M*A*S*H

Premiering back in 1972, M*A*S*H was set in a Mobile Army Surgical Unit in the heart of the Korean War but rumored to have been more of an allegory for the Vietnam War. It certainly mimics the latter at least when it comes to longevity; while the Korean War only went on for three years, \M*A*S*H’s actors fought for a decade, and much like the Vietnam War, it lasted far longer than everyone wanted it to. In its last few seasons, the humor that made the show’s debut so lovable became forced and apparent, and plots seemed to be on a faster rotation than the doctors they were about.

http://flavorwire.com/216224/10-shows-we-wish-wouldve-quit-while-they-were-ahead/10

Well I know it lasted longer than some cast members would have liked. For example Loretta Swit was all set to co-star in a new TV series called Cagney and Lacey except for one thing. Fox refused to release her from her M*A*S*H contract.

M*A*S*H should have ended when Radar left. The last four seasons were too boring and preachy.

It's strange that you should ask this question . At one point, I realized they should do a final episode where the Korean War ended and everybody got to go home . Every time they interviewed an actor or a writer who worked on "M*A*S*H", they asked him ( or her ) "How much longer do you think 'M*A*S*H' will run ?", and that person would say "I think next season will be our last !" . However, they kept trying to squeeze another season out of "M*A*S*H" , I began to think "They're going to do 'M*A*S*H' to death until people lose interest, and then they'll never be able to do that last episode !" . I know they finally bit the bullet and let "M*A*S*H" end, and I've seen "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" several times, but at one time, it looked like it was never going to happen .

No I don't agree with any of this. MASH was great from the beginning, until the very end. I thought it should have lasted much longer myself.