There are few television programs as famous as M*A*S*H. Few sitcoms have run as long, won as many awards, or garnered so much critical praise. But M*A*S*H did all these things and it did them in a special way: combining comedy with drama to make viewers not only laugh but feel. For eleven seasons M*A*S*H broadcast its unique blend of humor and emotion to the viewing public before wrapping up with a movie-length series finale that remains to this day the highest-rated program in the history of broadcast television in the United States of America. M*A*S*H surely is the finest kind.
This website is dedicated to preserving and exploring the history of M*A*S*H, from the original fall preview for the series broadcast in September of 1972 to the obscure animated parody and everything in between. Researched articles on a variety of topics are complemented by rare photographs and video footage only found here. Additionally, a detailed broadcast history recounting every premiere, pre-emption and repeat aired during M*A*S*H's original run on CBS is available.
The site is broken into four main sections. The Articles section contains lengthy articles on topics ranging from AfterMASH to the iconic M*A*S*H signpost. In the Features section you'll find a hodgepodge of items including an in-depth look at the Nurses of the 4077th, M*A*S*Hback and an illustrated guide to the 4077th compound. The Interact section is where you -- the fans -- can volunteer your knowledge of M*A*S*H. And the Episodes section holds an episode guide, broadcast histories for each season and more. Feel free to simply explore and enjoy what you stumble upon.
Join other M*A*S*H fans to talk about the show at the Television Obscurities forums, where M*A*S*H, Finest Kind has its own discussion forum.
Latest News & Updates
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
W.C. Heinz, Helped Write MASH, Dies at 93
Sportswriter and author W.C. "Bill" Heinz has died at 93, according to the Associated Press (via this International Herald Tribune article, found at alt.tv.mash). The A.P. obituary states that "Heinz worked with Maine physician H. Richard Hornberger on "MASH," which was published under the pseudonym Richard Hooker." Hornberger, who died in 1997, served in Korea during the Korean War based MASH on his experience at the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
In a 2004 interview with Nathan Ward for American Heritage, Heinz described how he helped Hornberger craft MASH:
What happened was that a doctor named J. Maxwell Chamberlain helped me write my novel The Surgeon and, previous to that, a Life cover piece about a lung operation. Another doctor, H. Richard Hornberger, had studied under Chamberlain and sent him a letter saying, "That clown who wrote your book might be interested that I have a book I put together from my experiences in Korea." Betty [Heinz's wife] read it and enjoyed it, which let me know that it was funny - within the realm of decency, once I cleaned it up, since it was full of those jokes that doctors like to make about the body. So that's the way we got together. Then it took quite a while, maybe a year, back and forth. I eventually tied everything together. As much as it got tied together; there isn't a hell of a story line in MASH, just a succession of operations and techniques and humor. The only thing that holds it together is the characters and the familiarity that the reader comes to have with them.
Thus, while not a co-author per se Heinz was responsible for threading together Hornberger's storylines into a somewhat coherent narrative. Heinz also wrote several novels of his own, including The Surgeon, mentioned above, and Emergency. Oddly enough, included in a 1974 print advertisement in The Chicago Tribune for Emergency is a review quote from Richard Hooker, M.D., "the author of M*A*S*H."
Sunday, February 24th, 2008
Restoration Site Unveiling Draws 300
The Los Angeles Times has a wonderful article (you might need to register) about yesterday's restoration site unveiling. According to the article, some 300 people showed up at the M*A*S*H site in Malibu Creek State Park. Actors Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit, William Christopher and Jeff Maxwell as well as producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe, plus director Charles Dubin were on hand to address the crowd.
Brian Rooney deserves much of the credit for getting the M*A*S*H site cleaned up. I hope to have a feature on the restoration site unveiling written up in the next few weeks, hopefully with photographs of the celebration.
Sunday, February 17th, 2008
M*A*S*H Cast at Restoration Site Unveiling
According to Brian Rooney, M*A*S*H Restoration Project Manager for California State Parks, M*A*S*H cast members Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit and William Christopher, along with Charles Dubin (who directed more episodes of the series than any other person) will be at the February 23rd, 2008 unveiling of the restored M*A*S*H site at the Malibu Creek State Park.
Also, here is a nice article about the restoration from the Los Angeles Times. And here is a post from Ken Levine's blog about the restoration. Levine wrote quite a few episodes of M*A*S*H, including "Point of View" and "Out of Sight, Out of Mind."
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008
M*A*S*H To Join ION Television
ION Media Networks has announced that M*A*S*H will join its ION Television's prime time schedule this coming fall. ION Television is a broadcast network in the United States that currently airs an assortment of sitcoms including Alice, The Drew Carey Show and Who's the Boss?, along with movies and paid programming. In March, Baywatch will be added to its schedule. From a press release available here:
"A timeless staple like 'M*A*S*H' is a great win for our schedule, as we migrate our network to mainstream audience appeal in the 2008/2009 season," said Brandon Burgess, Chairman and CEO, ION Media Networks. "We anticipate further announcements in coming months, including some shows that people may not expect from us, as we look to give ION Television a more light-hearted and open-minded programming sensibility that will invite new audiences."
M*A*S*H is currently seen in the United States on cable channels TV Land and The Hallmark Channel; it is also shown in syndication on individual broadcast television stations. No word on whether those stations will lose the right to air M*A*S*H due to ION Television's agreement, or when M*A*S*H will premiere, aside from a general Fall 2008 start date.
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
Goodbye, Farewell and Amen Ratings Analysis Updated
In light of the ratings for this past Sunday's Super Bowl (43.1/65, 97.448 million viewers) I have updated my Goodbye, Farewell and Amen Ratings Analysis with additional numbers, including overnight Arbitron ratings for the final episode. I have also slightly expanded some sections of the article (it is now in sections for easy reading) and fixed some minor mistakes in others.
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
M*A*S*H Site Restoration Press Release
The full press release for the M*A*S*H set restoration is now available here, in PDF format. Included is information on when the public celebration will take place on February 23rd, 2008:
"The celebratory gathering will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM with officials of California State Parks addressing the public at 11:00 AM. 1,000 - 2,000 visitors are expected at the M*A*S*H set that day."
Hollywood Escapes has more information, including directions to the site and a behind-the-scenes photograph from production of M*A*S*H.
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
M*A*S*H Site Restoration at Malibu Creek State Park
California State Parks has announced a "long overdue" restoration of the historic M*A*S*H site at Malibu Creek State Park (external scenes for M*A*S*H were filmed there). A full press release is expected shortly, but until then here is a statement from Brian Rooney, M*A*S*H Restoration Project Manager for California State Parks:
"The heavy brush has been cleared away, the iconic signpost is now rebuilt, markers will show where the tents were during filming and more. California State Parks is inviting the public to the historic set on February 23rd for a grand gathering to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the finale of M*A*S*H."
Mr. Rooney was kind enough to send along a photograph showing the new signpost as well as the remains of an ambulance and a jeep used in filming the series. In the background is the helipad.
More information on the February 23rd unveiling can be found at Hollywood Escapes.