These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. To his aggravation, Lorraine sent him her bills and used check books to balance their account, though Henry insisted that he was terrible with numbers; he once complained about an expensive Vet bill for their elderly house cat care. Why did Henry Blake leave mash? He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. Your IP: He left the show at the Season 3 finale. It was a move that would change television forever. [3] When Stevenson decided to leave the series partway through the third season, producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart decided to make a statement regarding the unexpectancies and horror of war, especially with the Vietnam War fresh in viewers' minds. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Sherman T. Potter. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) His strongest bond in Korea was to Radar, for whom Henry became something of a father figure. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Henry is Christian, having mentioned his faith in many episodes, but his denomination remains unknown. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Whatever the reason, it worked. In the season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", Henry had earned all his rotation points and was qualified for discharge. No, youhaveto do it! he said. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. People like Henry Blake are lost in war. (Saying goodbye to camp, Klinger wearing a fruit-basket hat) "Klinger, (Saying goodbye to Radar) "You behave yourself or I'm going to come back and kick your butt.". Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The episode of M*A*S*H in which Henry Blake died is one of the most famous and well-known episodes in television history. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. As the tone of the series had evolved to more And they really could not believe what was on the page.. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. The cast was stunned when they learned about Blakes death. 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. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. Not everybody, not every kid gets to go back to Bloomington, Illinois. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. "Abyssinia, Henry" is the 72nd episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and the final episode of the series' third season. He said something similar to Hawkeye and Trapper when explaining that he had not, in fact, signed a dishonorable discharge for a soldier who was homosexual, despite Frank threatening to go over his head again. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. He did not survive the crash. 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. Gary was born with a rare condition called Poland syndrome. I think that if there is such a thing as the loss of life there should be some connection. 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. "[11], In Bobbie Ann Mason's 1985 novel In Country, the teenage protagonist recalls having watched the episode as a child and being "so shocked she went around stunned for days," and confesses that Blake's death on the show had seemed more real to her than the death of her own father in Vietnam. Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. On an episode of the variety series Cher that aired shortly afterward and featured Stevenson as a guest, the situation was parodied when the episode opened to a studio shot of Stevenson as Blake floating on a smoking raft and shouting, "I'm OK! Only one cast member knew Henry Blake would die beforehand, and that was star Alan Alda. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. All I try to do is patch kids up and run a hospital. After a quick phone call to Lorraine set up by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper are worried that Henry will wreck his marriage, but realizing what he has back home, Henry thinks better of mentioning Nancy to Lorraine and ends the call with his marriage still intact. scene was cut from the episode. Burghoff left M*A*S*H in 1979 after the seventh season because of burnout and a desire to spend more time with his family, though he returned the following season to film a special two-part farewell episode, Goodbye Radar. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. They didn't expect it but it made the point. There were no survivors. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. Put on a dress! They tried to hide it throughout the series run by having Radar hold a clipboard or other hand-obscuring prop in virtually all his scenes. WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. The series never mentions how he came to receive a Purple Heart (for wounds in battle) and it is shown as being worn AFTER the Army Commendation Medal, which is incorrect. Colonel Henry Blake, the commanding officer of the 4077th MASH in Korea, was killed while on his way home. [18], As a result, when the cast returned to begin filming the series' fourth season in September 1975, there were major changes in both the makeup and the direction of the show. Eerily enough, the drunken Margaret told Henry that he looked just like her father before he died, to which Henry merely shrugged and replied, Yeah, a lot of people have said that. (Later in the series, Margaret's father was retconned as still alive and visited her in camp). died in 1952 (plane shot down over Sea of Japan while returning back to the U.S.) Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. McLean Stevenson/Cause of death. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 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. In the movie the girlfriend was played by actress Indus Arthur (to Trapper) Boy oh boy, you gotta stay on top of these guys every second! The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. Heart 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. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She and Henry met at a freshman mixer while she was dating football star Buzz Wollinski. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. 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. 6'3" WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? 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. That was the response we were hoping for.. 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. The more earnest and faithful family man Captain B.J. Vital information MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. 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. How Did Tom Sizemore Die? Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Their charge was a half-truth, as Henry had sent some medical supplies to Nurse Meg Cratty, who operated a civilian clinic in North Korea. show down over the Sea of Japan. Hunnicutt). Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. 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. Bloomington, Illinois, USA years later that he regretted his decision to leave. 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. 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. WebOn 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. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. Having the much-loved Henry Blake (wonderfully played by McLean Stevenson) killed off when his plane was shot down during his flight home was a sort of reality check provided for the viewers by the show's writers. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Remember, on the show, Henry Blake was going home, back to Illinois to his wife and son, who had been born while he was in Korea. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. On a later occasion (Life With Father), he gets a letter from Lorraine permitting him to cheat on her, but he jumps to the conclusion that she had cheated on him; when she told him over the phone that she was only attracted to someone else (See comment below], which hurt, but what hurt Henry even more was that the other man was an orthodontist. Colonel (O-5), U.S. Army Reserve McLean Stevenson was actually born in Normal, Illinois. Death. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. We got so much mail, said M*A*S*H executive producer Burt Metcalf. "[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. McLean 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. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. The creators and also the network granted his wish. His condition is called Brachydactyly. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Eye Color: The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". Instead, he welcomed B.J. How did McLean Stevenson die? This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Look, I'm a doctor. Your email address will not be published. Blakes death was a turning point for the show. When Henry Blake was killed off on MASH, it sent shockwaves through the television world. scene was kept a secret from the cast until immediately before filming; only then did Gelbart hand out the last page of the script. Gelbart acted as director for the episode, and the cast filmed all the other scenes before they learned of Blakes death. Similar to Henry, Potter was easygoing, fun-loving and compassionate enough to earn the deep respect of his staff (including Margaret, but not Frank, who resented being passed over for command), but in contrast, Potter was a career soldier and consummate leader and surgeon, and never hesitated to put his foot down when things got out of hand. Last appeared in: He is eventually released and returns to the 4077th, but dies shortly thereafter from his injuries. Henry saw both Frank and Margaret as callous and overbearing, while the two majors incessantly criticized Henry's lack of command skill. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. In the premiere of season four, Hawkeye learned that Trapper John had been discharged. They don't complain about that because it is unfelt violence, it is unfelt trauma. In the latter episode, the final episode produced and the next-to-last aired, Margaret decided to bury a time capsule and asked others to volunteer various items from the camp. Blake put friendship above his command, but there was the rare occasion when he had little choice but to assert his authority, which he did firmly, albeit uncomfortably. Lt. Col. Henry Blake Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar threw him a private going-away party in the back of Rosie's bar, while Margaret and Frank were even more overjoyed as Henry's departure automatically elevated Frank to commander (though their joy would be short-lived when Colonel Potter arrived as the new CO). We all lamented that death on the show was as impersonal as it was on the news, Reynolds said. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. They knew the public may be confused since they were both best known for playing the same character. Appeared in: The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. His friends sent him off with a round of applause. Towards the end of the episode, in another typical operating-room scene, Radar enters, visibly shaken. Big Birds teddy bear is named Radar in homage to Radar OReillys teddy bear. supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. Though Henry was a capable doctor and a decent man, he was largely ineffectual as a commanding officer, though in his defense, Henry never professed to be a great leader, and was fully aware that he was in over his head as commander. In the TV series, Henry is a reservist called up to active duty from his private practice in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. It spun in. In fact, CBS's distaste with the episode was so great that during a later rerun of the episode, the final O.R. Radar then leaves the operating room as the camera pans across the stunned staff, each visibly fighting to retain composure and continue with their work. 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. The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. What happened to Gary Burghoff hand? Blue Mike Farrell is best friends with Alan Alda and no stranger to Hollywood stars. 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. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. He was in charge of the 4077th. Henry generally let their insults roll off his back, but Frank and Margaret frequently went over Henry's head when they didn't get their own way, filing formal complaints to army brass, particularly senior officers whom Margaret is very close to. The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was show down over the Sea of Japan. If they started filming the show knowing Henry was a dead man by the end of the episode, their performances would have been quite different. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. Though a family man, Henry shared Hawkeye and Trapper's penchant for fraternizing with the nurses. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. Stevenson later said in an interview that he was deeply hurt that his character's death was revealed in this fashion and the party was "ruined". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Some time later, while the three remaining doctors were in surgery, a visibly shocked Radar came in to report that Henry's plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan and everyone on board was killed. Over time, however, Henry became more assertive and willing to stand his ground when it involved principle or serious medical matters. Majors Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) celebrate privately that Frank will become the unit commander. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. 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.