McLean Stevenson, who played the Colonel decided to leave the show years later that he regretted his decision to leave. Eye Color: Another time while drunk he claims he was sent to Korea after attending a party with a 30-year career military medical general; when the general made a remark about a coffee enema, Blake foolishly responded, "with cream and sugar?". He is best known for his role as Lt. Henry spots an emotional Radar saluting him and approaches to return the salute, hug him, and chide him like a loving father to behave himself, before boarding and flying away. He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. because "everyone loved Henry". Heart In the film, Henry is a career Army man, having been commissioned prior to World War II. WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. 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). 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. 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. And we did make a connection. McLean Stevenson (11/14/27 - 02/15/96) played COL Henry Blake in Vital information When it comes to breaking news stories in the entertainment industry. "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 TV series season finale) 200 lbs. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. But he did not stay in prison long. He was a skilled surgeon and a good friend to all of his staff. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Creator Larry Gelbart discussed the controversial decision and why it was the right way to end Blakes run on the show. 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. Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. . In the season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", Henry had earned all his rotation points and was qualified for discharge. He was only 68. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. Rogers. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Our site is an advertising-supported site. Birthplace: Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. The creators and also the network granted his wish. The Chicago Tribune's Gary Deeb, for instance, revealed Blake's death nearly two months before the episode aired. Blakes death was a turning point for the show. He did not survive the crash. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. Majors Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) celebrate privately that Frank will become the unit commander. He was in charge of the 4077th. Heart 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. Bloomington, Illinois, USA 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Rank: How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? And they really could not believe what was on the page.. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Longtime recurring guest cast member Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, was elevated to the regular cast, with his name being featured on the opening credits. 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. The more earnest and faithful family man Captain B.J. 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. 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). 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. Some people thought it was great and others were very upset. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. It also proved that television could handle complex issues like death with sensitivity and intelligence. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. And Rule Number 2 is doctors can't change Rule Number 1.". Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? "We didn't want Henry Blake going back to Bloomington, Illinois and going back to the country club and the brown and white shoes, because a lot of guys didn't get back to Bloomington. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. 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. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. (Ironically, during the real Korean War, a non-hostile air crash occurred in the sea of Japan in Sept 1950 and at least one medical personnel, US Air Force Medical Squadron Captain Vera Brown, was killed.). McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His friends sent him off with a round of applause. 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. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. "Pilot" (M*A*S*H TV series, Season 1 opening) Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. 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. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Know the Real Truth! 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". The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. Blue We were working on the story of McLean leaving. 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. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. I'm OK! The creators and also the network granted his wish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. There are a few theories floating around. It was a tragic moment for viewers, who had come to love the characters on the show. Roger Bowen as Henry Blake in the 1970 film. 1." We were working on the story of McLean leaving. the Season 3 finale. Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". Look, I'm a doctor. Under Henry's watch, Hawkeye and Trapper repeatedly got away with numerous shenanigans, either because Henry looked the other way, or they were able to manipulate him into seeing things their way. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. Click to reveal They called it gin as many have already said, but despite that it couldnt have been gin. 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. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved 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!" No, youhaveto do it! he said. Written by Fritzell, Jim and Greenbaum, Everett. supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better He admitted Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. That was gracious. There were no survivors." In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. As the tone of the series had evolved to more the CBS television comedy M*A*S*H from 1974-75. Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. The cast was stunned when they learned about Blakes death. Henry even ordered Hawkeye and Trapper to sober her up quickly for incoming wounded so that the incident would not show up on her permanent military record. Roger Bowen. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. (1941-1984). Who was the first Colonel Blake in Family/Personal information ", (Talking on the phone to his son) "I don't care if your sister. Blake saluted Radar and off he went. 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. 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. 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. papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was As the tone of the series had evolved to more serious storylines, Linville felt that he had taken the Frank Burns character, which had become increasingly one-dimensional, as far as he could, and chose to leave the series to pursue other roles. Sherman T. Potter. Abyssinia [means] Ill be seeing you. Kind of corny. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Appeared in: What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. 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. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) "Over the River and Through the Woods" (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. Your email address will not be published. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. And cast members still remembered how they felt when writers gave them the dialogue for the final scene with Blake. The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in Welcome to Korea, the first episode of the next season. Your email address will not be published. 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. They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. As the tone of the series had evolved to more That was the response we were hoping for.. Henry saw both Frank and Margaret as callous and overbearing, while the two majors incessantly criticized Henry's lack of command skill. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Heart Lt. Col. Henry Blake The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge He did not survive the crash. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In 1983, they both starred in separate new sitcoms. Unfortunately he was right -- Radar walks into the operating room, without a mask, and announces that Blakes plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Most important to Ottumwa is the clerk, Radar OReilly, nicknamed for his acute hearing. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. McLean Stevenson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Henry "[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. c.1907 (?) These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. . As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others [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. 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. ", 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. "Klinger, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and you're still in a housecoat?! 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Required fields are marked *. TIL Gary Burghoff, who played Radar OReilly on MASH, has a visibly deformed left hand, which ironically would have made him unfit for military service. Are Kellyanne and George Conway Getting Divorced? The action you just performed triggered the security solution. First appeared in: scene was kept a secret from the cast until immediately before filming; only then did Gelbart hand out the last page of the script. You are both very missed. 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". Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. 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". Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. In the movie the girlfriend was played by actress Indus Arthur The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Ten Of The Saddest Moments From M*A*S*H, Just In: WKRP In Cincinnati Star Frank Bonner Dies At 79, How John Wayne Almost Went Broke During The Height Of His Career. Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. He left the show at The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? Instead, he welcomed B.J. 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 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. 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. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Following Cheating Allegations. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. Gin is a flavored spirit, flavored with Juniper berry s. NOTE: Gwen Farrell is not related to Mike Farrell (B.J. RIP McLean and Roger. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. 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. He was in charge of the 4077th. Job/Role in Unit: But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Bloomington, Illinois 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 Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. 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. However, it was not created as an award until 1954, two years after Henry Blake was killed. 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. 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. 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. Who was the first Colonel Blake in "Whatever you guys decide is fine with me. They didnt want us to suffer through a week of rehearsal, Swit said. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. All I try to do is patch kids up and run a hospital. Last appeared in: Henry's affectionate individual goodbyes to the others are cut short by the imminent arrival of his helicopter, but Hawkeye pulls him aside and persuades him to give a long parting kiss to Margaret, to her surprise and Frank's annoyance. But then again, Henry Blake was kind of corny. 1." 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 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). When the series concluded in 1981, the bear mysteriously disappeared for nearly 30 years, prompting my non-ending search for my little on-camera companion and friend. [14], In 2005, TV Land included this episode as part of its "Top 100 Most Unexpected Moments in TV History", ranking it number 15.[15]. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. 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. Appearances There were no survivors. Your email address will not be published. They knew the public may be confused since they were both best known for playing the same character. 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. 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.
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