I think McLean Stevenson's post-M*A*S*H career was cursed... - Page 3 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 05-10-2023, 03:48 PM

There has been speculation I have read that if Stevenson and to a lesser degree Wayne Rogers stayed on MASH the show would not have revolved like it did. While it was always a bit dramatic and serious even in the beginning, it was more of a standard military comedy than high emulated the movie. Stevenson and Rogers leaving allowed new characters and a new direction for positive or negative.

But yeah, Stevenson’s career was awful after MASH. Stevenson wasn’t a leading man. I don’t know why he was a failure really, he was funny and endearing. I was only a kid but liked Hello Larry, but I might have liked it because I was the same age as the blonde daughter. The “McLean Stevenson Show” was just awful. You can watch that on YouTube. Condo was about as bad. Stevenson just couldn’t find a good vehicle because again, he wasn’t a leading guy.

rusty spike · 05-10-2023, 04:51 PM

I don't think I can fault an actor/actress for leaving a popular venture with the lure of starring their own show or landing prime movie roles. Nobody is clairvoyant to see what the future holds. Also, one can stay on a popular show and be sabotaged by a network's decision to change producer/director, get moved to a death slot-poor scheduling or have new writing change the direction of the show.

05-10-2023, 03:48 PM	#31
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	There has been speculation I have read that if Stevenson and to a lesser degree Wayne Rogers stayed on MASH the show would not have revolved like it did. While it was always a bit dramatic and serious even in the beginning, it was more of a standard military comedy than high emulated the movie. Stevenson and Rogers leaving allowed new characters and a new direction for positive or negative. But yeah, Stevenson’s career was awful after MASH. Stevenson wasn’t a leading man. I don’t know why he was a failure really, he was funny and endearing. I was only a kid but liked Hello Larry, but I might have liked it because I was the same age as the blonde daughter. The “McLean Stevenson Show” was just awful. You can watch that on YouTube. Condo was about as bad. Stevenson just couldn’t find a good vehicle because again, he wasn’t a leading guy.

05-10-2023, 04:51 PM	#32
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I don't think I can fault an actor/actress for leaving a popular venture with the lure of starring their own show or landing prime movie roles. Nobody is clairvoyant to see what the future holds. Also, one can stay on a popular show and be sabotaged by a network's decision to change producer/director, get moved to a death slot-poor scheduling or have new writing change the direction of the show.