Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (TV series episode), Commanding officers of the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, "I never claimed to be a junior General MacArthur. McLean Stevenson, who played the Colonel decided to leave the show 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. (1941-1984). In the TV series, Henry is a reservist called up to active duty from his private practice in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan, said, that in hindsight, it was best that the cast didnt know days beforehand about the decision to have Blake die. He was in charge of the 4077th. [5] Gelbart later said of the event, "I wish we could say to him, 'We didn't mean it, Mac.'"[6]. It was written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, and first aired on March 18, 1975. He did not survive the crash. These combined departures and their subsequent cast replacements also signaled the beginning of a shift in focus of the M*A*S*H series as a whole, with a greater focus on the character of Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda. show down over the Sea of Japan. He rushed to tell him goodbye but missed him at the airport. (Ironically, during the real Korean War, a non-hostile air crash occurred in the sea of Japan in Sept 1950 and at least one medical personnel, US Air Force Medical Squadron Captain Vera Brown, was killed.). Up until this point, death had largely been avoided as a topic on television. 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. 1." 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). Mike Farrell is best friends with Alan Alda and no stranger to Hollywood stars. They are unfortunately not accurately portrayed. However, it was not created as an award until 1954, two years after Henry Blake was killed. {From ". [9] It is estimated that over 1,000 letters were received by the producers regarding the episode; "some were from people who understood. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. When Henry Blake was killed off on MASH, it sent shockwaves through the television world. Our site is an advertising-supported site. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. During season 1 he had an ongoing affair with a Nurse Scorch, and later had affairs with two other nurses; in " A Smattering of Intelligence" it is revaled that prior to coming to Korea Henry had affairs with an underage girl and a prostitute. Blake will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. WebOn the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. 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. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. In 1972, the United States was rocked by the death of a beloved television character. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Colonel (O-5), U.S. Army Reserve It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. Sherman T. Potter. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. However, it is later revealed that he did not die in the crash and was instead captured by the North Koreans. Blakes death was a turning point for the show. Home: Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. [3][4] As a result, Stevenson was still on the set and saw the final scene being filmed. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. Majors Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) celebrate privately that Frank will become the unit commander. Job/Role in Unit: Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. When Henry Blake died on M*A*S*H, it was a major event for television. Lorraine was a one-time Succotash Queen at Illinois Normal (now Illinois State). 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. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. After a commercial break, the episode closes with a "reluctant and affectionate farewell" to Blake by means of a light-hearted montage of clips from past episodes. [18], As a result, when the cast returned to begin filming the series' fourth season in September 1975, there were major changes in both the makeup and the direction of the show. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. He studied tap dance and became a drummer, despite being born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome, which made three fingers on his left hand significantly smaller than those on his right hand. The creators and also the network granted his wish. "Pilot" (M*A*S*H TV series, Season 1 opening) Look, I'm a doctor. But more than that, it was a turning point for television. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. [9] Another, more lighthearted response to the episode came from an unhappy viewer in Lubbock, Texas, who sent a telegram stating that "Henry Blake has been found in a raft in Lake Lubbock. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. Who is Jason crabb mother and where is she? They called it gin as many have already said, but despite that it couldnt have been gin. In Henry in Love, Henry almost leaves Lorraine for a college girl named Nancy Sue Parker, who was less than half his age (20 to his 44). Rank: The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Last appeared in: "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 TV series season finale) They didnt want us to suffer through a week of rehearsal, Swit said. Stevenson later said in an interview that he was deeply hurt that his character's death was revealed in this fashion and the party was "ruined". 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. The creators and also the network granted his wish. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. The 4077th were happy for him. Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. 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. There were no survivors. 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. They both died of a heart attack as well. It was a tragic moment for viewers, who had come to love the characters on the show. Your email address will not be published. Some time later, while the three remaining doctors were in surgery, a visibly shocked Radar came in to report that Henry's plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan and everyone on board was killed. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. 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. Its not often in your life that you see people stunned, Gelbart said. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. On the night before Henry's departure, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), and Radar throw a drunken going-away party for Henry at Rosie's Bar and Grill, and present him with a tailored civilian suit as a parting gift. McLean Stevenson , who had established himself on Broadway, as well as in TV writing, played Blake on TV beginning in 1972. As the tone of the series had evolved to more Lorraine is an excellent cook, but irresponsible with money and, according to Henry, acted like Frank Burns in drag-(in fact in a film she sent to Henry of herself and their children she is actaully not bad looking) she also has a fistful of credit cards and $3,500 worth of Bridgework in her teeth (of which Henry owes $1,700). Here's an oldie but a goodie half of the family dying, other half pregnant. He is eventually released and returns to the 4077th, but dies shortly thereafter from his injuries. Colonel Henry Blake Scene. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. While "Abyssinia, Henry" is well known for the departure of McLean Stevenson from the series, it was also the final episode in which Wayne Rogers appeared. Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix Split After Following Cheating Allegations. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Both were canceled the same year and the finale episodes aired one day apart. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making Heartbreaking Lt. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death). Lt. One time when Klinger was being particularly obnoxious, Henry threatened Klinger by saying, Klinger, Ive never hit a woman before.. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In the 1970 movie MASH, Henry Blake was portrayed by Roger Bowen. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. 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. Written by Fritzell, Jim and Greenbaum, Everett. Did He Cheat on Ariana Madix With Raquel Leviss? But then again, Henry Blake was kind of corny. What did the Nazis begin using gas chambers instead of mobile killing units and shooting squads after a while. He gave Hot Lips a long kiss goodbye. Stevenson left the set almost immediately after the end of filming, and the party was canceled due to the dour mood of the cast. On the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. He was only 68. WebThe episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Colonel Henry Blake Dont you remember the promise we all made to each other? He was referring to always showing the reality of war whenever possible.. The episode opens with a typical operating room scene; Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) enters and informs Henry Blake that Blake has received all of the needed Army service points to be discharged and sent home. As the tone of the series had evolved to more serious storylines, Linville felt that he had taken the Frank Burns character, which had become increasingly one-dimensional, as far as he could, and chose to leave the series to pursue other roles. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". Abyssinia [means] Ill be seeing you. Kind of corny. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. He was in charge of the 4077th. How did McLean Stevenson die? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That was gracious. The staff follow Henry to the helicopter pad, which also bears a wounded soldier that Henry tries to care for before the other doctors nudge him on. [19], In general, the show began to take on a more serious tone as a seriocomic (or dramedy) series, in which the focus was on the character rather than the character type, and moved away from its status as a situation comedy.[20]. The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. [12], The final scene was spoofed on the Family Guy episode "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" when a cutaway shows Brian Griffin saying to the rest of the family, "I have an announcement. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. Of course, Mac was as torn apart as we all were. Your email address will not be published. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We decided his character could, not should, could die. 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. How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? Rogers. Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. It was one of the first times that a major character died on a television show, and it changed the way that people thought about television. Henry saw both Frank and Margaret as callous and overbearing, while the two majors incessantly criticized Henry's lack of command skill. First appeared in: [3] When Stevenson decided to leave the series partway through the third season, producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart decided to make a statement regarding the unexpectancies and horror of war, especially with the Vietnam War fresh in viewers' minds. Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. Eye Color: Why did Frank Burns leave? In Dear Dad, Hawkeye described Henry as a good doctor and a pretty good Joe, but then likened Henry's command style to "being on a sinking liner, running to the bridge and finding out the captain is Daffy Duck". A Katherine Baumann played a 21 year old girlfriend. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. It showed that even in a comedy, life could be full of tragedy. First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. Or, they applauded it. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. Commanding Officer/Senior Surgeon at the 4077th M*A*S*H Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. They tried to hide it throughout the series run by having Radar hold a clipboard or other hand-obscuring prop in virtually all his scenes. But he did not stay in prison long. The leading entertainment news publicationLeedaily. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Sandy Brown The plot of that film centers on two married people who become attracted to each other, start spending more time together, but never actually sleep together before deciding to part ways. The overwhelming combination of paperwork and incessant arrivals of incoming wounded often left Henry feeling exhausted, but like the others, Henry soldiered on as best he could. Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. 'M*A*S*H': 30th Anniversary Reunion (2002) at 1 hour, 4 minutes and 44 seconds in the movie, "Controversial Killoff True to MASH Form", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxmvqrCNwH8, "The 100 Greatest TV Episodes of All Time", "TV Guide and TV Land Join Forces To Count Down The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abyssinia,_Henry&oldid=1139542859, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes), Short description is different from Wikidata, Television episode articles with short description for single episodes, Pages using infobox television episode with unnecessary list markup, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 12. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." Heart We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Who turned down the role of Hawkeye in mash? After a quick phone call to Lorraine set up by Radar, Hawkeye and Trapper are worried that Henry will wreck his marriage, but realizing what he has back home, Henry thinks better of mentioning Nancy to Lorraine and ends the call with his marriage still intact. Unlike the television Radar, Shaffer is not remembered as a clerk. And they really could not believe what was on the page.. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. "4/22/1979 - Steve Martin / The Blues Brothers" (, 37. The moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. 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". WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. And wars are rarely funny and dont always have happy endings. 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. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar threw him a private going-away party in the back of Rosie's bar, while Margaret and Frank were even more overjoyed as Henry's departure automatically elevated Frank to commander (though their joy would be short-lived when Colonel Potter arrived as the new CO). How Did Tom Sizemore Die? Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Everyone was overwhelmed with grief and shock, even Frank and Margaret, who could be seen sobbing at the news. The more earnest and faithful family man Captain B.J. Why did Frank Burns leave? WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Just send him home. He did not survive the crash. Is Colonel Blake from MASH still alive? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved I think that if there is such a thing as the loss of life there should be some connection. The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Heart 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". Who was the first Colonel Blake in The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Cast members didnt know how the final scene in the operating room would play out. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Claire Mccaskill Husband illness: Unraveling the Health Crisis of Claires Spouse! In the Richard Hooker novels and Robert Altman film, Henry Blake remained in command at the 4077th after Hawkeye and Duke went home. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. When Hawkeye accused him of signing it and finding out he hadn't, he wryly acknowledged Henry's character when he replied, "How dare you do the right thing". Bloomington, Illinois 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. "Whatever you guys decide is fine with me. His character dies, and he was that character., Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar, said he felt devastated by the cruel finality of it all., Burghoff said: I took Mac aside and said, If you dont want me to do this scene, I wont. I was hoping the shock of it would get him to change his mind. died in 1952 (plane shot down over Sea of Japan while returning back to the U.S.) WebMcLean 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. 20th Century Fox sued him for breach of contract, but the lawsuit collapsed. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? Many were from people that didn't. He said something similar to Hawkeye and Trapper when explaining that he had not, in fact, signed a dishonorable discharge for a soldier who was homosexual, despite Frank threatening to go over his head again. 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. Roger Bowen. Your IP: When Nancy leaves camp, Henry strangely finds himself relieved that she is now gone. Blake, Commanding officer of the 4077th. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. (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.". Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. 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. Relatives/Children: Are Kellyanne and George Conway Getting Divorced? Though Henry was a capable doctor and a decent man, he was largely ineffectual as a commanding officer, though in his defense, Henry never professed to be a great leader, and was fully aware that he was in over his head as commander. Put on a dress! Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) Blake saluted Radar and off he went. Gene and I thought we should use the departure of the character in some meaningful fashion. Blake put friendship above his command, but there was the rare occasion when he had little choice but to assert his authority, which he did firmly, albeit uncomfortably. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. M*A*S*H fans sent hundreds of letters to complain about the ending. They didn't expect it but it made the point. Writers gave them a page of dialogue at the last minute. McLean Stevenson (11/14/27 - 02/15/96) played COL Henry Blake in You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Negative reactions were not exclusive to the home viewers of the program: both CBS, the network that aired M*A*S*H, and 20th Century Fox, the company that produced M*A*S*H, expressed their unhappiness at the killing of Henry Blake. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. Why did Henry Blake leave mash? [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]. Sadly, McLean died of a heart attack on February 15, 1996. Instead, he welcomed B.J. What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. The episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the final scene is reported killed by enemy fire. 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. "[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. Heck, he attended West Hollywood Grammar School with the likes of Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. He is presumed dead and a memorial service is held for him at the 4077th. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. Bloomington, Illinois, USA The cast was stunned when they learned about Blakes death. Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. They don't complain about that because it is unfelt violence, it is unfelt trauma. The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. Fifty thousand we left fifty thousand boys in Korea and we realized it was right for the show, because the premise of our show was the wastefulness of the war.