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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. First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. Henry Blake Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. 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. Played by: Henry Blake According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. 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. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. Heart Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. 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. Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (TV series episode), Commanding officers of the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, "I never claimed to be a junior General MacArthur. Blake will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. 3 What episode of Mash did Henry Blake die? MASH Your email address will not be published. The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Why did henry leave mash? - Answers "[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. 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. Bloomington, Illinois, USA It was a move that would change television forever. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. 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. McLean Stevenson was actually born in Normal, Illinois. 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. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. In 1972, the United States was rocked by the death of a beloved television character. Why MASH The Chicago Tribune's Gary Deeb, for instance, revealed Blake's death nearly two months before the episode aired. if we turned on the [television] set we would see fifteen people [killed in Vietnam every night]. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". His condition is called Brachydactyly. 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. Why Did Henry Blake Leave 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. McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. They didnt want us to suffer through a week of rehearsal, Swit said. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. 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. 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. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. Creator Larry Gelbart discussed the controversial decision and why it was the right way to end Blakes run on the show. 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 They both died of a heart attack as well. 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. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. 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. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was an athletic trainer for the football team. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. Writers gave them a page of dialogue at the last minute. M*A*S*H was not about happy endings. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. He was also unsure of the success of the show. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Sherman T. Potter. papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was M*A*S*H: Creator Larry Gelbart Opens Up About Killing Off McLean Stevensons Character, Henry Blake. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. There were no survivors. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved How to Make a Disposable Vape Last Longer? He did not survive the crash. And we did make a connection. M*A*S*H was not about everyone having a good time, Gelbart said. 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. Monster M*A*S*H is a FANDOM TV Community. Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. He was in charge of the 4077th. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. But M*A*S*H writers had another idea. As the tone of the series had evolved to more In the TV series, Henry is a reservist called up to active duty from his private practice in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. 185.126.219.251 Job/Role in Unit: 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. Mike Farrell is best friends with Alan Alda and no stranger to Hollywood stars. The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". Why did Frank Burns leave? M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider Family/Personal information 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. 200 lbs. 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? Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? Why did Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. 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. 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. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. In the episode, Colonel Blake is flying a medical evacuation mission when his plane is shot down over North Korea. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. While M*A*S*H incorporated comedic elements, it was ultimately a show about war. The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. M*A*S*H character What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? 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. But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. People like Henry Blake are lost in war. You never know who might be coming around! the CBS television comedy M*A*S*H from 1974-75. McLean Stevenson Some people thought it was great and others were very upset. Is Tom Sandoval Dating Raquel? The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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! Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. 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. Put on a dress! WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Gene Reynolds, one of the executive producers of M*A*S*H, said the decision to kill off Blake was deliberate. McLean Stevenson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Henry This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "[13], In 1997, TV Guide included this episode in their list of the "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time," ranking it number 20. 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. Not everybody, not every kid gets to go back to Bloomington, Illinois. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Henry Blake, the lovable and bumbling commanding officer of the 4077th on M*A*S*H, was killed in a helicopter crash off-screen. scene was cut from the episode. Did Radars teddy bear on MASH have a name? His strongest bond in Korea was to Radar, for whom Henry became something of a father figure. You are both very missed. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. A Katherine Baumann played a 21 year old girlfriend. Big Birds teddy bear is named Radar in homage to Radar OReillys teddy bear. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. To avoid confusion, the Bowen family decided to wait a week to announce the death of Roger. Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Following Cheating Allegations. Henry never repents that he is a hypocritical serial adulterer. Appearances The creators and also the network granted his wish. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Lt. Col. Henry Blake The creators and also the network granted his wish. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. Henry and Radar share a sentimental moment in which young Radar describes Henry as a father figure, and gives Henry an inscribed Winchester cartridge; a surprised Henry returns the favor by spontaneously giving Radar a rectal thermometer that once belonged to his father. Look, all I know is what they taught me in command school; there are certain rules about a war, and Rule Number 1 is that young men die. Why Did Henry Blake Leave "[7] Many of those who objected also cited the fact that M*A*S*H was considered a situation comedy, and that Blake's "cheap" killing did not belong in the show; one caller to Reynolds stated after the episode aired that they "don't know why [they] did it; it's not necessary, it's just a little comedy show" and that "you've upset everybody [in the family]," before vowing never to watch the show again. 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. Henry's primary concern was that the hospital ran smoothly, and he couldn't care less what the others did while off duty. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? However, it is later revealed that he did not die in the crash and was instead captured by the North Koreans. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Hair Color: He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. 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. Commanding Officer/Senior Surgeon at the 4077th M*A*S*H Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. However, it was not created as an award until 1954, two years after Henry Blake was killed. 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. 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". Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fea0c7a8cc2c8 Roger Bowen as Henry Blake in the 1970 film. The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. 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. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. 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. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. Second, the death of Colonel Blake was significant because it showed that even fictional characters were not immune to the horrors of war. McLean Stevenson; Played Lt. Col. Blake Only one cast member knew Henry Blake would die beforehand, and that was star Alan Alda. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series It also proved that television could handle complex issues like death with sensitivity and intelligence. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. Lt. 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. Hunnicutt as the newest doctor. (1941-1984). He was in charge of the 4077th. He was in charge of the 4077th. Hunnicutt). It is normal to cold feet before wedding. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. 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 After the news of Colonel Blake's death shocked the world, the very next night during her opening monologue on her musical variety show, Cher introduced Stevenson as her guest star, saying that he was "missing in action"; the video briefly cut away to a shot of Stevenson, in costume as Henry, rowing a raft as he looked straight into the camera and said, "Hey guys, Im OK. Im OK!" One time when Klinger was being particularly obnoxious, Henry threatened Klinger by saying, Klinger, Ive never hit a woman before.. M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off Written by Fritzell, Jim and Greenbaum, Everett. And they really could not believe what was on the page..