Why did Heny Blake and Trapper Leave M*A*S*S*H - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-10-2003, 12:20 PM

I was wondering why did Henry Blake and Trapper Leave
The Televison Show M*A*S*H.

Aaron

Heidi Dawn · 05-10-2003, 01:37 PM

McLean Stevenson (Henry) left because he was offered more money at NBC, but he then starred in two short-lived sitcoms at NBC: The McLean Stevenson Show and Hello, Larry.

Wayne Rogers (Trapper) left because he wasn't happy about his part getting less and less lines than Alan Alda in each episode.

Larry Linville (Frank) and Gary Burghoff (Radar) both left because they felt that they've taken their characters as far as they could go with creativity.

vhshunter · 05-10-2003, 04:05 PM

They wanted to put a morals clause in his contract, he would not sign.

Scoobiedoo30 · 05-10-2003, 04:45 PM

What is a Morals Clause

Aaron

Dianne3 · 05-29-2003, 03:07 PM

It was a combination of reasons why Wayne Rogers left.

He was unhappy of his part not being the equal of Alan Alda's.

Also, he had another business. The way the schedule was set up, even if you had only a few lines, you had to stay of the set for the whole day. He was missing too may days, from his other job.

As for the Morals Clause, he figured if he had to sign one, so should the producers, but they wouldn't.

treky · 07-03-2003, 03:19 AM

if you mean why did the actors leave, McLean Stevenson (Col. Blake) was a hit as both a guest & a guest host on "The Tonight Show" on NBC (MASH was on CBS). So, when NBC offered him a contract, which included his own series, he decided to leave MASH. But then, his 2 series (the dreadful "The McLean Stevenson show" & later, the AWFUL "Hello, Larry") bombed, NBC cannceled his contract, and he couldn't go back to MASH, since they had killed him off. It's been said that they probably could have done that "It was just a dream" scenario, like on "Dallas", but that would have made a joke of his death. They killed him to show that, in a war, anyone can be killed.
WWhatever, his decision to leave has been called a really bad decision, because he never "made it" after that.

And, Trapper left because he was discharged (and no, he never had a final episode, in case you're wondering).

Frank Burns went a little crazy after Margret got mmarried, and followed her on her honeymoon in Tokyo. Whe the army finally caught him, to quote Hawkeye, "the army, in all it's infinate wisdom has transfered Frank to a veterans hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has promoted him to Lt. Col.".

brooky · 07-06-2003, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Heidi Dawn
Wayne Rogers (Trapper) left because he wasn't happy about his part getting less and less lines than Alan Alda in each episode.

.

I read a long while back that Wayne Rogers took the part with the understanding that his character was going to be the 'lead'. As the show evolved, Alan Alda's character became the more popular of the two and Roger's character faded to second place.

Dr. Thong · 09-23-2003, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lurkernomore
As for the Morals Clause, he figured if he had to sign one, so should the producers, but they wouldn't.

On a
M*A*S*H retrospective (I believe it was TV Guide's Behind The Sitcom Scandals) , Wayne Rogers said the studio tried to sue him over it, but because he hadn't signed the contract, the case was thrown out of court.

bry · 12-26-2003, 09:23 PM

awful??? no.

05-10-2003, 12:20 PM	#1
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	*Why did Heny Blake and Trapper Leave MASSH* I was wondering why did Henry Blake and Trapper Leave The Televison Show MAS*H. Aaron
	__________________ Who Dat

05-10-2003, 01:37 PM	#2
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	McLean Stevenson (Henry) left because he was offered more money at NBC, but he then starred in two short-lived sitcoms at NBC: The McLean Stevenson Show and Hello, Larry. Wayne Rogers (Trapper) left because he wasn't happy about his part getting less and less lines than Alan Alda in each episode. Larry Linville (Frank) and Gary Burghoff (Radar) both left because they felt that they've taken their characters as far as they could go with creativity.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

05-10-2003, 04:05 PM	#3
vhshunter Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 04, 2002 Posts: 742	Wayne Rogers They wanted to put a morals clause in his contract, he would not sign.

07-03-2003, 03:19 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	if you mean why did the actors leave, McLean Stevenson (Col. Blake) was a hit as both a guest & a guest host on "The Tonight Show" on NBC (MASH was on CBS). So, when NBC offered him a contract, which included his own series, he decided to leave MASH. But then, his 2 series (the dreadful "The McLean Stevenson show" & later, the AWFUL "Hello, Larry") bombed, NBC cannceled his contract, and he couldn't go back to MASH, since they had killed him off. It's been said that they probably could have done that "It was just a dream" scenario, like on "Dallas", but that would have made a joke of his death. They killed him to show that, in a war, anyone can be killed. WWhatever, his decision to leave has been called a really bad decision, because he never "made it" after that. And, Trapper left because he was discharged (and no, he never had a final episode, in case you're wondering). Frank Burns went a little crazy after Margret got mmarried, and followed her on her honeymoon in Tokyo. Whe the army finally caught him, to quote Hawkeye, "the army, in all it's infinate wisdom has transfered Frank to a veterans hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has promoted him to Lt. Col.".
	__________________ 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."

12-26-2003, 09:23 PM	#9
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	awful??? no.
	__________________ that's Y-A-T-E-S.

05-10-2003, 04:45 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	What is a Morals Clause Aaron

05-29-2003, 03:07 PM	#5
Dianne3 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 07, 2002 Posts: 1,057	It was a combination of reasons why Wayne Rogers left. He was unhappy of his part not being the equal of Alan Alda's. Also, he had another business. The way the schedule was set up, even if you had only a few lines, you had to stay of the set for the whole day. He was missing too may days, from his other job. As for the Morals Clause, he figured if he had to sign one, so should the producers, but they wouldn't.