MAS*H
Henry Blake ’s departure fromMASHcame in the season 3 finale with his tragic death sum up the show ’s gist message about war . Played by McLean Stevenson , Blake was 4077 ’s commanding officer during the groundbreaking dramedy ’s early years . While not as well-thought-of or equal to as Col . Sherman Potter , Blake was a honest and good - hearted medico who was like by his subordinates despite his inadequacy . The news of his death was delivered by a amazed Radar O’Reilly to a busy operating room , making for one of the most iconic TV death .
McLean Stevenson advance a Golden Globe in 1974 for his performance as Henry Blake on MASH .
Given the nature ofMASH , wound , Death , and other tragedies were the norm . The medical show leaned on it frequently , with its unspoiled moments not shying away from these difficult topics . Balancing cockamamy humor with the horrors of warfare is what madeMASHone of the most popular shows ever . Whileother actors leftMASHas well , the expiry of Henry Blakeis alone not just because it was so unexpected , but also because of how the show executed it . His demise is for the most part deem as the turning point of the show from being practiced to big .
MASH Killed Henry Blake To Show The True Horrors Of War
The Decision Earned Complaints From Angry MASH Fans
DespiteMASH ’s success , allow the show was really Stevenson ’s idea , as the actor reportedly did n’t particularly like playing a supporting function to Alan Alda ’s wisecracking Captain Hawkeye Pierce , who was becoming the show ’s tip star . Instead of just writing off the character , however , creators Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds revealed in the 1997Archive of American Televisioninterview that they wanted to do something drastic and meaningful with his send - off . Hence , Blake was kill after his"plane was blast down over the Sea of Japan . It spun in . There were no survivors,“highlighting the horrors of war .
The fact that Blake was n’t even killed in combat and was already on his direction home effectively makes it more heartbreaking .
It was a tragic way to write out the theatrical role , heavier thanJohn Trapper’sMASHexit . The show received fan complaints about Blake ’s final circumstances , but the Lord tolerate by their decision , and they were proper to do so , as it re - emphasizes the ugly trueness about war . Despite the show ’s comedy , it inherently deals with a serious matter , with its storytelling used to antagonize the controversial Vietnam War ( despite the series tackling the Korean War ) . The fact that Blake was n’t even kill in combat and was already on his way home efficaciously make it more heartrending .
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Blake’s Death Was A Turning Point For MASH
The Shocking Moment Allowed The Show To Experiment With Drama More Freely
Henry Blake ’s death inMASHwas a decisive moment for the show for a couple of reason . For starters , he was the first ofthe mainMASHcastto leave the series , fall out by Trapper and Frank Burns . More than bang - starting a series of bigMASHexits , however , Blake ’s death almostserved as a litmus test test for viewers ' reply to the show lean on a more realistic depiction of warfare .
Granted thatMASHhad some emotional minute before lose Blake , it was only after his demise that it further explored last , wipeout , and all the other horrors of state of war which made it the iconic show that it eventually became .
What McLean Stevenson Did After MASH
Stevenson Passed Away In 1996
After exiting the role of Henry Blake onMASH , role player McLean Stevenson ’s life history fail somewhat into decline , despite the fact that he continued working for many years . In the aftermath of allow for such an acclaimed show , he got his wish to be the lead-in in a series , commence withThe McLean Stevenson Show , in which he played Mac Ferguson , a memory board owner and family man which only lasted one season . He then star as Larry Adler inHello , Larry , which was cancel after two seasons .
He ended up guest star in a lot of series , likeMatch GameandThe Golden Girls , and he played three different character inThe Love Boat . He also was a Edgar Guest host onThe Tonight Show58 times when Johnny Carson was still headlining the iconic talk show . One of his last show was in the theatrical role of Max Kellerman in the suddenly - lived TV adaptation ofDirty Dancing .
McLean Stevenson ’s Notable Roles AfterMASH
MASH is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.*
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part
The McLean Stevenson Show ( 1976 - 1977 )
Mac Ferguson
Hello , Larry ( 1979 - 1980 )
Larry Alder
The Golden Girls ( 1987 )
Theodore ' Ted ' Zbornak
Dirty Dancing ( 1988 - 1989 )
Max Kellerman
Stevenson became somewhat of a source of criticism for leave such a hit show only for his career to waver . Before his death in 1996 , Stevenson recognise his inability to find a serial as salutary asMASHafter he leave and considered leaving the show to have been a mistake ( viaLos Angeles Times ):
" I made the error of believing that people were entrance of McLean Stevenson when the person they were enamored of was Henry Blake , " said Stevenson . " So if you go and doThe McLean Stevenson Show , nobody care about McLean Stevenson . "
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MAS*H is a drama - comedy serial set during the Korean War , center on on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they voyage the challenges of wartime medical service with humour and resilience .
