commercial television. During the 1970s-1980s, no one went against the grain when it came to patriotism on TV.
Wayne Rogers Never Had a Signed Contract in Place
Why? It gets a little bit tricky.
Trapper John made his famous break from MASH after only three seasons. He had anticipated having a larger role, equal to that of Hawkeye. When he saw that he wasn’t going to get it, he walked. The disgruntled producers decided to sue him for breach of contract. However, it turned out that Wayne Rogers had never signed his actor’s contract in the first place. So, the producers couldn’t actually sue him after all.
The Pilot Episode Was Written in Two Days
Yes, you read that right.
Larry Gelbart, the show’s creator and producer, wrote the pilot episode of MASH in just two days. Now, that’s a talent! When the show was still in its production phase, Gelbart was living in London and tried to distance himself from the Hollywood scene as much as possible. But when this show came along, it was too great of an opportunity to pass up. Ten years later, MASH had become one of the most influential TV sitcoms of all time.
CBS Forced MASH’s Producers to Use a Canned Laughter Track
While many popular 1970s sitcoms were filmed in front of a live TV audience, MASH was not one of them.
Some of us hate hearing canned laughter, while others barely notice it. Either way, the next time you watch MASH, you’ll notice it in nearly every other line. MASH’s creator, Larry Gilbert, admitted that CBS forced the producers to use a laugh track for the show. He said, By and large, the network got their way,” Gelbart said. “They were paying for dinner.” Thankfully, the producers were able to omit it for the famous black and white episode “The Interview.” When the show aired in England, the laugh track was cut out.
Wayne Rogers Wasn’t the First Choice to Play Trapper John
Well, this is awkward. No one likes being the second choice.
Did you know that Wayne Rogers wasn’t the producer’s original choice to play Trapper John? While we can’t imagine anyone else in the role, it was offered to comedian Robert Klein first. He turned it down, although he admitted later on that he regretted the decision. Klein’s manager said that Klein told him “You should have made me take it.”
Another Famous Actor Auditioned to Play Hawkeye but Didn’t Make the Cut
Who was he? McLean Stevenson auditioned to play Hawkeye! While Alan Alda snatched up the role, we have to admit that we could easily see Stevenson in the part too.
Thankfully, he did get a spot among the cast as the lovable Colonel Henry Blake. After he left the 4077th in the episode “Abyssinia, Henry,” viewers couldn’t believe their eyes and ears. But Blake leaving wasn’t the worst part of it all. Radar bore the bad news; Blake’s plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan. What a tragic end for such a beloved character! We’re still not over it.
A Frustrated Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson Chose to Leave MASH
If you’re wondering why Colonel Henry Blake had such a sudden death, read on.
Do you remember that Wayne Rogers quit the show? Well, it seems like McLean Stevenson was hoping for a larger role on MASH as well. The show couldn’t sue Rogers, so he quit on the fly. However, Stevenson had to wait it out until the end of the third season. Of course, the show’s main writer, Ken Levine, disputes that Rogers and Stevenson left in frustration. In fact, a brazen Levine went on to say that Rogers “probably would have kept his mouth shut and stayed put” if he had known the success that MASH would have.
McLean Stevenson Was Actually From Bloomington, Illinois
Stevenson didn’t just play the part of a man from Bloomington, Illinois. It’s where he was born and raised.
As a matter of fact, Stevenson is also the cousin of Adlai Stevenson, the state’s famous one-term governor, Democratic presidential nominee, and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. What a fascinating family tree! It’s needless to say that McLean Stevenson brought so much more to his role than just his hometown knowledge and associations. When asked about his role as Henry Blake, he replied, “I played my dad. My father was a country doctor, and he was 80 years old when he passed away.”
A Lot of MASH’s Storyline Is Based on Real-Life Events
Not all TV sitcoms are pure fiction. As it turns out, MASH’s plotline incorporated real events.
This comedy-drama has a lot more reality woven throughout the plot than we originally thought. Several of the storylines in the first season were given to the production team by real-life army surgeons, nurses, and patients from the Korean War. The screenwriter Kevin Levine admitted that some of the stories were so brutal that they had to be watered down for TV audiences.
A Creepy Coincidence Happened to the Two Actors Who Played Lt. Colonel Henry Blake
What’s a sitcom without a little bit of spookiness and drama?
If you didn’t already know, the sitcom MASH is based on the original feature film. Roger Bowen played Lt. Colonel Henry Blake in the film, and MacLean Stevenson reprised it in the 1970s sitcom. Here’s the spooky part. In 1996, both men died from heart attacks only one day apart from one another. Stevenson passed away on February 15 and Bowen on the following day. If this doesn’t send shivers down your spine, we don’t know what will.
The Cast Buried an Epic Time Capsule Only to Have It Dug Up Shortly After
What do you do after wrapping up filming an eleven-season show’s final episode? Make a time capsule, of course!
*Cue the tear-jerker* In MASH’s final episode, “As Time Goes By,” Major Margaret Houlihan suggests that the gang buried a time capsule to commemorate their time together during the Korean War. The show’s main star, Alan Alda, loved this idea so much, he convinced them all to make a capsule and bury it for real. Isn’t that a sweet idea? Unfortunately, this capsule didn’t last very long. It was dug up only two months later when construction began for a new office building on site. Oh, well. At least they tried!
Mike Farrell Tried to Pull Some Strings for His Wife and Daughter
It worked - well, kind of.
We know him as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, but at home, he was just a husband and father (who really wanted to get his family on TV). Rumor has it that Farrell asked MASH’s producers to name his character’s daughter after his real-life daughter, Erin. When he was filming scenes talking on the phone, his real-life wife Judy and daughter were the ones on the other line. So they didn’t get their faces on the big screen, but this still counts for something, right? We’ll give him some kudos for trying.
Gary Burghoff Filmed With a Deformed Left Hand
Now, you’re scrolling the internet looking for photos, aren’t you?
Here’s something that many viewers didn’t notice when watching MASH. Gary Burghoff had a deformed left hand. While we don’t think he needed to hide it, he often slipped it into his pocket or behind his back while filming. The producers didn’t make him hide his hand; he was self-conscious.
The Nurses on MASH Always Had the Same Names
What’s up with the nurses on MASH always having the same names? Come on, guys! Show some originality here.
While there were quite a few women who played nurses on MASH, their roles never lasted long - and they always had the same couple of names. We don’t know about you, but we know quite a few nurses without the names Able, Baker, and Charlie. The producers used the military’s phonetic alphabet and HAM operators to name these minor characters.
Army Boots Were Never Used During Filming
What about authenticity?
If you’re anything like us, you’re wondering how in the world MASH succeeded as an eleven-season show about the army, and no one wore army boots. While the producers originally went for as authentic of a wardrobe choice as they could, using real army boots was too loud when filming. The actors also complained that the boots were too uncomfortable to walk around in all day. Most of the show was shot from the waist up, and the actors’ sneakers were cut from shots.
The Wrong Wife Was Shown at Potter’s Desk
Here’s one of our favorite mistakes that slipped through editing.
Take a closer look at Potter’s desk. What do you see? In the first picture, his wife Mildred is displayed. Now, look at the second photo pictured. Here, you will see a real-life photo of the actor Harry Morgan’s wife, Eileen. While this might seem like an error, the show’s producers loved to bring personal touches to the set.
Ken Levine Punished the Cast for Being Annoying
How do you handle too many script change requests at one time? Punish the cast for being annoying.
Ken Levine decided to write a “cold show” to demonstrate the freezing conditions of the Korean winter. We have to say we love his sense of humor. To get back at the cast for bombarding him with script changes, Levine wrote in the best one ever. The cast was forced to stand around a fire wearing full parkas on set and swelter in 100-degree Fahrenheit weather. Needless to say, Levine won. "This happened maybe twice, and we never got a ticky-tack note again," he said.
Jame Farr Requested to Phase Out His Character’s Cross-Dressing Over Time
The only thing worse than wearing a parka in 100-degree weather is being mercilessly teased by your children.
Kids can be pretty brutal, and no one knew that better than Jamie Farr. Anticipating the jests from his kids, he requested that the producers phase out his character’s kooky antics over time. After producers had Klinger accept the company clerk role from Radar, he stopped cross-dressing altogether.
MASH’s Colonel Potter Started His Career as a Little Rebel
Colonel Potter had some pretty big secrets.
How did Colonel Potter possibly serve in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War? He lied about his age when he was only fifteen so that he could enlist in the cavalry. While that’s pretty gutsy, we’re still convinced why his parents didn’t do anything to stop him. His wife and mother-in-law moved in with him before he served in World War II.
Klinger’s Wedding Dress Was Recycled Three Times on the Series
We’re honestly just surprised that the 1970s was this socially progressive.
While Klinger’s cross-dressing was often perceived as the brunt of a joke, we’re surprised producers wrote it into the show in the first place. During MASH’s time on-air, Klinger’s wedding dress was recycled three times. He wore it when he married his girlfriend Laverne Esposito over the radio; the stunning Margaret Houlihan donned it when she married Lt. Col. Donald Penobscott, and Soon Lee wore it last when she married Klinger. Wow, MASH definitely got their money’s worth out of this wardrobe piece.
Tony Packo’s Is a Real Place
Now that you know Tony Packo’s exists, you have no excuse not to go.
Klinger’s favorite Ohio cafe is a real place and we can all go. Lunch is on us! Just kidding. But it’s definitely worth checking out. You’ll find it on the east side of Toledo, with a line of locals out the door every day for breakfast and lunch. Come on down and grab some grub.
Trivial Pursuit Has Some Incorrect Facts About Hawkeye
We feel like super sleuths. One of the questions in Trivial Pursuit gives an incorrect answer about Hawkeye.
The card claims that he only saluted once during the entire show. We found that Hawkeye actually saluted several times - one with Frank and on several other occasions. Yes, we were counting. For a board game that prides itself on factual trivia, that’s a pretty significant oversight in our book.
The Show’s Set Caught on Fire During Filming “Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen”
Goodbye, indeed. During the middle of filming this episode, a massive fire wiped out the show’s set.
How did they recover from such a massive blow? The producers and set team decided not to rebuild the old set. Instead, they finished filming the series indoors. If you were wondering why the cast spent so much time inside during the final scenes, now you know.
Alan Alda Was MASH’s Only Star Who Appeared in Every Episode
Leave it to the main star to be in every episode of MASH for all eleven seasons. We have to give him props.
Loretta Switt was close behind him, with only a few episodes that aired without her appearance. You missed her in the “Hawkeye” episode as well as a few before and after it.
Jamie Farr’s Dog Tags Have Special Significance
All throughout the show, Jamie Farr wor dog tags. While you probably just thought it was part of his army getup, they actually have special significance.
These tags actually hold Farr’s real-life military information from when he served. On them are his full name, ID, and religion. Fans didn’t know this until the DVD box set came out for purchase and interviews were held with the cast.
The Cast Was Well Connected to the Tech Community
Even though the show filmed in a remote location, the MASH cast were no strangers to the tech community.
Perhaps you recognize the cast in IBM personal computer commercials. In fact, Alan Alda took on a personal endorsement for the Atari computer.
MASH Used a John Wayne Quote Before It Even Existed
In one episode, Radar was making John Wayne impressions. One of the lines he quoted was from a Wayne western flick that hadn’t even been made yet.
What’s the line? Do you remember the iconic “I’m not gonna hit ya”? Some ten years after the Korean War, the line appeared in the 1963 McLintock.
The Movie to TV Translation Had Its Fair Share of Struggles
The original movie actors struggled to make their way into the MASH TV series. Only three of them made the cut.
Who were they? None other than Hawkeye, Father Mulcahy, and Margaret, of course! As the only three original cast members, we think it’s amazing that they also lasted for the duration of the MASH TV series. It’s impressive to make the transition from film to sitcom acting, and these three did an incredible job.
Soon-Tek Played Five Very Different Roles on MASH
If this isn’t talent, we don’t know what is. How does anyone pull off playing five different characters on one sitcom?
Soon-Tek, tell us your secrets! Keep an eye out for his appearance in the episodes “The Bus” in season four and “The Yalu Brick Road” in season eight. If you watch the entire series, you will find him in three other roles that he took on. We’ll leave those for you to find out, though.
How Did CBS Settle Workers’ Complaints? They Killed Off Their Actors’ Characters
We all remember that McLean Stevenson had some pretty big complaints about his role.
Even when a new contract was offered, Stevenson decided to leave the show. How did CBS repay him? They decided to kill off his character. Was this a planned death pre-written in the script? Or was it a warning to any other insolent actors? We’ll never know for sure.