Discussion
MASH an 80s series?
The film was made in 1970 and the TV series ran from 1972 to 1983 - so it was really a 70s series.
It's central plot, though set in the Korean War, was essentially aimed at the US involvement in the Vietnam War - which was still running during the broadcasts of teh first couple of seasons of teh show. TThe characterisations were very wrong for a story set in the early 1950s. But they were spot on for characters from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s (the original novel was written in 1968).
The film was made in 1970 and the TV series ran from 1972 to 1983 - so it was really a 70s series.
It's central plot, though set in the Korean War, was essentially aimed at the US involvement in the Vietnam War - which was still running during the broadcasts of teh first couple of seasons of teh show. TThe characterisations were very wrong for a story set in the early 1950s. But they were spot on for characters from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s (the original novel was written in 1968).
Picky!
Whatever, whenever, it's a classic of classic proportions.
I can still be heard to this day, in earshot of a chopper:
Incoming!!
Da da da da da da da daaa, da da da da da da daaa, de da da da da da da da, da daaaaaaa, da. Da da da da da da da, da da da da da da da, da da da da da da da da da da........
Eric Mc said:
MASH an 80s series?
....and it's M*A*S*H Whatever, whenever, it's a classic of classic proportions.
I can still be heard to this day, in earshot of a chopper:
Incoming!!Da da da da da da da daaa, da da da da da da daaa, de da da da da da da da, da daaaaaaa, da. Da da da da da da da, da da da da da da da, da da da da da da da da da da........
I had to go to bed early on the night that MASH was shown on tv (the first time around, on the BBC(?)) as my father claimed it was a violent war series and not suitable for young boys. 
If I was only allowed to watch one tv show ever again, I think I'd chose MASH.
Who could not fail to cry like a little girl with a skinned knee when Henry died.
Finally got to see the last episode recently when ComedyCentral showed it.
If I was only allowed to watch one tv show ever again, I think I'd chose MASH.
Who could not fail to cry like a little girl with a skinned knee when Henry died.
Finally got to see the last episode recently when ComedyCentral showed it.
I think it was of its time and does not plsy that well today.
One little factoid - when shown on UK TV (and yes, it was the BBC) it did not feature a canned laughter track. BBC felt that it wasn't a comedy in the traditional sense so asked that the laughter track be removed.
I lived in Ireland at the time it was originally shown and could watch MASH on either the BBC or RTE. RTE showed the "straight" US version with the laughter track. It was actually disconcerting. I prefered the non-laugh track version.
One little factoid - when shown on UK TV (and yes, it was the BBC) it did not feature a canned laughter track. BBC felt that it wasn't a comedy in the traditional sense so asked that the laughter track be removed.
I lived in Ireland at the time it was originally shown and could watch MASH on either the BBC or RTE. RTE showed the "straight" US version with the laughter track. It was actually disconcerting. I prefered the non-laugh track version.
I got this box set for Christmas: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000X41CE6/ref=...
Absolutely love it - really good to watch it all again from scratch
Absolutely love it - really good to watch it all again from scratch
K12beano said:
Eric, apparently there is a story that the BBC once or twice broadcast the wrong version with the canned laughter and there was apparently uproar. I believe in US the deal was that they never added canned laughter to any scenes in the theatre. Not sure if that's all true.
Gosh, yes, I think I remember that. I used to watch M*A*S*H on my little black and white telly whilst I was doing my homework in the mid-to-late 80's (so I guess it must have been a re-run) and occasionally there would be an episode with canned laughter and it was completely incongruous. Or perhaps it was a later re-run on a satellite channel, I don't know. Anyway, the point being that the first time I watched an episode with canned laughter I was completely
Edited by JonRB on Friday 3rd February 10:01
Living in Ireland we often had the opportunity to see the discrepancies between the BBC's way of showing an American show and and the American way of presenting the exact same show.
"Cosmos" was another classic example. BBC actually removed 10 minutes from each and every episode (making it a 50 minute programme). RTE showed the full 60 minute version. Brits never got to see "Cosmos" properly unless they bought the video or DVD boxed sets.
"Cosmos" was another classic example. BBC actually removed 10 minutes from each and every episode (making it a 50 minute programme). RTE showed the full 60 minute version. Brits never got to see "Cosmos" properly unless they bought the video or DVD boxed sets.
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