While he is tying things up, burns prepares for his new command. Lieutenant colonel henry blake mclean stevenson is the subject of a death threat with multiple attempts that are disguised as. In the cbs television series, mash 197283, col henry blake finished his reserve duty during the season 3 finale and headed home. The groundbreaking way mash let its beloved henry blake. A subsidiary legend associated with this episode holds that reynolds and gelbart opted to take the unusual course of killing off the henry blake character in order to spite actor mclean stevenson. Lieutenant colonel blake was the happygolucky, easygoing commanding officer of the. In a surprise twist at the end of the episode, the characters. At the end of the episode hes shown ushering in 1952. In episode 72, henry blake was to be discharged from the army as the actor mclean stevenson had decided to leave the series. The plot of the episode centers on the military discharge and subsequent departure of the 4077th.
The second clip, social distancing, pulls from the first season of mash, from the episode cowboy. Besides being a message to the other cast members and stevenson that if they leave they arent coming backbecause the show was a few years in and popular and at the point when actors start asking for a lot more money to keep the cas. Its with a heavy heart that i have to make an addition so soon. However, the writers made a terrible decision in letting henry blake be killed on a plane back home over the sea of japan. How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. When colonel bidwell asks colonel potter whom hawkeye meant when he said dont let the bastard win. First aired on march 18, 1975, and written by everett greenbaum and jim fritzell, the highly rated episode was most notable for its shocking and unexpected ending. In a surprise twist at the end of the episode, the characters learn that blakes plane was shot down en route to japan, and everyone aboard died. The syndicated edit of this episode omits the final sequence, which is the series of clips from previous shows, featuring short shots of mclean stevenson as henry. In the third season finale abyssinia, henry, henry blake is sent home, to coincide with mclean stevenson s departure from the show. Colonel blake was discharged, only to board a plane that was shot down over the sea of japan, killing everyone on boarda development added after scripts were distributed so the shows actors would display genuine emotion. They begin to eagerly make plans on how they will change the mash unit. Oct 25, 2018 henry blake s death was a surprise cbs when stevenson asked to leave the show, the writers saw it as an opportunity to make a statement about the wastefulness of war and its dangers. One of the segments he talks about the last henry blake episode in detail.
Henry blake was a beloved figure within both the fictional world of mash as well as the shows fanbasehis death came as a shock to the mid70s american monoculture. After the sudden tragic death of henry blake, no one felt in the mood for a party. The last episode filmed was the penultimate episode, as time goes by, which featured the previouslydiscussed time capsule. None of the cast knew of blakes death when filming, hence their genuine heartbreak. In the final episode of the third season of mash, lt. Death of henry blake post by melodyman mon jul 17, 2017 11. Nov, 2009 on february 28, 1983, the celebrated sitcom mash bows out after 11 seasons, airing a special twoandahalf hour episode watched by 77 percent of the television viewing audience. The episode was called abyssinia, henry and it aired on march 18, 1975. I laughed, cried and laughed again the first time i watched it. The plot of the episode centers on the honorable discharge and subsequent departure of the 4077th mashs commanding officer, lieutenant colonel henry blake played by mclean stevenson. This is radars episode as much as henrys, if not more.
With 14 emmy awards and an audience of over 100 million viewers, the tv show mash. That means the edited version goes from radars grim announcement in o. After returning to the united states, linville began his acting career at the barter theatre in abingdon, virginia, a yearround repertory theatre under director robert porterfield before mash. Radar shares with henry blake how much he meant to him and gives him a present of a winchester cartridge inscribed with to col. Mash celebrated the completion of this seasons shooting with a cast. The performance by burghoff is phenomenal, rightfully famous everything he does is good, but this, as he stumbles into the o. Stevenson also appeared on a number of television series, notably the tonight show starring johnny. The episode was written by eight collaborators, including series star alan alda, who also directed. Accord to this 1952 hasnt happen, yet henry blake diedleft in 1952. On february 28, 1983, the celebrated sitcom mash bows out after 11 seasons, airing a special twoandahalf hour episode watched by 77 percent of the television viewing audience. Welcome to korea is the twopart season four premiere of mash.
What makes this episode sadder are the circumstances behind it. I could understand henry dying during the show and then seeing the grief and sadness of the other characters but the way it was done was almost an afterthought. The closing scene of the episode, which shows the best of henry blake and drives home his demise. But the cast of mash were genuinely hurt and shocked by the death of their close pal, henry blake.
Why was col henry blake of mash killed off after he was. Why the reallife hawkeye pierce hated mash history. Radar tearfully salutes a departing henry blake when he inspects the troops for. The controversy surrounding henrys death and the fact that both cbs. There is the touching moment during the episode when henry and radar are cleaning out the office. Trapper john leaves without telling hawkeye goodbye and hawkeye chases after him in a bid for closure. Colonel henry blake, the commanding officer of the 4077th mash in korea, was killed while on his way home. Henry blake until they were actually filming the scene in wh. Henry blake did the cast of mash not learn of the death of col. Henry finds out hes been discharged from the army, and everyone at the 4077th prepares to say goodbye to him as he heads for home. Abyssinia, henry is the 72nd episode of the mash television series, and the final episode. And the episode was filmed long before it actually aired, so there was. Abyssinia, henry was the 72nd episode of the mash television series, and the final episode of the series third season.
Feb 15, 2010 larry gelbart on killing off henry blake on m. Feb 17, 1996 mclean stevenson, who played the amiable, slipshod lieut. Mash saddest episode before i type anything else this is just 1 of many episodes that i find sad, if you have an episode you thought were sad leave a reply which 1 and why it makes it sad this episode season 8 disc 3. One of the most depressing parts of the show was when lt. Henry blake on the television series mash for three seasons, died on thursday at the tarzana regional medical center in tarzana. Ive always assumed that television viewers watching mash on march 18th, 1975thats when abyssinia, henry was originally broadcast, for those of you who havent memorized air dateswere completely unaware of what was in store for colonel blake at the end of the episode.
He was also a character in the 1970 mash film, played by roger bowen, and more famously, in the mash television series, played by mclean stevenson. Henry blake is transferred to tokyo and frank starts imposing military discipline on the camp, the surgeons will do anything to get henry back. Sometimes you hear the bullet was surely the best ever mash episode. While henry is away in seoul, burns and houlihan are in charge, and hawkeye is the officer of the day. Feb 02, 2015 henry blake was a beloved figure within both the fictional world of mash as well as the shows fanbasehis death came as a shock to the mid70s american monoculture. Colonel henry braymore blake is a character introduced in the 1968 novel mash, written by h. In the beginning we have the surgeons working when radar brings good news to henry. The final scene, in which radar informs everyone of the death of henry blake, was unprecedented. Henry blake s death in the season 3 finale and the departure of trapper john mcintyre.
Mclean stevensons henry blake played in all 72 episodes of the first 3 seasons of mash before he met his tragic end at the end of the final episode. Mash 30th anniversary reunion special full episode may 2002 duration. Abyssinia, henry is the 72nd episode of the mash television series, and the final episode of the series third season. On the tv show mash why was colonel blake killed off. Alan alda discusses the final episode of mash emmytvlegends. Perhaps the most emotional episode was abyssinia, henry, when the commander of the 4077th, henry blake, leaves to come home. Henry blake was a beloved figure within both the fictional world of mash as well as the shows fanbasehis death came as a shock to the. In a related note, ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well. The shows writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season entitled abyssinia, henry, in which lt. Richard hornberger was famous for his wisecracking characters, but his real accomplishments were as a surgeon. Larry gelbart did an interview for emmy tv legends that you can see on youtube. With alan alda, wayne rogers, mclean stevenson, loretta swit. Mclean stevenson, who played the amiable, slipshod lieut.
Oh, my gosh, sadly this will be a long list by now. May 23, 2009 the syndicated edit of this episode omits the final sequence, which is the series of clips from previous shows, featuring short shots of mclean stevenson as henry. The 5 best mash episodes to stream on hulu tv insider. Closing out the series 11th season, the twohour episode first aired on cbs on february 28, 1983, ending the series original run. Lieutenant colonel blake was the happygolucky, easygoing. For what should have been a happy ending to a fan favorite character ended up turning tragic at the last few moments of the episode when word came that henry blakes plane was shot down as he was headed stateside. After all, the bulk of the cast and crew had no idea that larry gelbart and gene. Before his fiveyear costarring role on mash, linville had gueststarring roles on many of the wellknown television series of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Morgans major roles included pete porter in both december bride 19541959 and pete and gladys 19601962.
Col potter is shown ushering in 1951 at a new years eve party. Right after trapper left without a word and after bidding lt. Weary and stained in blood, doctors hawkeye, trapper, b. November 14, 1927 february 15, 1996 was an american actor and comedian. There are several scene who always have me on the brink of tears, but the one i always remember first is from season 5 the generals practicioner. First aired on cbstv on march 18, 1975, and written by everett greenbaum and jim fritzell, this highly rated episode was most notable for its shocking and unexpected ending. Famous mash quotes quotable quotes what happens in the event that figure a is attracted to figure b and wants to get married. Henry blake mclean stevenson farewell, radar breaks the devastating news that the commanding officers plane was shot down. Abyssinia, henry was the 72nd episode of the mash television series, and the.
Mash getting to the mash 4077 film set location in malibu creek park california in full hd. It was the one and only death of a major character on the show. Abyssinia, henry tv series episode monster mash fandom. This is the first episode in which the medical staff failed to save a wounded soldier, and one of the first episodes of the series showing a member of the hospital staff truly affected by death. Aug 29, 2018 with 14 emmy awards and an audience of over 100 million viewers, the tv show mash helped the nation come to grips with the harsh and occasionally hilarious realities of war. According to wikipedia, alan alda had mclean stevensons character lt. Mar 21, 2009 a subsidiary legend associated with this episode holds that reynolds and gelbart opted to take the unusual course of killing off the henry blake character in order to spite actor mclean stevenson. His refusal to release a wounded korean soldier, wanted by us intelligence, leads to a confrontation with colonel flagg. The endofseason wrap party for the cast of mash for the 1975 season was abruptly canceled. Colonel henry blake in the television series mash, which earned him a golden globe award in 1974.
Goodbye, farewell and amen is a television film that served as the 256th and final episode of the american television series mash. But figure a is already married to figure c and figure b is engaged to figure d but figure a cant keep his hands of figure b because shes got such a. Richard hornberger under the pen name of richard hooker. April 10, 1915 december 7, 2011 was an american actor and director whose television and film career spanned six decades.