On this day February 28 1983 the final episode of M*A*S*H aired marking the end of one of television’s most beloved series. After 11 seasons and 256 episodes, the groundbreaking comedy drama came to an emotional conclusion with the two and a half hour finale titled Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.
The episode became a historic television event, drawing an estimated 106 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV finale of all time, a record that still stands for scripted television. MASH, which followed the lives of doctors and soldiers stationed at a Korean War mobile army surgical hospital, blended comedy and drama in a way that had never been done before, tackling themes of war, friendship, and humanity with wit and emotional depth.
Starring Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, and David Ogden Stiers, the show was both a critical and cultural success, influencing generations of TV writers and paving the way for future dramedies. Even after its final episode, MASH remains one of the most respected and widely loved series in television history.
80s insight: The final episode of MASH was so popular that it briefly caused a citywide plumbing issue in New York, as millions of people reportedly flushed their toilets at the same time once the episode ended.
The episode became a historic television event, drawing an estimated 106 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV finale of all time, a record that still stands for scripted television. MASH, which followed the lives of doctors and soldiers stationed at a Korean War mobile army surgical hospital, blended comedy and drama in a way that had never been done before, tackling themes of war, friendship, and humanity with wit and emotional depth.
Starring Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, and David Ogden Stiers, the show was both a critical and cultural success, influencing generations of TV writers and paving the way for future dramedies. Even after its final episode, MASH remains one of the most respected and widely loved series in television history.
80s insight: The final episode of MASH was so popular that it briefly caused a citywide plumbing issue in New York, as millions of people reportedly flushed their toilets at the same time once the episode ended.
