Having the much-loved Henry Blake (wonderfully played by McLean Stevenson) killed off when his plane was shot down during his flight home was a sort of reality check provided for the viewers by the show's writers. Heart The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. 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. RIP McLean and Roger. "[7] Many of those who objected also cited the fact that M*A*S*H was considered a situation comedy, and that Blake's "cheap" killing did not belong in the show; one caller to Reynolds stated after the episode aired that they "don't know why [they] did it; it's not necessary, it's just a little comedy show" and that "you've upset everybody [in the family]," before vowing never to watch the show again. "Pilot" (M*A*S*H TV series, Season 1 opening) Hunnicutt). This caused three fingers of Gary Burghoff left hand to be smaller than that of the right hand. February 15, 1996 The moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Born: The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. Being a genuinely kind-hearted and forgiving person, Henry chose not to reprimand Margaret when she got herself so drunk that she could not even pronounce her own name properly. [19], In general, the show began to take on a more serious tone as a seriocomic (or dramedy) series, in which the focus was on the character rather than the character type, and moved away from its status as a situation comedy.[20]. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Henry's primary concern was that the hospital ran smoothly, and he couldn't care less what the others did while off duty. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. 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 People like Henry Blake are lost in war. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) had replaced Trapper John, and the regular Army Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) had replaced Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th. In the movie the girlfriend was played by actress Indus Arthur WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. He was only 68. 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. He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge It does not store any personal data. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. As the tone of the series had evolved to more "Klinger, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and you're still in a housecoat?! McLean Stevenson was actually born in Normal, Illinois. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. 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." Gary was born with a rare condition called Poland syndrome. M*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. 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. Our site is an advertising-supported site. 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. Weight: While Stevenson's departure was announced prior to and written into "Abyssinia, Henry", Rogers unexpectedly left the series during the break between seasons, and so his character's departure takes place off-screen in the following episode, "Welcome to Korea", the first of the show's fourth season. Appearances Henry even had a file full of Klinger's various phony attempts at hardship discharge. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. Only one cast member knew Henry Blake would die beforehand, and that was star Alan Alda. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. What is the reflection of the story of princess urduja? Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. Put on a dress! Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? the Season 3 finale. They called it gin as many have already said, but despite that it couldnt have been gin. Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. Bloomington, Illinois Instead, he welcomed B.J. 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. [8] Still, shortly after the episode originally aired, the reactions and feedback of viewers were intense, both in support and condemnation of the events of the episode. 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. Gene Reynolds, one of the executive producers of M*A*S*H, said the decision to kill off Blake was deliberate. 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. We got so much mail, said M*A*S*H executive producer Burt Metcalf. . Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Commanding Officer/Senior Surgeon at the 4077th M*A*S*H The cast was stunned when they learned about Blakes death. How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? In the episode, Colonel Blake is flying a medical evacuation mission when his plane is shot down over North Korea. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. {From ". He was shanked by a fellow murderer on August 19th, 1966 and died the next morning. McLean Stevenson, who played the Colonel decided to leave the show It was a surprise, it was somebody they loved. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. Not everybody, not every kid gets to go back to Bloomington, Illinois. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. I'm OK! In 1983, they both starred in separate new sitcoms. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. McLean Stevenson (11/14/27 - 02/15/96) played COL Henry Blake in [18], As a result, when the cast returned to begin filming the series' fourth season in September 1975, there were major changes in both the makeup and the direction of the show. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. ", "Ever since the dark days before Pearl Harbor, I've been proud to wear this uniform". Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. "[11], In Bobbie Ann Mason's 1985 novel In Country, the teenage protagonist recalls having watched the episode as a child and being "so shocked she went around stunned for days," and confesses that Blake's death on the show had seemed more real to her than the death of her own father in Vietnam. Does this place look like the Mayo Clinic? Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Heart Up until this point, death had largely been avoided as a topic on television. [14], In 2005, TV Land included this episode as part of its "Top 100 Most Unexpected Moments in TV History", ranking it number 15.[15]. When it comes to breaking news stories in the entertainment industry. ", The final scene, in which Radar informs the 4077th of the death of Henry Blake, was unprecedented: it was the first time in American television history that a main character departing a comedy series was killed off in a tragic way. Your email address will not be published. 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. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. The creators and also the network granted his wish. He was a skilled surgeon and a good friend to all of his staff. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. After the M*A*S*H finale, maybe the most memorable episode of the most memorable TV series was the one in which Col. Blake was supposed to go home. He was in charge of the 4077th. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? It was a move that would change television forever. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Henry was not completely incapable of following military regulation. How to Make a Disposable Vape Last Longer? The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. The creators and also the network granted his wish. 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. 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. Creator Larry Gelbart discussed the controversial decision and why it was the right way to end Blakes run on the show. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making Heartbreaking Lt. Towards the end of the episode, in another typical operating-room scene, Radar enters, visibly shaken. 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. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. 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. It showed that even in a comedy, life could be full of tragedy. Unlike the television Radar, Shaffer is not remembered as a clerk. Stevenson left the set almost immediately after the end of filming, and the party was canceled due to the dour mood of the cast. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. "We didn't want Henry Blake going back to Bloomington, Illinois and going back to the country club and the brown and white shoes, because a lot of guys didn't get back to Bloomington. papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was Click to reveal He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. 24th episode of the 3rd season of M*A*S*H. "Abyssinia, Henry." However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. While M*A*S*H incorporated comedic elements, it was ultimately a show about war. 185.126.219.251 The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. Cast members didnt know how the final scene in the operating room would play out. Lee County Crash Claims Life of a 40-year-old Guy. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. 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. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. Several times throughout the series, the awards that Colonel Blake had earned during his service in the army could be seen on his uniform. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. because he was tired of his supporting role to Alan Alda and Wayne "Abyssinia, Henry" is the 72nd episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and the final episode of the series' third season. He was in charge of the 4077th. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. And we did make a connection. M*A*S*H: Creator Larry Gelbart Opens Up About Killing Off McLean Stevensons Character, Henry Blake. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? We all lamented that death on the show was as impersonal as it was on the news, Reynolds said. When Hawkeye accused him of signing it and finding out he hadn't, he wryly acknowledged Henry's character when he replied, "How dare you do the right thing". For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. 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. The creators and also the network granted his wish. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. However, it was not created as an award until 1954, two years after Henry Blake was killed. Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! After a quick phone call to Lorraine set up by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper are worried that Henry will wreck his marriage, but realizing what he has back home, Henry thinks better of mentioning Nancy to Lorraine and ends the call with his marriage still intact. Abyssinia [means] Ill be seeing you. Kind of corny. Birthplace: At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. He often portrayed roles as a stuffy defender of the upper class and had regular roles on a number of television series. Job/Role in Unit: Roger Bowen (born May 25, 1932 died February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and novelist, known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the 1970 film MASH. They tried to hide it throughout the series run by having Radar hold a clipboard or other hand-obscuring prop in virtually all his scenes. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was an athletic trainer for the football team. The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. His character dies, and he was that character., Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar, said he felt devastated by the cruel finality of it all., Burghoff said: I took Mac aside and said, If you dont want me to do this scene, I wont. I was hoping the shock of it would get him to change his mind. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Mike Farrell is best friends with Alan Alda and no stranger to Hollywood stars. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. Colonel Henry Blake Gene and I thought we should use the departure of the character in some meaningful fashion. Played by: [5] Gelbart later said of the event, "I wish we could say to him, 'We didn't mean it, Mac.'"[6]. 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. And cast members still remembered how they felt when writers gave them the dialogue for the final scene with Blake. That was gracious. 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. Blue Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) 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. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. The cigars that Colonel Henry Blake smoke in M.A.S.H are candela cigars,which are known for their distinctive green color.This color comes from the quick drying process that locks in the natural chlorophyll in the tobacco leaves before it can degrade. McLean Stevenson , who had established himself on Broadway, as well as in TV writing, played Blake on TV beginning in 1972. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. 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. The teddy bear, which never officially had a name on MASH, but was secretly named Tiger according to Mr. Burghoff, does live on through the childrens show Sesame Street. 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. Many were from people that didn't. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. Henry even ordered Hawkeye and Trapper to sober her up quickly for incoming wounded so that the incident would not show up on her permanent military record. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. 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. Unfortunately he was right -- Blake, Commanding officer of the 4077th. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. 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. Height: When Nancy leaves camp, Henry strangely finds himself relieved that she is now gone. But then again, Henry Blake was kind of corny. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better because "everyone loved Henry". 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. In return, Radar, more or less, was Henry's backbone, and kept the unit running like a well-oiled machine, utilizing his nearly magical skills for getting everything done, counter-balancing Henry's laissez-faire attitude. Gelbart acted as director for the episode, and the cast filmed all the other scenes before they learned of Blakes death. Your IP: Writing a character off a show can be a simple task, especially for a popular part like Henry Blake. Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan, said, that in hindsight, it was best that the cast didnt know days beforehand about the decision to have Blake die. Some time later, while the three remaining doctors were in surgery, a visibly shocked Radar came in to report that Henry's plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan and everyone on board was killed. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) As the tone of the series had evolved to more The 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 final scene is reported killed by enemy fire. 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. 6'3" It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. They don't complain about that because it is unfelt violence, it is unfelt trauma. Whatever the reason, it worked. "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 TV series season finale) 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. died in 1952 (plane shot down over Sea of Japan while returning back to the U.S.) All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Colonel Henry Blake, the commanding officer of the 4077th MASH in Korea, was killed while on his way home. It spun in. 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. Are Kellyanne and George Conway Getting Divorced? A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar threw him a private going-away party in the back of Rosie's bar, while Margaret and Frank were even more overjoyed as Henry's departure automatically elevated Frank to commander (though their joy would be short-lived when Colonel Potter arrived as the new CO). One time when Klinger was being particularly obnoxious, Henry threatened Klinger by saying, Klinger, Ive never hit a woman before.. In the film, Henry is a career Army man, having been commissioned prior to World War II. 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. Henry begins planning his return and places a telephone call to Bloomington, Illinois to inform his wife and family of the good news. 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. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. Lorraine is an excellent cook, but irresponsible with money and, according to Henry, acted like Frank Burns in drag-(in fact in a film she sent to Henry of herself and their children she is actaully not bad looking) she also has a fistful of credit cards and $3,500 worth of Bridgework in her teeth (of which Henry owes $1,700). 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 the season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", Henry had earned all his rotation points and was qualified for discharge. TIL Gary Burghoff, who played Radar OReilly on MASH, has a visibly deformed left hand, which ironically would have made him unfit for military service. Colonel Henry Blake Scene. 1." Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. (She wrote) I feel that I have joined that all too non-inclusive fraternity of those who have lost a dear one overseas. I thought that was such an incredible observation by someone so young. Remember, on the show, Henry Blake was going home, back to Illinois to his wife and son, who had been born while he was in Korea. He was also unsure of the success of the show. But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. we covered some top articles, you can check the. Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. We wanted to say a lot of boys dont make it home.. Required fields are marked *. Look, I'm a doctor. Henry dared him to do it saying "He's done it so many times I've got footprints on my scalp". The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. He repeatedly refused to give Corporal Klinger his devoutly-wished Section Eight for being mentally unstable, despite all the exuberant dresses and ludicrous schemes Klinger concocted in order to convince his superiors that he was insane. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? ", (Talking on the phone to his son) "I don't care if your sister. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Why did Frank Burns leave? And Rule Number 2 is doctors can't change Rule Number 1.". As the tone of the series had evolved to more Relatives/Children: scene was kept a secret from the cast until immediately before filming; only then did Gelbart hand out the last page of the script. On 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. Harry Morgan, as Sherman Potter, took over the 4077th. 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. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others However, the army will credit time for civilian professional experience for commissioning officers with essential skills, such as medical doctors, and he may have received such credit.
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