Reality As An Inspiration
The actors on the show often heard stories from people who had experienced the Korean War themselves, to understand them more and improve their characters that way. The writers had to leave out details about the war, as the stories told to them by doctors and patients who had first-hand experiences were intense and graphic. Scenes which could have been perceived as sensitive or graphic by Korean Vets were never put in the show as they regularly censored the content they aired. One of the show’s actors, Gary Burghoff, actually had a deformed hand that he hid while on the show. He normally hid it behind set items or kept it in his pocket.
Reality As An Inspiration
Angered Fans
While actor McLean Stevenson was already leaving the show, the 72nd episode was focused on his character’s departure. His character, Colonel Henry Blake, was meant to be honorably discharged. Blake spent the episode saying goodbye to his fellow soldiers and looking forward to seeing his family when he gets home. As it turns out, the writers had something else in mind for the character. Towards the end of the episode, after Blake leaves, the surgeons of M*A*S*H are in the middle of an operation when Radar bursts in. He announces that the transport plane Blake was on had been shot down over the Sea of Japan and that Blake did not survive the devastating crash. This plot twist did not sit well with the fans at all, in fact, fans were so furious, that CBS got over 1,000 complaint letters, which made it look like perhaps the future of the show as at risk.
A Plot Twist