This slipped past me but Aaron Handy III sent me an e-mail reminding me that it was 35 years ago last week that the feature film version of MASH had its network broadcast premiere. CBS aired the movie from 9-11PM as part of its CBS Friday Night Movie (it followed the series premiere of Planet of the Apes). The third season of M*A*S*H had premiered three days earlier on Tuesday, September 10th.

The broadcast ranked 18th for the week (for the record, M*A*S*H was 11th and Planet of the Apes 37th) [1]. CBS aired the movie again on Friday, March 5th, 1976. Here’s part of a full-page ad CBS ran in The New York Times promoting its Friday line-up:

New York Times Ad for MASH

Anyone remember watching this first network broadcast of the movie that spawned the series?

Sources:
“Rhoda Debut Tops National Nielsens.” Los Angeles Times. 19 Sep. 1974: H22.

I’ve updated my analysis of Nurses of the 4077th: The “Running Nurses” from the Opening Credits with information provided by Kathy Denna Fradella, who e-mailed me a few days ago to confirm that she is the brunette at the front of the “running nurses” seen in the opening credits to M*A*S*H. So that settles that question. I also made this animated GIF that combines a few seconds of footage from “Sticky Wicket” with the famous scene from the opening credits:

Footage from “Sticky Wicket” and the opening credits

So take a look at Nurses of the 4077th: The “Running Nurses” from the Opening Credits.

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

And the Winner Is: 5 o’clock Charlie, who correctly identified “Say No More.”

Name That Episode

Here’s today’s image. Can you name the episode it’s from? Feel free to post guesses in the comments section. As always, the winner gets bragging rights.

And the Winner Is: Eric, who correctly identified “The Interview.”

Name That Episode

Alan Alda has written a moving tribute to the late Larry Gelbart for The Los Angeles Times that can be found here. Thanks to “Mary Lou Wallace” at alt.tv.mash for bringing this to my attention. Titled “On the front lines with Larry Gelbart,” the appreciation recalls Gelbart’s humor and kindness, warmth and wit. Here’s my favorite excerpt:

For all his hatred of death and his disgust with those who casually brought it about, Larry was a gracious and encouraging presence. It seemed that there were few awkward moments that couldn’t be turned aside with a wit-charged observation. He was genial from his toenails to his scalp. He never laughed so hard as he did at himself when — while directing his first episode — instead of saying “Action!” he accidentally started a scene by authoritatively calling out, “Cut!”