Was AfterMASH A Mistake?

[Brian Damage]

What exactly went wrong with this sitcom? Did they spinoff the wrong characters? Did it in anyway hurt the original M*A*S*H's legacy?

[Mr. Television]

I don't think it hurt the original show's legacy but it was a mistake. It was big news in 1983. It was the most anticipated new show of the 1983-84 season. It started off with high ratings but by the end of the year it was falling. When CBS moved it in the fall of 1984 opposite the A-Team, it was finished. It just wasn't funny. I think the show missed Alan Alda but even he might not have been able to save it. What was funny in Korea, just was not statesside. Then they started changing cast members including Mildred. Whenever a show does that, it's usually over.

[Marvo301]

I don't think Aftermash was a mistake. During the last season of M*A*S*H they held a vote among the cast about whether to continue for another year. The only three cast members who voted to continue were Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher. So it makes sense that they were the three involved in the spinoff. I think that CBS panicked when Aftermash didn't garner the same ratings as it's parent show. It may not have been a huge hit bit it was a good show...until the network started messing with it. It changed time slots four times in a year and a half. And then there were the cast changes that Sonny already mentioned. No Aftermash was not a mistake. But CBS made a mistake when it panicked and began making unnecessary changes.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

What exactly went wrong with this sitcom? Did they spinoff the wrong characters? Did it in anyway hurt the original M*A*S*H's legacy?

The show aired during Monday Night Football in season 1 and during the same time as Knight Rider in season 2. That was pretty much the reason-lol

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The show aired during Monday Night Football in season 1 and during the same time as Knight Rider in season 2. That was pretty much the reason-lol

Yes, with that said, shouldn't they have moved it to a better time slot if they believed in it that much?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Yes, with that said, shouldn't they have moved it to a better time slot if they believed in it that much?

They did move ir once but I think a NEW SHOW is only going to be moved once before being cancelled. Only those shows that were HITS at one point that showed eatly success is the only time a network will probably try various slots

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

They did move ir once but I think a NEW SHOW is only going to be moved once before being cancelled. Only those shows that were HITS at one point that showed eatly success is the only time a network will probably try various slots

I guess I see your point. I think in my opinion, CBS wanted nothing to do with this show.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Yes, with that said, shouldn't they have moved it to a better time slot if they believed in it that much?

It had the same timeslot that MASH had during it's first season and was ranked #15 at the end of the season so it did have sampling. After football the ratings should have went higher but they were falling. During season 2 it was moved opposite the A-Team which was a death slot. It was paired with the sitcom E/R. It got canceled in December and Alice and the Jeffersons moved over into those slots in January with the same results.

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

What exactly went wrong with this sitcom? Did they spinoff the wrong characters? Did it in anyway hurt the original M*A*S*H's legacy?

The MASH formula hinged on bridging the Korean Conflict with the Vietnam War, the show took place in Korea but it was really about the Vietnam War. An army camp is pretty basic, tents, jeeps, green clothes, lots of green clothes. Back at home the differences are much clearer. The show then becomes more of a period piece, westerns aside, period pieces are the longest of long shots. Happy Days became a hit only after the 50's setting was downplayed.

Another problem the show had was the age of the MASH cast. Harry Morgan was almost 70, Jamie Farr was almost 50, William Christopher was over 50, all were a bit long in the tooth for returning GI's.

Imagine the show being pitched without the MASH pedigree, would it have even seen the light of day. As a stand alone it just wasn't strong enough.

[Yort]

Originally Posted by Duster76

The MASH formula hinged on bridging the Korean Conflict with the Vietnam War, the show took place in Korea but it was really about the Vietnam War.

Duster I couldn't disagree with you more. M.A.S.H was clearly about the KOREAN WAR. They make reference to it in just about every episode. I find it absurd that some people think M.A.S.H was about Vietnam. In my mind M.A.S.H was a tribute to the people who fought and died in the Korean War and I find it insulting to think otherwise.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Duster76

Another problem the show had was the age of the MASH cast. Harry Morgan was almost 70, Jamie Farr was almost 50, William Christopher was over 50, all were a bit long in the tooth for returning GI's.

Returning G.I.'s????? I've never seen the show except for a few youtube clips and I thought they were ordinary citizens when it was on the air.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Yort

Duster I couldn't disagree with you more. M.A.S.H was clearly about the KOREAN WAR. They make reference to it in just about every episode. I find it absurd that some people think M.A.S.H was about Vietnam. In my mind M.A.S.H was a tribute to the people who fought and died in the Korean War and I find it insulting to think otherwise.

That's pretty much the way I feel. My Dad was in Vietnam and I grew up during the 1970's but whenever I watched the show , that war was the furthest thing from my mind. I don't care what the intentions were, it didn't translate to the screen for me.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Returning G.I.'s????? I've never seen the show except for a few youtube clips and I thought they were ordinary citizens when it was on the air.

It was set right after they got home from the war in Korea. It was set in a VA Hospital.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

It was set right after they got home from the war in Korea. It was set in a VA Hospital.

Thought so

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Thought so

Yea they were civilians now. Potter was Chief of Staff at the hospital and he got Klinger hired as his assistant. Mulcahy was the Chaplin at the hospital..