Post by Utpe on Mar 26, 2017 23:32:09 GMT
I did buy the fact that Col. Potter wanted to continue being a doctor due to all of the good he and the 4077th did during the Korean conflict, but I don't know if they would make somebody as old as he was the head of an entire hospital, let alone perform surgery.
I can also see having Father Mulcahy being a priest in a hospital to provide religious services, but the fact that his deafness was suddenly cured was stupidly written into the show. He should have been at least partially deaf. I suppose William Christopher didn't want to continue to act hard of hearing if AfterMASH ran as long as the original series. I believe the excuse he made up was that Hawkeye performed a special surgery and was able to restore his hearing? I don't know, but that would have been extremely rare back then.
As for Klinger...well, for somebody that absolutely despised working for the Government, he's now employed at a VA hospital. The guy spent a majority of his time trying to get out. If I remember correctly, he went back to wearing dresses for one episode. I'm not sure why, but that was a dumb idea. The character matured in M*A*S*H; there's no need to knock him down a peg.
I know Gary Burghoff made a few guest appearances here and there, but I believe he was the only major character to return, especially after his show W*A*L*T*E*R (1984) wasn't picked up. Edward Winters (Col. Flagg) also appeared for one episode, and I remember thinking to myself years ago how idiotic it was and that it just didn't work with him being stateside. The whole spy thing kinda made sense on M*A*S*H because N. Koreans could be posing as S. Korean or American soldiers.
As I've said before, the supporting characters were forgettable. I don't even remember any of their names.
Some of the story lines were pretty interesting, but it just couldn't compete with its predecessor. You're right, the war is what drove the show. That, and missing a lot of the ensemble really hurt any chances of success. I guess it did need Alan Alda, but I suppose he wanted to distance himself from being recognized solely as Hawkeye at the time, even if they mentioned the character by name only.
I suppose it could have thrived if most of the original cast came back and the show was completely overhauled. It would have been nice if they had somebody like Frank Burns return and try to redeem himself, something along the lines of finding out that he actually is a good surgeon and that the pressure of the war is what got to him.
I'll give them credit, at least they tried, but it was just too soon after the original show had ended. They should have waited for the dust to settle. Remember, Trapper John, M.D. (1979 - 1986) was still airing, and other medical shows such as St. Elsewhere (1982 - 1988) was gaining a fan base. I honestly don't think AfterMASH stood a chance. I never expected them to be able to top Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. They set the bar too high.
CBS actually pulled it in the middle of the second season and decided to shelve it without airing any of the remaining episode(s). That was another bad move on their part to try and pit it against The A-Team (1983 - 1987). Of course it was doomed once they did that.
I can also see having Father Mulcahy being a priest in a hospital to provide religious services, but the fact that his deafness was suddenly cured was stupidly written into the show. He should have been at least partially deaf. I suppose William Christopher didn't want to continue to act hard of hearing if AfterMASH ran as long as the original series. I believe the excuse he made up was that Hawkeye performed a special surgery and was able to restore his hearing? I don't know, but that would have been extremely rare back then.
As for Klinger...well, for somebody that absolutely despised working for the Government, he's now employed at a VA hospital. The guy spent a majority of his time trying to get out. If I remember correctly, he went back to wearing dresses for one episode. I'm not sure why, but that was a dumb idea. The character matured in M*A*S*H; there's no need to knock him down a peg.
I know Gary Burghoff made a few guest appearances here and there, but I believe he was the only major character to return, especially after his show W*A*L*T*E*R (1984) wasn't picked up. Edward Winters (Col. Flagg) also appeared for one episode, and I remember thinking to myself years ago how idiotic it was and that it just didn't work with him being stateside. The whole spy thing kinda made sense on M*A*S*H because N. Koreans could be posing as S. Korean or American soldiers.
As I've said before, the supporting characters were forgettable. I don't even remember any of their names.
Some of the story lines were pretty interesting, but it just couldn't compete with its predecessor. You're right, the war is what drove the show. That, and missing a lot of the ensemble really hurt any chances of success. I guess it did need Alan Alda, but I suppose he wanted to distance himself from being recognized solely as Hawkeye at the time, even if they mentioned the character by name only.
I suppose it could have thrived if most of the original cast came back and the show was completely overhauled. It would have been nice if they had somebody like Frank Burns return and try to redeem himself, something along the lines of finding out that he actually is a good surgeon and that the pressure of the war is what got to him.
I'll give them credit, at least they tried, but it was just too soon after the original show had ended. They should have waited for the dust to settle. Remember, Trapper John, M.D. (1979 - 1986) was still airing, and other medical shows such as St. Elsewhere (1982 - 1988) was gaining a fan base. I honestly don't think AfterMASH stood a chance. I never expected them to be able to top Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. They set the bar too high.
CBS actually pulled it in the middle of the second season and decided to shelve it without airing any of the remaining episode(s). That was another bad move on their part to try and pit it against The A-Team (1983 - 1987). Of course it was doomed once they did that.