MASH page 6

 MASH page 6 by ric gustafson

When MASH was in it's third season, McLean Stevenson asked to be let off the last two years of his contract. Stevenson wanted to do other things. He guested the Tonight Show and NBC offered him his own sitcom. 

The Producers wanted his last episode to show people that some do not come home from the war. They came up with an episode called ' Abyssinia Henry'. The episode aired March 18 1975. Nobody in the cast except for Alan Alda knew about the final scene. After all the scenes were shot, the end of the season cast party started. Then the main actors were handed a sheet of paper with the last scene on it. Everyone was in disbelief including Stevenson. In the final scene, Radar O'Reilly walks into the OR and informs everyone that Colonel Henry Blake's plane was shot down. There were no survivors.

The death of Colonel Henry Blake outraged fans and viewers of the show. Hundreds of letters were sent to the three producers.

At the same time, Wayne Rogers wanted out of the show also. His leaving was more abrupt than Stevenson's. In the episode ' Welcome to Korea'. Hawkeye comes back from Tokyo to find out that Trapper John had already left to go home.

Colonel Henry Blake was replaced by Colonel Sherman T Potter. This role was played by Harry Morgan. Replacing Trapper John was BJ Hunnicut. This role was played by Mike Farrell.

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Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric