David Ogden Stiers Talks About How He Got The Role Of Major Wichester on 'MASH' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-26-2012, 06:44 PM

How did you end up on "MASH"?

In the late '70s I did a series of Mary Tyler Moore Company -- MTM -- series. I did "The Tony Randall Show," three "Mary Tyler Moore" episodes and a few other things, and they really liked me, and I think they were looking for a show to include me in as a cast member.

My agent called and said, "Do you ever watch the television series 'MASH?" And I said, "No." And he said, "They're interested in you to replace the departing actor Larry Linville," and I said, "You know I have always loved the series!" (Laughs).

I lied my face off and had never really seen the series, so they screened four episodes and my jaw dropped. I didn't know that writing like that existed. The best shows of the period -- "Dick Van Dyke," "All in the Family," "Mary Tyler Moore" -- were matched and occasionally surpassed by the subject matter they approached, and they brought it all in 22 minutes, which always floored me.

We sat down and read a couple of scenes, and I was uncomfortable. They had asked me to ignore one of the primary facets of any character you play, and that's where they're from; they expressed as a fear that they didn't want me to sound like Mr. Howell from "Gilligan's Island."

So, I told them about a phone conversation I had had with one of my teachers at Julliard, and we had sort of cobbled together a dusting of a New England sound right around the turn of mid-century -- 'late '40s, early '50s. They said, "OK," and looked at their watches and we read the scene again. Then things really fell into place. The other actors responded. Alan (Alda) sat up, and his eyes opened. And that's where I started.

That was one of the first in a series of really remarkable -- and caring -- things that happened during shooting. There was an awful lot of laughter -- a lot of laughter. It was like leaving home in the morning to go home to work and going home at night.

http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120517/ENTERTAINMENT12/205170362/Ogden-Stiers-share-story-career-Pocomoke-May-17?odyssey=nav|head

Dr. Thong · 05-27-2012, 11:38 AM

A great character and a fine actor. Stiers really made the Winchester character come to life -- you really believed he a was a pompous, egotistical ass.

But occasionally they showed that Charles had a mischievous side -- and unlike Frank Burns, he could, on rare occasions, be "one of the guys."

Marvo301 · 05-27-2012, 08:06 PM

Charles was a much more rounded character than Frank and while a lot of that is due to the writing I think credit is also due Mr. Stiers as well. That being a said i give a lot of credit to Larry Linville for the amount of milage he was able to wring out of a one note character in Frank Burns.

Dr. Thong · 05-28-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Charles was a much more rounded character than Frank and while a lot of that is due to the writing I think credit is also due Mr. Stiers as well. That being a said i give a lot of credit to Larry Linville for the amount of milage he was able to wring out of a one note character in Frank Burns.

Agree on all counts.

I think if Charles and Frank had ever met, I don't think Charles would have had much use for Frank. Except maybe to perpetrate a practical joke on Hawkeye & B.J.

Retro4Life · 05-28-2012, 01:12 PM

Winchester was one of the great 'replacement' characters that MASH was honored to have. Marvo is right; I always preferred Charles over Frank as a character, as there was so much more potential for a well rounded character than, let's face it, a caricature like Frank.

Nice article...never get enough about MASH!

Dr. Thong · 05-28-2012, 03:58 PM

You have to give Larry Linville his due -- the man had integrity. He could have milked the character and stayed on until the very end, but he knew he'd given it all he could and honorably left the show.

And as a result of that, we got another great character, one who added something great to the show and it's legacy....Charles Emerson Winchester.

(the previous sentence is best pronounced with a snobby Boston accent).

05-26-2012, 06:44 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	David Ogden Stiers Talks About How He Got The Role Of Major Wichester on 'MASH' How did you end up on "MASH"? In the late '70s I did a series of Mary Tyler Moore Company -- MTM -- series. I did "The Tony Randall Show," three "Mary Tyler Moore" episodes and a few other things, and they really liked me, and I think they were looking for a show to include me in as a cast member. My agent called and said, "Do you ever watch the television series 'MASH?" And I said, "No." And he said, "They're interested in you to replace the departing actor Larry Linville," and I said, "You know I have always loved the series!" (Laughs). I lied my face off and had never really seen the series, so they screened four episodes and my jaw dropped. I didn't know that writing like that existed. The best shows of the period -- "Dick Van Dyke," "All in the Family," "Mary Tyler Moore" -- were matched and occasionally surpassed by the subject matter they approached, and they brought it all in 22 minutes, which always floored me. We sat down and read a couple of scenes, and I was uncomfortable. They had asked me to ignore one of the primary facets of any character you play, and that's where they're from; they expressed as a fear that they didn't want me to sound like Mr. Howell from "Gilligan's Island." So, I told them about a phone conversation I had had with one of my teachers at Julliard, and we had sort of cobbled together a dusting of a New England sound right around the turn of mid-century -- 'late '40s, early '50s. They said, "OK," and looked at their watches and we read the scene again. Then things really fell into place. The other actors responded. Alan (Alda) sat up, and his eyes opened. And that's where I started. That was one of the first in a series of really remarkable -- and caring -- things that happened during shooting. There was an awful lot of laughter -- a lot of laughter. It was like leaving home in the morning to go home to work and going home at night. http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120517/ENTERTAINMENT12/205170362/Ogden-Stiers-share-story-career-Pocomoke-May-17?odyssey=nav\|head
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05-27-2012, 11:38 AM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	A great character and a fine actor. Stiers really made the Winchester character come to life -- you really believed he a was a pompous, egotistical ass. But occasionally they showed that Charles had a mischievous side -- and unlike Frank Burns, he could, on rare occasions, be "one of the guys."
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-27-2012, 08:06 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Charles was a much more rounded character than Frank and while a lot of that is due to the writing I think credit is also due Mr. Stiers as well. That being a said i give a lot of credit to Larry Linville for the amount of milage he was able to wring out of a one note character in Frank Burns.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-28-2012, 01:12 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Winchester was one of the great 'replacement' characters that MASH was honored to have. Marvo is right; I always preferred Charles over Frank as a character, as there was so much more potential for a well rounded character than, let's face it, a caricature like Frank. Nice article...never get enough about MASH!
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

05-28-2012, 03:58 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	You have to give Larry Linville his due -- the man had integrity. He could have milked the character and stayed on until the very end, but he knew he'd given it all he could and honorably left the show. And as a result of that, we got another great character, one who added something great to the show and it's legacy....Charles Emerson Winchester. (the previous sentence is best pronounced with a snobby Boston accent).