The year 2008 was the 36th anniversary of M*A*S*H premiering on CBS as well as the 25th anniversary of the series coming to a close. Time sure flies. It was a relatively slow year, with the biggest story probably being the restoration of the M*A*S*H site at the Malibu Creek State Park in California. The site was unveiled on February 23rd, 2008 (the 25th anniversary of the series finale airing) with actors Mike Farrell (B.J.), Loretta Swit (Margaret), William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) and Jeff Maxwell (Igor) in attendance alongside producers Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe and frequent director Charles Dubin. Some 300 fans were also on hand to help celebrate
Also in February, W.C. Heinz, a writer who helped author Richard Hooker write his novel MASH, passed away at 93. In July, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, who developed the mobile army surgical hospital for the United States, passed away at 99 (I didn’t report it until September).
In August, newly repackaged DVD sets of the series began appearing in stores after first being an exclusive to Costco. And in September, repeats of M*A*S*H began airing on broadcast network ION Television (joining cable channels TV Land and Hallmark Channel).
In November, Alan Alda auctioned off some of his memorabilia from the series — including an autographed copy of “Inga,” an episode he wrote, and the boots he wore throughout the series — in November to raise money for the Bob Woodruff Foundation. The boots were unable to find a buyer. And in December, one of the creator’s of M*A*S*H*, Larry Gelbart, was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and inducted into its Hall of Fame.
Edited January 3rd, 2009 at 9:10AM ET
I cannot believe I forgot to include the customary quote by Colonel Potter, from “A War For All Seasons:”
“Here’s to the new year. May she be a damn sight better than the old one, and may we all be home before she’s over.”
