While MASH units in the early part of the Korean War bugged out, or mobilized quite often, the MASH 4077 showrunners couldn’t really have the camp move to an entirely new location. They only had one outdoor filming location, the Fox Ranch in the Malibu Mountains, and it would have been impossible to make this … Read more
The familiar MASH PA announcements were often used to fill time during the post-editing process. However, they served a much more important purpose than just adding another 10 seconds to an episode. The announcements helped to deliver the show’s blend of comedy and drama, often offering cynical or absurd social commentary on the war and … Read more
The creators of the MASH TV Series, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, always objected to having a laugh track on the show. It was a show set in a warzone, about a medical unit dealing with the horrific aftermath of bloody battles, so they felt that a laugh track was inappropriate. CBS insisted on treating … Read more
Have you ever noticed something odd about the MASH 4077 camp? In the outdoor shots, during the daylight, with the mountains and chopper pads in the distance, the camp seems large and more spread out than in the other close-in shots, such as most night-time shots and shots inside tents. The camp is suddenly more … Read more
For dedicated fans, the MASH pilot is like an archeology dig, full of artifacts! The pilot featured several details that were never again used in the show. Some of these were creative decisions, and others created inconsistencies in the storyline. One of the major inconsistencies in the first season concerned Ho-John, the Korean “house-boy” for … Read more
Hawkeye’s red robe on MASH is as iconic as the character. He’s seen wearing it throughout the series. What says “I shouldn’t be here” more than a bathrobe? But is it really red? Or is it, as Hawkeye himself once said, purple? Hawkeye’s color-changing robe has confused some fans, and some curious internet conclusions have … Read more
Many of you reading this may not be familiar with this legendary comedian and actor. When I was growing up, in the 1970s, he was a huge star in stand-up comedy. I saw him so many times on the Tonight Show and elsewhere. He sold tons of comedy albums. And, believe it or not, his … Read more
The iconic TV show MASH was definitely a comedy. However, it also had deeply dramatic elements and dealt seriously with the realities of war. There were plenty of jokes and “situations” that were contrived to cause comedic scenes. And, the character of Frank Burns was himself such a contrivance. The character existed to create situations … Read more
Doesn’t it seem weird that MASH has a canned laugh-track? Obviously, there was no studio audience and, after all, there was a war going on. So why did MASH have canned laughter? Well, it certainly wasn’t because the shows creators wanted it. Was the Laugh-Track Always There, Or Was It Added Later? MASH always aired … Read more