First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Unlike the television Radar, Shaffer is not remembered as a clerk. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. His tenacity nearly cost him his life when, in Cowboy, he stubbornly refused to let a distraught helicopter pilot go on leave to see his wife, and the nearly unbalanced pilot almost killed Blake four times. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. "[13], In 1997, TV Guide included this episode in their list of the "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time," ranking it number 20. He was a skilled surgeon and a good friend to all of his staff. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. During season 1 he had an ongoing affair with a Nurse Scorch, and later had affairs with two other nurses; in " A Smattering of Intelligence" it is revaled that prior to coming to Korea Henry had affairs with an underage girl and a prostitute. The Hollywood Reporter did an oral history on the award-winning show back in 2018. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. You made my little kid cry! You did it as vengeance! We got a letter from a 15-year-old girl who said she understood our motives. At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. Longtime recurring guest cast member Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, was elevated to the regular cast, with his name being featured on the opening credits. The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. Please whitelist to support our site. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was an athletic trainer for the football team. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? . Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Following Cheating Allegations. And wars are rarely funny and dont always have happy endings. Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. RIP McLean and Roger. They tried to hide it throughout the series run by having Radar hold a clipboard or other hand-obscuring prop in virtually all his scenes. The creators and also the network granted his wish. On a later occasion (Life With Father), he gets a letter from Lorraine permitting him to cheat on her, but he jumps to the conclusion that she had cheated on him; when she told him over the phone that she was only attracted to someone else (See comment below], which hurt, but what hurt Henry even more was that the other man was an orthodontist. Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. When she arrives in camp she forgets about Henry and quickly develops a thing for Hawkeye. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? When he goes home he wears a civilian suit, which was against army regulations; first of all, though he had earned enough rotation points to go home he has not been actually discharged from the army, and his civilian garb would have subject him to arrest by the MPs for being out of uniform. Blake will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. Did He Cheat on Ariana Madix With Raquel Leviss? The more earnest and faithful family man Captain B.J. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. But M*A*S*H writers had another idea. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The creators and also the network granted his wish. Though a family man, Henry shared Hawkeye and Trapper's penchant for fraternizing with the nurses. It was probably actually Baijiu . Trapper and Hawkeye make joking comments, but Radar announces, "I have a message. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Gin is a flavored spirit, flavored with Juniper berry s. NOTE: Gwen Farrell is not related to Mike Farrell (B.J. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. After a quick phone call to Lorraine set up by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper are worried that Henry will wreck his marriage, but realizing what he has back home, Henry thinks better of mentioning Nancy to Lorraine and ends the call with his marriage still intact. The creators and also the network granted his wish. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. This ending prompted more than 1,000 letters to series producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart, and drew fire from both CBS and 20th Century Fox. Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Andrew (son) Jane and Molly (daughters) Unnamed newborn son (born during Season 1 episode "Showtime") There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. While "Abyssinia, Henry" is well known for the departure of McLean Stevenson from the series, it was also the final episode in which Wayne Rogers appeared. Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. While they were on opposite sides of the country, they were both saying goodbye to their loved ones in the hospital around the same time. The reason we kept it a secret, the primary reason, is to keep our actors from being influenced by that information, Gelbart said. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. The leading entertainment news publicationLeedaily. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making Heartbreaking Lt. While he was beloved by most of the camp, particularly Hawkeye and Trapper for his down-to-earth, laid-back manner, he was disliked and scorned by Margaret and Frank, with Margaret preferring stricter military discipline while Frank yearned to take command. Colonel (O-5), U.S. Army Reserve But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) had replaced Trapper John, and the regular Army Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) had replaced Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th. Writing a character off a show can be a simple task, especially for a popular part like Henry Blake. In the novel M*A*S*H Mania (set in the 1970s) it is revealed that Blake stayed in the Army and had attained the rank of Major General. The episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the final scene is reported killed by enemy fire. His character dies, and he was that character., Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar, said he felt devastated by the cruel finality of it all., Burghoff said: I took Mac aside and said, If you dont want me to do this scene, I wont. I was hoping the shock of it would get him to change his mind. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. [3] When Stevenson decided to leave the series partway through the third season, producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart decided to make a statement regarding the unexpectancies and horror of war, especially with the Vietnam War fresh in viewers' minds. The episode of M*A*S*H in which Henry Blake died is one of the most famous and well-known episodes in television history. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. On the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? Not everybody, not every kid gets to go back to Bloomington, Illinois. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. He is presumed dead and a memorial service is held for him at the 4077th. Hunnicutt). "[7] Many of those who objected also cited the fact that M*A*S*H was considered a situation comedy, and that Blake's "cheap" killing did not belong in the show; one caller to Reynolds stated after the episode aired that they "don't know why [they] did it; it's not necessary, it's just a little comedy show" and that "you've upset everybody [in the family]," before vowing never to watch the show again. Last appeared in: Klinger, aren't you ashamed of yourself? WebMcLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". Why did Henry Blake leave mash? In a double whammy for the show, it also had to absorb the loss of Wayne Rogers, who was Trapper John. if we turned on the [television] set we would see fifteen people [killed in Vietnam every night]. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. He was shanked by a fellow murderer on August 19th, 1966 and died the next morning. Played by: The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was show down over the Sea of Japan. Rogers said that aside from missing the castand his friendship with Alda in particularhe had no regrets about leaving the show after season three. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Loretta Swit said it was because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one . (This is also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine) The departure would take place the last episode of the third season. Heart It was one of the first times that a major character died on a television show, and it changed the way that people thought about television. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. They called it gin as many have already said, but despite that it couldnt have been gin. McLean Stevenson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Having the much-loved Henry Blake (wonderfully played by McLean Stevenson) killed off when his plane was shot down during his flight home was a sort of reality check provided for the viewers by the show's writers. Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. The next morning, Frank attempts to assemble the company for a formal send-off, but Hawkeye and Trapper are out of uniform and unshaven, and Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) wears a particularly elaborate dress made specially for the occasion. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. He was in charge of the 4077th. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. [3], To evoke genuine emotions of shock and sadness, the final O.R. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Fifty thousand we left fifty thousand boys in Korea and we realized it was right for the show, because the premise of our show was the wastefulness of the war. 1." This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. What happened to Gary Burghoff hand? He did not survive the crash. To his aggravation, Lorraine sent him her bills and used check books to balance their account, though Henry insisted that he was terrible with numbers; he once complained about an expensive Vet bill for their elderly house cat care. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Thirty-nine years ago today (March 18, 1975) one of the most memorableand shockingmoments in American television was broadcast: In the final episode of the third season of MASH, Lt. Or, they applauded it. He died in the final episode of the show, which aired in 1983. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. M*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. Look, all I know is what they taught me in command school; there are certain rules about a war, and Rule Number 1 is that young men die. The 4077th were happy for him. Look, I'm a doctor. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Your email address will not be published. Farr then went on to say that the first take "was a blockbuster", with gasps being heard from the crew, but they had to shoot a second take due to a technical problem. Most important to Ottumwa is the clerk, Radar OReilly, nicknamed for his acute hearing. WebOn the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Stevenson was recovering from bladder cancer surgery at the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center on February 15, 1996, when he suffered a sudden fatal heart attack. Henry's affectionate individual goodbyes to the others are cut short by the imminent arrival of his helicopter, but Hawkeye pulls him aside and persuades him to give a long parting kiss to Margaret, to her surprise and Frank's annoyance. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Hunnicutt as the newest doctor. Colonel Henry Blake in the television series M*A*S*H, which earned him a Golden Globe Award in 1974. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. While M*A*S*H incorporated comedic elements, it was ultimately a show about war. Lorraine was a one-time Succotash Queen at Illinois Normal (now Illinois State). Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! M*A*S*H fans hearts broke everywhere when the show decided to kill off fan-favorite Henry Blake during the shocking Season 3 finale Abyssinia, Henry.. [10], Not all reaction to the airing was negative. Blue Radar then leaves the operating room as the camera pans across the stunned staff, each visibly fighting to retain composure and continue with their work. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. They didnt want us to suffer through a week of rehearsal, Swit said. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? After the news of Colonel Blake's death shocked the world, the very next night during her opening monologue on her musical variety show, Cher introduced Stevenson as her guest star, saying that he was "missing in action"; the video briefly cut away to a shot of Stevenson, in costume as Henry, rowing a raft as he looked straight into the camera and said, "Hey guys, Im OK. Im OK!" because "everyone loved Henry". Several times throughout the series, the awards that Colonel Blake had earned during his service in the army could be seen on his uniform. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".