M*A*S*H (TV series)

File:M*A*S*H TV cast 1974.jpg The cast of M*A*S*H (1974)
Genre	Comedy-drama
Created by	Larry Gelbart
Based on	MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker
Developed by	Larry Gelbart
Theme music composer	Johnny Mandel
Opening theme	"Suicide Is Painless"
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	11
No. of episodes	256 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Gene Reynolds
Producer	Burt Metcalfe
Running time	24–25 minutes
Production company	20th Century Fox Television
Original release
Network	CBS
Release
Release
Release
Release
Release

M*A*S*H is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983. The series is a spin-off of the 1970 feature film M*A*S*H, which, in turn, was based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker. The series was developed by Larry Gelbart and produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

Premise

The series is set during the Korean War and follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" (M*A*S*H) in South Korea. The show is known for its blend of comedy and drama, often addressing serious issues such as the horrors of war, the ethics of medical practice, and the personal struggles of the characters.

Main Characters

• Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (played by Alan Alda)
• Captain John Francis Xavier "Trapper John" McIntyre (played by Wayne Rogers)
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake (played by McLean Stevenson)
• Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (played by Loretta Swit)
• Major Franklin Delano Marion "Frank" Burns (played by Larry Linville)
• Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly (played by Gary Burghoff)
• Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger (played by Jamie Farr)
• Captain B.J. Hunnicutt (played by Mike Farrell)
• Colonel Sherman T. Potter (played by Harry Morgan)
• Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (played by David Ogden Stiers)

Production

The series was filmed on location at the Fox Ranch in Malibu Creek State Park, California. The indoor scenes were shot at 20th Century Fox studios in Century City, Los Angeles.

Reception

M*A*S*H was both a critical and commercial success. It won numerous awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and a Peabody Award. The series finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired on February 28, 1983, and was the most-watched television episode in U.S. history at the time.

Legacy

M*A*S*H has had a lasting impact on American television and culture. It is often cited as one of the greatest television series of all time. The show has inspired various spin-offs, including AfterMASH and Trapper John, M.D..

See Also

• M*A*S*H (film)
• List of M*A*S*H episodes
• AfterMASH
• Trapper John, M.D.
• Korean War