Sherman T. Potter. . 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. One plot hole is Blake being a Lt Col after only being in the service 10 years {Since Dec 1941}; according to the 1959 US Army Almanic [p.148] the allowed service of time to rise up to the rank of Lt. Col. is 21 Years service; in real life his 10 years in the service rank would be that of Captain (US Army Alamanic service time 7 years). Hair Color: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. Henry even had a file full of Klinger's various phony attempts at hardship discharge. Why MASH The shows creators swore the writers to secrecy. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. In the 1970 movie MASH, Henry Blake was portrayed by Roger Bowen. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. Up until this point, death had largely been avoided as a topic on television. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Writing a character off a show can be a simple task, especially for a popular part like Henry Blake. Abyssinia, Henry The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. Lt. Colonel Henry Blake He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. scene was kept a secret from the cast until immediately before filming; only then did Gelbart hand out the last page of the script. 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. The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. Eye Color: Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. Unlike the television Radar, Shaffer is not remembered as a clerk. This ending prompted more than 1,000 letters to series producers Gene Reynolds and Larry Gelbart, and drew fire from both CBS and 20th Century Fox. Farr then went on to say that the first take "was a blockbuster", with gasps being heard from the crew, but they had to shoot a second take due to a technical problem. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. 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. The Vietnam War was still raging at the time this episode aired, and viewers were able to see how war could impact even those who were not directly involved in the fighting. Monster M*A*S*H is a FANDOM TV Community. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. 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 They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. B.J. (, During the first three seasons, Henry is absent in the episodes ", "It's entirely possible that Henry's wife Lorraine did not, in fact, cheat on him (to the extent that he had cheated on her), in that she referenced the 1945 film Brief Encounter. To his aggravation, Lorraine sent him her bills and used check books to balance their account, though Henry insisted that he was terrible with numbers; he once complained about an expensive Vet bill for their elderly house cat care. Everyone was overwhelmed with grief and shock, even Frank and Margaret, who could be seen sobbing at the news. However, it is later revealed that he did not die in the crash and was instead captured by the North Koreans. No, Blake is not still alive. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Henry Blake scene was cut from the episode. It would have colored their performances.. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? If they started filming the show knowing Henry was a dead man by the end of the episode, their performances would have been quite different. The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. He was only 68. everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. ", "Ever since the dark days before Pearl Harbor, I've been proud to wear this uniform". We were working on the story of McLean leaving. In the TV series, Henry is a reservist called up to active duty from his private practice in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. 1." Why did [3], To evoke genuine emotions of shock and sadness, the final O.R. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Heart attack 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. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. Henry and Radar share a sentimental moment in which young Radar describes Henry as a father figure, and gives Henry an inscribed Winchester cartridge; a surprised Henry returns the favor by spontaneously giving Radar a rectal thermometer that once belonged to his father. Why did Frank Burns leave? 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 The episode was called Abyssinia, Henry. It ran on March 18, 1975. [17] The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in "Welcome to Korea," the first episode of the next season. Weight: In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Even when they were alive, there were other odd coincidences. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. [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. Henry saw both Frank and Margaret as callous and overbearing, while the two majors incessantly criticized Henry's lack of command skill. Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. McLean Stevenson , who had established himself on Broadway, as well as in TV writing, played Blake on TV beginning in 1972. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? Colonel Henry Blake 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. 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 moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. 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. Just hours later, Roger died of a heart attack as well on February 16th. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. Andrew (son) Jane and Molly (daughters) Unnamed newborn son (born during Season 1 episode "Showtime") Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. First appeared in: He left the show at In the 1970 film there seemed to be little to no father/son bond, though Henry entrusted everything to Radar, who was still company clerk, as opposed to SFC Vollmer, the camp's sergeant major, who invariably found himself one step behind Henry and Radar's machinations. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Why did Played by: 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 as Henry Blake in the 1970 film. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. And that's not good. McLean Stevenson [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. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? Required fields are marked *. show down over the Sea of Japan. McLean Stevenson originally auditioned for the role of Hawkeye, but was convinced by producers to take the role of Lieutenant Colonel Blake instead. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? MASH Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Sandy Brown Lorraine was a one-time Succotash Queen at Illinois Normal (now Illinois State). [8] Still, shortly after the episode originally aired, the reactions and feedback of viewers were intense, both in support and condemnation of the events of the episode. the CBS television comedy M*A*S*H from 1974-75. The creators and also the network granted his wish. It does not store any personal data. 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. In the Richard Hooker novels and Robert Altman film, Henry Blake remained in command at the 4077th after Hawkeye and Duke went home. They knew the public may be confused since they were both best known for playing the same character. Henry is married to Lorraine (called "Mildred" throughout Season 1), and they have three children, Jane, Molly and Andrew, the latter of whom was born shortly after Henry shipped out for Korea. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. Burghoff left M*A*S*H in 1979 after the seventh season because of burnout and a desire to spend more time with his family, though he returned the following season to film a special two-part farewell episode, Goodbye Radar. Why did henry leave mash? - Answers Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? McLean Stevenson Henry Blake How to Make a Disposable Vape Last Longer? It is normal to cold feet before wedding. Not everybody, not every kid gets to go back to Bloomington, Illinois. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. M*A*S*H was not about happy endings. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Why did Frank Burns leave? Written by Fritzell, Jim and Greenbaum, Everett. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. M*A*S*H fans hearts broke everywhere when the show decided to kill off fan-favorite Henry Blake during the shocking Season 3 finale Abyssinia, Henry.. (She wrote) I feel that I have joined that all too non-inclusive fraternity of those who have lost a dear one overseas. I thought that was such an incredible observation by someone so young. Our site is an advertising-supported site. Henry spots an emotional Radar saluting him and approaches to return the salute, hug him, and chide him like a loving father to behave himself, before boarding and flying away. Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. Vital information Look, all I know is what they taught me in command school; there are certain rules about a war, and Rule Number 1 is that young men die. "Klinger, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and you're still in a housecoat?! WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. Henry even ordered Hawkeye and Trapper to sober her up quickly for incoming wounded so that the incident would not show up on her permanent military record. How did McLean Stevenson die? Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. RIP McLean and Roger. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. 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. Henry dared him to do it saying "He's done it so many times I've got footprints on my scalp". Rank: Is Tom Sandoval Dating Raquel? Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Gary was born with a rare condition called Poland syndrome. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Henry Blake This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. "We didn't want Henry Blake going back to Bloomington, Illinois and going back to the country club and the brown and white shoes, because a lot of guys didn't get back to Bloomington. Appeared in: MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series And we did make a connection. It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. Henry Blake For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. Appearances They both died of a heart attack as well. 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. The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. Writers gave them a page of dialogue at the last minute. Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! 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". Why did Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Henry arrives in his new suit, and Frank and Margaret give Blake a formal salute, but Henry chides Frank for being too disciplined. Why Did Henry Blake Leave 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. They didn't expect it but it made the point. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. And they really could not believe what was on the page.. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". The odd thing is, both actors died within hours of each other in real life. Colonel Henry Blake Scene. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. Henry Blake MASH Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Abyssinia, Henry We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.
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