"The ‘M*A*S*H’ Death That Stunned America" Topic

"In an episode titled "Abyssinia, Henry," the producers of M*A*S*H (1972-83) decided that McLean Stevenson's character, Henry Blake, was to depart from the show. It would be one of the first times a character was killed off from a television show and became one of the most shocking surprises in the history of the medium…"

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Armand

I remember that episode when it first aired and crying when that was announced, it really was shocking at the time

Yep, me, too, on all counts. I got angry about it. I loved his character on the show. It changed the dynamic of the storyline and nobody knew what would happen after that. Viewers realized no character was safe… Cheers!

It was McLean Stevenson's desire to leave the show and seek success on his own. Gutsy. link

Was a big MASH fan so remember it, if anything think I was more yeah whatever. Going to kill off someone don't send him off camera and say he got killed. Should have had a artillery barrage or something and show it.

I sort of disagree with 14Bore. We, as viewers, got the news the way the other characters would have gotten it. It may be that I've watched far to much video since then, but seeing yet another on-screen death would not have the impact that the episode got.

The series is running on MeTV, right around supper time. So the wife and I are kind of reliving our childhoods, at least for 30 minutes a day.

What I remember is that it made no sense. Not just the "retirony" aspect, but that it happened off camera, with no foreshadowing. It just happened. That in itself was really poignant.

Aired March 18, 1975
Would have been 14 but almost positive had read Hell in a Very Small Place before this aired.

My mother (RIP) was a VFW member and used to get the monthly magazine. Somewhere I still have the issue where they interview H. Richard Hornberger, pen name Richard Hooker, author of the book and the "real life" Hawkeye Pierce. He was asked what he thought about the TV show and he replied the series, "sometimes trampled on my memories." My characters weren't so liberal. The series seems to make the North Koreans heroes and the Americans bad guys." He also said "After they killed off Colonel Blake I quit watching. They didn't have to do that."
My dad did two tours of Korea and liked the movie very much. He said it was a very authentic depiction of Army life in the 1950's. My sister and I, still young tweenagers said,"Can we go see it?" and he said, "Nope, too nasty." Which, of course, just made us want to see it even more.

Thanks!

Armand

Never cared for MASH and do not watch reruns now either.

Glup!…

Armand

Really disliked that episode. What a crappy way of getting rid of a character that I enjoyed.

Never watched it as I thought overall it was disrespectful. But I did hear from a friend Alan Alda was a really good guy off screen.

Wolfhag