Back in October of 2005, TV Guide Magazine switched from its classic digest format to a larger, more standard magazine size. The final small-size issue, published on October 9th, 2005 (Volume 53, Number 41, Issue #2741), had nine commemorative covers. In each one, popular contemporary television stars recreated classic covers from the magazine’s past. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa dressed up as the characters from I Dream of Jeannie, for example, and Jennifer Love Hewitt recreated The Flying Nun.
One of the other covers saw Zach Braff, Donald Faison and John C. McGinley from Scrubs down bathrobes to portray Hawkeye, B.J. and Colonel Potter from a 1976 M*A*S*H cover. Andy Ryan took the cover photograph. The cover pulls out to reveal the original 1976 version as well. Inside is a lengthy article about the recreated cover that includes an interview with John C. McGinley in which he discusses watching M*A*S*H and the influence of Colonel Potter on his Scrubs character.
[scrubs] is such a M*A*S*H wannabe, and as such… EPIC FAIL! (It’d also help if [scrubs] used a laugh track).
TV Guide literally expanding their magazine after years of their trademark digest size? 2X EPIC FAIL!
Scrubs is a fantastic, original show that isn’t trying to be M*A*S*H at all. The style, the comedy, the musical moments, the fantasy sequences are nothing like M*A*S*H! You don’t have to like Scrubs, but you don’t have to trash it either. I happen to like both shows on their own merits.
As far as a laugh track is concerned… M*A*S*H producers didn’t even want a laugh track. If you have the DVDs, you have the option to turn the laugh track off. M*A*S*H is SO MUCH BETTER without it.
I love Scrubs. It really is not trying to be M*A*S*H, although there are similarities, of course, and references. It is hilarious, though, and I can watch it all day long.
Yeah, I hated what they done to TV Guide, too. Regular size magazine format. No more local listings. That was one of the fun things about TV Guide. Especially when you found a copy from out of your listing area and saw what was being shown in that area. It was always interesting to see how a different market was programmed. When my subscription to TV Guide lapsed, I decided not to renew it. I know this is a MASH site (I do love the series), but I’ve always wanted to vent on this and this gave me the forum. Thank you for listening and we return you to your regular postings.
I think TV Guide started going downhill when it began covering movie news, featuring multiple “collectors covers,” delving far too deep into reality television…
The list goes on. It used to be such a wonderful magazine. Now it is just another general purpose entertainment magazine.
Scrubs doesnt impress me, it has stale jokes and I dont particuarly like the acting. In my opinion, MASH is the only Medical Drama/Comedy that matters.
Another bad sign of passing times: the 2005 issue cost almost 10 times what the 1976 issue cost
Fun cosplay, but, Scrubs ain’t no fucking M.A.S.H.