I am watching MASH for the first time. I saw the middle episodes first, the later ones next, and now am seeing the earlier ones.

MASH did not make the top 30 in its first year. The following year, MASH won an Emmy for Best Comedy, and Alan Alda won an Emmy for Best Actor. MASH was a top 20, even a top 10 show from years 2-11.

On the MASH Reunion Special, it was mentioned, that the show was almost cancelled after 13 episodes.

As far as ratings go, M*A*S*H got great help in season two when it was moved to Saturday night, right after "All In The Family," which was the hottest show on the air at the time.
Without that ratings boost from CBS, this great show (and as you can tell from my avatar and signatures, one of my favorites) probably would have been canned after one season.

So, you can thank Archie Bunker for saving M*A*S*H...

I didn't know about the time slot change. That would have helped big time. All In The Family was then in the middle of its five year run as the No. 1 show.

When was MASH on in 1972-1973?

M*A*S*H was on Sunday nights at 8 in it's first season (1972-3)

They say the tide turned on MASH when"Sometimes You Hear The Bullet" first aired.

Hawkeye: "When will I see you again?"
Tommy Gillis: "That depends on the North Koreans"