The TRUTH About Why McLean Stevenson Left MASH
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- čas přidán 11. 05. 2020
- Here is the truth about McLean Stevenson's decision to leave the hit CBS TV sitcom, "M*A*S*H" where he played Lt. Col. Henry Blake for the first three seasons of the show. Was it truly a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad decision? Or, was it something else? Watch this video and then decide for yourself!
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His relationship with Radar made MASH. MASH is like Seinfeld, you can watch it over and over and it always just as entertaining.
Agreed!
I do every night on hulu. I purchased a set of martinis and medicine at a great price this week
Mash is nothing like Seinfeld it was actually funny
Only the 1st 3 seasons!!!
Unless channels like MeTV just play the same 20 episodes over and over.
I go by what McLean Stevenson said himself. I found out that it wasn't McLean Stevenson that the audience loved, it was Col. Henry Blake.
Problem with people that make millions pretending to be someone else, they listen to the "YES" people/hangerons that are attracted to the $$$$!
@@Capohanf1 - Another problem is those who make judgements about others that they do not know personally, based upon their income. Jealousy may factor in.
A respectful summary. Stevenson later admitted that he thought audiences were in love with him, but he discovered that they were in love with Henry Blake. It was true and MASH was never as funny and light-hearted after he left.
The change in the comedic tone and lightheartedness that viewers detected at that time was actually due to the loss of series co-creator, writer, and director Larry Gelbart after season 4, one season after MS and WR departed. He was the comedic voice of MASH in its first four seasons.
The tone definitely changed for sure with the departures of McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers after Season 3 was done and Season 4 started. Could even darker tone when Larry Linville departed after season 5 and Burghoff after season 7 only to return for season 8 to film his two part episode of Radar leaving the 4077. Although I liked Trapper more then BJ I liked the characters of Potter and Charles more then Henry and Burns. I am a big fan of the show and have seen every episode and season. Radar could get annoying at times and felt they did a good job developing Klinger from the beginning as a Corporal wearing dresses and doing other antics to get himself a section 8 to be being a established clerk replacing Radar and eventually the writers giving up the dresses to get out of war gig.
WRONG! The show was better when he left, still funny, but more realistic and Colonel Potter was the adult in the room.
First three seasons with Trapper and Henry were the best.
@@TheCactusTom❤
My Grandmother broke out in tears for several days after the death of his character was announced.
She had trouble watching the the show for quite a while after that.
She loved MASH and watched it religiously. Actually, I was kind of pissed of that they had done that to her.
She was a very stoic woman and I'd never seen her that upset.
I remember that episode and it was pretty stunning considering TV Sit-Coms of the Era.
It was like getting kicked in the balls when you least expected it.
No matter how tough a guy you were? Your knees buckled a little bit as the reality of War was shoved in your face.
Totally out of the blue.
Thanks for sharing.
When Radar walks into the ER without a mask and says, “Colonel Henry Blake’s plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan; there were no survivors,” still makes me cry.
I really loved this episode, everyone wants to go home. I was glad he made it, I was shocked along with others when I died 😢. I know it wasn’t the writers intent, but it shows everyone didn’t come home.
I have difficulty watching it. I was like losing a family member
@@dorothycoker8830 If it wasn't the writer's intent, it should have been. It's a face of war that people die. Even more important, that they often die pointless and unheroic deaths.
The cast had no clue Radar was going to say that. They kept it a complete surprise so they could get honest reactions.
no one else in the ER knew they had last minute added Radars walk into the ER with the bad news- Alda had just stormed up front and told them "Henry cant leave for a vacation you have to kill him"--really considered himself the main boss on the show - i still watch it an hour a day, many of the Potter era are wayyy to sappy for me , and when Alda monopolizes the show with his monolog which hes sure everyone wants to see, i did love when he and Margaret got to make out, not sure if they were going to die - she was hotttttt in that scene
"...there were no survivors..." And America collectively choked up, shed a tear and said goodbye.
"there weren't no survivors"
That scene was especially rough on my father-in-law. When he was an infant, his father died in a plane crash between Japan and Korea during the war.
I still get choked up whenever I watch "Abyssinia, Henry"😢
Not just America !
It was a TV show - made up. Nobody really died.
Winning a Golden Globe over the rest of that incredible cast just shows how great he was. There's good reason his character's death caused such a strong reaction from fans and crew alike.
This was one of best characters on MASH. There was something about those first few years of MASH that were lost when Stevenson and Wayne Rogers left.
In the early seasons of MASH there was more comedy than drama in the show.
The show with those two one of the great TV comedies of all time, the show after was not worth watching. Shouldve been canceled after they left.
Yep..it sucked
@@renohightower6248 it was way better after they left.
@@michaelratliff905 it got way better after Potter, Honeycut, and Winchester where added.
If he was unhappy, I get it. But to be unhappy with money is better than being unhappy without money.
True. But I suspect by the time he left, he WAS unhappy with money. It would be different if he were just a struggling actor looking for his first break - then you'd be willing to put up with a lot more. But an established actor who is financially secure can be a bit more picky. It often doesn't work out (just ask Jim Nabors), but at least you aren't going to be financially crippled for trying.
The thing is, he had money whether he worked or not. His cousin was Governor of Illinois and twice the Democratic nominee for President and his great-grandfather's brother was Vice President. The Stevenson family was super prominent in Illinois (and the U.S.) So he didn't have to do anything he was unhappy with.
@RenaissanceRecorders Water of Life --the name of the character is Uhura--and the spelling is role--Not roll---and I am glad Dr. King counseled here to stay!!
@@lawrence142002 Just because he had a relative with a government job and made lots of money doesn't necessarily mean McClean got any of it. Not unless your name is Biden.
I met McLean in a Denny's in Hollywood near metromedia studio. He talked to me a bit, he was a very nice man
Yep. I've heard he was friendly to fans.
I love to hear stories like this. Nice to know that the actors I believe are nice people actually are! So many actors have huge egos, it’s good to hear a few can be regular guys.
@@cowpuddles4851 Back in the 70s, I worked at a MIlwaukee TV station where we did a noon time, one hour show "Dialing For Dollars". I had the chance to meet dozens and dozens of big names from movies and TV. Most were very nice. The one name that comes to mind is Shelley Winters. We also did a cooking segment on the show, that day they made a huge strawberry torte. Shelley left the studio with the entire desert. Apparently didn't think sharing was very important.
Was he working there or dining there?
With all due respect for Henry/McLain Stephenson. I can't get over both the moment of his death and what they did with his successor Col Potter. The wild part is that from a military perspective it was plausable and he wasn't a bad commander of a MASH unit.
If we're going to talk military perspective and forget it was just a TV show, it always struck me as a little odd that a regular army 0-6 was brought in to fill a billet previously occupied by a reserve 0-5, but I guess it could have happened. Seems like an AD bird colonel with the time Potter had behind him would have been on staff at HQ level if not up at I Corps, rather than being stuck down at a lowly MASH unit. That much horsepower and experience should have been overseeing several MASH units, if not occupying a cushy IG slot or similar.
@@TS-ef2gv Well he had been at iCorps I think prior to arriving at MASH. If I remember correctly.
@@TS-ef2gv at ease! Troop, you’re not back in garrison! It was just a COMEDY TV SHOW!
@@TS-ef2gv Except that Potter was a surgeon, and maybe he pulled some weight to get into that job.
@@TS-ef2gv Remember Potter was close to retirement when he got billeted and had come out of a staff job. Totally plausible to put him there to finish out his time
Doctors have always been in short supply, so putting a full bird into a light colonel spot with such specialized training is not really a stretch
One thing he did say later on in life, which also made him leave MASH, was "I made the mistake of believing that people were enamored of McLean Stevenson when the person they were enamored of was Henry Blake. Still one of the best shows ever.
Actually, Alan Alda was the star. Wayne Rogers left because he didn't want to be second fiddle anymore. McLean was enticed by NBC and offered his own show. He did what he thought was right. I loved his character Henry Blake but I also loved Colonel Potter.
Wayne Rogers left because he was a successful money manager. He was making so much that it outshined what he was making as an actor. Some of his fellow cast mates even allowed them to invest for them.
Agreed! Hawkeye and Frank are my two least favorite characters. Trapper and Charles are my most favorite on the show. Too bad they never appeared together.
I think Trapper John and Hawkeye were terrific as a team. Too bad actors have such enormous egos.
Kristen S I’ll go with Charles and Klinger. Two complete opposites that I absolutely loved.
@@Dajuggernaut74 Also going back to the day when actors acted the characters instead of just walking around saying their lines.
"Hello Larry" was proof that it's not the idea that counts, it's what you do with the idea. It's about a talk radio host in a small city in the Pacific Northwest who's left a big metropolis in the hope of starting over but he has a complicated domestic life and has to deal with an impetuous producer on the job.
And so is "Frasier," which lasted eleven seasons to "Hello Larry"'s one-and-a-half. It was a good idea that David Angell and Christopher Lloyd executed much better.
They were based in Portland and Seattle. Those aren't small cities.
Frasier was a spin-off from Cheers. Frasier was well established on Cheers so it wasn’t like he had to build an audience. Kelsey tried to do several shows after Frasier that never caught on, one where he played a TV news anchor with Patricia Heaton I think in Pennsylvania. It was only on one season and I thought it had potential because it was basically Frasier on TV but he left to do another series that failed. Now Frasier is getting a reboot.
I was a college kid when I saw that episode, and it crushed me. I remember crying by myself in our den that was only lit up by the TV screen.
That might be the reason why I never enjoyed Colonel Potter's role. He was all right, but nothing like Colonel Blake.
I just wanted to mention that Wayne Roger’s post-MASH show, “House Calls” WAS a hit. It was the #8 show in it’s second season and only failed after it’s third season because the producers fired Lynn Redgrave because she got pregnant and wanted to take her baby on-set so she could breast feed it.
ThankYou ThankYou ThankYou...
for typing that You Are Absolutely Correct
"What am I signing, Radar?"
@@floogelhornzzz4770 Ha ha ha, got to love a good laugh my friend. Cherish M*A*S*H the rest of our life's. Always remember the good. God bless!
The first three seasons of MASH were iconic, it was just a very good show after that
MASH got better in 1975. The writing was superior. Harry Morgan and Mike Farrell enabled the show to make a seamless transition, following the departures of McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers.
Stevenson did what he felt was right by leaving.
NBC was dangling the possibility of being Johnny Carson's successor, and he would be the star of the show that was developed for him. That had to look pretty good on paper. Stevenson knew that he was taking a major gamble. He lost.
@@davidsamuels9557 that is why in America everyone gets an opinion even one completely wrong like yours. Mash peaked in Season 3…..no doubt about it
@@astrosjer822 You're trying too hard. You're just a fan like the rest of us. Get over yourself.
@@davidsamuels9557 Avant Garde Clue
@@astrosjer822 Time to take your meds.
The episode where he left the show is probably one of the most heart wrenching moments in TV history
'..... another 2 steps and that will put you right in the heart of downtown Berlin' - Gone so soon Henry, too soon, left us wanting. RIP y'all
I remember that episode of MASH when Radar walked into the OR, and told everybody that Henry was dead. Many shows have that one episode that cements it in the history of TV as an absolute icon, and that was one of MASH'S. I don't care who you were, I can garauntee everyone cried that night that saw that. I'll openly admit I did, I'm not ashamed of it. It's a good thing for the show that they got an equally talented actor to replace him that worked out beautifully.
Thanks for sharing your memories, Richard!
The brilliance of the evolution of M*A*S*H was that they never tried to replace the characters that left, but rather they filled the void by introducing entirely new characters. When Stevenson left the show, they didn't try to come up with a new Henry Blake-type, but in a stroke of pure genius went in a fresh direction with Col. Potter. It was a gutsy call that ultimately make a great show even better.
@@michaeltuz608 I like potter's character a tad bit more. That's because he was the old, gruff, straight to the point kind of man that served in the last war.
Same with replacing Frank Burns with Charles Emerson Winchester..."I do not sweat, I perspire" There were times when Hawkeye and BJ got the better of him, but also times when he displayed a compassionate side, like trying to motivate the pianist who lost an arm to keep playing, and the stuttering soldier who loved comic books and Winchester gave him a leather-bound copy of "Moby Dick" to expand his literary horizons.....and the kicker in that scenario was his sister Honoria was a stutterer....masterful writing, that only became known at the very end of the episode
It definitely has its spot on the top ten list for epic tv scenes.
after doing auditions and being rejected, I learned how tough and brutal acting can be for a career choice, even talented people get rejected all the time, it takes so much luck and persistence to break through--I would NOT recommend this career or the music biz to anyone--I've seen tragedies in both fields
Sorry to hear that it's been so difficult, Michael!
" I learned how tough and brutal acting can be for a career choice" Determination and frankly, luck. I know everyone wants to think it was their determination, skill and that alone if they become a famous actor, artist or whatever, but there is a heaping helping of right place, right time. I will add to that, that includes people that already have connections into the business. It's difficult to be a total hollywood outsider and actually have a career as an actor. SO MANY actors and actresses had some sort of "in" that didn't involve their individual talent. Look at any young A Lister. I can almost guarantee they had parents that were in the business, are the relative of another actor or someone in the business. So few are actually stories of someone packing up moving to hollywood and making it.
@@jdsundstrom I started too late -in my 40s. I saw early on I would not make it.
@@tsdobbi You are right, and I research actors all the time. A few broke in on their own -- Renee Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Brad Pitt come to mind. I did a 2 day workshop with the late Cathy Henderson Martin. She helped Renee and Billy Bob Thornton early in their careers. She was an LA casting director. She told me the best I might do would be supporting roles, but she said I'd be "difficult to cast..She also said when she first saw me perform --"when I met you, I wondered can this guy act?" I also did an audition for Bob Luke from NYC, he managed Sarah Michelle Geller -- he said after my audition "I didn't see any energy there." He then tossed my headshot and resume on the floor in front of a lot of people. It was very humiliating to pick it up and leave the room. I don't need abuse, and I gave up in June 2004 after doing Houston theater audition in front of 25 directors. No callbacks -- I'm out, but glad I tried.
@@michaelsix9684 " I'm out, but glad I tried." Honestly really important imo. You at least know you took your shot even if it didn't work out instead of never trying and having regrets later in life.
To be fair Wayne Rogers didn't really need another roll with that level of success. He invested his MASH and House Calls money and did pretty well for himself in the financial world all things considered.
A yeast roll?
@@bobroberts3891 He lived a long life...
A year before MASH premiered, 1971, Rogers was the heavy in a first-season episode of 'Cannon.' The guy could act!
I spoke with James Doohan at a Star Trek convention. He told me that job satisfaction is an awesome thing to have but that doesn't always pay the bills. Deforest Kelley spent many a month in line for his unemployment check just to put food on the table.
Thanks for sharing, Phil!
He was freaking hilarious, wish he would have stayed...
Me too, two beer!
What would Blake be like had MASH turned from a comedy to drama show.
@@KevinDavis338 Blake had some serious moments in those first three seasons and I think that he would have made the transition very well.
You know general, I don't even know if they can sterilize wood. - Dr. Henry Blake.
@@jdsundstrom I did like Colonel Potter too, but it was the Burns and Houlihan duo that was the fuel for the comedy fire...
You know, without Mac leaving MASH, we would never have met Colonel Potter.
That's a true fact. Morgan would have simply been a crazy general!
And you only have to see an interview with Morgan to see how much that show and those people meant to him.
True.
@@Trainwheel_Time Totally. And he to us.
I've always been torn on this. While I certainly enjoyed BJ Hunnicut more than Trapper John, and I liked the character of Charles Winchester a, LOT more than Ferret Face, I've always been at even keel between Blake and Potter. I think it worked out perfectly the way it went down, and Potter certainly was the better leader to the crazy mess that was the 4077, which also lent him to be the father figure they had needed all along. (my apologies to Father Mulcahe (sp?)).
Until Potter came along, Hawkeye had nobody smart enough or stern enough to keep him in line. Morgan was awesome, and I'm glad we can remember him as the Colonel instead of the ridiculous general from that one episode.
"His plane spun in. And there were no survivors." ... ... ( clang of surgical tool dropping.) ... UNFORGETTABLE.
I always wait for the clang very sad moment on a show that had quite a few of them tbh, just an amazing tv show though
Larry Gelbart mentioned the "clang" in an interview. He said it was an accident that was not planned. But it added to the scene so perfect the left it in.
@@razter6678 Yes! That clang was a perfect accident! We both saw the same interview.. Kool. Time froze. You could hear a pin drop... CLANGG! A startle was better than the intended tense fade out. McLean was great in mash. I didn't recall his other shows though.
@@razter6678 the scene was not rehearsed and only Alan Alda knew the script so the genuine reactions were real as the cast were like a family.
MASH was a masterpiece. There will never be another show like it. I loved MASH, seen every episode. I liked the original cast the best. The team of Hawkeye, Trapper John, Henry Blake and Radar was undeniably one of the funniest teams on television. The episode where he leaves, the final scene when Radar goes in the OR to announce what happened, I cried like a baby. When they said the cast didn't know about that part, it was great because it was their true emotions. Awesome job.
Thanks for the great comment!
Gary was not looking for "something better" when he left...he wanted less..and MORE time with his family.
He was also burnt out with the show and sick of the demanding schedules with the show he felt took him away from his family. Gary Burghoff was not like his character Radar at all, he was known on set to be rude, unfriendly, complained constantly and would show up late to rehearsals. He was very difficult to work with work where actors David Ogden Stiers and Larry Linville were very well liked on set in contrast to their unlikeable characters.
And then his wife divorced him!
@@scottknode898 The "time with family" bit is what they ALL say. Meanwhile, according to reports, Gary now spends his demanding-free schedule in a Florida motorhome.
In my life, I've made good decisions and I've made bad decisions. To the best of my knowledge, I have yet to meet anyone who has always made the 'right' decision their entire life. I can never fault the guy for trying to find where he felt like he fit.
Yep. We've all goofed up from time to time. The thing is, even though McLean never again had a hit TV show, I'm not sure he made a mistake!
jaspr1999 One of the biggest mistakes people make is not recognizing they have a really good thing until they walk away from it.
Hot lips went on the KySportsGuys podcast and said his plane was shot down because the writers wanted to remind everyone that this was war, no matter how funny the show was.
This is a very kind, well presented observation. I think that most of us can agree that McLean Stevenson was an amazing actor who's performance in MASH could never be imitated.
Thanks Rachel!
He probably should have stuck it out a few more seasons. The offer to move might have even gotten sweeter over time... but as sad as it was to see him go... his character's departure brought us Harry Morgan as Col Potter... and that was magic too. I have a hard time choosing between them as my favorite leader of the 4077. But that was the beauty of MASH... the characters changed, and they did not try to replace them with CLONES of the previous character. Every one of them was unique and fun and different in their own way. I think that was what made MASH magic.
Well said... and the bumbling doc Frank Burns... for the Great Pompous Bostonian Surgeon, Charles Emerson Winchester... BRILLIANT!!!
Agreed. Replacing Frank with Charles was the best move the show made, in my opinion. Charles was probably the most complex character on the show.
And they got the right actors to play those roles.
To be honest I preferred Charles Winchester over Frank Burns. I also like Colonel Potter over Colonel Blake.
It was definitely time for Burns to go, and Larry Linville saw it. Burns was just too one dimensional, and while the Margaret Houlihan character continued to evolve, Burns would never be anything other than what he was. Winchester was a far more complex, interesting character.
The episode when he left was heartbreaking.
Yep...a real tearjerker!
I really enjoyed MASH with
Lt Col Blake, his timing was impeccable.
His timing was the result of the director, the writers, and the editor doing their jobs well. You wanna talk about timing... analyze stand up comedy.
He may never had the chance to be a big star after M.A.S.H. but at least he never sulked or blamed others for his decisions.
Exactly!
I remember being shocked as a kid when I first saw that episode. I didn’t know what to say when it was over. The fact they used the first take of when Radar announced Blake was killed to everyone when they’re in surgery makes it even more impactful when you hear the scalpel drop to the ground due to nobody expecting him to say that. It’s a shame they made sure his departure was a permanent one, even if Stevenson wanted to leave and at the time wanted to distance himself from MASH and do other things in his career. Who knows if a few years down the line if he wanted to make a guest appearance for whatever reason had they not killed off Blake. Of course we will never know now, but it’s something that’s interesting to think about.
Well said. Thanks for sharing your memories, Jared!
The fact they made Blake's demise a part of that episode is one thing that really gave MASH some serious clout. I think that was so heart-wrenching to the cast and the audience that it brought some real seriousness to the "sit com" and made it more than just a comedy. This was serious drama!
@@jdsundstrom ... That cut really pissed me off. I saw it as a snarky slap at an actor who opted to try other things. Pernell Roberts left Bonanza, but they didn't kill off the character. He was mentioned occasionally and probably could have made guest starring appearances if he'd wanted to.
It's a nasty business, Hollywood.
An interview with Larry Gelbart (here on CZcams) who is the creator/writer of MASH said that it was actually the Second take that was used in the episode and that the dropped item was an accident that they decided to keep in. He also said that, contrary to everyones belief that no-one knew it was going to happen, that the actors read it before hand in theri script run through. The extras didn't know.
@Projekt:Kobra ... Sean Young in Blade Runner was the most gorgeous actress I'd ever seen. Makeup and hair were flawless. Jennifer Connelly in The Rocketeer is a close second. It's cool when you feel it in your chest, instead of a little lower.
Colonel Blake was my favorite character on Mash
One of the MASH sequel novels has Henry Blake saying some variation of "rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated".
Mash was never the same after LTC Henry Blake and Trapper John left the series. It was no longer a very humorous show in a trying war era. On reruns, I only watch the first 3 seasons. That's it!
That's what I've always said! When they left, the writing and direction deteriorated; the dialogue became ridiculous, lots of over-stuffed hambones delivering these smug, unrealistic, Shakespearean lines. With Hawkeye & Trapper it was like Groucho & Sonny Corleone---greatness! Then they had two Hawkeyes and it became a soap opera. But the first season after Trapper & Henry left, in all fairness, was not bad... the mechanism was still in place, for a little while. Like a chicken with its head cut off; still runs around a minute.
I get where you are coming from but I think seasons 4 and 5 are just as funny. I can't watch anything after 5.
@@kennethlatham3133 agree 100%. The 1st 3 are great. 4 is still pretty good. 5 is kinda watchable. After that, no. It just wasn't funny anymore. Radar left. Klinger wasn't krazy anymore. Colonel flagg never showed up. Yuk
Then you missed the best of MASH. Henry blake was fun but he wasn't that important.
@@privatecitizen1246 that's just your opinion...
All I know is I will never forget watching that final episode for Henry Blake. I remember watching that last scene when they said the plane was shot down. I cried so much. I'll never forget.
Me too, Helane. I had no idea that moment was coming!
It was powerful. Like being punched in the gut!
@@jdsundstrom
The actors didn't know it either. Only Alan Alda knew.
I have always been torn about all the replacements on M.A.S.H. Frank was excellent but Winchester was an excellent replacement in his own rights and had a loveable quality that Burns didn't have. I always preferred Trapper to B.J. but as the story lines became more serious he fit that a little better as Hawkeye matured throughout his deployment and became more of a leader.
Henry paralleled this thought process. He was hilarious and one of the boys but not a good military leader. As a doctor he was excellent, compassionate, and could lead on a human level. Potter knew how to balance being a father figure, a friend, a doctor, but MOST importantly, A COMMANDER IN A WAR ZONE!! He could make decisions when needed, Blake could not. That is why I liked his character as a replacement.
Regardless, this show, its characters, and the writing will always reign as if not the greatest, one of the greatest of all time!!!!
To me this starts to sound like a classic case of "the grass is always greener on the other side" which many, if not all of us have experienced at some point. In the end, we all have to do what is right for us and that is seldom seen at the "right" decision when scrutinized after the fact. He was great as that character and I'm glad he found happiness in other ventures
The old saying, “Grass isn’t always greener on the other side” !
Being happy is better than being “successful.”
Being happy probably doesn’t pay as well.
Sooo... "Success"is STILL avoiding you huh?.....😂🎸
happiness is vapid and very shallow -- -it comes and goes, depending on circumstances. contentment is far more important.
@Harvey Dustin Self-absorbed people ultimately end up being miserable with themselves.
Wise words, Stephen!
Understandable decision, but pretty ironic considering his replacement Harry Morgan (personal favorite) ended up having a much more prominent role, and had some of the most emotional, well crafted scenes of the whole show.
This was on Hollywood Squares in the early 80's: Peter Marshall asked Paul Lynde - "it's failed in England twice, failed in Germany three times, failed in Italy three times, came back to the U.S. and failed TWO MORE TIMES, what is it?"
Paul Lynde answered "McLean Stevenson"
Seen it many times-Actor is afraid of being typecast-Grass is greener-Step in 💩
Don’t fix it if it’s not broke!!🔧🤷♀️
I liked the scene in MASH where Blake had to give up his desk for a deal they made. He was out side watching as a chopper hoisted his desk up into the sky and Henry said " It just keeps going up and up."
McLean Stevenson made the choice that seemed right for him at the time, which is really all any of us can ever do. The entertainment industry is one big gamble, and the only people who ever succeed are the ones who are willing to take chances. As with all gambling, sometimes the luck is with you, sometimes it isn't.
No one goes into acting expecting job security. They go into it because of a passion for the craft. As an artist, if he needed a change then he needed a change, and did what was right for him. Rather than be disappointed that he left MASH, I would rather rejoice in the fact that McLean gave us three wonderful seasons of Henry Blake to enjoy for the rest of our lives.
Well stated, Michael!
No one knew that MASH was going to last a long time.
I'll bet Fred Silverman considered it a Huge Win when he got McLean Stevenson, The Star of MASH, to switch sides and come over to NBC. Too bad it was for Hello Larry.
Fred Silverman was giving everybody a Show back then. He even gave a Show to those two Japanese Singers Pink Lady, even though neither of them spoke a word of English.
@@unclegilbert-5865 And as result, poor McLean found himself living in the land of the lost...
Love your analysis and the quote from the Dalai Lama. I think with McLean, he probably got a lot of advice from well-wishing people, and maybe that got to his head. It’s easy to armchair quarterback his decision, but what if Johnny had passed the torch to McLean? I think he might have done well, who knows? You make the best decision you can with the information and advice you have at the time. For me, he was one of my favorite characters in MASH. I even I sought out an army green bucket hat, a Lt. Colonel silver leaf, and some fishing lures. Once in awhile I’ll throw it on just for fun. Great work, and again I enjoyed the analysis.
I really like how you are so positive. You sound so kind. Positivity is so refreshing. Thanks
You, sir, do a fabulous job narrating these topics.
Thank you kindly!
Bad decision. He was great as Henry Blake, but he thought America loved Mclean when, in fact, America loved Henry. Again, bad decision.
I recently saw another CZcams piece that argued that the Blake character had played itself out (the reason why Linville as Burns left later), and that Harry Morgan saved the show. It changed in tone but remained popular.
When McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers left MASH, they and many others never dreamed the show would last another eight seasons as their tenure on the show was already longer than the actual Korean War. Both actors regretted their decision to leave so soon.
Good point.
I have always wondered if there were more episodes than there were days of the actual war.
Hey, truth be told , Wayne Rogers never signed his contract. He had issues w/management and Walked away and never looked back becoming a very successful stockbroker. I last remember seeing him on CNBC as a guest analyst.For my$ mash was the true loser after Rogers and Blake left after season 3. I think the show lost its witty originality N spontaneity. Sadly mash became predictable and politically correct.
@@rabbit251 No. There were more years of the show than there were of the war, but 3 years would be 1, 095 days, without a leap year. 1,096 days with one. M*A*S*H had 252 episodes over 11 years.
Honestly, I really don't think MASH would have stayed on as long if it had kept Henry, Frank, and Trapper. There was really no room for them to grow as characters and you need to do that to stick around. I think that's why Larry Linville left, because Frank was just getting worse as time went on and he didn't want to be typecast. The show got better when Potter, BJ and Charles came around. They were deeper, more complex characters than their predecessors were, or could ever have been. Having them around allowed the show to grow, and the characters to bond. You know how they were always saying on the show that they were family, both pre and post cast changes? It became more believable with Potter, BJ and Charles than it was with Henry, Trapper and Frank. All the later characters were able to treat each other decently, and become close while also go against each other now and then. I couldn't really see that happening without the recasts.
Fantastic video, Dave! As the old adage goes, hindsight is 20/20. In the case of Stevenson, I think he made the best decision he could at the time, armed with his own emotions and no doubt hearing the seductive call from network execs promising greener pastures. I remember reading supposedly a quote from Stevenson, "I made the mistake of thinking people were enamored with McLean Stevenson, when in fact they were enamored with Henry Blake.". Leaving any highly successful show will rarely duplicate the same results, because capturing lightning in a bottle is so very difficult.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Paul!
@TheBrabon1 the hindsight I speak of refers to Stevenson.
Paul of Iowa , I agree with your points and I remember that same quote from McLean too. He was not the first or the last star to leave a show prematurely.
@@phalynwilliams4119 Exactly. And the structure of the military/war setting worked perfectly for characters to come and go.
@@Paul876 His very own (supposed) quote is basically facing up to the pointlessness of trying to sugarcoat the decision, it seems...
I had met Loretta Swit and when asked about "Mac", she responded that he just had this compulsion to be "Number One". He had supported other actors and was anxious for his own series. Unfortunately, the breaks were never there and "Hello Larry" became something of a running joke for him.
When Henry read the script for the show, he wanted the part of Hawkeye. Don't think he could have pulled it off, they made the right choice...
CONDO WAS A GOOFY SHOW IN 1983
Its "Hello, Larry"
This was a wonderful take on Stevenson's choice to leave M.A.S.H! So open-minded & well put...
My husband and I are rewatching M.A.S.H right now, and are currently on Season 1. We are falling in love with the characters, and their dynamics with each other like it's our first viewing. However, Henry Blake stands out to both of us for different reasons, and yet we are both drawn to his warmth.
Will it be hard as heck to experience the loss of this character? We both know it will be, but thanks to your video, I now have another camera angle at which to view it from. Thank you for that!
I'm glad you enjoyed the video, Megan.
By the time Mash ended Maclean had 3 or 4 failed TV series under his belt and was a regular on game shows. It's too bad. It was a big mistake leaving.
Dave, this is Dave, in Kaysville. So glad you started this channel
Thanks Dave. I appreciate the kind words!
If he felt leaving the series was right for him, then I certainly can't fault him. I do, however, prefer him as the camp CO over Colonel Potter. I liked the Henry Blake character a lot. Just my personal preference.
I remember when "Hello, Larry" was the butt of many a Johnny Carson joke in the '70s.
I recall an SNL skit in which John Belushi played an NBC executive, and whenever he had an idea for a bad series, he'd tell his colleague, 'We'll give it to McLean!'
I remember watching hello larry as a kid and Loved it. McLean was always my favorite character on mash, he was so personable and I could just relate to him. His humor, I got it. Even as a kid.
This actually surprised me. One thing I noticed is that the first three main characters to be replaced: Blake, Frank, and Trapper, were the three that cheated on their wives, and were all replaced by better men in that regard. I thought the showmakers had decided to clean it up.
I think that was the case.
Sharp observation.
I remember McLean really wanting his own show, a back door series called Hello Larry from Different Strokes.....can't wait for this video...
I talk a little bit about "Hello Larry" in the video. We're just a couple of hours away from the premiere!
McClean Stevenson was absolutely right to leave,So was Wayne Rodgers,So was Larry Linville and so was Gary Burghoff. It was their decision,it was their life and their happiness that mattered. I got the whole DVD collection of M*A*S*H if I want to see them.
Totally agree, Ralph!
I love the title! I read "Alexander and terrible...." to my son over and over.
As did I. Not to your son, but my own. 🙂
As McLean himself said "I thought everybody was crazy about McLean Stevenson but they were crazy about the character Henry Blake". What a humble and honest thing to say. I always loved that certain gentleness and gentlemanly demeanor about him.
Well said, poetcomic1!
He was quite humorous when he appeared as a panelist on The Match Game, often seated in the lower middle. It's too bad he couldn't have had a successful series as a lead. BTW, "Hello Larry" wasn't exactly a spin-off of "Diff'rent Strokes;" they both happened to be produced by the same company. There were some crossover episodes establishing Larry and Philip as old army buddies, presumably in an attempt to boost the ratings of "Hello Larry."
His leaving made way for Harry Morgan , so it wasn't the worst thing to happen to the series. The final scene of his final episode was a sucker punch to the gut . I can still get the feels when I think about it all these years later . I found it more affecting than the much hyped (rightly so) final episode.
He had a famous family in politics. I went to Illinois State University (which is in his home town of Normal, IL in McLean county, though to my knowledge his name had nothing to do with the name of the county). My dorm was right across from Adlai Stevenson hall (named after his great uncle).
I like BJ and Potter, but the first three seasons had the superior cast to me
I hated losing Frank. Winchester was amusing, but Frank's stupidity was a better foil for Hawkeye's brains.
Very true. I love MASH but the first three seasons was the best. It was still good in the years after but never, never reach the height of the first three seasons!
@@romanes_eunt_domus Frank couldn’t have lasted the whole 11 years. His character had no room to grow, after 5 years like Larry said there was nowhere for Frank to go. Charles was great because he could at times outsmart Hawkeye and BJ.
Alxe. H
Hi
@@kingrama2727 true. Winchester just felt more real, more human. Amazing actor, absolutely loveable character.
Frank was absolutely a comic relief. He didn't feel real or relatable, but again absolutely amazing actor. Especially when you see how he is in real life.
I feel as a character, Frank is almost a brand image for mash, at least the early years. Seems the show began to take itself more seriously the longer it ran. Which was a good thing in and of itself.
Idk if we'll ever have something that had the same magic as mash. I'm 29 so it was before my time, but regardless it's probably the best show I've ever seen.
Thank You Dave. He did what he felt was right for him at the time and for all the negative things people said about him he was always able to find work I truly miss this man a very underrated actor as far as I’m concerned
MASH was a rare show that started with great actors and even though some left the new ones came in and made it even better.
I agree. I love the original cast, but Potter and Charles both brought so much to the show and are two of my favorite characters.
@@Summer_Reigns I agree 100%
Barney Miller and Cheers fall in that category too.
In today's army they need lt. Col. Like Henry blake,he great and funny, gets along with everyone and is able to help when needed. Sorry to c his spot dry in plane crash,i cried so much and i am a guy.
I liked Col. Blake a lot more than I did Col. Potter.
I remember when his last episode happened and when Radar comes in the OR and tells everyone about his plane being shot down, I was shocked!!!
@@floogelhornzzz4770 That was so long ago, I don't remember the national reaction, I didn't live in the Continental US back then!!
I would say McLean Stevenson was the heart of M*A*S*H in his own way. I was not happy when he left. But one has to be in his shoes to understand what he was going through with the executives of the show. And the way he exited M*A*S*H was in a good way; but in a very sad way because that is the reality of war.
There is a audio interview with Mclean from the 90's on youtube and he said he was making about $1700 a week on mash. And the offer from NBC was incredible. 1 million right away. Maybe taking over the tonight show, guest hosting the tonight show, TV specials, TV series, he was going through a ugly divorce and could really use the money. Maybe it's hard to argue with his choice.
It's easy to question his decision now...after the fact. But, I think you're right. Back then, NBC's offer had to seem like a pretty good one.
If he was happy to leave... then the best to him. I hope he was happy after leaving. I was crushed by his departure.
Made me think about Robert Frost's "The Road Less Taken".
Actually its "The road NOT taken"
There was a Henry Blake era episode where they first tried Dramedy instead of comedy. There’s a scene in it between Blake and Hawkeye where Blake is unsure about the upcoming marathon of meatball surgery. Stevenson’s performance in that scene makes me think that was just before he decided to bow out. He’s great at comedy but he was struggling during that scene.
Unfortunately for actors of a certain age back then, there wasn't the plethora of work thru vehicles such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon. Rolesvwere limited. Today he'd be inundated with options, even at an advanced age
Great video as always, Dave. Couple of things: Between "The McLean Stevenson Show" and "Hello, Larry", Stevenson starred in "In The Beginning", a CBS sitcom that lasted only 9 episodes. McLean Stevenson played Father Daniel McCleary, a stuffed shirt Catholic priest who was always at odds with progressive-minded Sister Agnes (Priscilla Lopez) at a Baltimore mission. "Hello, Larry" wasn't exactly a spin-off of "Diff'rent Strokes". It was produced by the show's creators. In an effort to improve "Hello, Larry's" ratings, a crossover episode was created. The Drummonds head to Portland so Phillip can see his old Army buddy, Larry. It did so well in the Nielsons another crossover was put together. This time, Larry and his family stay with the Drummonds while Larry auditions for a nationally syndicated radio show. BTW: I always tear up when I see Radar crying while saluting Henry before he takes off. The hug between the two gets to me as well.
I also remember the series "In the Beginning..." in which he played a priest. That came before "Hello, Larry." I know I watched at least one episode.
In the Beginning was supposedly based in Baltimore.
McLean Stevenson was a really good guy...And i tell you why he made the RIGHT decision ; without him leaving we would have never had Col. SHERMAN POTTER. Equally as lovable as a character.
P.S. I read that in the early years of MASH the cast had to actually pay for lunch where the crew/cast members ate on the set during breaks. When the cast found out no one else on other tv shows had to pay for catering on their respective filming locations, they raised hell about it and then the conditions starting getting better for the cast/crew.
Still, if you're making the equivalent today of tens of thousands of dollars per episode, you can afford your own lunch.
@@joeschembrie9450 as i recall the first few years on the show,cast members like Radar and Klinger were making a few hundred bucks a week. Not exactly '10's of thousands of dollars' in todays terms. Those tv shows from the 70's didn't make regular cast members rich most of the time. Salaries on The Love Boat and Happy Days didn't get big until years after the shows became a hit due to contracts previously signed.
I tried watching "Hello, Larry" a couple times. It stunk. In fact, Stevenson stunk in everything else he did.
It's a shame he let his ego carry him away so that he threw away his once-in-a-lifetime role as Henry Blake.
I believe the reason for killing off Henry Blake was because CBS didn’t want NBC to put on a show called Henry Blake, MD with Henry as a stateside doctor.
Twenty years later NBC brought back "Hello Larry" as "Frasier."
Ha! I hadn't thought about that! But, you're right Mark, there were some similarities. :)
Frasier was much better.
It's a small club. James Arness and Milburn Stone portrayed their Gunsmoke characters for 20 consecutive years. Mariska Hargitay has portrayed her character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for over 21 consecutive years to date. That doesn't even count the cast of the Simpsons.
@@keithjohnson2863 I think there's one major reason for it. The studios have found out its more profitable to beat a dead horse. Why pay writers and actors gobs of cash to take a chance that out of three to five shows will prove to be a hit? Plus, a lot of producers are the actors of the shows they are in. Another savings for the studios. Also, I inclined to believe a lot of today's actors who are in hit television shows knows a steady paycheck as long as it's still popular enough to bring in the ratings and they know it would be career suicide to leave such a successful show unless they strongly feel they have more than enough money to persue other interests for whatever the reasons are. But the main reason I firmly believe is that they aren't putting out shows after three to five years is that everything has been done to death. I think this is why you're slowly hearing, "Did you see this ep of The Munsters?" or "I really love The Andy Griffith Show. This stuff is so much better than what's on now." This is coming from teens and young adults. I know first hand cause I got one nephew hooked on The Twilight Zone and Route 66. Have another who got hooked on Branded and the Rifleman. It is clearly evident it's getting harder for television networks to fill in the prime time slots for seven days a week. Just look at CBS bringing back Sunday Movie Night and Twilight Zone to name a couple . If CBS is already doing this how long will it take the other networks to follow suit. And now add Covid-19 into the mix you may not see any new shows for the upcoming Fall season. As for the others shows they'll still be going cause they trust each other to be very careful outside the studio. This is why why your sixty minute shows will continue to go well beyond fifteen plus years once they achieve popularity.
@@keithjohnson2863 Mark Harmon may get to that with Gibbs on NCIS.
Yes he is the best❣️‼️Thanks Dave Everyone Stay Safe‼️I seen one of his interviews and he said his last show was about his character saying goodbye to Gary’s character😭 My heart was broken. Apparently he and Gary kept in touch. Still sad. He is a great loss more ways than one.I agree with you he did what he needed to do.
Great positive comment as usual, Thelma! Thanks for sharing.
Dave Sundstrom Thank you also❣️
Radar was my favorite! He showed his acting skills as an old man in Beyond the Waterfall. Maybe no one else can see it, but you'd never know it was Radar. ❤
I just watched a clip from an interview with Larry Hagman. He recounted how he was dissatisfied with I Dream of Jeannie and wanted to leave. He was told by a producer (and friend) basically "Larry, people who leave successful shows don't get hired again. People think they're crazy." So Larry stayed but got a raise. That advice was pretty spot on because as a fan I know I always thought any star who jumped ship like that was kind of nuts (e.g. David Caruso, Shelley Long).
I LOVED HENRY. ACTUALLY I LIKED ALL THE CHARACTERS. STILL WATCHING IT TO THIS DAY. REMINDS ME OF MY MARINE CORPS DAYS
Honestly I watched all seasons originally but basically I only enjoy the early reruns nowadays.
Me too. The early seasons (with Blake and Burns) are the best!
I totally agree Raw Bacon!....
... "Raw Bacon".. I like that name! ; )
I agree too. I wasn't crazy about the last few seasons at all, especially when they went through a phase of making "clever" episodes, like the one where the whole episode was seen through the eyes of a dying soldier and the one where you saw all the main characters' dreams. It was sort of like "look at what innovative thing we've come up with this week" and it became experimental melodrama, somewhat self-indulgent and with little or no humor.
Mclean Stephenson and Larry Linville were hilarious 😂
It was the B.J. effect. The worst main character in the show's run, unfortunately, and the source of the worst of the maudlin scripts. Winchester was perhaps the best and most interesting of the characters throughout, so there was certainly something to work with after losing some of the other characters. Another contributing factor was that a number of the episodes were directed by the actors themselves, rather than the pros who directed earlier on. If you look at the "innovative" episodes, I think you'll find that Alda and a couple other actors directed.
@@jdsundstrom i agree. First three seasons were a comedy show, subsequent five seasons were basically dramas.
I just started watching MASH on Hulu. It’s very funny. The earlier seasons with McLean Stevenson were classics. His decision to leave was a VERY bad one. Some actors are not stars. They’re second bananas. That’s ok. Harvey Korman, Don Knotts, and Tim Conway were second bananas too. McLean wasn’t the type of actor to headline his own show. “Hello, Larry” proved that. He should’ve stayed on MASH and be part of a well oiled machine. His work on MASH was recognized with a golden globe award. What more he wanted?
I wonder sometimes if Stevenson pissed someone off wanting to leave a hit TV show meaning they killed off his character permanently
I hated when he left the show. I always thought that he and Frank Burns were the funniest characters on the show without a doubt!
When Blake and Burns left the show, the tone changed drastically.
Whether it changed for the better or worse, well, that's something wiser people than myself will likely debate for a long time yet to come...
@@BrazenBard i wasnt a mash guy, the whole premise for me of basing the korean war never sat well with me so i was against the shows narrative, but? that said it was funny, interesting captivating good humor stories that were interesting. but ......lloll....if you look at its younger cousin Cheers, ....
cheers was never against Boston....lloll...
The Frank Burns character was extremely underrated; the show doesn’t get off the ground without him.
Agree. And early Klinger
Humor and comedy are one thing. Silliness is another. Frank pushed the boundaries. Easy to get sick of a silly character.
McLean Stevenson was playing Doris Day's boss on her TV show a few seasons before MASH
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.
Stevenson died one day before actor Roger Bowen, who portrayed Lt. Colonel Henry Blake in the 1970 movie MASH and also died from a heart attack.
Yep. I mention the odd timing of his death with Bowen's near the end of the video.