I wrote yesterday about the possibility that M*A*S*H was considered for cancellation at the end of the 1978-1979 season. In that case, however, it was an investment firm surveying advertising agencies coming to the conclusion that M*A*S*H might end after its seventh season. I’ve now found an interesting article in The Chicago Tribune — by none other than the late Gene Siskel — from February of 1979. The article is about Alan Alda but, obviously, talks a lot about M*A*S*H.
Here’s the important section:
Although Alda wouldn’t confirm it, there is a good chance “M*A*S*H” may not survive after its eighth season, the last year of his current contract.
“It depends on whether we think we can think up more stories. By the end of next year, we will have done 200 stories. If we develop a staff that feels like it has the energy to go on, then maybe we’ll decide to go on. We don’t want to run it into the ground. A couple of times lately, we’ve felt as though we were repeating ourselves, and we don’t want to do that. We’re too proud of what we have done.”
Some would argue that M*A*S*H should have ended after its seventh or eighth season. But as we all know, it continued for three more seasons, not ending until February of 1983 after eleven seasons and 251 episodes. And it only came to an end because — as the story goes — the cast voted four to three to end it. In any event, I have never come across any evidence suggesting that the network (CBS) or the production company (20th Century Fox) ever considered ending M*A*S*H (aside from the first, low-rated season). Even when it did end, the Nielsen ratings were high and it was the cast that decided call it a day.
References
- Siskel, Gene. “TV’s Mr. Popularity Tries a New Sparkle.” Chicago Tribune. 11 Feb. 1979: E2.
When Larry linville left-the series was just dead yet somehow it just gasped along for year!,,,
By the way whatever happened to houlihan sister who got married before margaretyet was only a captain?..by the way the part rides off to her honeymoon should have been her swain swan episode
If MASH had been cancelled at the end of Season 8, then a) we would not have gotten the big finale ‘Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen’ and b) Charles would’ve only spent three seasons on the show as opposed to Frank’s five.
I don’t pretend to speak for anyone but myself, but I was ready for the Frank character to go long before he did. I loved Charles character. He was a breath of fresh air. The formal stair laced Charles grew so much. Much more depth than the other Frank.