There’s A Whole Lot You Never Knew About The Iconic Sitcom M.A.S.H.
While the series came to a close many moons ago, the iconic sitcom M.A.S.H. will live on forever in reruns. The show was a bit ahead of it’s time on the comedy front, and the series creators and writers had an outstanding knack for providing a little social commentary without getting all preachy. Fans of the long-running classic came to view the show’s popular stars as members of their own family, but there’s a whole bunch of fascinating facts associated with the series that they probably never realized.
The show was based on a 1970 film of the same name, which was inspired by a 1968 book by Richard Homberger and WC Heinz. The show told the story of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. It would run from 1972 through 1983, spanning a whopping 251 episodes. Only one of the show’s regular characters also appeared in the film, and that would be Gary Burghoff, who played the lovable Private Radar O’Reilly.
Of all the memorable characters on the show, star Alan Alda is generally at the top of the mind when fans look fondly back on the show. His portrayal of “Hawkeye” Pierce resonated with viewers, and Alda has gone on to have a fantastic career in Hollywood. Amazingly, Alda picked up a hat trick of Emmy’s for his work on the series - one for writing, one for acting and one for directing.
Other memorable characters include the cross-dressing Corporal Klinger, who was hilariously portrayed by Jamie Farr. The character was originally thought of as a one-time guest spot, but Farr nailed the role so well that he became a series regular. Loretta Swift, also known as Major Margaret ”Hot Lips” Houlihan, was another fan favorite, and she appeared in all but 11 of the show’s episodes.
In today’s era of binge-watching, it’s hard to remember a time when you had to wait a full week to see your favorite show. M.A.S.H. is a quaint memory of that bygone era, and it definitely falls into the binge-worthy category for those that love old sitcoms.
Source: AWM
Photos: AWM
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