Alan Alda's Take on the Super Bowl Besting 'M*A*S*H' Record - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-09-2010, 11:02 PM

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You gotta love the feisty attitude of former 'M*A*S*H' stars Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers about Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast being a record-breaker. Alda was gracious about the 'M*A*S*H' finale being topped by the Super Bowl broadcast. The New Orleans Saints victory over the Indianapolis Colts had more total viewers than the 1983 'M*A*S*H' finale. But Alda and Rogers both added a shot of vinegar to their honey coated responses.

Alda said in a statement to the L.A. Times, "If they broke our record, I'm happy for New Orleans and I hope it gives even more to cheer about to a city I love." However, he did wonder about how Nielsen measured the audience. It's a good question and one many people ask.

Twenty-seven years ago when the finale of 'M*A*S*H' aired, there were less channels and more over the air viewership, i.e. non-cable, non-satellite and non-digital. Are today's numbers skewed because there's more outlets? You'd think so.

Still, Alda makes a good point about the emotional pull for New Orleans. A lot of people wanted the Saints to win in light of the post-Katrina horror that city suffered. Drew Brees leading the football team to a come from behind victory is the ultimate feel-good, underdog success story. The Saints were a perennial loser. There was a time when some fans wore paper bags on their heads and called their team the Ain'ts, as in, the ain't very good.

Anyway, CBS and Nielsen report that 106.5 million viewers tuned in, which is just a tick more than the 'M*A*S*H' finale's 106 million. Alda's co-star on 'M*A*S*H', Wayne Rogers, commented on the implications of such a big number. Even though Rogers' character Trapper John wasn't in the finale, from Wayne's perspective, 'M*A*S*H' is a bigger success. "That Super Bowl is never going to earn what 'M*A*S*H' earned... because there's no reruns."

Um, no. The NFL Network and NFL Films will rerun Super Bowl 44 many, many times. However, it'll never achieve the syndication revenue and DVD sales 'M*A*S*H' has, so in that way, Wayne is right.

Of course, the biggest winner in this isn't the NFL or the Saints. It's CBS. After all, the network had Sunday's game and the 'M*A*S*H' finale in 1983. That gives the Tiffany network the top two all-time viewed programs. Somewhere Les Moonves is beating his chest like Tarzan, don't you think?

catlover79 · 02-10-2010, 03:31 AM

Great article - loved hearing both Alan and Wayne's takes on the situation.

LuLu Rogers · 02-10-2010, 04:41 AM

Wayne is the man, head his words!

TJL · 02-10-2010, 08:19 AM

Nice article.

Miss Lisa · 02-13-2010, 09:52 PM

Alda's got a point about how they measured the ratings there. Interesting hearing their views on it. Thanks for posting it.

02-09-2010, 11:02 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,406	*Alan Alda's Take on the Super Bowl Besting 'MASH' Record** Link You gotta love the feisty attitude of former 'MASH' stars Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers about Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast being a record-breaker. Alda was gracious about the 'MASH' finale being topped by the Super Bowl broadcast. The New Orleans Saints victory over the Indianapolis Colts had more total viewers than the 1983 'MASH' finale. But Alda and Rogers both added a shot of vinegar to their honey coated responses. Alda said in a statement to the L.A. Times, "If they broke our record, I'm happy for New Orleans and I hope it gives even more to cheer about to a city I love." However, he did wonder about how Nielsen measured the audience. It's a good question and one many people ask. Twenty-seven years ago when the finale of 'MASH' aired, there were less channels and more over the air viewership, i.e. non-cable, non-satellite and non-digital. Are today's numbers skewed because there's more outlets? You'd think so. Still, Alda makes a good point about the emotional pull for New Orleans. A lot of people wanted the Saints to win in light of the post-Katrina horror that city suffered. Drew Brees leading the football team to a come from behind victory is the ultimate feel-good, underdog success story. The Saints were a perennial loser. There was a time when some fans wore paper bags on their heads and called their team the Ain'ts, as in, the ain't very good. Anyway, CBS and Nielsen report that 106.5 million viewers tuned in, which is just a tick more than the 'MASH' finale's 106 million. Alda's co-star on 'MASH', Wayne Rogers, commented on the implications of such a big number. Even though Rogers' character Trapper John wasn't in the finale, from Wayne's perspective, 'MASH' is a bigger success. "That Super Bowl is never going to earn what 'MASH' earned... because there's no reruns." Um, no. The NFL Network and NFL Films will rerun Super Bowl 44 many, many times. However, it'll never achieve the syndication revenue and DVD sales 'MASH' has, so in that way, Wayne is right. Of course, the biggest winner in this isn't the NFL or the Saints. It's CBS. After all, the network had Sunday's game and the 'MASH' finale in 1983. That gives the Tiffany network the top two all-time viewed programs. Somewhere Les Moonves is beating his chest like Tarzan, don't you think?
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02-10-2010, 03:31 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Great article - loved hearing both Alan and Wayne's takes on the situation.
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02-10-2010, 04:41 AM	#3
LuLu Rogers Colonel Brandon Forum Fanatic Join Date: Mar 23, 2004 Location: The Hogwarts Dungeons Posts: 11,013	Wayne is the man, head his words!
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02-10-2010, 08:19 AM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Nice article.
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02-13-2010, 09:52 PM	#5
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	Alda's got a point about how they measured the ratings there. Interesting hearing their views on it. Thanks for posting it.
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