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. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Remember, on the show, Henry Blake was going home, back to Illinois to his wife and son, who had been born while he was in Korea. However, it was not created as an award until 1954, two years after Henry Blake was killed. He went back to him to return the salute and then said, "You behave yourself, or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt." In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. When Nancy leaves camp, Henry strangely finds himself relieved that she is now gone. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? He was in charge of the 4077th. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. Appeared in: As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others 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. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Bloomington, Illinois, USA The creators and also the network granted his wish. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And cast members still remembered how they felt when writers gave them the dialogue for the final scene with Blake. McLean Stevenson was actually born in Normal, Illinois. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? 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". In the novel M*A*S*H Mania (set in the 1970s) it is revealed that Blake stayed in the Army and had attained the rank of Major General. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fea0c7a8cc2c8 In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Abyssinia [means] Ill be seeing you. Kind of corny. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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). Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. Why did Frank Burns leave? Death. It spun in. 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. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. [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]. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake is a character introduced in the 1968 Richard Hooker novel M*A*S*H. He also appeared in the 1970 film, played by Roger Bowen, and more famously in the first three seasons of the television series by McLean Stevenson. Why did We decided his character could, not should, could die. You made my little kid cry! You did it as vengeance! We got a letter from a 15-year-old girl who said she understood our motives. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Lt. Colonel Henry Blake M*A*S*H: Creator Larry Gelbart Opens Up About Killing Off McLean Stevensons Character, Henry Blake. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. (to Trapper) Boy oh boy, you gotta stay on top of these guys every second! Why did 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 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Blue 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. Monster M*A*S*H is a FANDOM TV Community. She and Henry met at a freshman mixer while she was dating football star Buzz Wollinski. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. 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. Just hours later, Roger died of a heart attack as well on February 16th. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? Henry Blake For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. The 4077th were happy for him. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. McLean Stevenson, who played the Colonel decided to leave the show In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Are Kellyanne and George Conway Getting Divorced? The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in Welcome to Korea, the first episode of the next season. The next morning, Frank attempts to assemble the company for a formal send-off, but Hawkeye and Trapper are out of uniform and unshaven, and Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) wears a particularly elaborate dress made specially for the occasion. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was an athletic trainer for the football team. "[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. "Whatever you guys decide is fine with me. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. McLean Stevenson played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Many were from people that didn't. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. 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. After the M*A*S*H finale, maybe the most memorable episode of the most memorable TV series was the one in which Col. Blake was supposed to go home. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Henry Blake MASH During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. 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. When Henry Blake died on M*A*S*H, it was a major event for television. He was in charge of the 4077th. 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. Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! B.J. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. Henry Blake because he was tired of his supporting role to Alan Alda and Wayne Who turned down the role of Hawkeye in mash? Gene and I thought we should use the departure of the character in some meaningful fashion. 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. Hoda Kotb illness: Her Brave Fight Against Disease! It was a move that would change television forever. The Reason McLean Stevenson Left MASH Stevenson left the set almost immediately after the end of filming, and the party was canceled due to the dour mood of the cast. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. 185.126.219.251 Put on a dress! Please whitelist to support our site. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. Heart In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. died in 1952 (plane shot down over Sea of Japan while returning back to the U.S.) Height: Know the Real Truth! In the latter episode, the final episode produced and the next-to-last aired, Margaret decided to bury a time capsule and asked others to volunteer various items from the camp. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death). According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. {From ". In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. Appearances McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. In 1972, the United States was rocked by the death of a beloved television character. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. 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. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Last appeared in: Your email address will not be published. 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. So why did they do it? Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. 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! I'm OK! That was gracious. Of course, Mac was as torn apart as we all were. Why MASH 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. Home: 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. In the season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", Henry had earned all his rotation points and was qualified for discharge. Why did Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. He was shanked by a fellow murderer on August 19th, 1966 and died the next morning. He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. Whatever the reason, it worked. A Katherine Baumann played a 21 year old girlfriend. Why Did Henry Blake Leave Abyssinia, Henry (Saying goodbye to camp, Klinger wearing a fruit-basket hat) "Klinger, (Saying goodbye to Radar) "You behave yourself or I'm going to come back and kick your butt.". Henry saw both Frank and Margaret as callous and overbearing, while the two majors incessantly criticized Henry's lack of command skill. Played by: The creators and also the network granted his wish. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. 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. 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. papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. He was killed in a plane crash while on his way home from the war. submitted a fishing fly that once belonged to Henry; he suggested that it should symbolize all of the men who never made it back home. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Hair Color: 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. Rogers. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. Second, the death of Colonel Blake was significant because it showed that even fictional characters were not immune to the horrors of war. M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off Roger Bowen (born May 25, 1932 died February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and novelist, known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the 1970 film MASH. Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. It does not store any personal data. Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. Their charge was a half-truth, as Henry had sent some medical supplies to Nurse Meg Cratty, who operated a civilian clinic in North Korea. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Harry Morgan, as Sherman Potter, took over the 4077th. They are unfortunately not accurately portrayed. He will be missed by all who knew him. McLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. Why did henry leave mash? - Answers MASH You never know who might be coming around! McLean Stevenson The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. Born: Performance & security by Cloudflare. McLean Stevenson; Played Lt. Col. Blake Required fields are marked *, The IRS Office of Chief Counsel has decided that new requirements will be applicable for the, To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look, The possibility of online instruction was laughed at not all that numerous years back. For the first time, a major character had been killed off without warning and without explanation. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. M*A*S*H character One time when Klinger was being particularly obnoxious, Henry threatened Klinger by saying, Klinger, Ive never hit a woman before.. Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. "[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. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season.