McLean Stevenson's Sitcom Roles

[Adamantium]

I've always found McLean Stevenson to be a funny man and a good actor.

"The Doris Day Show" - as Michael Nicholson (Seasons 2 & 3, 1969-1971)
"M*A*S*H" - as Lt.Col. Henry Blake (Seasons 1,2 & 3, 1972-1975)
"The McLean Stevenson Show" - as McLean "Mac" Ferguson (Season 1, 1976-1977)
"In the Beginning" - as Father Daniel M. Cleary (Season 1, 1978) only 6 episodes
"Hello, Larry" - as Larry Alder (Seasons 1 & 2, 1979-1980)
"Condo" - as James Kirkridge (Season 1, 1983)

He was also in:
"Dirty Dancing" - as Max Kellerman (Season 1, 1988-1989)

And a Mini Series titled "Tales of the City" in 1993.

So M*A*S*H was his longest running sitcom.

[Dean Winchester]

I wonder if McLean would've exited MASH at the end of season 3 if he had known that it was all downhill from there, he was in shows getting cancelled after 6 episodes while at the same time his former co-stars were still in the top 5. The only reason Hello Larry is well-known is because of the crossover episodes with Diff'rent Strokes, I'm sure if Drummond and Arnold didn't visit Larry in Seattle, a lot of people wouldn't know it existed.

[robyrob]

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

I wonder if McLean would've exited MASH at the end of season 3 if he had known that it was all downhill from there, he was in shows getting cancelled after 6 episodes while at the same time his former co-stars were still in the top 5. The only reason Hello Larry is well-known is because of the crossover episodes with Diff'rent Strokes, I'm sure if Drummond and Arnold didn't visit Larry in Seattle, a lot of people wouldn't know it existed.

not to nitpick but it was set in Portland, Oregon

it wasn't really as bad as people would like you to believe - part of the reason it was so well-known was that the media was trashing Hello Larry every chance they could - check out some of the old episodes of Saturday Night Live from that time period (they often show them in NBC's late night slot on saturday night/sunday morning) they constantly made fun of the show...

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by barwars

He must be mixing him up with that other radio psychiatrist.

that's probably it, I only watched the HL crossover episode once on the DS DVD, but I swore I remember them going to Seattle. Oh well, Oregon and Washington are next to each other, and Seattle probably stuck out in my mind because of Frasier

[snl 70s show fan]

Originally Posted by robyrob

not to nitpick but it was set in Portland, Oregon

it wasn't really as bad as people would like you to believe - part of the reason it was so well-known was that the media was trashing Hello Larry every chance they could - check out some of the old episodes of Saturday Night Live from that time period (they often show them in NBC's late night slot on saturday night/sunday morning) they constantly made fun of the show...

i agree with everything you said about hello larry i liked it then and ive enjoyed the 2 eps that i got from trading here at so it was never an emmy calaber show but for what it was its pretty funny

[Adamantium]

I've been enjoying McLean Stevenson on "The Doris Day Show." It's nice to see him in a role that doesn't die at the end (like in M*A*S*H).

I've never seen "Hello, Larry" but I would buy the DVD if they released it. I saw Larry in the episodes of "Diff'rent Strokes" and I thought he was funny in that role too.

I wish McLean Stevenson had been in another sitcom that was long running, after M*A*S*H.

[Mr. Television]

I always enjoyed Hello Larry and I must be one of the few who actually enjoyed Condo too.

[TVFactFan]

I was able to receive a NBC ep of "The McLean Stevenson Show" from 1976 and just turned it off after about 13 min. I like Hello Larry a lot better. I still would like to see his show-"In the Beginning" one day.

[Chris Billings]

Wow! Someone who has actually seen "The Mclean Stevenson Show".
Id love to hear what you thought of it. Was it a comedy? sketch comedy?...anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

Thanks, Christopher

[Scoobiedoo30]

I just knew that McLean Stevenson's was in M*A*S*H AndHello Larry

[treky]

THE McLEAN STEVENSON SHOW was a short-lived sitcom on NBC where he played the owner of a hardware store. (I forget his name) He had a son who was a college dropout and was back living at home again, and his daughter had gotten divorced and had also moved back home, along with her 2 kids. Barbara Stuart (Sgt. Carters girlfriend Bunny on GOMER PYLE: U.S.M.C.) played his wife. That's all I remember-I haven't seen the show in years, since it first aired.
I also remember, though, that it wasn't very good.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Chris Billings

Wow! Someone who has actually seen "The Mclean Stevenson Show".
Id love to hear what you thought of it. Was it a comedy? sketch comedy?...anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

Thanks, Christopher

The one ep of the Mclean Stevenson show I have on DVD wasn't too bad

[friendsfan77]

McLean also guest starred on an episode of Golden Girls

[Rosslover]

Mc Lean's best role and what he will forever be known for is Lt Col Henry Blake... made MASH so funny early on...

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I wonder if McLean would've exited MASH at the end of season 3 if he had known that it was all downhill from there, he was in shows getting cancelled after 6 episodes while at the same time his former co-stars were still in the top 5. The only reason Hello Larry is well-known is because of the crossover episodes with Diff'rent Strokes, I'm sure if Drummond and Arnold didn't visit Larry in Seattle, a lot of people wouldn't know it existed.

From what I've heard he was tricked into leaving M*A*S*H with the promise of his own show and other projects that never got off the ground. He later said it was a mistake in leaving M*A*S*H.