Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. 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. Family/Personal information We were working on the story of McLean leaving. He is presumed dead and a memorial service is held for him at the 4077th. Henry Blake This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Henry Blake Sherman T. Potter. The leading entertainment news publicationLeedaily. People like Henry Blake are lost in war. The Reason McLean Stevenson Left MASH The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. Who was the first Colonel Blake in He was in charge of the 4077th. When Henry Blake died on M*A*S*H, it was a major event for television. [9] It is estimated that over 1,000 letters were received by the producers regarding the episode; "some were from people who understood. Though Henry was a capable doctor and a decent man, he was largely ineffectual as a commanding officer, though in his defense, Henry never professed to be a great leader, and was fully aware that he was in over his head as commander. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Several times throughout the series, the awards that Colonel Blake had earned during his service in the army could be seen on his uniform. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Negative reactions were not exclusive to the home viewers of the program: both CBS, the network that aired M*A*S*H, and 20th Century Fox, the company that produced M*A*S*H, expressed their unhappiness at the killing of Henry Blake. [17] The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in "Welcome to Korea," the first episode of the next season. Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? McLean Stevenson Born: M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off Henry is married to Lorraine (called "Mildred" throughout Season 1), and they have three children, Jane, Molly and Andrew, the latter of whom was born shortly after Henry shipped out for Korea. Stevenson later said in an interview that he was deeply hurt that his character's death was revealed in this fashion and the party was "ruined". In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Why MASH In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. 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. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. 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. One plot hole is Blake being a Lt Col after only being in the service 10 years {Since Dec 1941}; according to the 1959 US Army Almanic [p.148] the allowed service of time to rise up to the rank of Lt. Col. is 21 Years service; in real life his 10 years in the service rank would be that of Captain (US Army Alamanic service time 7 years). Just for playing Hawkeye, though, Alda earned $5.4 million that year. RELATED: Ten Of The Saddest Moments From M*A*S*H. He gave Hot Lips a long kiss goodbye. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The creators and also the network granted his wish. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. 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. The stuffed bear was named by Big Birds performer Caroll Spinney as a tribute to actor Gary Burghoff, who played Walter Radar OReilly on M*A*S*H. In a Season 39 episode, Big Bird holds a nest sale and bumps Radar into the nest where he is selling toys without knowing. Heart if we turned on the [television] set we would see fifteen people [killed in Vietnam every night]. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. "Over the River and Through the Woods" (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. I think that if there is such a thing as the loss of life there should be some connection. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. (Saying goodbye to camp, Klinger wearing a fruit-basket hat) "Klinger, (Saying goodbye to Radar) "You behave yourself or I'm going to come back and kick your butt.". Why did He left the show at Writers gave them a page of dialogue at the last minute. 1." Why MASH Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. In 1980, the Argus-Leader reported that Alan Alda was the highest-paid TV actor of all time, earning $5.6 million a season on M*A*S*H, which also included the money he made as a writer. Sandy Brown He was only 68. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Following Cheating Allegations. Roger Bowen. years later that he regretted his decision to leave. 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. Heart Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake is a character introduced in the 1968 Richard Hooker novel M*A*S*H. He also appeared in the 1970 film, played by Roger Bowen, and more famously in the first three seasons of the television series by McLean Stevenson. 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. Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. It showed that even in a comedy, life could be full of tragedy. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. It spun in. Our site is an advertising-supported site. First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. Episodes following this represented a major change in focus for the show; the individual effects and psychological damages of war were explored more, often in parallel to the ending of the Vietnam War, and the Korean culture was portrayed in greater depth than had been done before, instead of focusing on a "boorish, military mindset" as before. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. The plot of that film centers on two married people who become attracted to each other, start spending more time together, but never actually sleep together before deciding to part ways. In 1972, the United States was rocked by the death of a beloved television character. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. He studied tap dance and became a drummer, despite being born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome, which made three fingers on his left hand significantly smaller than those on his right hand. WebThe 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 All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. 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. Henry generally let their insults roll off his back, but Frank and Margaret frequently went over Henry's head when they didn't get their own way, filing formal complaints to army brass, particularly senior officers whom Margaret is very close to. He went back to him to return the salute and then said, "You behave yourself, or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt." Blake put friendship above his command, but there was the rare occasion when he had little choice but to assert his authority, which he did firmly, albeit uncomfortably. The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. Heck, he attended West Hollywood Grammar School with the likes of Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. He was in charge of the 4077th. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider It would have colored their performances.. His condition is called Brachydactyly. Many were from people that didn't. 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 is being discharged because he has earned enough points. Sherman T. Potter. You never know who might be coming around! 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. The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. B.J. Even when they were alive, there were other odd coincidences. McLean Stevenson Why did Major Margaret Houlihan and Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger both got married (Margaret in person, Klinger over the phone) and divorced during their service at the 4077th. She agreed to go out with Henry after he begged her, and he proposed to her on their first date. When the series concluded in 1981, the bear mysteriously disappeared for nearly 30 years, prompting my non-ending search for my little on-camera companion and friend. Burghoff left M*A*S*H in 1979 after the seventh season because of burnout and a desire to spend more time with his family, though he returned the following season to film a special two-part farewell episode, Goodbye Radar. They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. 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. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. Rogers. Henry Blake Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. In the movie the girlfriend was played by actress Indus Arthur The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Similar to Henry, Potter was easygoing, fun-loving and compassionate enough to earn the deep respect of his staff (including Margaret, but not Frank, who resented being passed over for command), but in contrast, Potter was a career soldier and consummate leader and surgeon, and never hesitated to put his foot down when things got out of hand. She and Henry met at a freshman mixer while she was dating football star Buzz Wollinski. Why did [9] Another, more lighthearted response to the episode came from an unhappy viewer in Lubbock, Texas, who sent a telegram stating that "Henry Blake has been found in a raft in Lake Lubbock. . He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. Lt. Col. Henry Blake Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. If they started filming the show knowing Henry was a dead man by the end of the episode, their performances would have been quite different. McLean 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. On the night before Henry's departure, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), and Radar throw a drunken going-away party for Henry at Rosie's Bar and Grill, and present him with a tailored civilian suit as a parting gift. Abyssinia, Henry McLean Stevenson; Played Lt. Col. Blake In the 1970 movie MASH, Henry Blake was portrayed by Roger Bowen. It was a move that would change television forever. M*A*S*H was not about everyone having a good time, Gelbart said. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Is Tom Sandoval Dating Raquel? Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? Who was the first Colonel Blake in Why did Frank Burns leave? To avoid confusion, the Bowen family decided to wait a week to announce the death of Roger. 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. Only two actors have portrayed the character of Henry Blake: Coincidentally, both actors died one day apart; Stevenson passed away on February 15, 1996, and Bowen the day after; both died of a heart attack. Why did Henry Blake MASH Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (TV series episode), Commanding officers of the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, "I never claimed to be a junior General MacArthur. We decided his character could, not should, could die. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." Death. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In Suzy Kalter's book The Complete Book of M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr (Klinger) relates his own version of the events leading up to the scene in which Radar announces Henry's death. He admitted He was shanked by a fellow murderer on August 19th, 1966 and died the next morning. Why did Ten Of The Saddest Moments From M*A*S*H, Just In: WKRP In Cincinnati Star Frank Bonner Dies At 79, How John Wayne Almost Went Broke During The Height Of His Career. Farr stated that show creator and writer Larry Gelbart showed a very top-secret script of the scene to the cast but not the crew, who were left uninformed until the scene was filmed. They didn't expect it but it made the point. papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was Why did Click to reveal The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". After a commercial break, the episode closes with a "reluctant and affectionate farewell" to Blake by means of a light-hearted montage of clips from past episodes. Henry Blake Some people thought it was great and others were very upset. WebThe 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 [10], Not all reaction to the airing was negative. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. In The Trial of Henry Blake, Hawkeye and Trapper fought to secure Henry's command when Margaret and Frank brought formal charges against him for, as they put it, giving aid and comfort to the enemy. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. Henry and Radar share a sentimental moment in which young Radar describes Henry as a father figure, and gives Henry an inscribed Winchester cartridge; a surprised Henry returns the favor by spontaneously giving Radar a rectal thermometer that once belonged to his father. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. But he did not stay in prison long. Cast members didnt know how the final scene in the operating room would play out. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. 185.126.219.251 Did Radars teddy bear on MASH have a name? McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. Creator Larry Gelbart discussed the controversial decision and why it was the right way to end Blakes run on the show. He was in charge of the 4077th. 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. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. 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. Mike Farrell is best friends with Alan Alda and no stranger to Hollywood stars. Lorraine was a one-time Succotash Queen at Illinois Normal (now Illinois State). The creators and also the network granted his wish. the CBS television comedy M*A*S*H from 1974-75. The reason we kept it a secret, the primary reason, is to keep our actors from being influenced by that information, Gelbart said. Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. The overwhelming combination of paperwork and incessant arrivals of incoming wounded often left Henry feeling exhausted, but like the others, Henry soldiered on as best he could. In a double whammy for the show, it also had to absorb the loss of Wayne Rogers, who was Trapper John. Know the Real Truth! Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. Colonel Henry Blake in the television series M*A*S*H, which earned him a Golden Globe Award in 1974. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. According to multiple accounts, one most famously from co-star Loretta Swift, corroborated by writer Ken Levine, McLean left because he wanted to be No. Henry Blake Why Did Henry Blake Leave When Henry Blake was killed off on MASH, it sent shockwaves through the television world. Whatever the reason, it worked. Why did Henry Blake leave mash? M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider Lt. How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 20th Century Fox sued him for breach of contract, but the lawsuit collapsed. 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Relatives/Children: Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? Henry made good use of his own downtime, as he was an avid golfer and fisherman, the latter of which is in frequent display on his non-uniform bucket hat which is covered with numerous fishing flies and lures (along with his rank insignia). For the first time, a major character had been killed off without warning and without explanation. Rogers didnt decide to leave until after season three, so his departure from the show couldnt be planned with an entire episode. During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. c.1907 (?) Please whitelist to support our site. It does not store any personal data. Heart As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Colonel Henry Blake Scene. Put on a dress! All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. 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. This was a comedy/drama, but in the final scene about Blake, it was heart-breaking drama. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Heart attack In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. MASH According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. After the production of this episode, both Stevenson and Wayne Rogers, who played the character of Trapper John McIntyre, left the series to pursue other interests. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. First appeared in: The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Your IP: Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. 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.. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? 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. Colonel (O-5), U.S. Army Reserve [3][4] As a result, Stevenson was still on the set and saw the final scene being filmed. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. 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. This caused three fingers of Gary Burghoff left hand to be smaller than that of the right hand. Required fields are marked *. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. February 15, 1996 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Henry in Love, Henry almost leaves Lorraine for a college girl named Nancy Sue Parker, who was less than half his age (20 to his 44). McLean Stevenson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Does this place look like the Mayo Clinic? Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. His strongest bond in Korea was to Radar, for whom Henry became something of a father figure. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Hoda Kotb illness: Her Brave Fight Against Disease! McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. In the 1970 film there seemed to be little to no father/son bond, though Henry entrusted everything to Radar, who was still company clerk, as opposed to SFC Vollmer, the camp's sergeant major, who invariably found himself one step behind Henry and Radar's machinations. It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Why did henry leave mash? - Answers
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