AfterMASH
Changing half the cast of an ensemble show could have kill almost any other situation comedy , but this huge behind - the - scenes shift somehow made the inimitableMASHeven well . Based on director Robert Altman ’s movieMASH , which in turn was based on Dr. Richard Hornberger ’s novelMASH : A Novel About Three Army Doctors , the TV seriesMASHran for 11 season between 1972 and 1983 . The serial pore on the eponymous Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and its inhabitants , admit Alan Alda ’s sharply - tongued Hawkeye and Gary Burghoff ’s sweet Radar .
Ironically , Hornberger dislike MASH ’s antiwar messageaccording to hisNew York Timesobituary . The source novel ’s author was almost alone in this assessment . MASHwas the most pop show on television during its original run , and theMASHseries finale set regard recordsthat remain unbroken to this daytime thanks to its enduring popularity . A lot of element machinate to makeMASHa reach , including the sinful chemistry between its mold , writing that balanced antiwar satire , goofy character comedy , and poignant dramatic event , and some authentically surprising , tragical plot of land braid that kept proceedings unpredictable .
Why MASH Changed So Much Of Its Cast
Various MASH Cast Members Left The Series
Famously , Henry Blake’sMASHdeathwas one of the most devastating surprises in the history of sitcoms . The event of time of year 3 , episode 24 , “ Abyssinia , Henry , ” remain a bowel punch that few show have since been able to duplicate , even though the show recede major mold members would become a veritable occurrent in the age that pursue . In fact , a large number ofMASH ’s master cast members were supercede during the show ’s original runnel , which is a staggering achievement considering how much the workplace sitcom format rely on consistent character kinetics .
Many of the cast left thanks to the show ’s popularity , as their roles inMASHafforded them the opportunity to pursue other projects .
Frank Burns , Henry Blake , Radar O’Reilly , and Trapper John McIntyre all leftMASHearly , although Radar hold out a little longer than the others . Many of the cast left thanks to the show ’s popularity , as their roles inMASHafforded them the chance to pursue other project . While this could have ruin the sitcom , MASH ’s cast change arguably redeem the seriesas they injected fresh blood into the hurl often and changed the show ’s moral force as a result .
MASH’s Cast Change Would’ve Killed A Lot Of Shows
Most Ensemble-Cast Sitcoms Rely More On Their Lead Actors
Many of the show that were influenced byMASHin the years since it terminate , fromBrooklyn 99toCommunitytoScrubstoThe Office , were hurt by cast reshuffles and major actor outlet . Critics and fans agree thatThe Officewas never the same after the departure of Steve Carell ’s Michael Scott , Donald Glover’sCommunityexit signaled a major , divisive change for the serial , and the final season ofScrubswas disadvantageously handicap by attempts to supervene upon various darling main character .
EvenBrooklyn 99 ’s legal brief , impermanent efforts to supercede Holt were awkward and critically divisive despite the presence of major comedic stars like Bill Hader in these outings . However , not only did the former situation comedy duck the fate suffered by late show , butMASHwas arguably better by the show ’s frequent shape change . drop and insert new major characters was not how most telly display run , especially in the ' 70s , and it certainly was n’t uncouth in the world of sitcoms , where the status quo reigned supreme .
After MASH terminate in 1983 , CBS launched its sequel series , AfterMASH , but several notable 4077 characters did n’t return for the short - subsist project .
It is unsufferable to reckon the large ensemble drollery of later tenner , likeCheersorFriends , swap out main quality from their lineups partway through the show . However , asMASH ’s heartbreaking finaleproved , the show was no ordinary situation comedy . MASHwas always a show about warfare , albeit indirectly , so the constant cast changes were a meet reminder that the characters lived in an unsealed , unsound , and inhospitable liminal space .
How MASH Survived (& Thrived) After Its Cast Change
MASH’s Cast Changes Introduced New Power Dynamics And Character Pairings
The very claim of the serial publication referred to a mobile hospital , an institution that only exists due to the chaotic , constantly unpredictable nature of active dispute zones . MASHnever shied aside from the coarse reality of warfare , so characters who viewers had come to know and love abruptly move on should have never come as a surprisal . FromHenry Blake ’s tragic deathto Radar ’s early exit , MASH ’s cast variety were a constant , thematically fitting reminder that there was no body or comfort to be found in a existence at war .
MASHcould boom despite its cast changes because of the show ’s irregular circumstance .
As much as Hawkeye and Hot Lips offer up viewers a good deal of laughs , these characters also provided viewers with moving reminder of the human cost of permanent war . As such , MASHcould expand despite its form changes because of the show ’s atypical setting . Very few subsequent work sitcom had a setting as tumultuous and inherently violent as an army hospital , so few tardy shows could apologize sudden expiration for major characters so easy . ForMASH , unlike most sitcom , never-ending change was a part of the show ’s entire appeal thanks to its unique assumption .
Source : New York Times
