Like many powerful forces, television can be used for good or evil. Often, these outcomes depend on those viewing these programs. However, those who are creating television programming are perhaps the most responsible for the messages they're broadcasting.

While television is frequently diminished by those who claim it is "mindless entertainment," many people don't see it that way.

Mike Farrell, for example, viewed television as a powerful tool. Farrell, of course, played B.J. Hunnicutt on the popular show M*A*S*H.

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"Like it or lump it, people are learning as a result of what they watch," said Farrell during an interview with The Boston Globe.

"And if you're teaching them negative, sexist, racist, ugly, pointless, anti-human values, that's what they're learning. If you teach them the reverse, as I think has been the case with M*A*S*H, then that's what they've learned. And I think people in the medium of television ought to look out!"

As previously indicated, Farrell felt that his series had accomplished the ever-elusive goal of remaining a positive force in television. Farrell felt that M*A*S*H did more than educate fans; the show healed them."

"I feel awfully good about what this show has done," said Farrell. "And I'm not just talking about making people happier. I've gotten reactions about the significant effect M*A*S*H has on people's lives - people with alcohol or drug problems, with various personal problems, who have found something in our show that gave them the strength to conquer something that was destroying them. When I hear that, it just makes me want to weep! If all we ever did on the show is make the statement that people are valuable, it's worth everything we've ever done."