'M*A*S*H' Marked A Record-Breaking Finale 40 Years Ago With 106 Million Viewers

Mar 10, 2023 by apost team

"M*A*S*H," (an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), wasn’t only a show loved by millions of fans around the world – it was a pop culture phenomenon that transcended generations. But did you know that the show aired its finale episode 40 years ago on Feb. 28, 1983?

Well, even decades after the show went off the air, “M*A*S*H” has continued to resonate with fans – and pick up new ones – due to its stellar writing, enduring relevance, and, most of all, a charismatic cast whose camaraderie and hijinks almost made you wish you could be there with them. Among the stars of the hit dramedy series was Loretta Swit, who played the vivacious and high-spirited US Army nurse Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan.

Based on the critically acclaimed Robert Altman film of the same name released in 1970, “M*A*S*H” ran for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983, which, in turn, was based on writer and surgeon Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel "MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors."

20th Century Fox Television produced the series for CBS. The show follows the story of a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the 4077th Mobil Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea during the Korean War. 

It made household names of all its top cast members, including Alan Alda, who played the roguishly handsome, war-weary yet endearing prankster Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, Wayne Rogers as Hawkeye’s loyal sidekick Captain "Trapper" John Francis Xavier McIntyre, and Gary Burghoff as the sweet and resourceful Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly, among others.

"M*A*S*H" struggled during the run of its first reason so much so that it was almost on the brink of cancellation. But CBS moved its timeslot, marking the show’s long road to success. Even advertisers spent thousands of dollars on the show – and it was all worth it.

"Advertisers, who spent up to $450,000 per 30-second commercial spot, apparently got their money’s worth," Variety said. 

No one can question the success of the show as it had a record-breaking 106 million total viewers when it aired its final episode on Feb. 28, 1983, according to CNN. That’s about 60% of US homes at that time. 

A spokesman for the city Department of Environment Protection of New York City described the show's last episode as a royal flush due to the rate at which water flowed through two tunnels serving the city. Simply put, millions of New Yorkers used their bathrooms at the same time and sent 6.8 million gallons of water into the city’s sewers.

“We don't know of any instantaneous increase in water usage that would match this,” Barrett said.

The said episode ran for 2 ½ hours and was the 16th episode for the 11th season of the show which they turned into a television film titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.” One of the show’s stars, Alan Alda, co-wrote and directed it. It was an emotional episode as it chronicled the final days of the Korean War and featured tear-jerking scenes where the characters go their separate ways.

For 30 years, the show held the record-breaking title of the most-watched TV show in the US.

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“While the numbers are impressive, what makes ‘Goodbye, Farewell and Amen’ endure are the emotions. Simply put, the long ending stuck the landing,” MeTV said. 

On the 50th anniversary of the show's debut in September 2022, professor of TV history at Middle Tennessee State University and former CBS executive Jim McKairnes shared what made "M*A*S*H" a success.

"M*A*S*H" continued to rewrite the rules of TV comedy in success, changing both how it could be written and shot, through the eyes of a patient, with on-camera interviews about life in a war zone or shown in real time, complete with an on-screen ticking clock or with a dramatization of nightmares,” he said.  

"M*A*S*H" wasn’t just successful in terms of its glory days on television, but also the relationships and friendships that were formed because of the show. Plus, they built a certain connection with their audience. 

"In building the landmark series, its cast and crew forged a bond of love and respect that lives to this day: a love for truth in storytelling, a love for the audience they were entertaining and a love for each other," The Hollywood Reporter said. 

Swit, one of the cast members, constantly describes her “M*A*S*H” cast members as a family to her. In an interview with People in 1979, she sang Alda’s praises, as she said: “I think of Alan as a teacher. He is so involved in women’s lib and has helped me to have confidence in myself. He is a gentle, kind man and I owe a lot of my transformation into a liberated person to him.” 

Were you a fan of "M*A*S*H"? What was your favorite part about it? Let us know what you think and pass this on to your family and friends who might find this story interesting!