M*A*S*H: My Favorite 80's TV Show

The 80's were an influential time in my life. Being born in the early 70's made the 80's great for me. I was around ten when my favorite show had its grand finale. I cried when I watched it, and begged for the show to come back. "Hawkeye! NO! Don't leave in that chopper!" Yes, I am speaking of M*A*S*H, and that was 1983.

My sister and I watched that show religiously with my parents. I don't remember the days it was on, or the time, but I remember laying on the floor in front of the TV, mesmerized by the story line, laughing at Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper John's (Wayne Rogers) pranks on Ferret Face Frank Burns (Larry Linville). My sister and I would try to prank each other and mimic them, only to be let down for lack of creativity on our parts. Hawkeye and Trapper were the best. Then, all of a sudden, Trapper was gone and here comes a new guy. I didn't like it at all, but I knew that Hawkeye would survive. I mean, who wouldn't with a great crew like Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff), Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Hot-Lips Houlihan (Loretta Switt)?

Well, BJ (Mike Farrell) came in and the show was even funnier. The only other episode that I cried as hard as the finale was when Colonel Blake's (McLean Stevenson) plane went down. I watched the making of that episode and that made it even better. When Radar entered the operating room with the news of Colonel Blake's death, you heard Hawkeye demand that he put on a mask. That was one of the only scripted lines other than Radar's. The producers and directors did not want the cast to know exactly what Radar was going to say. They wanted the cast to react in a true way, and as you could tell, it was heartfelt. There was not a dry eye in surgery that day.

Along came Colonel Potter and his horses as the newest replacement in the series. Since Harry Morgan had been on the show previously in a different role, I had my doubts with him playing the role of Colonel Blake's replacement. I mean, who could replace the dim witted character of Colonel Blake, especially with Radar? Those two had chemistry. Well, since I was the premier M*A*S*H know-it-all back in the day, I refused to like Potter. Then, when he finally loosened up, I liked him just as much. Don't get me started on the switch out of Ferret Face Frank Burns and Major Charles Emmerson Winchester III. He was the most annoying character on the show, but David Odgen Stiers made him real. It wasn't until years later that I learned the accent was faked!

There was something about that show that was just absolutely wonderful. The cast was so heartwarming, that sometimes I forgot about all the blood and death the show had. I was too young to realize any meaning in the episodes, like the significance of the war; I just enjoyed it for the entertainment, and the slight crush on Alan Alda.

My sister and I knew the cast by heart and could give you any bit of trivia at the time. To me, it was the best show ever and every time I find it on TV, I watch it. Even if it is in the middle of the episode or the last five minutes; I always find the time for my M*A*S*H fix. I need to see if there was ever an episode I missed!

The show debuted in September of 1972 and ran 11 seasons with its tearful finale in 1983. Alan Alda was in the most episodes, all 251! Loretta Switt came in second with 250 episodes. Hmm, I think I have seen them all!

To review the cast and episode list, visit this link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/