Loretta Swit and Larry Linville of MASH

[@tomsampson8084]

Larry probably had the most difficult character to play. He did it to perfection.

[@aj2isotadxing]

I agree 100%.

[@benvad9010]

Larry was an incredible actor, a very clever man who studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder before applying for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London. Stage work: More Stately Mansions Playbill - Nov 1967 MORE STATELY MANSIONS OPENED OCTOBER 31, 1967 AS JOEL HARFORD (ORIGINAL) AS SIMON HARFORD (UNDERSTUDY - ORIGINAL) RUMORS OPENED NOVEMBER 17, 1988 AS GLENN COOPER (REPLACEMENT)

[@BladeObssession]

They're all good though. Ya gotta love em

[@mackermaldrill2656]

He was priceless as ferret face.

[@marko7843]

I really hoped he wouldn't get typecast, because he did a Rockford Files during the run of MASH that showed he could play a totally opposite, cold, intellectual character...

[@Kaharris.96]

Never have so many suffered so much so that so few could be so happy. F. Burns.

[@donmcallister3745]

Frank Burns: “ It’s nice to be nice to the nice “ 😆😛😆 🌜🌞🌛

[@bobma6342]

Margaret: "It’s nice to be nice to the nice?" Frank: "Just making conversation, Margaret." Margaret: "Try doing it with your mouth closed."

[@bradwallace6222]

Larry Linville, LEDGEND. Thank you Mr Linville. Rest in peace Sir.

[@terminat1]

Legend.

[@CaesarDarias]

The character of Frank Burns was the funniest part of MASH. It wasn’t the same after Larry Linville departed.

[@Rufat_Turabov]

Absolutely right. My favourite actors in MASH are Larry Linville and M. Stevenson ( colonel Blake)

[@dscott351]

But he was right to leave. there was nowhere to go with the character. Impossible to turn Frank Burns into a sweetheart of a guy.

[@amiblueful]

I just found out recently that the reason Larry left was because the show was taking a more serious turn and he didn't think the character of Frank fit in any longer.

[@RosieGaelic]

He should have won an EMMY!

[@jesper856]

I couldnt agree more. Larry Linville was great as Frank Burns.

[@hawlikd]

Got to love Larry's 1970's leisure suit and long side burns eh!

[@11C1P]

Did you not notice how everyone else was dressed? Not to mention the afro.

[@johnurban7333]

It’s sweet how much she likes Larry. Two very nice people.

[@ronnie7075]

Larry must be the most underrated actor ever. He played a difficult role brilliantly, and we all took him for granted. I loved all those characters on that show, and the writing was excellent. I think it is sad he didn't go on to bigger and better Movie parts.

[@jesper856]

I agree every word

[@KeithJackson-ux7eh]

Agreed. I grew up hating the guy. And now can appreciate the talent it took to do that 🫡👏👏👏

[@bufnyfan1]

Interestingly Larry Linville was beloved by the MASH cast and crew but played a detestable character. Yet Gary Berghoff wasn't liked very much off camera but played a beloved character

[@danbasta3677]

​@@bufnyfan1Yes that is very much true to. Role reversal, you might say. Frank was hated, yet Radar was loved. In real life, it was indeed the opposite as I did read that nobody really liked actor Gary Burgoff very much, however Larry Lindville was much more appreciated by the other actors of the show itself. We all loved Radar for his portrayal of a shy, loving and caring animal loving character farm boy who was innocent of everything in life itself, yet was able to run the 4077 as efficiently as he did as a corporal, and that's the way the writers wanted him to be potrayed as, while Frank Burns was written as a huge, big flake that nobody wanted around, however in the true life circumstances, the roles of reality were very much reversed. When Gary Burgoff left the show in 1979, and the way they showed his final departure, inspite of the in coming wounded that was shown, shows that the writers were writing a hidden message in the way he left and how he rode off in the Jeep to his final destination of Iowa. To make a long story short. Nobody really cared.

[@chriscosby2459]

Frank Burns and Colonel Flagg were my favorite characters on MASH.

[@ronaldshank7589]

Ah, yes. Colonel "I'll do anything to serve my Country, even if I've gotta break an arm or a leg to do it" Flagg! This guy definitely had a lot more than one or two screws loose, that's for sure!

[@caveman4598]

Colonial Flagg probably ordered his own chopper to crash with him in it

[@chriscosby2459]

@@caveman4598 Colonel Flagg was a great American.

[@dee_dee_place]

My favorite was Sidney Freedman. I loved Allan Arbus. It's sad to realize how many people associated with MASH are no longer with us.

[@jesper856]

Larry and Loretta had great chemistry on the show. You can tell they got along well

[@cd3694]

She also had great chemistry with Wayne Rodgers, Trapper John

[@Rick62153]

Hot Lips: “Isn’t that Frank’s bag?”. Trapper: ”I thought you were Frank’s bag”.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

One of the greatest burns in the entire series.

[@1223steffen]

Linville was great

[@richmotroni]

Because he had the most difficult and challenging character to play, Larry Linvile was the best actor in the show.

[@BrianRidgway-u5g]

This was an early one. Never saw it before. Fun watching Linville slip in and out of character.

[@bxpress6507]

"Air raid! Air raid!"😂😂

[@ronaldshank7589]

He runs outside, goes to turn a corner, trips over the sandbags, and SPLASH!!!!! Well...at least Dr. Sidney Friedman and Capt. B. J. Hunnicut got a great laugh out of it!!!

[@TS-1267]

..... YEAH!!!… HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌄🥂... Remember It Well... SKY 1 U.K 1998.... 2:53

[@TS-1267]

​@@ronaldshank7589... PAINTING THE PERIMETER ROCK'S BRILLIANT WHITE.... " AIR RAID!!! "" 3:49

[@blockmasterscott]

You tell’em Ferret Face! Frank Burns eats worms!

[@USArmyKorea]

Major Frank Burns is right up there with Ralph Kramden, Barney Fife, Archibald Bunker, and Cosmo Kramer; one of the great characters. Linville was perfection.

[@jimcoleman598]

Totally agree with those listed, and I would add Louie DePalma from Taxi.

[@rsjmd]

excellent comparisons as to type of characters, including Louis DePalma

[@patrickschabel3955]

Well said about Larry Linville😊

[@sandybiltz2476]

I love watching this just for sake Loretta Switt had a true friendship with Larry Linville. Good to know. Plus seeing Linville out of character, brilliant actor! Switt ,brilliant as well! Love M*A*S*H*!!!!❤

[@philiphughes3967]

Agreed about LL. He was absolutely brilliant in that series.

[@henrysalami7593]

Thank you for loading. Growing up it was hard to separate actor from character .. now just love the actors .. especially Larry linville such wonderful slapstick and role playing.

[@kgarrett1404]

I could listen to these two great characters talking for hours! I wish they had left the cameras rolling after the interview had ended.

[@teecee1567]

Larry was the complete antithesis of Frank Burns. Universally loved by all the cast and crew.

[@dycedarg19]

I loved his reaction to being called a “stuffed shirt” 😂 Linville goes into character and the reaction whenever Frank get his feelings hurt is hilarious in this!

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

Very funny!

[@paulsmodels]

Larry had the hardest part on that show, and then came David to take his place, and he was was insanely great.

[@ronaldshank7589]

Larry Linville's character, Major Frank Burns, could be a real hard-head, most of the time. However, there were a few attempts, where he tried to "Fit in". Major Charles Emerson Winchester was a snobby, rich, well-to-do Major, that detested the very SIGHT of the people of the 4077th M*A*S*H...at least at first. Gradually, though, he settled into their routines, and learned to "Grin and bear it". He could be surprisingly human, and even somewhat humorous at times, but mainly, he stuck to being somewhat of a "Stuffed Shirt". That was ok, though. In his own way, he fit right in. Also:He had Major Frank "Ferret-face" Burns beat all to pieces, when it came to his surgical skills. In my opinion, he could run CIRCLES around Major Frank Burns, any time he wanted to!

[@danbasta3677]

​@@ronaldshank7589Agreed with all that you had wrote.

[@grahamwride1240]

Both wildly talented ... Linville is the best!

[@victoriamedley1351]

I always felt that no one else could play the part of Frank Burns better than Larry Linville, I loved his character ❤❤😂

[@mondobondo49]

Switt keeps answering for Linville just like on the show.

[@ronaldshank7589]

I noticed that. How, and why, did Mr. Linville put up with that?!?

[@dee_dee_place]

IKR. It is very annoying. I do have to say that Loretta Switt is a great actress though. I saw her in a one-woman play, "Shirley Valentine" & she was wonderful.

[@mondobondo49]

@@ronaldshank7589 Probably just being nice.

[@mondobondo49]

@@dee_dee_place No doubt!

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Uh, in case you weren't paying attention, they were both partially staying in character, and she just did as she did for the show a bit. Geez...relaz, folks.

[@markomar-b3d]

LARRY LINNVILLE, I FEEL WAS UNDER RATED AS AN ACTOR BUT WAS THE BEST ON MASH. MAY HE FOREVER REST IN PEACE AND HIS BLESSED MEMORY BE ETERNAL.

[@dontwanttojoingoogle1799]

I've heard that Larry Linville was a super nice guy IRL. He must have been one helluva actor, because he did Frank to perfection.

[@jackb348]

Pioneer Aviation! Pioneer Aviation!

[@KeithJackson-ux7eh]

Shhhhhhhhh. You want everyone to know??😜😜

[@ronaldshank7589]

Major Burns, to Major Houlihan:"Gold, Margaret, Gold"!!! Turns out that Hawkeye and Trapper had acquired some gold paint, and painted a bunch of small rocks, and then they placed 'em by the River Bed, in order to fool Frank. It worked!

[@bruce8808]

Major Frank (there goes my transfer) Burns.

[@geraldhuot6302]

Right Loretta and Larry , You were all stars!

[@davidderitis9068]

Such a candid interview from the early days of MASH. I really appreciate them and the show a lot better after seeing this: the Korean war has been called "the forgotten war" for many reasons, and I really believe that M*A*S*H helped in a big way to remove that stigma and bring the horrors of the war, well all war, to a lot of us, while adding "a spoonful of sugar" to it in the form of the zany comedy that came with every episode. Many thanks to ALL of our veterans and the sacrifice you gave for us!

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

You make a good point. While the show was a dramedy, it also educated people about the realities of war in general and the Korean conflict in particular

[@chrismaggio7879]

Despite all the stars and characters, I have to say that I remember a majority of all the turmoil revolved around Frank and his actions and responses to others. Brilliant!

[@rossapolis]

This is from 1973/74.

[@HeRacesTheSun]

"Air Raid !! ... Air Raid !!

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Linville was really a aeronautical engineer by training. His character was limited and couldn't change.

[@jond1965]

Original cast made the show. And these 2 were a big part of that.

[@84sp84]

I’ve always felt bad for Larry, in playing Frank Burns so well, he ended up hopelessly typecast. Generally the rest of his career was spent with Frank type characters. It was obvious he was immensely talented, but rarely got to fully display the range I’m certain he could’ve shown.

[@brianarbenz1329]

He left M*A*S*H because they would not expand and develop the Frank Burns character in the way he wanted them to. It was probably too many years into the character's run to make Frank more fully human, and it was also too late for Larry's career options, as he had been type cast.

[@Victor-cr5rr]

I always felt bad for his character the other actors got to grow there characters like hot Lipps but frank burns stayed the same

[@marko7843]

I think Berghoff had it even worse. As the show wore on they infantilized him. In season 1 he's drinking Henry's brandy and smoking his cigars, and getting some of the good jokes. He ends up with a teddy bear and always seeming to be a setup for others' jokes... and he was hysterical out of character on Match Game!

[@paulnkiki68]

Larry Linville would of been a great acting teacher. I have seen him in pre-MASH roles on series like Mission: Impossible and Adam-12 and he showed great range.

[@brianarbenz1329]

I miss Milton and Faith, the best duo on local TV talk shows. Both were savvy and brilliant, and easy to watch and enjoy.

[@markforster6457]

This is the only time I saw them. IMHO: They had no sense of timing and they had no filter. Their questions were poorly thought out and poorly worded and this affected Loretta and Larry, and not in a good way.

[@bluebluesky3170]

I think what threw them of was Loretta going too far, and interrupting everyone. The male interviewer didn't even attempt to hide his disdain. I love Loretta but she does tend to speak over people in interviews.

[@sergioleone3583]

@@markforster6457 Never seen them before either, but this milton guy seems to be full of himself, to say the very least.

[@johncopeland3826]

Man ,those actors on the MASH set must have bounded out of bed in the morning to get to their work ! A true labor of love ! To be on that set each day must have been the funniest working experience possible...a true riot of the happiest kind . There must have been multiple takes for scenes constantly interrupted by outpouring of laughter ? Oh to have been a fly on the wall there ?

[@johnmcjunkin4613]

Such a fun look back at Larry Linville and Loretta Swit, from the TV show M*A*S*H.

[@jasonbaber1526]

Best actor of the bunch was Larry Linville. Had to play the most difficult part

[@HappyBanjo-oc3pc]

I’ve been watching M*A*S*H sine I was about twelve years old and I think Larry Linville was better at playing his character than anyone else played their character. Larry Linville was a master at making you hate Frank Burns.

[@KeithJackson-ux7eh]

Grew up hating the guy and can now appreciate the extreme talent it took to do that. Everyone always says he was the opposite of his character

[@Jetty-g6e]

Behind the scenes, the cast loved Larry and respected him. It was Radar that was the problem.

[@ronaldshank7589]

Why "Radar" stayed as long as he did, is beyond me. If he hated the show that badly, then why did he stick around for so long?

[@mycitywasgone4216]

@@ronaldshank7589 MONEY 💰

[@terminat1]

Gary Burghoff. Radar is a fictional character.

[@simfaithguitar1]

@@ronaldshank7589$$$$

[@trv411]

I've seen a Mike Farrell interview where he says, "We were sad to see Radar leave, but we weren't sad to see Gary leave."

[@marisalombardi385]

Great show! Great cast! ❤Alan Alda❤

[@colefd]

Those two were perfect!

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

Hints to when this was filmed: McLean Stevenson left in 1975. 3:55 "Moved to a new time slot" which was Saturday at 8:30 beginning Season 2 Sept. 15th, 1973. . 6:00 She's talking about Freebie and the Bean which ended filming June 1973. Based on this I'd say this was filmed summer '73. By the way I met the real Hotlips: Sally Kellerman

[@HansDelbruck53]

I always had the hots for Hot Lips. Both Sally Kellerman and Loretta Swit.

[@carolynm8421]

I'm sure he got a few people walking up to him treating him like he WAS Frank Burns which, of course, he was not and, indeed, I recall seeing him on other shows before Mash. They really loved each other as friends which is nice to know. Mash was such a gift to us all.

[@bruce8808]

Frank calls Hawkeye a Twerp. Hawkeye turns to signal a group of Koreans to say in unison "YOU TELL EM FERRET FACE".

[@tomcoon9038]

Fun fact: It was actually Larry Linville who suggested using the term Ferret Face! He was sooo under-rated!

[@justenseifer9346]

"Oh knock it off you foul balls"!!!!😂😂😂😂...

[@blockmasterscott]

What’s amazing is that Larry was a kind and intelligent man. From what I read, all the cast loved Larry.

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

You read right. Larry Linville in real life couldn't have been more different from the best known character he played, one hell of a nice guy, and not just intelligent, but aeronautical engineer intelligent. Hell, he even designed and built his own airplanes!

[@JL-is9rg]

Frank: Sir, I think the Chinese have captured Maj. Houlihan. Col. Potter: I see. So naturally, you shot Capt. Hunnicut.🤣 🤣 Harry Morgan was a gem. I don't think he got enough credit for his role and in particular for how he delivered some of these one liners. I loved him.

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

Harry was a veteran of many sitcoms and brought his usual dry wit and unmistakable voice to make Col. Potter a great part

[@GothGuy885]

off subject, but I went to HS with Harry Morgan's Grandson .

[@wendyfrench7503]

I loved all of them.

[@charles-y2z6c]

I saw him on Howard Stern, they asked him the motivation for Frank Burns, he said, I thought of every idiot in my life that I could

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

That explains so much!

[@paulkitt-er9dr]

Great interview. Larry seems so different from Frank Burns it is a great tribute to him as an actor that he helped create one of TV's finest characters.

[@niecybug1]

I always loved Frank Burns. And, loved his and Hot Lips early relationship.

[@speakeasy19]

Larry’s speaking voice reminds me of Johnny Carson.

[@kevinfitzmaurice4072]

Filmed by WHAS-TV, then the CBS affiliate in Louisville.

[@r.s.204]

It's so weird seeing him look so 70s here

[@baldrick6071]

Love how they switch in and out of character here.

[@gaylemalone5897]

Will Gear! Another great actor that he is related to

[@MarvelousLXVII]

Wow when I first looked at this I thought Larry was Buzz Aldrin--they really favored each other.

[@anorthosite]

Wounded Exchange w/ N Korea; Ultra-tense scene; Frank grabs for "gun"; Turns out, it's a teeny Derringer; Mako/NK Major Lin Tann (laughing): "whuh - WHUT da HELL is DATT ?!?" My favorite (funny) moment in the series ("and if you don't like it: I've got Others").

[@KeithJackson-ux7eh]

My fav was frank saying colonial I think the Chinese have kidnapped major hoolihan!!!! Right so naturally you shot captain hunnicut 😂😂

[@visotoo3129]

Loretta Swit's face when her character is introduced as 'Hot Lips' instead of 'Major Margaret Houlihan'

[@jehobden]

I wonder if anyone has a copy of Larry's script. He's not credited with writing any episodes, but maybe it was close to being filmed. McLean Stevenson received partial credit for "The Army-Navy Game" and full credit for "The Trial of Henry Blake".

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

Wonderful to see such affection between Swit and Linville. From all accounts, he was extremely intelligent, and somewhat frustrated with his dim-witted character.

[@uhf001]

"M*A*S*H" is the star"...don't tell Alan Alda

[@justenseifer9346]

The Blake seasons were the best!!!!😂😂

[@danbasta3677]

Have to disagree. I liked Colonel Potter much better and what MASH became as it got much more medical, much more scientific and much more of a serious tv show to watch. Yeah, there was still some comedy added, however prefered the more serious medicial aspect of the show much better.

[@jaywilson4520]

This is great to see. I wonder where this interview took place.

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

In Atlanta, at the Hyatt during a round robin of stars from CBS shows

[@jaywilson4520]

@@MiltonMetzArchive Ah, thanks for sharing that.

[@Rufat_Turabov]

Even here he is playing 😊

[@JimBoIndy]

Is Larry sitting next to an ashtray? ... Lol... Great job producing this scene 😅

[@johnperrigo6474]

Great to hear these two, but what a strange place to conduct an interview.

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

It was part of a junket, in which CBS brought a number of stars to a hotel for interviews by several TV stations. Space was at a premium

[@TheGeorgiaMediaGroup]

Frank was a wonderful human

[@Robert08010]

Its odd to me that they would mention Will Gear and not mention The Waltons, another CBS show that started the same year. They acted like they didn't want to talk about him.

[@jamesmorton2322]

frank and Henry, my favorites

[@raymondwilson293]

Larry was the best part of the show ❤️🙏

[@PrinzMidas]

You can get Linville out of Burns, but apparently you can't get Burns out of Linville.

[@thejoyofthemusicinmylife7897]

What a contrast of Frank Burnes to seeing Larry Linville out of his character and just being himself.

[@mcbean1234]

Those reporters are actin like a couple of Nosey Nate’s!

[@docadams7099]

Burns (to Margaret): I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you as my snug harbor to sail into." "It's your boo-boo-badooper!"

[@scottmcneely1927]

That building looks like something out of Clockwork Orange.

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

Actually the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta

[@bobma6342]

Did Loretta call Larry Frank at 8:56?

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

I never noticed that before!!

[@rogerwilliams3747]

“Ohhhhh. You guys!”

[@DoctorShocktor]

Pay heed people: It’s amazing that Larry and Loretta here profess that “MASH” is the star, not any of the individual actors”, when that is specifically why Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, and probably Larry Linville left the show! Alan Alda became the star by far, and all of those actors wanted to either reboot or expand their careers. This also happens in life, co-workers, friends, relatives, will readily speak BS right to your face, or take advantage of you while stating that they are looking out for you. The universe owes you nothing, remember that and always look out for yourself.

[@chrisst8922]

Wow, they're so close aren't they.

[@camw9133]

Larry was the best actor on the show, the complete opposite irl from his character and ppl irl actually booed him because he played his role so well

[@catherineerwin8269]

It’s nice to be nice to the nice… Frank Burns

[@fonebonedon]

Major Burns was most realistic character on the show, in my opinion.

[@davemacpherson4752]

Larry Linville was 1 of 3 or 4 Actors to play a Police Contact to Private Investigator Mannix on Mannix. 1) Joseph Campanella. 2) Larry Linville. 3) Robert Reed ( Doing double duty on the Brady Bunch and Mannix, which I think is why he was absent from two or three Episodes. ) I think there may have been a 4th Actor to play the Police Contact on Mannix, before Joseph Campanella………. I’m always surprised that Larry never got another Police Role after M.A.S.H. ……maybe typecast…….. Then you have Bad Guy Role Actors like William Smith, Robert Davi, Leslie Neilson, Benicio Deltorro, etc. who later got Good Guy Roles, Comedy Roles…….

[@bcbock]

“Hot Lips” would have scolded the interviewers that her name is MAJOR Margaret Houlihan.

[@carcar78]

Milton Metz, who was one of the finest interviewers on TV and radio, still seemed “gun shy” in this segment after the previous year’s debacle with more of the cast of M*A*S*H* who ganged up on him during their promo video seen on Omelet. Wow that was long ago!

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

Metz thought the previous interview with the MASH cast so funny that he often used the tape during speeches he gave

[@danieljackson3868]

It's so funny seeing Frank Burns talk intellectually

[@MiltonMetzArchive]

Suggests he was a pretty good actor...

[@rosskstar]

Larry makes an astute point at the end, it's like the corn kernel of a great idea, delivered by a Mud Monkey, mmk

[@caveman4598]

Colonial Flagg ordered his chopper pilot to crash with him in it to get admitted to mash to spy on them in one scene classic extremely popular here in Australia I love every minute of mash all the cast extremely funny

[@dannyboy8336]

FARRIT FACE!!!🤣

[@hayleyscocoabear100]

I was sad to see Larry go.Radar was the next one,I hated to see leave.They all brought something to the how,I think.Interesting mix of characters and there was some really funny scenes and some more dramatic scenes that were very good.The death of Henry was very dramatic.Radar delivering the news,and at first,I did not want to give the new people a chance,but,I learned to love their characters.Even Charles delivered some funny an dramatic scenes.The one about the stuttering soldier and then finding out his sister stuttered.The final episode,where the Musican gets killed,and Charles had a hard time with that.The one where he thought he was married,was funny and the episode where he donated expesive chocolate to the orphans,at Christmas,and the guy running the place sold it on the black market,to buy rice and cabbage to feed them,for a month.

[@chrisrose6014]

What I found interesting about this was you sometimes weren't sure if they were talking as themselves or the characters they played!

[@Scott-pg3sl]

He was relegated to speaking engagements towards the end of his career. Didn't seem overly happy about it but soldiered on. I was selected to ask him a question and I chose to ask him about type casting. 😬

[@hawlikd]

MAJ Frank Burns was one of favorite characters on Mash. Once he left the show, it was not as good.

[@robertellis4938]

After Henry and Trapper left, it was not as good.

[@KeithJackson-ux7eh]

I grew up passionately hating Larry linville. And now I can appreciate the amazing talent of a nice guy being such a good actor he made you hate him 🫡