Alan Alda discusses the legacy of "M*A*S*H" - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

Full interview at www.emmytvlegen...

[@elisabethmoser8455]

Probably one of the best shows in all of television history, and to this day a huge following.

[@patrickwebb7388]

Amen

[@johnsim3722]

If you try to figure out why M*A*S*H was so successful you'll fail. It was the scripts. The actors. The characters. The hijinks. The love. But as much as they all fought with each other, it was when they were called upon they helped their patients as much as possible. Their character's dedication to saving lives.

[@DavidWsTrainVideos]

I agree. I also think the premise of the show was a huge part, a sit com (because dark comedy wasn’t a term before M*A*S*H) set in a MASH unit during the Korean War got people interested. As you mentioned as why people kept coming back.

[@patrickwebb7388]

Amen

[@waynejohanson1083]

I think why it was successful is because it was like Family. You though you were watching a family.

[@brandonfraterphoenixbowers]

It was a perfect mix of the best writer, actors, scene design, and everything that makes a television program. As season after season evelved, do did everything else. The Korean War was part of what we now call "The Cold War," but far from cold. Dead souldiers makes it a hot one. For the first time on any media outlet, the audience saw human "real" emotions. Heard and saw how they felt under horrible duress. M*A*S*H was the real thing while entertaining us. THANK YOU!!

[@scottf136]

I was just a kid during its run. I watched it off and on, but grew to appreciate it more in reruns as an adult. Even today, I binge watch the whole series now and then, a couple of episodes at a time before bed. It dared to take on challenging subject matter, especially for the time, but never felt threatening to your own convictions, social or political. Anyone could enjoy it, laugh or cry together at the moments where it mattered.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

With the passage of time, I think people have forgotten what is perhaps the primary legacy of MASH -- they LITERALLY invented a new genre of TV show: The 'dramedy.' Before MASH, shows were either comedies or dramas, but MASH was the first to combine the two elements masterfully in a riveting and entertaining presentation. If I recall, that term was actually invented in response to MASH.

[@stevebailey3827]

Like the best of all popular art (e.g., The Beatles), it was a genre unto itself. One week, it could be nothing but silly and funny. Another week, it could be done documentary style. The show's personnel and actors really explored the many facets of its setting and situation. I'm sure that's why I liked it so much.

[@TheJayson8899]

Good example

[@dobermanpac1064]

The show worked because there is TRUTH IN HUMOR.

[@waynejohanson1083]

And also the show could be serious at times and funny at other times. It could be a drama one minute than a comedy.

[@knownpleasures]

Brilliant balance between comedy and war drama

[@marisalombardi385]

Unique in everyway...

[@elizabethhestevold1340]

For Shure, you could say for those of us, at that time at home. It helped us in our own kind of insanity, to stay sane. As to which in California much later with a friend we, trecked bottom up Bone Trail Canyon, in Santa Monica, where M.A.S.H. was produced primarily. Did a large Oil painting from atop off mountain. 🇺🇸🇩🇰🌠🎨🖌️🥀,

[@chrisbrimhall6323]

Great chemistry and great writing

[@KCCAT5]

Just goes to prove not all shows are garbage. I can't tell you how many times I've had shows canceled on me because they weren't in the top five. Or the top 10. But there was enough of us watching to create a Ruckus that we wanted the show back but we would just ignored. Every new season they would roll out new shows instead of renewing the old ones I just stopped watching I would rather watch the old stuff now the new stuff is too propagandized for me. And I just ordered my collections of martinis and Medicine

[@ReturnOfTheJ.D.]

The secret to these shows is the sitting in cafes, loafing about apartments, sitting in army barracks, working in the operating theatre, driving around to seemingly nowhere, going to dead end jobs - people relate to that, they seem themselves in that environment. Then you throw in entertaining comic scenarios and they see the spice of life added to the bland, tasteless rice. Reminds of them of why life's worth living.

[@harrychest4303]

2, 24-7 Mash Channels on they play episodes in order

[@Julieglam3]

They don't make shows like MASH anymore. It was what I call "intelligent" comedy. I actually prefer that type of comedy vs the slapstick type. There are so few great writers anymore. But with MASH it wasn't just the writing, it was everything. The casting, the direction, the subject matter. They had lightning in a bottle, which only happens very rarely anymore unfortunately.

[@LoneLee2022]

It was smart comedy.

[@markkalfahs1047]

...the first three years were the best, EVER!!!!!....then it began a slow descent until they finally jumped the last bomb crater left behind by 5 o'clock Charlie: when Gary Burghoff left...i do not watch any reruns after he left.....too much preaching, too much YELLING and too much not funny, AT ALL!!!!....

[@LoneLee2022]

After Larry Linville left, it lost it's magic.