Entertainment Report
‘M*A*S*H’ said goodbye 40 years ago, with a finale for the ages
(CNN) — “M*A*S*H” ran for 11 seasons, even though the Korean War, during which the CBS series was set, lasted three years. When the show finally signed off 40 years ago — with a special 2.5-hour episode titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” — it set a ratings record that will never be equaled, and indeed, has become virtually impossible in the fragmented media market that exists today.
Broadcast during the period when there were still just three major networks (Fox didn’t sign on until 1986) and cable was in its infancy, the “M*A*S*H” finale drew 106 million viewers, still a record for any episodic series.
More staggeringly, the finale was watched in over 60% of US homes, commanding the attention of more than three out of four TV sets in use (that is, its share of audience), meaning that every other programmer might as well have been running a test pattern.
The population has grown substantially over the last four decades, so recent Super Bowls can surpass the overall audience. But no entertainment program has ever rivaled that “M*A*S*H” milestone, and in an age of countless networks and multiple streaming services, it seems safe to say that none ever will.
“M*A*S*H’s” accomplishments hardly begin and end with ratings trivia. With its mix of wartime drama and broad comedy, the show basically created the template for what became known as the “dramedy,” a hybrid of the two genres that grew increasingly popular in the ’80s and has carried through till today.
The series also changed and replaced key cast members through the duration of its run, often coming out stronger with the new additions.
The constants included star Alan Alda, who, as former CBS executive turned academic Jim McKairnes, now a professor of TV history at Middle Tennessee State University, wrote last year in a USA Today piece marking the 50th anniversary of the show’s debut, exercised greater control of the series during the latter half of its run.
Doubling as a writer and director (and winning Emmys for both, as well as acting), Alda helped steer “M*A*S*H” as the show — which, like the movie upon which it was based, premiered during the Vietnam War — “drifted into broader social commentary about the human condition (PTSD, sexism, racism) and the general fog of war,” McKairnes said.
The finale itself underscored those qualities, including a devastating subplot involving an imperiled bus that left Alda’s character, Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce,” psychologically scarred and in need of counseling from the visiting psychologist, a recurring character played by Allan Arbus.
Other programs had splashy farewells in the years after “M*A*S*H” (the title, incidentally, of a spinoff series that followed it), including “Seinfeld” and “Cheers.” “The Fugitive” also set a high bar in 1967, five years before “M*A*S*H” made its debut, attracting 78 million viewers when its protagonist, Dr. Richard Kimble, finally caught up with the one-armed man he had long protested was the real murderer of his wife. “Roots” also transfixed America and emptied restaurants for eight successive nights in 1977.
Those kind of shared viewing experiences, however, became increasingly rare. For over a decade, “M*A*S*H” began with an image of helicopters ferrying wounded to the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (hence the acronym), and it closed, appropriately, with a shot of a chopper heading in the opposite direction as the war, along with the show, finally came to an end.
That image remains an appropriate one, marking the end of a chapter in TV history, as the days of three networks amassing huge audiences almost by default was about to begin its own flight into the sunset.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
By: Pristine Villarreal
February 28, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
Tim O’Brien at the Coachella Valley Firebirds training camp!!
BREAKING NEWS 🚨: Murder Suspect Vicky Kim has made a court appearance for the first time in almost two weeks amidst medical delays and two refusals. Today she plead NOT GUILTY to all charges of killing her husband. She is set to appear October 7th for her preliminary hearing. Be sure to visit nbcpalmsprings.com for more information on this case. #breakingnews #courtnews #vickykim #coachellavalley #760
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Did you catch the bug that’s going around?
Talking With Thalia: GLP-1 medications have become a popular tool for weight loss, but what you eat while taking them matters, too. Local dietitian Jessica Brantley Lopez shares the importance of protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber and hydration, along with why smaller, more frequent meals may help manage side effects and support healthy weight loss. Jessica also opens up about her own experience with GLP-1 medication and how it changed her approach to helping others. Talking With Thalia is sponsored by DAP Health. Watch the full conversation at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TalkingWithThalia #DAPHealth #GLP1 #WeightLoss #Nutrition Dietitian HealthToday CoachellaValley PalmSprings NBCPalmSprings
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are one step closer to completing their $110 billion merger after a coalition of 12 state attorneys general reached a settlement with Paramount. The settlement resolves the states’ antitrust lawsuit, though it still requires court approval. The agreement includes commitments involving film production, workers and editorial independence for CNN and CBS News. California AG CNN’s Brian Stelter reports. #Paramount #WarnerBrosDiscovery #ParamountMerger #CNN #Hollywood #Media #Merger #Entertainment
A high-speed police chase in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, came to a dramatic end when the vehicle plunged into Lake Como. Dashcam video released by police shows the pursuit before the car crashes into the water. Four people inside the vehicle were pulled from the lake with no serious injuries reported. Police say the driver was charged with reckless driving. Watch the video and get more at NBCPalmSprings.com.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. Don’t sweat the small stuff!
As fall approaches, it’s time to start thinking about your annual flu shot. The CDC recommends flu vaccination every season for nearly everyone 6 months and older, and September or October is generally the ideal time for most people to get vaccinated. The 2026-27 flu vaccines have been updated to target the strains expected to circulate this season. There’s also a new option this year: Moderna’s mFLUSIVA, the first FDA-approved mRNA flu vaccine, for adults 50 and older. Talk with your health care provider about which flu vaccine is right for you and make a plan to get vaccinated this fall. Learn more about DAP Health at DAPHealth.org. #FluSeason #FluShot #FluVaccine #DAPHealth #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Health #Wellness #NBCPalmSprings
Murder Suspect Vicky Kim was set to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center today following her recent medical clearance to appear in court, but refused. However, she may be forced to appear should she refuse again. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we follow the latest developments of this case #VickyKim #arraignment #courtupdate #riversidecounty
🚨 20 ARRESTS. 6 GUNS SEIZED. Cathedral City Police report 20 arrests and six handgun seizures following two days of enforcement tied to a Mongols Motorcycle Club gathering. Police also issued 77 citations and impounded 14 vehicles. The operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies and was four weeks in the making. #CathedralCity #BreakingNews #Mongols #CoachellaValley #PublicSafety