Writer Ken Levine Looks Back on "M*A*S*H" for Series Finale 30th Anniv. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-28-2013, 02:47 PM

The 30th Anniversary of the Last "M*A*S*H" Episode
by Kev Levine
Thursday, February 28, 2013

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the finale of "M*A*S*H". For many years it was the single highest rated television program in history. Not sure what finally eclipsed it – either a Super Bowl or the "Celebrity Fit Club" episode where Chaz Bono lost seven pounds. In any event, it was an event.

Having been a writer on the show for four of its eleven years, here are some random thoughts and reflections from inside the Swamp:

How important was "M*A*S*H" to me personally? When producer Gene Reynolds gave my partner, David Isaacs and I our first assignment it completely changed our lives. The response to that script ('Out of Sight/Out of Mind' – season five) launched our career.

Whatever success we enjoyed for the next thirty years would not have happened had Gene Reynolds not taken a chance on two young nimrods who lied and said they had also written drama besides comedy.

Meeting and working with Larry Gelbart was like taking composing lessons from Mozart. And I learned more about storytelling from Gene Reynolds than all the other writers I worked for combined.

An agent once advised that "M*A*S*H" writers should remove that credit from their resumes because it flagged them as too old. I would clean the grease trap at McDonalds before I took "M*A*S*H" off my resume. I’m enormously proud to be associated with that show, even if it means I don’t get a "2 Broke Girls" assignment.

A few years ago there was a "M*A*S*H" reunion and a group photo was taken. Standing among those brilliant actors and writers I thought to myself – this is what it must be like to be on a Super Bowl winning team. So the next day I went to Disneyland.

More fun than the last episode airing was the final wrap party. It was held on a Saturday night at Morton’s in Beverly Hills. Very swank. Very posh. We all wore our dressed greens. The great Bobby Short was hired to play. Several of us were standing around the piano listening to him sing and I turned and noticed that the person standing right next to me was Gerald Ford. (He was on the 20th Board of Directors at the time).

For several minutes I just chatted up a former president of the United States. You don’t get that at the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians". wrap party. (Of course no one at that party would even know who Gerald Ford is.)

I am so fortunate to be associated with not just one national phenomenon ("M*A*S*H") but two ("Cheers") and counting. Wait until "The Simpsons" finally ends. Of course, by that time whoever succeeds Obama will be the former president at that wrap party.

If I’m being honest, I didn’t love the finale. I thought it was too long (although I could see why the network wanted it long – ka-ching!) and I did not like some of the storylines. (Some I loved though, like the Charles subplot with the instruments.)

But in particular, I had (and still have) a big problem with the story about the Korean mother who smothers her baby to silence it so villagers won’t be detected. This came from an actual event we uncovered in the research. It was around during my years. Although I find the story utterly heartbreaking, I felt it crossed a line and was too heavy for "M*A*S*H".

Just my opinion.

The one moment of the finale I absolutely adored was at the end when Hawkeye glanced out the helicopter and saw GOODBYE written in stones. Thanks to executive producer Burt Metcalfe for that inspired idea.

The way the script was written was each writer or writing team took turns working with Alan Alda on half hour segments. David and I were producing "Cheers" that year and did not participate. We were up against them all for the WGA Award and won. I’d like to think it was due to our brilliance, but it’s tough to win a comedy award when you kill babies.

Although this was the last episode to air, it was not the last episode filmed.

With all due respect to us, the first four seasons – the Larry Gelbart/Gene Reynolds years – were the best of the series. Certainly the funniest.

The night the show aired the cast and selected staff members screened it at the studio on a movie screen. I preferred to watch it at home on a normal television. This made it more of a shared experience for me. And I didn’t have to dress up again.

And finally, there will never be another "M*A*S*H". Happy 30th anniversary. I only wish Larry were still here to enjoy it.

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/0...last-mash.html

Dr. Thong · 03-01-2013, 09:48 PM

Nice remembrance.

James28 · 03-06-2013, 12:47 PM

Is there any reason how the M*A*S*H series finale got over 100 million viewers?

Dr. Thong · 03-06-2013, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

Is there any reason how the M*A*S*H series finale got over 100 million viewers?

Because it was a damn good show, that's why.

treky · 03-14-2013, 11:44 PM

WELL....not really

James28 · 03-15-2013, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Because it was a damn good show, that's why.

I meant how the viewership got that figure. I mean, the finale had to be highly promoted or anticipated or something.

treky · 03-15-2013, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

I meant how the viewership got that figure. I mean, the finale had to be highly promoted or anticipated or something.

yes,it was highly promoted and the media made it sound like a "must-see" and you'd be missing out on something if you didn't watch. A lot of people fell for all the hype therefore a lot of people tuned in to it.

Dr. Thong · 03-15-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

yes,it was highly promoted and the media made it sound like a "must-see" and you'd be missing out on something if you didn't watch. A lot of people fell for all the hype therefore a lot of people tuned in to it.

And saw a great show.

treky · 03-16-2013, 12:19 AM

well, like I said-that's a matter of opinion.

I'm not saying the entire thing was bad; there were a couple good scenes like Charleses comments at the farewell dinner and some of the scenes with him and the chinese musicians. Also the last scene where Hawkeye looks down and sees GOODBYE spelled out in rocks by B.J.

But that scene with the fire was SO OBVIOUSLEY tacked on!!! I know they had to-a real fire burned down the set while they were filming-but they could have done a better job tacking it on.

Mr. Television · 03-16-2013, 12:53 AM

It was one of the best series finals of all time. Everyone that I knew watched it. It was a part of history. You can't get that many people watching a tv show anymore. The closest you can get is the Superbowl.

Dr. Thong · 03-16-2013, 09:31 AM

treky, you are right -- it is a matter of opinion. As someone who watched it the night it aired, there was an emotional component to it that was palpable.

I had only started watching M*A*S*H in the summer of 1981 via syndicated reruns. But it quickly became a favorite show of mine and I caught up on the previous seasons thanks to the show being on five times a week in addition to the new shows that aired on CBS.

The show had been on for years, but I never watched it. I just didn't have much awareness of it and I watched plenty of other shows. But I got so into it that by the time that finale aired, I was emotionally invested in the show.

02-28-2013, 02:47 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,140	*Writer Ken Levine Looks Back on "MASH" for Series Finale 30th Anniv. The 30th Anniversary of the Last "MASH" Episode* by Kev Levine Thursday, February 28, 2013 Today marks the 30th anniversary of the finale of "MASH". For many years it was the single highest rated television program in history. Not sure what finally eclipsed it – either a Super Bowl or the "Celebrity Fit Club" episode where Chaz Bono lost seven pounds. In any event, it was an event. Having been a writer on the show for four of its eleven years, here are some random thoughts and reflections from inside the Swamp: How important was "MASH" to me personally? When producer Gene Reynolds gave my partner, David Isaacs and I our first assignment it completely changed our lives. The response to that script ('Out of Sight/Out of Mind' – season five) launched our career. Whatever success we enjoyed for the next thirty years would not have happened had Gene Reynolds not taken a chance on two young nimrods who lied and said they had also written drama besides comedy. Meeting and working with Larry Gelbart was like taking composing lessons from Mozart. And I learned more about storytelling from Gene Reynolds than all the other writers I worked for combined. An agent once advised that "MASH" writers should remove that credit from their resumes because it flagged them as too old. I would clean the grease trap at McDonalds before I took "MASH" off my resume. I’m enormously proud to be associated with that show, even if it means I don’t get a "2 Broke Girls" assignment. A few years ago there was a "MASH" reunion and a group photo was taken. Standing among those brilliant actors and writers I thought to myself – this is what it must be like to be on a Super Bowl winning team. So the next day I went to Disneyland. More fun than the last episode airing was the final wrap party. It was held on a Saturday night at Morton’s in Beverly Hills. Very swank. Very posh. We all wore our dressed greens. The great Bobby Short was hired to play. Several of us were standing around the piano listening to him sing and I turned and noticed that the person standing right next to me was Gerald Ford. (He was on the 20th Board of Directors at the time). For several minutes I just chatted up a former president of the United States. You don’t get that at the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians". wrap party. (Of course no one at that party would even know who Gerald Ford is.) I am so fortunate to be associated with not just one national phenomenon ("MASH") but two ("Cheers") and counting. Wait until "The Simpsons" finally ends. Of course, by that time whoever succeeds Obama will be the former president at that wrap party. If I’m being honest, I didn’t love the finale. I thought it was too long (although I could see why the network wanted it long – ka-ching!) and I did not like some of the storylines. (Some I loved though, like the Charles subplot with the instruments.) But in particular, I had (and still have) a big problem with the story about the Korean mother who smothers her baby to silence it so villagers won’t be detected. This came from an actual event we uncovered in the research. It was around during my years. Although I find the story utterly heartbreaking, I felt it crossed a line and was too heavy for "MASH". Just my opinion. The one moment of the finale I absolutely adored was at the end when Hawkeye glanced out the helicopter and saw GOODBYE written in stones. Thanks to executive producer Burt Metcalfe for that inspired idea. The way the script was written was each writer or writing team took turns working with Alan Alda on half hour segments. David and I were producing "Cheers" that year and did not participate. We were up against them all for the WGA Award and won. I’d like to think it was due to our brilliance, but it’s tough to win a comedy award when you kill babies. Although this was the last episode to air, it was not the last episode filmed. With all due respect to us, the first four seasons – the Larry Gelbart/Gene Reynolds years – were the best of the series. Certainly the funniest. The night the show aired the cast and selected staff members screened it at the studio on a movie screen. I preferred to watch it at home on a normal television. This made it more of a shared experience for me. And I didn’t have to dress up again. And finally, there will never be another "MASH". Happy 30th anniversary. I only wish Larry were still here to enjoy it. http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2013/0...last-mash.html Attached Images

03-01-2013, 09:48 PM	#2
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Nice remembrance.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

03-06-2013, 12:47 PM	#3
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,984	Is there any reason how the MAS*H series finale got over 100 million viewers?
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

03-14-2013, 11:44 PM	#5
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	WELL....not really
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

03-16-2013, 12:53 AM	#10
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	It was one of the best series finals of all time. Everyone that I knew watched it. It was a part of history. You can't get that many people watching a tv show anymore. The closest you can get is the Superbowl.
	__________________ Sonny

03-16-2013, 12:19 AM	#9
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	well, like I said-that's a matter of opinion. I'm not saying the entire thing was bad; there were a couple good scenes like Charleses comments at the farewell dinner and some of the scenes with him and the chinese musicians. Also the last scene where Hawkeye looks down and sees GOODBYE spelled out in rocks by B.J. But that scene with the fire was SO OBVIOUSLEY tacked on!!! I know they had to-a real fire burned down the set while they were filming-but they could have done a better job tacking it on.

03-16-2013, 09:31 AM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	treky, you are right -- it is a matter of opinion. As someone who watched it the night it aired, there was an emotional component to it that was palpable. I had only started watching MASH* in the summer of 1981 via syndicated reruns. But it quickly became a favorite show of mine and I caught up on the previous seasons thanks to the show being on five times a week in addition to the new shows that aired on CBS. The show had been on for years, but I never watched it. I just didn't have much awareness of it and I watched plenty of other shows. But I got so into it that by the time that finale aired, I was emotionally invested in the show.