This past Wednesday, while browsing Comcast’s program guide, I noticed M*A*S*H airing on cable channel Spike TV from 9-10AM ET. The very next day, Spike TV ceased to exist and the channel became Paramount Network. It airs a mix of original programming, movies, and syndicated repeats like M*A*S*H, Two and a Half Men, and Friends. Viacom owns both Paramount Network and TV Land, which also airs M*A*S*H.
As far as I can tell, Spike TV began airing M*A*S*H on Friday, December 15th, 2017 with a five-hour marathon consisting of the following episodes:
- “M*A*S*H — The Pilot”
- “Dear Dad”
- “Tuttle”
- “The Long-John Flap”
- “5 O’Clock Charlie”
- “Deal Me Out”
- “As You Were”
- “Alcoholics Unanimous”
- “Adam’s Ribs”
- “Abyssinia, Henry”
Counting Paramount Network, M*A*S*H now airs in syndication on five different cable channels in the United States. The others are SundanceTV, AMC, TV Land, and WGN America. Both Paramount Network and TV Land are owned by Viacom.
(Spike TV used to be known as The National Network. It debuted in 1983 as The Nashville Network.)
I’ve updated my M*A*S*H on Television page to include Paramount Network.
Call me when someone starts airing it in HD…
You may be waiting a long time for that call. It’s up to 20th Century Fox (or Disney, if the proposed sale goes through) to foot the bill to remaster M*A*S*H in HD. I suppose if a cable channel or two proposed paying a higher licensing fee in return for HD episodes, that might get the ball rolling.
Is there any chance that Hulu is ponying up for that, which is the reason for the delay in the show appearing there?
I don’t know. The Hulu-M*A*S*H sage is a mystery.
Looks like there’s a remake in Afghanistan coming out tomorrow. Paramount channel has a M*A*S*H* ripoff called 68 Whiskey. They’re calling it a dark comedy Ron Howard adaptation of Israeli televisions’ “Charlie Golf One” – -1/15/2020
Seriously though, with all these channels running the show, you’d think it might occur one of them to do something that makes their’s different…be it running it unedited, or without the laugh track….
As far as I know, M*A*S*H has never aired in the United States without the laugh track. Hallmark Channel occasionally aired episodes uncut, however.
MeTV also airs M*A*S*H still, so that’s 6 @RJ
I was only counting cable channels, but you’re right. It’s a little hard to believe six competing outlets all air M*A*S*H at the moment.
So, what happened to Spike? Granted, I haven’t watched the channel in ages, but it was essentially to men when Lifetime was to women.
Yea was wondering that myself. Probably went the way of G4tv. Just not popular enough to sustain itself. Wouldn’t be surprised if this starts happening to multiple networks over the coming years as TV finally dies off.