Of All The Cast Departures on M*A*S*H, Which If Any Hurt The Most? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-21-2011, 05:28 PM

Several characters came and went from this hit sitcom, I am curious to know which of the many departures hurt the show or yourself the most?

Yooch · 02-21-2011, 06:32 PM

The loss of the character, Col. Henry Blake, affected me the most, but none of the losses of other characters ultimately hurt the show in my opinion because M*A*S*H was good at introducing new and colorful characters with their own personalities and quirks, which made things more realistic, then, let's say trying to replace a character with the same character played by a different actor. Plus, it kind of fit in with the military. People leave, get reassigned and so forth. So it seemed natural.

I'm referring to regular characters, of course. Long before Harry Morgan took on the role of Col. Potter, didn't he make a one-time appearance in an earlier episode, as some sort of eccentric general?

Retro4Life · 02-21-2011, 07:16 PM

I agree, the show actually got STRONGER after most of the cast departures, except for Radar's, and they didn't try to replace him (which was a good idea).

Dr. Thong · 02-21-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooch

The loss of the character, Col. Henry Blake, affected me the most, but none of the losses of other characters ultimately hurt the show in my opinion because M*A*S*H was good at introducing new and colorful characters with their own personalities and quirks, which made things more realistic, then, let's say trying to replace a character with the same character played by a different actor. Plus, it kind of fit in with the military. People leave, get reassigned and so forth. So it seemed natural.

I'm referring to regular characters, of course. Long before Harry Morgan took on the role of Col. Potter, didn't he make a one-time appearance in an earlier episode, as some sort of eccentric general?

The third season opener, "The General Flipped At Dawn," featured Morgan as a crazy general, General Bartford Hamilton Steele. It ended up being an unintentional audition, because when McLean Stevenson left, they knew they wanted Morgan to play Potter. No auditions were held.

Marvo301 · 02-21-2011, 07:41 PM

I don't think any of the departures hurt the show. They were able to bring in some very strong replacement characters which gave the writers lots of new stories to write. So the departures may have actually helped the show by giving the writers new characters and new stories to explore.

Yooch · 02-21-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The third season opener, "The General Flipped At Dawn," featured Morgan as a crazy general, General Bartford Hamilton Steele. It ended up being an unintentional audition, because when McLean Stevenson left, they knew they wanted Morgan to play Potter. No auditions were held.

Thanks for the details. Great information.

Yooch (a.k.a. a big M*A*S*H fan)

Yooch · 02-21-2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I don't think any of the departures hurt the show. They were able to bring in some very strong replacement characters which gave the writers lots of new stories to write. So the departures may have actually helped the show by giving the writers new characters and new stories to explore.

Excellent point. I think you're right.

Yooch · 02-21-2011, 09:52 PM

"No auditions were held", as you said Dr. Thong. That really says a lot about the wise choice of Morgan. He was such a credible character. 'All army' and definitely in command, but with a human side to him. He still remains one of my favorite M*A*S*H characters.

treky · 02-22-2011, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The third season opener, "The General Flipped At Dawn," featured Morgan as a crazy general, General Bartford Hamilton Steele. It ended up being an unintentional audition, because when McLean Stevenson left, they knew they wanted Morgan to play Potter. No auditions were held.

yea, and the scene in that episode where the two of them are talking about a tounge depresser; was the scene where they DEFINETALY decided to make Harry Morgan McLeans replacment.

Dr. Thong · 02-22-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooch

"No auditions were held", as you said Dr. Thong. That really says a lot about the wise choice of Morgan. He was such a credible character. 'All army' and definitely in command, but with a human side to him. He still remains one of my favorite M*A*S*H characters.

When he played General Steele, the producers were surprised at how funny Morgan was. I think it was Gary Burghoff who said, "Who knew he was so funny?"

I think the general perception of Morgan was from his role on Dragnet, where he played a stone-faced, deadpan role.

The producers were worried that viewers might be confused by seeing the same actor in a different role, but only one person responded that way.

Yooch · 02-22-2011, 06:38 PM

Without a doubt, they made the best choice, imo.

oldschool59 · 04-23-2011, 02:59 PM

From a personal standpoint I think Col Henry Blake and Capt Macintyre leaving turned the show in another direction and at the time I was hesitant to like the Col Potter character or BJ. Over their first season I grew to like Henry Morgan very much, not so much the BJ character, and as the saying goes the show went on. When Larry Linville left I was quite upset and I never liked the Winchester character even though he brought a different element to the interaction between Hawkeye and BJ. I never missed an episode with the original cast, missed a few when McLean left and started missing them more so once Charles Emerson Winchester joined the show.

catlover79 · 04-23-2011, 11:54 PM

Probably Henry Blake - and I think Trapper was more realistic as Hawkeye's partner-in-crime than BJ, but I digress. Forgive my ignorance - I'm nowhere near as familiar with M*A*S*H as I am with other shows, but who stayed from start to finish? Alan Alda, Jamie Farr and Loretta Swit are the only ones I can think of who did.

Marvo301 · 04-24-2011, 12:19 AM

Actually Jamie Farr started part way through the first season on what was supposed to be a one time appearance. They liked his work so much they kept him around as a recurring character and then eventually as a regular cast member. The only cast members who were there from start to finish were Alan Alda, Loretta Swit , and William Christopher. Although another actor(George Morgan) played Father Mulcahy in the pilot.

catlover79 · 04-24-2011, 12:44 AM

OK - thanks for clearing that up!

02-21-2011, 05:28 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	*Of All The Cast Departures on MASH, Which If Any Hurt The Most?** Several characters came and went from this hit sitcom, I am curious to know which of the many departures hurt the show or yourself the most?
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02-21-2011, 06:32 PM	#2
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	The loss of the character, Col. Henry Blake, affected me the most, but none of the losses of other characters ultimately hurt the show in my opinion because MAS*H was good at introducing new and colorful characters with their own personalities and quirks, which made things more realistic, then, let's say trying to replace a character with the same character played by a different actor. Plus, it kind of fit in with the military. People leave, get reassigned and so forth. So it seemed natural. I'm referring to regular characters, of course. Long before Harry Morgan took on the role of Col. Potter, didn't he make a one-time appearance in an earlier episode, as some sort of eccentric general?
	__________________ "The true meaning of America, you ask? It's in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman's badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper...In all these things and many more, you'll find freedom. And freedom is what America means to the world. And to me." --Audie Leon Murphy June 20, 1924-- May 28, 1971

02-21-2011, 07:16 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I agree, the show actually got STRONGER after most of the cast departures, except for Radar's, and they didn't try to replace him (which was a good idea).
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02-21-2011, 07:41 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I don't think any of the departures hurt the show. They were able to bring in some very strong replacement characters which gave the writers lots of new stories to write. So the departures may have actually helped the show by giving the writers new characters and new stories to explore.
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04-23-2011, 11:54 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Probably Henry Blake - and I think Trapper was more realistic as Hawkeye's partner-in-crime than BJ, but I digress. Forgive my ignorance - I'm nowhere near as familiar with MAS*H as I am with other shows, but who stayed from start to finish? Alan Alda, Jamie Farr and Loretta Swit are the only ones I can think of who did.
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02-21-2011, 09:52 PM	#8
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	"No auditions were held", as you said Dr. Thong. That really says a lot about the wise choice of Morgan. He was such a credible character. 'All army' and definitely in command, but with a human side to him. He still remains one of my favorite MAS*H characters.

02-22-2011, 06:38 PM	#11
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	Without a doubt, they made the best choice, imo.

04-23-2011, 02:59 PM	#12
oldschool59 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 23, 2011 Location: Rolesville, NC Posts: 66	From a personal standpoint I think Col Henry Blake and Capt Macintyre leaving turned the show in another direction and at the time I was hesitant to like the Col Potter character or BJ. Over their first season I grew to like Henry Morgan very much, not so much the BJ character, and as the saying goes the show went on. When Larry Linville left I was quite upset and I never liked the Winchester character even though he brought a different element to the interaction between Hawkeye and BJ. I never missed an episode with the original cast, missed a few when McLean left and started missing them more so once Charles Emerson Winchester joined the show.

04-24-2011, 12:19 AM	#14
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Actually Jamie Farr started part way through the first season on what was supposed to be a one time appearance. They liked his work so much they kept him around as a recurring character and then eventually as a regular cast member. The only cast members who were there from start to finish were Alan Alda, Loretta Swit , and William Christopher. Although another actor(George Morgan) played Father Mulcahy in the pilot.

04-24-2011, 12:44 AM	#15
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	OK - thanks for clearing that up!