Why McLean Stevenson Left M*A*S*H’
In 1970, director Robert Altman released a movie called M*A*S*H, which was based on the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, which was written by Richard Hooker. The film was one of the most popular releases in the early 1970s. It was nominated for five Academy Awards, of which it won Best Adapted Screenplay. Audiences were so taken by this black comedy film that led to a TV series of the same name, which was released in 1972.
M*A*S*H ran for over ten years until it finally ended in 1983 with a total of eleven seasons and 256 episodes. Over the course of the series, M*A*S*H was nominated for a staggering amount of Emmy Awards; over one hundred! It won fourteen of those nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
M*A*S*H ran on CBS, and during its first season, it struggled to keep good ratings due to its time slot. However, after the time slot was moved for the second season, the ratings increased greatly. Today, M*A*S*H is recognized as one of the highest-rated television shows in American history.
The television show followed the staff of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital stationed in South Korea during the Korean War. It also served as an allegory for the Vietnam War, which was still raging overseas during the time the show was aired. While the show was primarily a comedy, its dark humor also reminded audience members of the horrors of war. The writers of the show carefully walked the line between serious and hilarious.
To keep this balance, M*A*S*H became the first television show ever to use more than one plotline. A typical M*A*S*H episode featured two plots, one which was dramatic while the other was comedic.
M*A*S*H was an incredibly influential show, and it paved the way for other incredible television series to come. One of the most memorable parts of the show, however, was its talented cast. Audience members were dismayed to learn that McLean Stevenson, who played Lt. Colonel Blake, was leaving the show. In today’s video, we’re going to take a look at some of the behind the scenes secrets of M*A*S*H. Make sure you stick around because we’re also going to reveal the real reason McLean Stevenson left the show prematurely. We hope you like this video, and don’t forget to subscribe to Facts Verse for more!
Original Author: Produced by Facts Verse and published on 15/12/2020 Source