TV Land Officially Announces M*A*S*H To Join Line-up in January, 2007

[Pavan]

Hawkeye, Hot Lips, Radar and the Gang from the M*A*S*H 4077th Roll into TV Land's Line-Up Beginning in January

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 -- TV Land has secured the exclusive primetime and overnight rights to all 255 episodes of Twentieth Television's M*A*S*H - one of the most successful shows ever seen on television - beginning in January 2007, it was announced today. The series, which aired for eleven years on broadcast television and garnered fourteen Emmy Awards, remains one of the most celebrated shows ever and is widely lauded for its realistic storylines and ability to embrace both comedy and drama into one show.

"M*A*S*H is truly one of the most beloved series in TV history and the perfect fit for TV Land as we continue to superserve our baby boomer audience," states Jaclyn Cohen, Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, TV Land & Nick at Nite. "M*A*S*H is a natural extension of our programming strategy of presenting hit acquired programming alongside TV Land originals to celebrate programming that is iconic to baby boomers, the first generation to grow up with television."

Steve MacDonald, Twentieth Television's executive vice president, general sales manager, basic cable, added, "We are delighted to enter this agreement with TV Land on M*A*S*H. This program's unparalleled strength and success, along with its ability to build networks, marries well with TV Land's strategy to further grow its brand in TV homes throughout the country."

According to a recent TV Land survey, M*A*S*H is THE #1 favorite show among Adults 40-59 and a Top 5 show among all adults. Additionally, baby boomers selected M*A*S*H as their all-time favorite TV show, followed by CSI, Star Trek (which joins TV Land in November), Law & Order and 24. Also, Alan Alda's Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce character ranks as a top 5 all-time favorite TV character among Adults 18-59.

M*A*S*H will join TV Land's line-up with a special week-long primetime and overnight showcase (8PM - 8AM, all times ET/PT) from January 1 through Sunday, January 7, 2007.

Throughout the week, TV Land will complement classic episodes of M*A*S*H with specials, including the shows' 20th and 30th Anniversary
retrospectives, the original M*A*S*H movie, the shows' landmark series finale and other M*A*S*H themed programming. The M*A*S*H finale remains one of the most successful show installments in television history and - when broadcast in 1983 - was a major programming milestone which attracted over 105 million viewers, the largest TV audience ever.

Based on the 1970 Robert Altman film of the same name, M*A*S*H revolves around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, where wounded and sick soldiers are treated. The show centers around Dr. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda) and Dr. "Trapper" John McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), two brilliant surgeons often preoccupied with attractive nurses, practical jokes and merry-making, all while disregarding military decorum.

Their relaxed approach is a source of consternation for other medical staff including Dr. Frank Burns (Larry Linville) and Lt. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit), whose secret love affair is no secret. Lt. Colonel Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) is the camp commander who gives "Hawkeye" and "Trapper" free reign, further irritating Burns and "Hot Lips." Lt. Blake is aided by the nervous, yet efficient, Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff). Other show regulars include Corporal Max Klinger (Jamie Farr), a doctor's aide in the operating room who wears women's clothing in the hope of being discharged and Father Francis Mulcahy (William Christopher), who runs an orphanage and serves as the unit's chaplain.

Many cast changes occur throughout the series' run as McIntyre is discharged and is replaced by Dr. "B.J." Hunnicut (Mike Farrell), a clean cut family man. Dr. Burns is also later discharged and replaced with Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester (David Ogden Stiers), a Boston blueblood who
does not get along with Pierce and Hunnicut. The most significant departure from the series comes with the exit of Henry Blake, who is replaced by
Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan).

Throughout the series, there is a great deal of character development as Houlihan becomes friendlier, Pierce becomes more sensitive and Klinger becomes more assuming of his authority.

TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

[Buffyboy323]

Just what we need...more MASH.

[ZKS]

Awesome!

[Shine]

MASH is already on like five times a day here already. Who the heck needs more of it?

[Buffyboy323]

Originally Posted by DAX

MASH is already on like five times a day here already. Who the heck needs more of it?

My point exactly.

[seventies_sitcoms]

Doesn't MASH play all night on the Hallmark Channel? Isn't every season already on DVD? TV Land is BORING!!!!

[Pavan]

TV Land will only have rights to MASH between 8pm-8am. Hallmark will have rights from 8am-8pm. The show is a big ratings success, so it is a good decision, business wise.

[friendsfan77]

It's great that TVLand is acquiring another older show, but IMO, it's really not necessary for a show to air on two cable channels.

[TJL]

Originally Posted by DAX

MASH is already on like five times a day here already. Who the heck needs more of it?

[Shine]

Originally Posted by TJL

[Jenya]

Originally Posted by DAX

MASH is already on like five times a day here already. Who the heck needs more of it?

All kinds of local channels air it, and it's already on the Hallmark channel.

DejaView also airs the show to death.

[MikeL]

bottom line Mash sucks it is as boring as it ever was i dont know why tv land want bring this show on it line up they could do better