Morbid Coincidence
In 1996, M*A*S*H has a rather strange coincidence. Actor McLean Stevenson has left the show after playing Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, wanting to pursue other acting opportunities. After this, his career was declining, which resulted in the ridicule of the cast and crew of the show. Roger Bowen, who played the same role in the 1970 M*A*S*H film, had died of a heart attack, a day after Stevenson died of a heart attack.
Morbid Coincidence
Goodbye, Farewell and Amen
The show made television history when its final series aired on February 28, 1983, with more than 106 million viewers who tuned in. The only time this record was set before was by The Super Bowl. Considering the show’s slow beginning, their eleven-season run was incredibly impressive. With the finale “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” two and a half hours long, it was directed by Alan Alda himself. Throughout the series, Alda was very involved in the creative side of the show, having written thirteen episodes and directing some episodes on top of him being in every episode. If you pay attention, the finale was mostly shot indoors, since the outdoor set was destroyed by a fire.
Goodbye, Farewell and Amen