re: When did M*A*S*H jump the shark for you?

The original cast was perfect and the show was amazing those first 3 seasons. When Trap and Henry bolted there was a huge drop off. Then when Frank left it dropped further. The original chemistry was long gone.

quote:

---

but MASH never "Jumped the Shark" as I accept the term

---

au contraire, my friend

quote:

---

junping the shark: when a creative work or entity has reached a point in which it has exhausted its core intent and is introducing new ideas that are discordant with, or an extreme exaggeration of, its original purpose.

---

The episode where Alda was afraid of succumbing to a concussion, so he spent the entire time babbling on to a Korean family, who didnt understand a single word

This when the producers took the show from being a great ensemble storyline, to Aldas star vehicle. It never returned to its core intent or original purpose. Which is the very definition of 'jumping the shark'

The MASH theme music always takes me back. Sometimes I'll tune in right at the beginning of an episode just to hear it then change the channel.

quote:

---

Klinger taking over for Radar.

---

Yep... then they carried on the Klinger in dress thing waaaaaay too long. Tedious.

When Alan Alda took over creative control of the show.

quote:

---

quote:

---

James Garner turned down Hawkeye

---

Damn, that would have been awesome, could have eliminated the socio-political BS we had to put up with from Alda as the years went on.

But then we may have never gotten the Rockford Files?

---

Garner turned down the movie

quote:

---

And David Ogden Stiers was a fabulous actor.

---

Agreed. Guest stars in three episodes of Murder, She Wrote plus one of the movies. His turn as the Moscow policeman who travels to Miami to solve a heist and clear his brother’s name is probably my favorite of the former MASH folks to make an appearance. Was also in both the final episode and the final movie.

I think Wayne Rogers as the hard nosed PI with the heart of gold from Chicago is the only other arguable selection. But he pales in comparison to Jerry Orbach’s hard nosed PI with the heard of gold from Boston that preceded him.

Lorreta Swift’s artist lottery winner character is kind of sad. Harry Morgan has an awesome turn as a cop from the 50s (in which they use footage from one of his past movies). Larry Linville’s turn as detective is pretty good (and he has a great argument scene with his daughter in another episode). And Klinger is just Klinger as a talent agent. Dang it, forgot about Father McCaulhey (sp?) as a murderous birdwatcher. He’s pretty solid as well.

Good stuff.

Both my daughters really enjoy it - love it with Blake and Frank Burns was a perfect character. I feel like the first few seasons with Winchester were good as well… it's been fun to rewatch with my kids…

I think nitpicking MASH is excessive. Like Cheers, do we have favourite casts? Yes. But it never Fonzied. It became a different show with Alda in charge...but it was never bad. You wanna know how good MASH was? Watch AfterMASH.

After Burns left, It was as if they needed to remind us every episode:

"Peace, Good. War, Bad"

umm, yeah, we get it already.