Everything about M A S H totally explained
M*A*S*H was a
media franchise active, in various forms, from 1968 to 1986. Owned by
20th Century Fox, the series concerns a group of
fictional characters who served at the fictional 4077th
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the
Korean War, loosely based on M*A*S*H 8055th. The original incarnations of the series are set during the war and feature
Hawkeye Pierce as the
main character. Later
spin-offs involve characters who appeared in the series, but take place after the end of the war. However, almost all versions of the series fit into the genre of
black comedy and involve
medicine in a prominent role due to most of the main characters being
doctors.
The franchise effectively ended with the conclusion of
Trapper John, M.D. on September 4, 1986.
As of 2007, there has been no attempt to reprise the series since then. However, a
fanbase for the series still exists and 20th Century Fox has had notable success selling the film and seasons of the original TV series on
DVD.
The
M*A*S*H series began with the
novel, written by
Richard Hooker based on his own experience serving as a surgeon at MASH unit 8055. The novel was originally published in 1968 and was followed by several sequels.
MASH was a 1970
feature film adaptation of the original novel. The film was directed by
Robert Altman and starred
Donald Sutherland as
Hawkeye Pierce and
Elliott Gould as
Trapper John McIntyre.
M*A*S*H, a television spin-off of the feature film, ran from 1972 to 1983. It starred Alan Alda as Pierce and Wayne Rogers as McIntyre. Rogers left the show after the third season and was replaced by Mike Farrell as B. J. Hunnicutt. This series is the most popular and well-known version of the franchise and was ranked #25 in TV Guide's "
TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time."
Trapper John, M.D. featured the character of Trapper John McIntyre, played by
Pernell Roberts, twenty-eight years after the events of the
M*A*S*H film and television series. It was the first spin-off to feature a character from the series in civilian life after the war. Legally,
Trapper John, M.D. is considered a spin-off of the
MASH film rather than the television series.
AfterMASH was a successor to the original
M*A*S*H television series featuring
Harry Morgan,
Jamie Farr and
William Christopher as the same characters they played in the original television series after the conclusion of the war.
Gary Burghoff and
Edward Winter also appeared in guest appearances. However, the show was canceled after only two seasons.
W*A*L*T*E*R was the pilot for a television series that wasn't picked up. It would have featured Gary Burghoff reprising the role of Walter O'Reilly, who is no longer referred to as "Radar." The pilot was shown as a "CBS Special Presentation" on
July 17,
1984.
In 1973 a play by Tim Kelly based on the book, television show and movie was released. The play incorporates many of the characters but sanitizes more of the dark comedy aspects. It is occasionally produced by
community theater and high school theater companies.
Cast of characters
Further Information
Get more info on 'M A S H'.
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