His strongest bond in Korea was to Radar, for whom Henry became something of a father figure. The episode was called Abyssinia, Henry. It ran on March 18, 1975. As the tone of the series had evolved to more Why did years later that he regretted his decision to leave. Why did It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. According to his colleague Loretta Swit, Blake left because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. This was also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine. In The Trial of Henry Blake, Hawkeye and Trapper fought to secure Henry's command when Margaret and Frank brought formal charges against him for, as they put it, giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Gene Reynolds, one of the executive producers of M*A*S*H, said the decision to kill off Blake was deliberate. He did not survive the crash. The episode, titled The Colonels Last Flight, aired on February 28, 1975, and was the shows 16th episode. It also proved that television could handle complex issues like death with sensitivity and intelligence. Gene and I thought we should use the departure of the character in some meaningful fashion. The teddy bear, which never officially had a name on MASH, but was secretly named Tiger according to Mr. Burghoff, does live on through the childrens show Sesame Street. McLean Stevenson/Date of death. After the production of this episode, both Stevenson and Wayne Rogers, who played the character of Trapper John McIntyre, left the series to pursue other interests. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. because "everyone loved Henry". He died in the final episode of the show, which aired in 1983. As the tone of the series had evolved to more Does this place look like the Mayo Clinic? He studied tap dance and became a drummer, despite being born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome, which made three fingers on his left hand significantly smaller than those on his right hand. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider Being a genuinely kind-hearted and forgiving person, Henry chose not to reprimand Margaret when she got herself so drunk that she could not even pronounce her own name properly. When he goes home he wears a civilian suit, which was against army regulations; first of all, though he had earned enough rotation points to go home he has not been actually discharged from the army, and his civilian garb would have subject him to arrest by the MPs for being out of uniform. Henry's primary concern was that the hospital ran smoothly, and he couldn't care less what the others did while off duty. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. In a double whammy for the show, it also had to absorb the loss of Wayne Rogers, who was Trapper John. It was written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, and first aired on March 18, 1975. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. Why did Finally, this episode also demonstrated how important teamwork and support systems are in times of crisis. In Dear Dad, Hawkeye described Henry as a good doctor and a pretty good Joe, but then likened Henry's command style to "being on a sinking liner, running to the bridge and finding out the captain is Daffy Duck". Heck, he attended West Hollywood Grammar School with the likes of Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. 'M*A*S*H': 30th Anniversary Reunion (2002) at 1 hour, 4 minutes and 44 seconds in the movie, "Controversial Killoff True to MASH Form", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxmvqrCNwH8, "The 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time", "TV Guide and TV Land Join Forces To Count Down The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abyssinia,_Henry&oldid=1139542859, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes), Short description is different from Wikidata, Television episode articles with short description for single episodes, Pages using infobox television episode with unnecessary list markup, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 12. These combined departures and their subsequent cast replacements also signaled the beginning of a shift in focus of the M*A*S*H series as a whole, with a greater focus on the character of Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda. Why Did Henry Blake Leave Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. Roger Bowen as Henry Blake in the 1970 film. This caused three fingers of Gary Burghoff left hand to be smaller than that of the right hand. Family/Personal information Only one cast member knew Henry Blake would die beforehand, and that was star Alan Alda. Abyssinia, Henry Henry Blake MASH In Henry in Love, Henry almost leaves Lorraine for a college girl named Nancy Sue Parker, who was less than half his age (20 to his 44). Rogers said that aside from missing the castand his friendship with Alda in particularhe had no regrets about leaving the show after season three. Why did Henry Blake leave mash? According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Why did We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Your email address will not be published. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. The episode opens with a typical operating room scene; Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) enters and informs Henry Blake that Blake has received all of the needed Army service points to be discharged and sent home. WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. According to multiple accounts, one most famously from co-star Loretta Swift, corroborated by writer Ken Levine, McLean left because he wanted to be No. M*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. His character dies, and he was that character., Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar, said he felt devastated by the cruel finality of it all., Burghoff said: I took Mac aside and said, If you dont want me to do this scene, I wont. I was hoping the shock of it would get him to change his mind. However, the army will credit time for civilian professional experience for commissioning officers with essential skills, such as medical doctors, and he may have received such credit. M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off Birthplace: To avoid confusion, the Bowen family decided to wait a week to announce the death of Roger. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. 1970s / Henry Blake Killed On MASH. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. One plot hole is Blake being a Lt Col after only being in the service 10 years {Since Dec 1941}; according to the 1959 US Army Almanic [p.148] the allowed service of time to rise up to the rank of Lt. Col. is 21 Years service; in real life his 10 years in the service rank would be that of Captain (US Army Alamanic service time 7 years). Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Played by: Major Margaret Houlihan and Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger both got married (Margaret in person, Klinger over the phone) and divorced during their service at the 4077th. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. [8] Still, shortly after the episode originally aired, the reactions and feedback of viewers were intense, both in support and condemnation of the events of the episode. The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". Roger Bowen. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. ", The final scene, in which Radar informs the 4077th of the death of Henry Blake, was unprecedented: it was the first time in American television history that a main character departing a comedy series was killed off in a tragic way. Sandy Brown How Did Tom Sizemore Die? For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Lee County Crash Claims Life of a 40-year-old Guy. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) 185.126.219.251 M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 TV series season finale) Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. (, During the first three seasons, Henry is absent in the episodes ", "It's entirely possible that Henry's wife Lorraine did not, in fact, cheat on him (to the extent that he had cheated on her), in that she referenced the 1945 film Brief Encounter. February 15, 1996 Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) He repeatedly refused to give Corporal Klinger his devoutly-wished Section Eight for being mentally unstable, despite all the exuberant dresses and ludicrous schemes Klinger concocted in order to convince his superiors that he was insane. Appearances For the first time, a major character had been killed off without warning and without explanation. Several times throughout the series, the awards that Colonel Blake had earned during his service in the army could be seen on his uniform. Know the Real Truth! He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better because "everyone loved Henry". When Nancy leaves camp, Henry strangely finds himself relieved that she is now gone. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 20th Century Fox sued him for breach of contract, but the lawsuit collapsed. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. [3], To evoke genuine emotions of shock and sadness, the final O.R. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Most important to Ottumwa is the clerk, Radar OReilly, nicknamed for his acute hearing. WebMcLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. They didn't expect it but it made the point. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. M*A*S*H fans hearts broke everywhere when the show decided to kill off fan-favorite Henry Blake during the shocking Season 3 finale Abyssinia, Henry.. Henry Blake supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better According to his colleague Loretta Swit, Blake left because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. This was also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine. On the night before Henry's departure, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), and Radar throw a drunken going-away party for Henry at Rosie's Bar and Grill, and present him with a tailored civilian suit as a parting gift. scene was cut from the episode. Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan, said, that in hindsight, it was best that the cast didnt know days beforehand about the decision to have Blake die. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. "Abyssinia, Henry" is the 72nd episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and the final episode of the series' third season. McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. Colonel Henry Blake Scene. "Over the River and Through the Woods" (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. Required fields are marked *, The IRS Office of Chief Counsel has decided that new requirements will be applicable for the, To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look, The possibility of online instruction was laughed at not all that numerous years back. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? Fifty thousand we left fifty thousand boys in Korea and we realized it was right for the show, because the premise of our show was the wastefulness of the war. Rank: Did He Cheat on Ariana Madix With Raquel Leviss? You are both very missed. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. Are Kellyanne and George Conway Getting Divorced? He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. Henry Blake MASH He left the show at One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. Why Did Henry Blake Leave The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Henry Blake MASH Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. WebThe episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. One time when Klinger was being particularly obnoxious, Henry threatened Klinger by saying, Klinger, Ive never hit a woman before.. Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. While Stevenson's departure was announced prior to and written into "Abyssinia, Henry", Rogers unexpectedly left the series during the break between seasons, and so his character's departure takes place off-screen in the following episode, "Welcome to Korea", the first of the show's fourth season. Job/Role in Unit: McLean Stevenson So why did they do it? Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. How did McLean Stevenson die? On the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. Your email address will not be published. Abyssinia [means] Ill be seeing you. Kind of corny. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." There were no survivors." In 1980, the Argus-Leader reported that Alan Alda was the highest-paid TV actor of all time, earning $5.6 million a season on M*A*S*H, which also included the money he made as a writer. Farr then went on to say that the first take "was a blockbuster", with gasps being heard from the crew, but they had to shoot a second take due to a technical problem. And wars are rarely funny and dont always have happy endings. The creators and also the network granted his wish. The overwhelming combination of paperwork and incessant arrivals of incoming wounded often left Henry feeling exhausted, but like the others, Henry soldiered on as best he could. Farr stated that show creator and writer Larry Gelbart showed a very top-secret script of the scene to the cast but not the crew, who were left uninformed until the scene was filmed. His friends sent him off with a round of applause. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? WebMcLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. His tenacity nearly cost him his life when, in Cowboy, he stubbornly refused to let a distraught helicopter pilot go on leave to see his wife, and the nearly unbalanced pilot almost killed Blake four times. Henry is married to Lorraine (called "Mildred" throughout Season 1), and they have three children, Jane, Molly and Andrew, the latter of whom was born shortly after Henry shipped out for Korea. In the Richard Hooker novels and Robert Altman film, Henry Blake remained in command at the 4077th after Hawkeye and Duke went home. He was a skilled surgeon and a good friend to all of his staff. Henry said goodbye to the camp, taking a little extra time with Trapper and Hawkeye, who gave Henry a kiss on both cheeks, and then talked him into giving Margaret a big goodbye kiss before making his way to the chopper arriving at the pad. In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. Harry Morgan, as Sherman Potter, took over the 4077th. RIP McLean and Roger. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider Gelbart acted as director for the episode, and the cast filmed all the other scenes before they learned of Blakes death. [3][4] As a result, Stevenson was still on the set and saw the final scene being filmed. Want Some Related Articles? And Rule Number 2 is doctors can't change Rule Number 1.". "Pilot" (M*A*S*H TV series, Season 1 opening) As the tone of the series had evolved to more Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. The Vietnam War was still raging at the time this episode aired, and viewers were able to see how war could impact even those who were not directly involved in the fighting. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. (She wrote) I feel that I have joined that all too non-inclusive fraternity of those who have lost a dear one overseas. I thought that was such an incredible observation by someone so young. Who turned down the role of Hawkeye in mash? Thirty-nine years ago today (March 18, 1975) one of the most memorableand shockingmoments in American television was broadcast: In the final episode of the third season of MASH, Lt. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. Loretta Swit said it was because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. (This is also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine) The departure would take place the last episode of the third season. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. M*A*S*H: Creator Larry Gelbart Opens Up About Killing Off McLean Stevensons Character, Henry Blake. He rushed to tell him goodbye but missed him at the airport. Henry was not completely incapable of following military regulation. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. The staff follow Henry to the helicopter pad, which also bears a wounded soldier that Henry tries to care for before the other doctors nudge him on. No, youhaveto do it! he said. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. Cast members didnt know how the final scene in the operating room would play out. "[9] Initially, Gelbart and Reynolds hand-wrote letters in response to the feedback, but eventually, due to the overwhelming number of letters, a form response was created explaining the rationale of their decisions. Whatever the reason, it worked. The 4077th were happy for him. Only two actors have portrayed the character of Henry Blake: Coincidentally, both actors died one day apart; Stevenson passed away on February 15, 1996, and Bowen the day after; both died of a heart attack. The creators and also the network granted his wish. In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. The Reason McLean Stevenson Left MASH Henry Blake, the lovable and bumbling commanding officer of the 4077th on M*A*S*H, was killed in a helicopter crash off-screen. In Suzy Kalter's book The Complete Book of M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr (Klinger) relates his own version of the events leading up to the scene in which Radar announces Henry's death. we covered some top articles, you can check the. McLean Stevenson Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) had replaced Trapper John, and the regular Army Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) had replaced Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Why did The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. Henry Blake The Reason McLean Stevenson Left MASH Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. 1." Henry Blake Conversely, he was also a considerable drinker; in To Market, To Market, when his treasured 100-year-old antique oak desk was stolen by Hawkeye and Trapper to trade for desperately needed medical supplies, Henry's initial concern was whether someone had broken into his liquor cabinet. 200 lbs. Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Rogers didnt decide to leave until after season three, so his departure from the show couldnt be planned with an entire episode. And cast members still remembered how they felt when writers gave them the dialogue for the final scene with Blake. Last appeared in: The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Appeared in: Majors Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) celebrate privately that Frank will become the unit commander. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. Why did Lorraine is an excellent cook, but irresponsible with money and, according to Henry, acted like Frank Burns in drag-(in fact in a film she sent to Henry of herself and their children she is actaully not bad looking) she also has a fistful of credit cards and $3,500 worth of Bridgework in her teeth (of which Henry owes $1,700).
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