Where To Watch
Wayne Rogers vs. Alan Alda: What really caused the M*A*S*H fallout?
Wayne Rogers shocked fans when he left M*A*S*H before Season 4. Discover what led to his departure, behind-the-scenes tension with Alan Alda, and how producers reacted
Breakups are hard to do. Even during some of the best-case scenarios, emotions run high, and it's impossible to predict how someone else will react. Whether they're romantic or professional ties, it's up to both parties to determine how dignified—or messy— the outcome is.
Add to this the pressures of primetime television, and it's clear why sitcom casting changes are some of the messiest career moves we read about. Not only are there producers, writers, directors, and co-stars to consider, but there is also the public's scrutiny that one must contend with.
The Real Reason Wayne Rogers Left M*A*S*H
While cast shakeups were nothing new in 1975, it was still quite surprising when Wayne Rogers left M*A*S*H before the show's fourth season. He was on one of TV's biggest shows but chose to try his luck in greener pastures.
A June 1975 article in The Cincinnati Enquirer first gave room for Rogers's manager to speak on the matter, explaining that the actor was tired of living in his co-star Alan Alda's shadow. However, the paper then allowed for the producers' point of view, interviewing Gene Reynolds about the unceremonious exit.
Was Wayne Rogers Overshadowed by Alan Alda?
"When M*A*S*H went on the air," Reynolds explained, 'Alan Alda had five or six Broadway shows behind him, plus about eight feature films. He probably was the hottest comic actor to be captured by TV. It was really a triumph to get him, and he has performed magnificently.
"Wayne, on the other hand, hadn't been terribly busy since Stagecoach West. He had spent most of the previous 10 years developing his business affairs. We always told Wayne that Alan would bear the heaviest responsibility for carrying the comedy."
Ensemble vs. Spotlight: A Philosophical Clash on M*A*S*H
What made M*A*S*H successful was the way the writers created scripts to play to the ensemble's strengths. While most of the actors were pleased to serve the writing, Rogers felt he deserved more of the limelight.
"Alan is an extremely gifted light comedian, which Wayne doesn't pretend to be," said Reynolds. "But Wayne has not been deprived. He was in nearly every scene, and I don't think he has any justifiable complaints."
Related
