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Producer Burt Metcalfe revealed what made M*A*S*H a hit
Metcalfe attributed M*A*S*H's success to the characters, writing, and its realness.
M*A*S*H (1972) defied many labels during its 11 seasons on air. When the series first aired in 1972, it was labeled as a "situational comedy." It was often put in the same category as The Brady Bunch and Three's Company. While those were great shows, they weren't M*A*S*H.
The purpose of M*A*S*H was to make light of one of the most terrifying things in the world: war. The series was surrounded by the darkness of war, but the characters and the realness they brought helped set it apart.
According to a 1979 interview with the Macon Telegraph, producer Burt Metcalfe, who had been producing the series since 1976, said the series never fit into a box, but that was what made it stand out among other hit series at the time.
"I'm not sure anyone has ever figured out what makes it work," Metcalfe said. "It has solidarity, a substantial underpinning of humanity and reality. The last thing we wanted to do was another McHale's Navy or Sgt. Bilko."
In the beginning, there were many questions about how the series could stack up to the 1970 M*A*S*H film. Even Metcalfe, at first, wasn't sure how it could come close to the bitter, bloody, black humor that made the M*A*S*H movie so monumental.
Credit was given to the series' cast, which included Alan Alda, Gary Burghoff, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, and the rest of the 4077th, for their dedication to their roles and their ability to make the hard times feel a little more lighthearted.
"We built on the basis of a number of diverse characters thrust into a bad situation—one not of their own choosing—and surviving as best they can, and not always heroically," Metcalfe said. "Above all, they're human beings."
M*A*S*H originally ranked 46th in the ratings during its first year on CBS, and there was even a risk of cancellation. However, during its second season, it rose to the top 10 TV shows in the country, according to the Nielsen ratings.
The series and its cast had to overcome a lot to get to where it ended up. From CBS changing the show's time slot five times in eight seasons to four major characters saying their goodbyes while the series was still on the air, Metcalfe and the rest of the 4077th had their hands full.
Despite all of the challenges, M*A*S*H remained one of the most iconic and successful TV series of its time.
"It worked for us," Metcalfe said. "There's really an enormous advantage because the chemistry has changed all the time."
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