View Today's Active Threads / View New Posts / Mark All Boards Read / Chit Chat Board
M*A*S*H links and theme songs at Sitcoms Online / M*A*S*H Photo Gallery
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 1 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 2 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 3 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 4 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 5 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 6 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 7 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 8 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 9 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 10 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Season 11 on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - The Complete Series - Martinis and Medicine Collection on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - Goodbye, Farewell and Amen (3-Disc Extras Set) on DVD |
![]() Buy M*A*S*H - The Complete Collection on DVD |
![]() |
|
Register | Members List | Social Groups | View Today's Active Threads | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read | Photo Galleries | Calendar | FAQ |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 24, 2013
Posts: 362
|
![]()
I don’t know which season of MASH was the first one with Alan Alda at the reins. Some people claim the series lost its appeal when AA turned it into a soapbox for his liberal politics. Yet the ratings remained high for most of the show’s run, so a lot of people must have liked what Alda had to say.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 24, 2013
Posts: 362
|
![]()
When did Alan Alda take control of “MASH”? Did Burt Metcalfe and Gene Reynolds leave because of him?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Moderator
Senior Member Join Date: Oct 19, 2016
Posts: 5,878
|
![]()
Larry Gelbart left after season 4, Gene Reynolds left after season 5. Alan Alda and Burt Metcalf took over at the beginning of season 6 and stayed in charge for the remainder of the series.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Aug 24, 2013
Posts: 362
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: May 04, 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 100
|
![]()
The show should have ended after 7 seasons. Like many hit shows, it went on too long. The last few seasons were just too much - mainly because of Alda's control.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: May 19, 2020
Posts: 110
|
![]()
I have to agree. The last three seasons are pretty painful to watch. Not funny, too heavy handed and the acting with some of the actors got worse. Klinger became downright annoying. Jamie Farr started yelling his dialogue with over the top facial expressions. Every other episode Margaret was saying "dear god" at every tragic moment. After all these years we find out Hawkeye is claustrophobic. Not a hint of that in the previous 9 seasons.lol
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
star trek fan
Forum Veteran
Join Date: Feb 25, 2002
Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania
Posts: 14,005
|
![]()
O DEFINITELY!!! Every other week it was "oh we're doctors and we're nurses...and we're so good because we save lives...and death is such a bummer...and war is hell..." and on and on...
Should have ended when Radar left. |
__________________
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." |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Forum Regular
Join Date: Dec 26, 2019
Location: Indiana
Posts: 969
|
![]() Quote:
But from my perceptions, when his personality fanned out and came to dominate the show, it reduced my enjoyment not only of the show at that time, but I came to look down upon the series even leading up to that time. "Grandiose" is the word I think that I'm looking for, and once I stated seeing Alda in that light, I could never stop. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: Jan 14, 2015
Posts: 39
|
![]()
MASH needed to either call it quits after three years, or at least continue with the dark comedy of the those seasons, instead of turning it into a drama.
Alda became the 'star' because the show lost two capable actors. They should have added to the cast in keeping with an ensemble show. Here is what SHOULD have happened: Keep the character of Trapper using a different actor. Use the Duke Forrest character from the book and movie. Bring back Spearchucker. Create a good female character to counter Hot Lips. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever
Forum Veteran
Join Date: Dec 27, 2013
Posts: 10,979
|
![]()
I couldn't stand the later, "Alda" years.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Frequent Poster
Join Date: May 19, 2020
Posts: 110
|
![]()
in the earlier years the sad or tragic things meant more because they didn't dominate the shows. like when Hawkeye's buddy died or when Henry died. but when they are trying to get tear jerkering moments every episode it gets to be too much.
how would Henry, Trapper and Frank have changed if they had stayed on the show? would they turn Frank nice? would Henry and Trapper have stopped cheating on their wives? lol |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
star trek fan
Forum Veteran
Join Date: Feb 25, 2002
Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania
Posts: 14,005
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 | |
Member
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 30, 2014
Posts: 2,133
|
![]() Quote:
MASH is an interesting example of an "issue" show. It's very focused on a single important issue - war - and that issue has been discussed literally for centuries. There were at least three ideas that the show could have raised with respect to the allied action in Korea: 1. The ancient concept of "the just war," which is most closely associated with the Catholic monk and philosopher Thomas Aquinas. There is little doubt Father Mulcahy would have studied Aquinas extensively in college, and been exposed to the just war concept. 2. The "Containment Theory" was the policy developed by the US government after WWII, to deal with the perceived threat posed by communist governments. That policy was developed under President Truman. Colonel Potter, of course, literally served under Truman in WWI, and he would have been a reasonable mouthpiece for Truman's policy. 3. The provision of "Collective Defense" is one of the main reasons that the UN was established. There were, of course, representatives of dozens of UN countries who appeared in the show and could explain how their countries relied on the help of others if they should be attacked. Obviously, you don't have characters reading out of textbooks, but you humanize the concepts by presenting them through credible characters. In MASH's case, you end up with Hawkeye going on tirades and characters like Potter and Mulcahey, who should know it's not so simple, just meekly shrugging their shoulders as if to say, "I don't know why we're here, either." Of the three concepts, only the containment theory got any expression at all, and that discussion was neutralized (dumbed down) by placing it into the mouth of the designated idiot Frank and Hot Lips (when she was still an idiot). |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|