Did Gary Burghoff (Radar) Make A Huge Mistake in Quitting M*A*S*H??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-15-2012, 10:35 AM

Gary Burghoff appeared as Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly in every episode of the first three seasons of M*A*S*H. By season four, he was disenchanted with the direction his character was taking. He’d started out as crafty and sneaky, and not averse to helping himself to Colonel Blake’s brandy. But the writers eventually turned him into a naÃ¯ve farm boy who never sipped anything stronger than a Grape Nehi. Burghoff only appeared in about half the episodes over the next three seasons, and the CBS brass convinced him to stay long enough to play the focus of a two-part send-off during sweeps week in season eight. M*A*S*H writer Ken Levine notes that Burghoff partially expressed his disenchantment during his last appearance by refusing to wear his “Radar hat” during those final episodes, making him look less like the twenty-something company clerk he was playing and more like the balding, middle-aged man he was.

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AKA · 02-23-2012, 12:47 AM

His career didn't go anywhere after M*A*S*H; that's for sure (Remember W*A*L*T*E*R? Me, either)! When he was cast in Robert Altman's MASH film, he was a promising young Broadway actor, having just played the title role in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

He spent a better part of nine years playing Radar. The most recent thing I've seen him in is a recent local commercial here in my area for a siding and windows company (he lives the next town over). Seriously.

Yong Fang · 03-07-2012, 12:20 PM

MASH the TV series should have hung it up in the season Radar left. This was around the 7th or 8th season. The show lasted about 3 seasons too long. There are a few good episodes from 8-11, but the show could have pulled the plug on it. For example, The Mary Tyler Moore Show stilled pulled good ratings, but they stopped it because they did not want MTM to fall in quality over time.

Burghoff was totally typecast in the character of Radar. He was the only player from the Robert Altman movie to appear in the TV show. That is the character that he is known by.

I have not seen him in anything after MASH. Not that he wasn't, but I have not seen him in much since MASH. However, he doesn't look like he is poor by a stretch or suffering. He has taken his talents to his knowledge of animals (something that Burghoff brought to the character of Radar). This is how he has made his money since MASH and I am sure he is very comfortable.

Don't call him Radar if you see him either. Fair enough.

70s show watcher · 03-19-2012, 03:55 AM

he may not be as huge a star as he was during his mash days but from interviews that i have read and seen over the years he seems happy with what he has acomplished in his life and so for that reason a have to say that no he did not make a mistake in quitting mash some time in life you have to do whats best for your own growth and needs and it seemes to me that thats what he did

Heenan Fan · 05-31-2019, 12:26 AM

I think he was smart enough to get out while the gettin' was still good.

treky · 05-31-2019, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

MASH the TV series should have hung it up in the season Radar left. This was around the 7th or 8th season. The show lasted about 3 seasons too long. There are a few good episodes from 8-11, but the show could have pulled the plug on it. For example, The Mary Tyler Moore Show stilled pulled good ratings, but they stopped it because they did not want MTM to fall in quality over time.

Burghoff was totally typecast in the character of Radar. He was the only player from the Robert Altman movie to appear in the TV show. That is the character that he is known by.

I have not seen him in anything after MASH. Not that he wasn't, but I have not seen him in much since MASH. However, he doesn't look like he is poor by a stretch or suffering. He has taken his talents to his knowledge of animals (something that Burghoff brought to the character of Radar). This is how he has made his money since MASH and I am sure he is very comfortable.

Don't call him Radar if you see him either. Fair enough.

he left in the 8th season.

And Gary wasn't the only actor from the movie to also appear in the show. Gene Woods played Gen. Hammond in both, and Timothy Brown and Corey Fisher were in both but as different Characters in the show.....

Heenan Fan · 05-31-2019, 01:24 AM

Technically, Gary left after season 7, but he agreed to appear in the two-part episode Goodbye Radar in season 8.

treky · 05-31-2019, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heenan Fan

Technically, Gary left after season 7, but he agreed to appear in the two-part episode Goodbye Radar in season 8.

well whatever

Chocolate Moose · 05-31-2019, 10:27 AM

He played the part perfectly. Yes, I think he was mistaken to leave.

PracTz · 05-31-2019, 11:08 AM

Inasmuch as he was sick to death of playing Radar and, in his last few M*A*S*H appearances, it definitely showed, I think Mr. Burghoff did what he needed to do at the time- even if his post 4077 career never took. He even said that he couldn't think of a single acquaintance that he'd met during the eight years he was on who did NOT call him 'Radar' instead of Gary! IOW, unlike McLean Stevenson, he wasn't quitting counting on his personal charm to launch a never-ended post-M*A*S*H TV stardom, but he seemed to have been so tired of playing the character that he was willing to risk obscurity and even comparative poverty to END it!

Schmo · 07-13-2019, 04:12 PM

Of all the regular cast on MASH, only Alan Alda and David Ogden Stiers continued to have long and successful acting careers.

02-15-2012, 10:35 AM	#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	*Did Gary Burghoff (Radar) Make A Huge Mistake in Quitting MASH???** Gary Burghoff appeared as Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly in every episode of the first three seasons of MASH. By season four, he was disenchanted with the direction his character was taking. He’d started out as crafty and sneaky, and not averse to helping himself to Colonel Blake’s brandy. But the writers eventually turned him into a naÃ¯ve farm boy who never sipped anything stronger than a Grape Nehi. Burghoff only appeared in about half the episodes over the next three seasons, and the CBS brass convinced him to stay long enough to play the focus of a two-part send-off during sweeps week in season eight. MASH writer Ken Levine notes that Burghoff partially expressed his disenchantment during his last appearance by refusing to wear his “Radar hat” during those final episodes, making him look less like the twenty-something company clerk he was playing and more like the balding, middle-aged man he was. Read the full text here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/arc...#ixzz1mSeLWxCj --brought to you by mental_floss!
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

05-31-2019, 10:27 AM	#9
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,901	He played the part perfectly. Yes, I think he was mistaken to leave.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

02-23-2012, 12:47 AM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	His career didn't go anywhere after MASH; that's for sure (Remember WALTER? Me, either)! When he was cast in Robert Altman's MASH film, he was a promising young Broadway actor, having just played the title role in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He spent a better part of nine years playing Radar. The most recent thing I've seen him in is a recent local commercial here in my area for a siding and windows company (he lives the next town over). Seriously.

03-07-2012, 12:20 PM	#3
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	MASH the TV series should have hung it up in the season Radar left. This was around the 7th or 8th season. The show lasted about 3 seasons too long. There are a few good episodes from 8-11, but the show could have pulled the plug on it. For example, The Mary Tyler Moore Show stilled pulled good ratings, but they stopped it because they did not want MTM to fall in quality over time. Burghoff was totally typecast in the character of Radar. He was the only player from the Robert Altman movie to appear in the TV show. That is the character that he is known by. I have not seen him in anything after MASH. Not that he wasn't, but I have not seen him in much since MASH. However, he doesn't look like he is poor by a stretch or suffering. He has taken his talents to his knowledge of animals (something that Burghoff brought to the character of Radar). This is how he has made his money since MASH and I am sure he is very comfortable. Don't call him Radar if you see him either. Fair enough.

03-19-2012, 03:55 AM	#4
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	he may not be as huge a star as he was during his mash days but from interviews that i have read and seen over the years he seems happy with what he has acomplished in his life and so for that reason a have to say that no he did not make a mistake in quitting mash some time in life you have to do whats best for your own growth and needs and it seemes to me that thats what he did

05-31-2019, 12:26 AM	#5
Heenan Fan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 19, 2016 Posts: 6,001	I think he was smart enough to get out while the gettin' was still good.

05-31-2019, 01:24 AM	#7
Heenan Fan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 19, 2016 Posts: 6,001	Technically, Gary left after season 7, but he agreed to appear in the two-part episode Goodbye Radar in season 8.

05-31-2019, 11:08 AM	#10
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Inasmuch as he was sick to death of playing Radar and, in his last few MASH appearances, it definitely showed, I think Mr. Burghoff did what he needed to do at the time- even if his post 4077 career never took. He even said that he couldn't think of a single acquaintance that he'd met during the eight years he was on who did NOT call him 'Radar' instead of Gary! IOW, unlike McLean Stevenson, he wasn't quitting counting on his personal charm to launch a never-ended post-MASH TV stardom, but he seemed to have been so tired of playing the character that he was willing to risk obscurity and even comparative poverty to END it!

07-13-2019, 04:12 PM	#11
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	Of all the regular cast on MASH, only Alan Alda and David Ogden Stiers continued to have long and successful acting careers.