M*A*S*H (TV series)

MASH TV cast 1974

MASH Cast 1977

M*A*S*H TV cast1

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MASH site - Malibu Creek State Park - 2 January 2010

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MASH Operating Room in the National Museum of American History

Genre	Comedy-drama
Created by	Larry Gelbart
Based on	MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker
Starring	Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, Jamie Farr, William Christopher, Harry Morgan
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 M*A*S*H episodes|list of episodes]])
Production
Executive producers	Gene Reynolds, Burt Metcalfe
Producers	Gene Reynolds, Larry Gelbart, Burt Metcalfe
Production locations	Malibu Creek State Park, California
Running time	25 minutes
Production company	20th Century Fox Television
Original release
Network	CBS
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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 film M*A*S*H, which 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 combines elements of comedy and drama to explore the absurdities and tragedies of war.

Main Characters

• Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (Alan Alda)
• Captain John Francis Xavier "Trapper John" McIntyre (Wayne Rogers)
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake (McLean Stevenson)
• Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit)
• Major Franklin Delano Marion "Frank" Burns (Larry Linville)
• Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff)
• Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger (Jamie Farr)
• Lieutenant (later Captain) Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy (William Christopher)
• Colonel Sherman T. Potter (Harry Morgan)

Production

The series was filmed primarily at the Malibu Creek State Park in California. The show's theme song, "Suicide Is Painless," was composed by Johnny Mandel. The series was known for its innovative use of black comedy and social commentary.

Reception

M*A*S*H was critically acclaimed and 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 remains one of the most-watched television episodes in U.S. history.

Legacy

M*A*S*H has had a lasting impact on television and popular culture. It has been referenced in numerous other shows and continues to be popular in syndication.

Related Pages

• M*A*S*H (film)
• List of M*A*S*H episodes
• MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors
• Alan Alda
• Korean War
• Comedy-drama