MASH’s New Reunion Is An Important Reminder Of What The Show’s Best Seasons Were

Summary

• MASH’s upcoming reunion will remind us of the show’s best years, with a core ensemble that propelled it to greater heights.
• The reunion will bring together the surviving cast members who starred in MASH’s best years, each playing fully fleshed-out characters.
• Harry Morgan’s role as Col. Potter brought stability and heartwarming moments to the series, and his absence will be felt in the reunion.

MASH‘s upcoming reunion will function as a reminder of what the show’s best years were. The groundbreaking war comedy/drama ran for 11 great seasons, and when it ended, it was still massively popular. Both a commercial and critical success for CBS, earning 100 Emmy Awards nominations and winning 14, MASH effectively married comedy and drama, as the 4077 MASH unit made the best of their extremely horrific situation trying to save as many lives as during the Korean War. Alan Alda’s Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce spearheaded the operation, but the show had various iterations of the ensemble.

Despite being regarded as one of the best shows of all time, it took MASH quite a while to find its footing. It was already the second live action adaptation of MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, written by H. Richard Hornberger Jr., who goes by the pen name, Richard Hooker, with the help of W.C. Hein, following the hit 1970 feature film. Being on the air for 11 years, it had some notable cast reshuffles throughout its run, but once it was able to lock in a core ensemble, it was catapulted to greater heights — something that the upcoming MASH reunion on Fox will re-affirm.

Why MASH’s Best Years Featured Hawkeye, BJ, Klinger, Radar, and Margaret

The surviving MASH cast members are confirmed to come together for a special reunion. Joining Alda are Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Maxwell Q. “Max” Klinger), Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt) and Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan). This specific group of actors starred in MASH’s best years. Aside from their chemistry, each one also played fully fleshed-out characters. While the show’s first couple of seasons were still finding the right balance between comedy and drama, it finally found the perfect mix once this specific ensemble fronted the show’s storytelling.

Granted that Hawkeye was still MASH’s true protagonist, Radar, Klinger, BJ, and Margaret all brought their charms to the series. This inspired writers to delve deep into their psyches and personal histories. Some of the more notable plots from those years were BJ’s struggle to be away from his family, especially as his daughter grew up without him, Klinger’s heartbreak over his wife’s infidelity, and Margaret’s endless effort to please her father. Unfortunately, the MASH reunion will be missing the late Harry Morgan, who played the 4077th’s principled Commanding Officer, Col. Sherman T. Potter.

How Harry Morgan’s Potter Changed MASH For The Better

Morgan, who died in 2011, joined MASH in season 4 as 4077’s new leader on the heels of Henry Blake’s unexpected death. Unlike his predecessor, Potter was dignified and wise; he brought stability to the unit. While Hawkeye easily ran circles on Blake, he (and the rest of the unit) treated Potter as more of a father figure, and that grounded the series. It resulted in some of the most heartwarming scenes in the series, especially when the unit rallied behind him. Morgan will be sorely missed in the upcoming MASH reunion, but it’s safe to say that he will be fondly remembered, as everyone else who couldn’t be there.