A heartfelt moment in regards to Radar was when Hawkeye and BJ discover his beloved teddy bear on his bunk following his departure. A symbol that Radar arrived a boy and left a man, as so many other soldiers do in times of war.
Gary Burghoff should have gotten an EMMY for his perfect delivery the death of Col. Blake in McLean Stevenson's last episode! The emotional pitch was Emmy-worthy!
The scene Radar walks into the OR without a mask looking distraught and to deliver the news that Col Blake's plane went down was one of the most dramatic scenes in tv I watched when I was young. There was no other actor on that show that could've delivered those lines and project the devastating sorrow like Gary did.
Scene was filmed in a single take Rest of cast were told to look busy in theatre and wait for an announcement from Radar, Gary was handed a note and told to read it out in character Those reactions were all real and unrehearsed
The immediate silence following , a couple of quiet sobs, the refocus to the patients literally under the knife, the instruments clicking. The tears are still there this many years later.
@@347Jimmy This is a myth. Although I do love the story. The truth is, the actors were indeed given the script the day of filming, but not long before the scene. They knew what the script said, and what Radar was going to announce. It is true they did it in one take. If you remember hearing a knife (or some utensil) fall to the floor in the scene, that was off camera, unscripted, but the producer decided to leave it in.
My father, a veteran, said MASH was incredibly accurate. I remember the episode where Radar has alcohol for the first time. “It just makes me numb.” Hawkeye says, That’s the point, Radar.”
@@dawnelder9046For it being a half hour television show, it was incredibly accurate on how they got a lot of military equipment, of the time period, protocols, etc. Somebody really must have done their research?
Radar's announcement of Henry Blake's death could not have been done better by any other cast member. I think every viewer was as devastated as the other cast members. All the cast were so believable and clearly drawn. But Gary's TV portrayal of Walter 'Radar" O'Reilly was so much more than full than in the movie. Brilliant...!
What I loved about Radar was his assortment of pets that he took care of. I really loved the episode where he and BJ rescued Sophie the mare and gave her to Colonel Potter.
The disfigurement to his hand was exactly the kind of thing that would get you labeled 4f (unfit for service) by the Army, so it makes sense they tried to hide it. He absolutely owned the role though.
This comment makes sense. The Army's avoidance of physical problems would be a good reason for Gary to hide his hand, but the disfigurement did nothing to hinder his career. I saw him many times as the original Charlie Brown, live on stage, and the hand was there to see, but Gary's brilliant acting made it invisible or insignificant. He did whatever interested him, including playing the piano! I have seen other productions of "You're a Good Man, CB," including the Broadway revival, and no other actor has even come close to what he did with the role.
Being set during wartime they could of worked it into the show. Have the hand disfigured in a bomb shrapnel incident. Have him wear bandages for a couple of episodes, and then perhaps he wears a glove if he wants (or doesn't). The others then cover for him whenever it's suggested by a visiting higher up that he really should be sent home due to the injury. Might have made for some interesting comedic/dramatic moments. Might have also emphasized the permancy of the effects of war by having one character have such a visible reminder.
I was turned down when I tried to join the Army in 1977, due to a condition called scoliosis (curvature of the spine) I never even knew I had it until I failed the physical. Radar and Col Blake were my favorite characters on MASH. My least favorite was Alan Alda. I really don't know what he was like as a person, but Hawkeye was an arrogant SOB. Frank may have been a jerk, but Hawkeye came across as being just plain mean.
Guys, HERE is The TRUE Savior YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF” From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic: "Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3) Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation Yad - "Behold The Hand" He - "Behold the Breath" Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
WRONG! Gary left because a fire started near his home causing his family to have to evacuate. He was in LA filming and they were in Connecticut. The fire worried him and he felt he needed to be closer to home and his wife and kids. THAT'S why he left, not burnout
Something I haven't seen anyone mention here is that Radar is also one of the only characters that can be tied to a real person. Radar was based on the company clerk of the MASH unit that Richard Hooker, the author of the original MASH novel that the film and TV series is based upon, served in when he was in Korea. His name was Don Shaffer, and he was really from Otumwa, IA. Unlike Radar, he made a career in thr military and was later an instructor in the intelligence field. He passed away in 2022 at age 92. You can search on here for some videos about him and also some of him doing speaking engagements.
My dad ( god rest is soul) worked at ibm for 30 years. He was a quality engineer. But his nickname was Radar, they could pass for identical twins, hair, glasses, teeth. My dad went to a Ft Bragg surplus store cause he was given a 4F when drafted for Vietnam. He had a double jointed trigger finger. He had to buy the the uniform. He went to a look a like contest and they thought he was the REAL Radar !! 😂He had to show them his ID and prove his wasn’t the real Radar. Btw he did win 😂 Yes we quit watching after radar left but I had radar at home. 😂true story … miss you dad
I would argue, Hawkeye admitting his actions led to the death of child were more heartbreaking, as some so dedicated to saving life, he felt personally responsible for the death of someone so innocent was up there as one of the most heartbreaking scenes in MASH.
@@Spazilton1 I agree also...I just watched the last episode of MASH last night. Charles sees the musicians being taken away for an exchange for US POWs then the next day he is has to operate on one of them after the truck was blown up..he was the only one who made it out but he massive chest injuries.
Gary was always my favorite. When I was in my teens I was happy to find out that my aunt and uncle lived next door to Gary. He would come over often and he would often gift them with drawings and paintings. Which have been passed down to me and my siblings. Gary now lives in Florida and unfortunately I haven't spoken to him in quite some time. He was always super nice and very funny especially when talking with my uncle.
This is very interesting to read! I had heard he was a jerk, but he must have liked all of you deeply! (The topic of Gary came up on Reddit, when someone asked which celebrities are nice or which are mean, and so people wrote about their personal meetings with various celebrities.) The subject of Gary was something else. I thought he would be a really nice person, but story after story of people who had met him, or whose family lived by him, well, it was surprising. So, I am glad you had a great experience. Maybe when he knew your family, he wasn't tired of people.
@@BlackSeranna super interesting. All of my experiences with him were very pleasant. I could definitely see him not wanting to interact with people. He did seem like he wanted to be alone. But did not hesitate to allow me to walk up while he was raking leaves and ask him questions. A couple times I did ask about the TV show. Most of the time I asked about his art which he was more than willing to talk about. Him and my uncle had a funny old man banter and I think that's what attracted him to interact with us. Whenever they cooked they would always save a plate for him and at some point in the night he would come over and get it have a couple words. And then be on his way.
He didn't hide his hand because of insecurity... They hid his hand simply because somebody with physical disabilities like that would never be drafted into the Army.
Thanks for this video. Gary was unforgettable as "Radar" in M*A*S*H, yet people forget how perfect he was in the musical, "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown", and just about every other project he worked on during his career. A true multi-talented man.
My whole family loved M*A*S*H. I liked the whole cast. All of us shed quite a few tears when Radar left, but we definitely cried a bit harder when Colonel Blake was killed on his way stateside. The way Radar announced Blake's death was what did it. My Mom owns the entire series in the infamous disk collection and I borrow it now and then. One of the best nostalgia devices there is.
@@tundranomad they didn't tell the cast. Only Gary Burgoff and the writers knew about it so the crew gave a genuine gasp because they had no idea it was coming.
There is a funny outtake where Radar is too shy to remove his pants in front of Hawkeye and every time Radar thinks Hawk will see, he pulls up his pants again! Alan keeps breaking into laughter.
It's the episode with the soldier that didn't speak english, he kept yelling chinlee! They were giving him Radar's uniform so he could back to the front.
Jesus Christ died for your sins... 3 days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
It was because Gary had severe heart-surgery. My social studies class all chipped in and bought him a blue fuzzy bathrobe, and when the teacher took it into him at the hospital, he couldn't stop crying.
Yeah that’s not why he left the show though. Just sayin. But this is a great story and that’s really cool that all of you pitched in and did that for him.
@Charles I don't think that's the point the person known as" why i" was getting at..Of course, you can spend your money how you like. He was just having a lil fun with you..
One episode that got me was when Radar's mom sent a family movie reel with everyone in Iowa saying hi and Gary played the role as his mom. He was so good you could overlook him being mom and feel the sadness of them all missing each other.. Everyone in the 4077 Mash unit that watched it with Radar was crying. And Hotlips was my fav character. She was so beautiful and I liked how her character grew over the years
Just saw that episode a few days ago. I still watch the MASH reruns. Still so funny. My dad said it was accurate about Korea. He came back with PTSD my mom said. The military didn't call it that then.
Yes, ALL the characters had their own special talents and their place in the show. For a teenager watching this show in the 1970s, Hotlips Houlihan was a young boy s dream.....
MASH was first and foremost an ensemble cast - or grew into that. It had numerous actors of stellar-level quality, but the thing that really made it work is how the characters bounced off one another, in endless variety and sparkle. For me, picking a favorite would be a disservice to my memories of the show itself. In turn, they scintillated, were uproarious, touching, gentle, quirky, and mischievous. (I'm sure I've left something out.) But they never would have shown so wonderfully if they hadn't been bouncing off someone else all the time. I loved Hawkeye, BJ, and Charles, singly, in pairs, and as a trio. And wasn't Margaret the perfect fourth for bridge in that group! Father Mulcahey. I loved Radar greatly, and his relationship with Potter, and Sophie's stories. But what we would have missed without Klinger at the forefront as he was in the later years! And even some of the one-episoders were truly memorable. Remember the crazy soldier who outdid Klinger at crazy, speaking to Mr. Sock, and shooting down the invisible glider? (The episode's end with his letter to Klinger is for all time!) And I haven't covered the ground. None of these brilliantly written characters would have captured our hearts so entirely if they had not all been acted brilliantly as well. Everyone who participated in making that show has my thanks and lasting gratitude for the marvelous times of enjoyment.
I loved bumbling Lt.Col. Henry Blake played by Maclean Stevenson. It was a real tear jerker when Henry's plane was shot down and Radar had the agonizing duty to tell everyone the news. They were all in surgery and nobody could stop to greive. Honorable Mention to Colonel Flagg.
I used to watch Mash with my great uncle. He was in Korea. He was a surgeon at a Mash unit. He said it was the worst experience of his life but watching MASH the movie and then the TV shows made his PTSD just about go away. He recorded every single episode every special on VHS commercials and all. Also every DVD imaginable involving Mash. I watch them once in a while so I can remember my Uncle Dave. And I get sad in the episode we're radar leaves and I Cry at the end of the last episode like I'm never going to see my Brothers in Arms Again.....😣😭
Outstanding story! I used to love MASH, but by the end , I couldn't not see their liberal mindset. They are the group who is running and ruining everything today. Liberals destroy everything they get control of. Everything. I still love the show, for the reason you stated. It reminds me of my friends in the military and our time abroad. However, none of them hated the Constitution. like the left does today.
@@3-2-1-. you got that all wrong man the left does don't hate the Constitution. They just want to bend it and warp it to suit their needs. Just like the Republicans do. So here's the deal whether you are a Democrat or a Republican you are the reason why the United States is such a shitty place live. Remember in a fist fight it starts with two people. So Republicans and Democrats are equally to blame for the situation that we're in right now. Because of the Republicans and Democrats if the rest of the world decided to invade the United States because they no longer want to put up with our BS the Republicans and Democrats would argue about what to do for so long that by the time they figured out what to do there'd be no more United States. So before you want to blame the left you need to look at the right to and remember that we are all one person just trying to live and because the left side doesn't like what the right side is doing and the right side doesn't like what the left side is doing you completely ignore what's going on in the middle and not because of people like you this country is going to hell and we're headed for a serious Civil War. And on that day you and I will meet on the battlefield and before you realized why you were just destroyed by me before your last breath I'm going to let you know its because you made me do it. You couldn't just get along coexist work together for the common good instead you had to be selfish and self-centered and because of that the last thing that you're going to see will be my cracked smile staring back at you. That's what the Republicans want and the Democrats are taking steps to try to prevent that but at the same time there's only so much you can do to tell somebody the stove is hot before you just let him touch it to find out for themselves. And all of this that I'm telling you I'd say to a Democrat too. So please don't take it personal. Especially in the off chance that we do meet on the battlefield. But just know I'll see you miles before you even think I'm there. Me and mine were trained to hide in a flat field of grass that looks like it hadn't been mowed in 4 days. So have fun with that one.
👍🏼 And to think that in the 1980s people were saying that shows like MASH made light of war, there was no humor in it, people in a war theater wouldn't make jokes, etc. This was an excellent show, and I loved watching it as a kid (late 70s until it ended).
Jesus Christ died for your sins... 3 days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
I’ve probably watched every episode at least 10 times. I absolutely loved Radar, I was so sad to see him go, it wasn’t the same without him, but I still loved the show afterwards. When I was very sick for a few years, MASH reruns kept me sane. It will forever hold a special place in my heart ❤️
I grew up watching M*A*S*H during the 70’s and 80’s with it’s original run and watched the subsequent re-runs ad-nauseam but never grew tired of such a wonderful program. It was the perfect series that showed humour and compassion, and left viewers never forgetting the horrors of war. It was set in Korea but was also a commentary on the Vietnam war. My uncle fought in Korea and my father was in Vietnam, both were tight lipped about their experiences, unlike my grandfather who fought in WWII who would regale me with stories of his time fighting in North Africa, the Middle East, PNG, Borneo, and finally as part of the allied occupation forces in Japan, so watching M*A*S*H was in a way my gaining an understanding of what my father and uncle went through. My favourite was Colonel Potter, but like everyone I also loved Radar O’Reilly.
It was the episode during 3rd Season called Officer of the Day... where Hawkeye is Officer of the Day (OD Duty) and Radar is taking his pants off when a Korean woman walked in. It took a dozen takes since Gary could not stop laughing. That is what Alan spoke about in the message to Gary.
I figured it would be the sniper episode where RADARwas running through the camp, wearing only a towel. He goes left, a shot rings out. He goes right, another shot. He dashes for the showers, yanks open the door, and his towel falls off as he scrambles through the doorway.....
Actually, I was wondering if it was that episode where Hawkeye insists Major Houlihan give him some kind of conventional injection in his tushie, then Radar walks in as Hawkeye's pants are down, and Hawkeye (in the scene) couldn't stop laughing at Radar's embarrassment al walking in on him. Of course, then his pronouns would have been mixed up
This show holds a special place in my heart i used to hide behind the couch while my parents watched the show, I am 55 yrs old now and have watched the show about 93 % of every night of my life , i watch MASH while going to bed each night.. There is something about each char. and every change in the show that was perfect . I still watch every night it is my going to bed ritual , Thank You MASH for a lifetime of entertainment !!! and god bless the ones who have left us but forever in our hearts.
M*A*S*H* was a phenomenon in made for TV entertainment. It's enduring story and characters have yet to be duplicated in my opinion. I was in kindergarten when the show was becoming the big thing and throughout my elementary school years MASH, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, etc were talked about on the playground on a regular basis. There's been some great series to come out since then, but nothing like MASH.
MASH has one of the most emotionally devastating lines I have ever seen on TV. When Hawkeye says, "It was a baby!" it just blew me away. It was wonderfully done. Even more devastating when you learn it actually really happened.
That episode traumatized me, I was too young, and I remember thinking a crying baby might someday cost me my life. I've since outgrown it but crying babies brought me great anxiety for a long time.
i was a small kid when i saw that episode and after realizing what really happened i was so upset. Mash was so much more than a comedy , it seems back then shows like mash and all in the family taught lessons and could make u cry as much as laugh.....
My favorite Memory of Gary Burghoff was also a Childhood one, My mother and I lived just down the hill from Gary and one day she found his wallet in the Albertson's parking lot, I tagged along to return the wallet to him and we all had lunch- talked about stamps and he showed us some of his new paintings. I always loved seeing him around when he was home- and getting a chance to say hi. Later in life I was able to give him one of my own paintings and though I never got a rare stamp from him I still collect them to this day. Thanks in part to his influence and my mothers encouragement. Big and small stars loose stuff too!
I was assigned to the 46th surgical hospital "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" at Fort Devin's Massachusetts in the early 70's as the company clerk, Unlike radar I did not sleep with a teddy bear. Unlike the tv mash we did not use tents but rather inflatables which was a hospital and living quarters and mess hall which was all mobile.
I heard Mike Farrell speak in 1989, and he said that, when he asked Gary why he would leave MASH, the answer was, "Mike, I'm a 35 year old man, and people still see me as an 18 year old kid."
What's not commonly known is that René Auberjonois, who played Father Mulcahey in the movie adaptation of mash was offered to reprise the role in the TV series adaptation, but he'd turned it down
Later on, Rene Auberjonois signed on to play the villainous Clayton opposite Robert Guillaume in "BENSON" earning 2 or 3 Emmy nominations for his comedic performance. So it still worked out very well for him.
Love Gary!! As Radar…but I’ve been lucky enough to know him as a REAL person. I appeared in a Neil Simon play with him in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the 90’s. “ The Odd Couple”. What a great experience to get close to him and see firsthand how intelligent and talented he really is. An excellent drummer! Not childlike at all. Kind, witty, but an entirely different personality than Radar!! Thanks for the memories Gary!😀❤️
I think the scene was during a hepatitis outbreak "Hawkeye then visits Radar, who confides that he's been feeling insecure about how he's different than most of his other friends, who like to get drunk and consort with the various girls in town. Hawkeye gives him some wonderful, tender advice, telling him he takes "a little bit of Iowa with you wherever you go," and how one day, he'll meet the one special woman he's been waiting for his whole life. Radar is comforted, and thanks Hawkeye, only to have Hawkeye ask him to drop his pants."
3 years ago, I discovered MASH & it helped me keep my mind off of my depression & suicidal thoughts (it sounds strange, but it worked). I'm now 17 & I still enjoy watching the show today Edit 1: Thank you all for the support. God bless you all! Edit 2, the sequel: I find it just as ironic as you all do that the theme to MASH is "Suicide is Painless" yet it's helping me recover from my depression & suicidal thoughts.
Season 2 “the trial of Henry Blake” when Klinger tries to escape with a hang glider scene made me actually laugh out loud for the 1st time in years. I just saw it a few days ago. Glad you are still fighting.
Stand strong dood. Try to get out of your own head. When you feel bad, turn outward. Volunteer in a soup kitchen, or other such charity. When you work with people who have it worse that you it brings perspective. Worked for me anyway.
I hope u are doing ok today and i a.glad u found something to help u through it. have seen the movie too ? It's really good. I have been watching mash since I was young due to mental health issues too.
Gary's best moment on M*A*S*H was the last scene in Season 3, Episode 24, Abyssinia, Henry. I remember it vividly because it was the first tv show that I felt any real emotion for a fictitious character. His delivery was perfect.
Fun bit of trivia. The reactions to that piece of news about henry blake being killed were real as no one was told that was going to be what happened. not sure about gary but i agree, his delivery of the lines at the end were absolutely spot on and 100% perfect.
Radar showed the human side of soldiering and the child that we leave behind. As a US ARMY Medic 76-82 I loved this show and watched it with my brothers, back in the day. The MASH song was even played at an awards ceremony. The show is very accurate on every single bit, especially the bonds. Thank you Gary.
wonder if whomever picked that song for the ceremony knew the title and lyrics to the song. (Assuming it was a ceremony while you were in the Army) If it was while you were in the Army it wouldn't surprise me. Mil event coordinators often pick songs they feel are fitting when in actuality they aren't. lol (Retired Army, 89-12)
There was a episode of M*A*S*H where they made a comedy of the goings-on at the unit; much to the disapproval of the officer who wanted the movie done. However, at the end "Hawkeye" turned to the camera and stated that they 'goofed off' to relieve the pressures of 'barbarian surgery' and having to watch the young soldiers die needlessly. As soon as the series started, the show was swamped with former Korean doctors, nurses, et al, telling stories of actual happenings at MASH units during the real Korean War (which was shorter than the series itself!). These actual Korean veterans told many hilarious stories of shenanigans that actually transpired during the revel-making (again, to forget where they were and what they were having to go through and also 'do'' during the war itself...of which many of the actual stories were worked into the series itself, probably with some editing (,of course!)! basically, individual Korean MASH units actually 'pulled' many of the stunts used in the series, but were adapted for the main actors in the series to act out. On the series A PIECE OF CAKE (about a aviation defense unit in WW II England on Masterpiece Theater [PBS}, back years ago), Alistair Cooke said that many active-duty British pilots who were flying during the time period in which the film was made, contacted the series makers and proclaimed that there was no military UNIT in the (then) aviation units that had such a makeup of characters; however, many retired WW II British pilots contacted the makers of the series and claimed, "their WW II aviation unit had an individual 'character' that resembled one of the individual characters in the flying unit portrayed on A PIECE OF CAKE..though not all in the same unit." Both M*A*S*H and A Piece of Cake offered the viewers a synopsis of both of a typical WW II fighter unit defending England at the time and of the typical hijinx that went on with unit members of a combat surgical hospital near the Korean front trying to keep their sanity after impossible hours in surgery during the war.
I practically live just down the road from where Gary Burghoff has lived for many years, in Citrus county Florida, I won't mention the town out of respect for his privacy, though it is common knowledge around here. I live one county south of him in Hernando county and I can tell you he is just as well liked now as he was then. He is living the life he worked so hard for and deserves. Take care and God Bless from Florida.
I also agree, but there's still solid stuff in the later seasons. I like how BJ and Hawkeye's relationship grows pretty organically. Winchester was a great replacement for Burns, and Potter's folksy demeanor was also pretty welcome. The show dips more heavily into the drama as the show goes on and while the show overall gets less funny as time goes on, it still keeps that heart that it started with. My real decline is Radar being replaced by Klinger, imo but the last episode will always be an incredible send-off to a long running show that could still be genuinely emotional at times.
I clearly remember seeing him on a program talking with children about disabilities and showing his hand to explain why Radar always had his hand in his pocket. I just can’t remember if it was Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, or an After School Special.
Radar had to have shot and asked Hawkeye to give it to him. A butt shot! Gary couldn’t drop trou and laughed and laughed and couldn’t stop! The scene😊 is somewhere on UTube.
The pants thing was when Pierce was officer of the day and radar was taking his pants off in his room, and was supposed to notice Hawkeye watching him and call him out on it. There were many bloopers of that scene because Radar kept laughing and ruining the takes.
Another reason for Gary to hide his left hand is that his character would likely never have been allowed in the military with his digit difference. Hiding his hand kept from puncturing the illusion.
There was also a Series Three Episode "Officer of the Day" where Hawkeye is in charge of the camp where Colonel Blake is away in Tokyo. There is a scene where Radar is taking his trousers off and Hawkeye does joke about it. There is several outtakes of this which does appear in the 30th Anniversary Reunion show.
Col. Potter and Radar are in a jeep. Potter is looking through binoculars which a practical joker has blackened. Gary’s reaction when Harry Morgan’s eyes are ringed with ink is priceless. So genuine! I always wondered if he knew it was going to happen or did they keep him in the dark until the scene was shot? Lol non the less. 😂
I love Allan Arbus! It would always be so comforting when he made an appearance on Mash. He also had one of my favorite lines, "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice!"
There was one other character from the movie, although not a main character, who was also in the series, but was only there for the 1st season. Ho Jon. Everybody always forgets about this young Korean servant.
I’ve watched every episode cover to cover several times and always watch it if it comes on flipping through channels. I think there’s something so homey about MASH, something that brings back a comforting feeling of watching when I was a kid. Memories from childhood are always nice
I loved Radar!! He always reminded me of Charlie Brown, so it was cool learning he did the voiceover for him!! And yes, I kept watching after he left, but I also always missed him. I cried when he left (especially with the teddy bear scene🥺), and I cried when the show ended, as well as when McLean Stevenson's character died. That was AWFUL!!!!!
I watch it, whenever it's on TV, it was on earlier this year, where I live. I still laugh at most of the episodes, there are a few that I still cry over. I think it will be around, for many more years.
Jesus Christ died for our sins... Three days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
I was working in a Fred Meyer store years ago in Chico, CA and my department was Gardening/plants. I got a call over the intercom that help was needed in the Garden Department. I grudgingly walked over and Gary was standing there. Boy was I nervous. He was friendly and I helped him out and answered his questions. Then I thanked him for the article he had written for Guideposts Magazine. He said that at the time of filming Mash that he was miserable and made everyone else on set miserable, but he had now come to peace with himself. He was very gracious and we carried on a conversation for awhile. A few years later my parents were over on the Norther California coast near Bodega Bay and one of the art galleries was having a showing with Gary's animal drawings. My folks purchased one of his prints and related the Fred Meyer story. Gary signed the drawing for me and made a comment. However, to this day, I can no longer locate the signed print. Sigh.
Radar had the most range... and was the innocent, physically comedic, and narrative glue for the series. Without Burghoff there is no MASH. He was on par with Alda, Swit, and Farr.
I've watched MASH since the very beginning and still watch reruns of MASH. Radar was always my favorite he was such a sweet, gentle, kind, soul, he took such good care of his pets, he had dimples and slept with a teddy bear 🧸 I didn't even notice that they hid his hand, I just seen a good and caring person.
I never noticed his hand. I think they might have also wanted to hide it because it would have been something that forced him out of the military so they wanted to keep it realistic. For my favorite character it was either Alan Alda the main star or the quirky father/priest William Christopher but Gary was definitely a beloved character for me.
It surprised me that you missed his other work. After MASH he started checking the speed of vehicles. First in Wisconsin and later via satellite all across North America. He is single handedly responsible for those signs you've seen that read, "SPEED CHECKED BY RADAR."
After watching MASH over and over for decades, Radar's character changed the longer the series went. At first, he was more like his character from the movie. A sleeper, with sharp wit, that wasn't so innocent. But as the series went on, his character started to regress into a nieve, innocent child. I think the character should have stayed truer to the movie Radar. That humor was a bit more sharp than the humor in the series, as it progressed.
They all hold a special place in my heart, but Radar sorta grew up over there. He went over a lil boy at heart and came home a man..... thats why he left his teddy bear. It was so heart breaking that episode.
I was born in the early seventies and grew up watching Mash. My favorite episode was when they were trying to figure out what he was doing with boxes he was sending home. They x-rayed them and he was sending home an entire Jeep piece by piece 😂😅🤣. I think that episode gave me and my late father our love for Jeeps.
I'm sure others have mentioned it but the scene Alan Alda was referring to was Gary disrobing and taking off his pants and Alan breaking up laughing while sitting on a bench. It is a classic blooper. To this day I still watch MASH reruns. It was and still is a timeless classic none of us will forget. I will never forget all of us in college watching the last episode in 1983. It truly is a great show!
I wondered if it was the episode where that general tries to film a propaganda piece at the 4077th and Trap, Hawk, and Radar drop trough during one scene as a joke. Thanks for the clarification.
@@djtforever1414 You got it right! at about 16:36 is the scene they kept breaking up. As a bonus, it was a another great episode with Col Flagg (Edward Winter)!
I remember a story about when this show first came on. A US Army Korean war veteran got about halfway through the first episode when he took his shotgun and blew up the family TV. After my fifteen months in Korea , U.S. Army '74 -'75 (Yongsan and then 2d ID) I could no longer sit through an episode of M.U.S.H. either. But I still liked my TV....
My Dad served in Korea '73-'75 at the 121 Evac. I wonder if you and he ever crossed paths. Also, thank you for your service. And I mean that sincerely.
I just wish he new that he was a inspiration to a lot of people that knew about his hand that are also disabled like him he taught us to strive for her to be the best we can be that's who we are! Thank you Gary! For teaching me that I lost my eye at 8 months old in 1976! Yes it people can be rough and treat bad! I just showed that I can do the same as them only thing was that I tried harder and people respected me for it! Thanks again Gary! M.A.S.H. IS STILL MY FAVORITE SHOW!
Radar was a great character and the way they handled his character development over the years was wonderful. I liked Charles because like the other characters he was just trying to survive. I found it strange that attempts were made to make Charles look bad for clinging to his social status to survive yet Hawkeye was an egomaniacal drunk yet some how a good person. weird. Sydney Friedman had one of the greatest line in TV history in my opinion, "Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice."
Radar was a great character and I don’t think the series would have lasted as long without him. My favorites were Sidney the shrink and Sgt. Rizzo from motor pool.
Gary Burghoff was excellent as radar. And he was so very talented. And I'm sure he still is as long as he's still alive. He was one of my favorites, McLean Stevenson was the other. And the most here jerking the scene was the one where McLean Stevenson's character is playing went down and radar had to explain it to everyone. A lot of messages in that one.
I admit I'm a huge M*A*S*H fan, I have all the seasons on CD, an official shirt and dog tags. I don't think there was a favorite character on M*A*S*H, for me, they were all great and all of them made the show what it was.
About the pants birthday Tweet. I'm sure Alan was referring to a scene where Hawkeye was officer of the day. It was a scene where Hawkeye was sitting down in the Colonel's office having a drink with the door connected to Radar's living quarters open. And Radar was changing getting ready for bed, they had to retake the scene multiple times because they had a laughing fit everytime Radar pulled down his pants and franticallyy pulled them back up as Hawkeye looked his way, Alan would crack up every single time..
I watched it whenever I could when it first came out and later in reruns, even after Radar left. I missed Radar but there were other great characters to also watch.
Yeah Radar was my favorite and I watched some after that. I wonder how they would have brought Radar back if Gary had wanted to because he was sent home as the mother's last relative. At least there might have been a loophole which they didn't leave for McLean Stevenson by having Henry Blake be shot down (although a soap opera would let you assume death and somehow he would end up somehow surviving and reemerging). People generally tended to think the show was too much Alan Alda even though he was top billed and maybe if Gary was a problem it was because he really was getting burned out.
This is only my opinion but I enjoyed Gary’s character more in his earlier portrayal of Radar. He seemed to digress into more of a childlike naive character as time went on. I read somewhere that the red drum set he played in an early episode was previously owned by Gene Krupa whom Gary was friends with.
Born in the 60’s MASH was the time of day I spent with my mum and dad and we would all gather and just laugh or cry together!! Caught kissing by “the brothers” at my first boyfriend’s all boys catholic school dance, my nickname became “hot lips hoolihan”…😊Even the theme music makes me think of fun and family!! Loved them all!!
The "pants blooper" was probably the one in "Officer Of The Day" where Hawkeye is sitting on a cot in Henry's office, watching while Radar is trying to get undressed to go to bed! They couldn't get the timing quite right, with Gary fiddling with the belt buckle and trying to get the line, "Would you turn your head, please?" out. It was apparently pretty late in the day, as Alan makes the comment, "I have an appointment tomorrow morning!"
If memory serves, someone else in the cast said that "some people" could dish it out, but he couldn't take it. And Gary snapped, "Well, I'm getting pretty tired of dishing it out." And didn't even realize what he'd said.
Radar was my favorite character on M*A*S*H. I was born in 1980, but I have read the book, which I own, and I have the movie, and the complete series, I watch M*A*S*H about 4x a year! It's my favorite TV show next to Little House on the Prairie.
I believe the pants episode scene that both Gary and Alan were in was Officer of the Day, where Alan was in the Colonel's office preparing to sleep, and Gary was getting undressed in the front office where he slept. There were many outtakes of that scene, and it had both of them laughing. Sometimes we can't know what actors are thinking and feeling, and it is a puzzlement to us when an actor leaves. With Mclain Stevenson being the first to leave, then Rogers, and so on... MASH wound up being something far different from its conception. Was it a bad thing? Overall no... but the humor was toned down to include more serious topics, which i think the creators as well as Alan Alda felt needed to be included. War is not funny, in their minds. But for me, it wasn't about war. It was about people working under adversity, overcoming with things they had on hand... booze, sex, and friendship. With each person who left, Gary was the one that left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I had just watched Goodbye Radar last night, and the whole time Radar was more upset than he was his usual lovable self. I don't know if that was because he just wanted out of there, or because they brought him back for those two episodes, or just poor writing on the part of the staff. All in all, Gary put forth a great performance, and if all he was remembered for is doing a character by the fond name of Radar, he can be very proud of himself. It's not often you can be embedded in so many people's hearts. Yes, we remember all of the great people on MASH, but Gary was as they said in the show, "The one who actually ran the MASH unit"
That picture of Barbara Eden from "I Dream of Jeannie" is from the late 60s/early 70s, not the 50s. It went off the air just 2 years before MASH came on the air. Alan Alda was not in the original MASH film, neither was the character of "Col Potter"; so you're way off with that story. There is a scene, I think in "Officer of the Day", where Radar takes his pants off in front of Hawkeye, that might be the scene Alda was referring to. I think there's another episode where Hawkeye has to give Radar a physical.
Who is your favorite MASH character? 🤔
Radar of course
Loved the show. Radar was wonderful. 💖💖💖
Hawkeye was always my favorite
Col Flag
I liked BJ. He had a good sense of humor and was very dedicated to his wife and daughter.
A heartfelt moment in regards to Radar was when Hawkeye and BJ discover his beloved teddy bear on his bunk following his departure. A symbol that Radar arrived a boy and left a man, as so many other soldiers do in times of war.
Yeah, but that was his 4F brother's, so they should have sent it back for him.
@@RHCole Radar left it behind intentionally and, if you recall, it was eventually placed into that time capsule the unit did in a later episode.
@@hellogoodbye4061 that episode was on last night. Hawkeye said radar gave it or left it to him
I remember that!
That was an homage to the episode, where Dr. Sidney Friedman tells Radar that he wouldn't need his Teddy bear anymore once he left.
Gary Burghoff should have gotten an EMMY for his perfect delivery the death of Col. Blake in McLean Stevenson's last episode! The emotional pitch was Emmy-worthy!
The scene Radar walks into the OR without a mask looking distraught and to deliver the news that Col Blake's plane went down was one of the most dramatic scenes in tv I watched when I was young. There was no other actor on that show that could've delivered those lines and project the devastating sorrow like Gary did.
Scene was filmed in a single take
Rest of cast were told to look busy in theatre and wait for an announcement from Radar, Gary was handed a note and told to read it out in character
Those reactions were all real and unrehearsed
absolutely
The immediate silence following , a couple of quiet sobs, the refocus to the patients literally under the knife, the instruments clicking. The tears are still there this many years later.
@@347Jimmy This is a myth. Although I do love the story. The truth is, the actors were indeed given the script the day of filming, but not long before the scene. They knew what the script said, and what Radar was going to announce. It is true they did it in one take. If you remember hearing a knife (or some utensil) fall to the floor in the scene, that was off camera, unscripted, but the producer decided to leave it in.
Nobody was told. Gary was told the lines just before heading out the door.
My father, a veteran, said MASH was incredibly accurate. I remember the episode where Radar has alcohol for the first time. “It just makes me numb.” Hawkeye says, That’s the point, Radar.”
Yes. My father was stationed there for a year. Canadian military. He drove a truck delivering supplies to the front. He said it was very true to life.
@@dawnelder9046For it being a half hour television show, it was incredibly accurate on how they got a lot of military equipment, of the time period, protocols, etc. Somebody really must have done their research?
Radar's announcement of Henry Blake's death could not have been done better by any other cast member. I think every viewer was as devastated as the other cast members. All the cast were so believable and clearly drawn. But Gary's TV portrayal of Walter 'Radar" O'Reilly was so much more than full than in the movie. Brilliant...!
What I loved about Radar was his assortment of pets that he took care of. I really loved the episode where he and BJ rescued Sophie the mare and gave her to Colonel Potter.
Hello Melissa, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the Virus??
@@trevorjennings72 that's not creepy at all dude, not one bit.....
"Here's the keys." Hands over the reins :)
Hawkeye helped too!!
@@Kristiemiller1969 It's been a while since I saw that episode I forgotten that Hawkeye was involved too.
The disfigurement to his hand was exactly the kind of thing that would get you labeled 4f (unfit for service) by the Army, so it makes sense they tried to hide it. He absolutely owned the role though.
This comment makes sense. The Army's avoidance of physical problems would be a good reason for Gary to hide his hand, but the disfigurement did nothing to hinder his career. I saw him many times as the original Charlie Brown, live on stage, and the hand was there to see, but Gary's brilliant acting made it invisible or insignificant. He did whatever interested him, including playing the piano! I have seen other productions of "You're a Good Man, CB," including the Broadway revival, and no other actor has even come close to what he did with the role.
4F!!! Of course He would hide His hand in that role! Great observation! i wish i'd thought of it !:-)
Being set during wartime they could of worked it into the show. Have the hand disfigured in a bomb shrapnel incident. Have him wear bandages for a couple of episodes, and then perhaps he wears a glove if he wants (or doesn't). The others then cover for him whenever it's suggested by a visiting higher up that he really should be sent home due to the injury. Might have made for some interesting comedic/dramatic moments. Might have also emphasized the permancy of the effects of war by having one character have such a visible reminder.
I was turned down when I tried to join the Army in 1977, due to a condition called scoliosis (curvature of the spine) I never even knew I had it until I failed the physical. Radar and Col Blake were my favorite characters on MASH. My least favorite was Alan Alda. I really don't know what he was like as a person, but Hawkeye was an arrogant SOB. Frank may have been a jerk, but Hawkeye came across as being just plain mean.
Guys, HERE is The TRUE Savior
YaH The Heavenly FATHER HIMSELF was Who they Crucified/Pierced for our sins and “HERE IS THE PROOF”
From the Ancient Egyptian Semitic:
"Yad He Vav He" is what Moshe (Moses) wrote, when Moses asked YaH His Name (Exodus 3)
Ancient Egyptian Semitic Direct Translation
Yad - "Behold The Hand"
He - "Behold the Breath"
Vav - "Behold The NAIL"
WRONG! Gary left because a fire started near his home causing his family to have to evacuate. He was in LA filming and they were in Connecticut. The fire worried him and he felt he needed to be closer to home and his wife and kids. THAT'S why he left, not burnout
Something I haven't seen anyone mention here is that Radar is also one of the only characters that can be tied to a real person. Radar was based on the company clerk of the MASH unit that Richard Hooker, the author of the original MASH novel that the film and TV series is based upon, served in when he was in Korea. His name was Don Shaffer, and he was really from Otumwa, IA. Unlike Radar, he made a career in thr military and was later an instructor in the intelligence field. He passed away in 2022 at age 92. You can search on here for some videos about him and also some of him doing speaking engagements.
My dad ( god rest is soul) worked at ibm for 30 years. He was a quality engineer. But his nickname was Radar, they could pass for identical twins, hair, glasses, teeth. My dad went to a Ft Bragg surplus store cause he was given a 4F when drafted for Vietnam. He had a double jointed trigger finger. He had to buy the the uniform. He went to a look a like contest and they thought he was the REAL Radar !! 😂He had to show them his ID and prove his wasn’t the real Radar. Btw he did win 😂 Yes we quit watching after radar left but I had radar at home. 😂true story … miss you dad
Radar has the most heartbreaking scene in MASH history when he announced Col Blakes plane being shot down.
But he laughed for hours after they yelled "Cut!"
I would argue, Hawkeye admitting his actions led to the death of child were more heartbreaking, as some so dedicated to saving life, he felt personally responsible for the death of someone so innocent was up there as one of the most heartbreaking scenes in MASH.
@@Spazilton1 I agree also...I just watched the last episode of MASH last night. Charles sees the musicians being taken away for an exchange for US POWs then the next day he is has to operate on one of them after the truck was blown up..he was the only one who made it out but he massive chest injuries.
That just hurt..
@@Spazilton1 Especially after it was revealed on the Cher show the following night that Blake had escaped pretty much unharmed.
Gary was always my favorite. When I was in my teens I was happy to find out that my aunt and uncle lived next door to Gary. He would come over often and he would often gift them with drawings and paintings. Which have been passed down to me and my siblings. Gary now lives in Florida and unfortunately I haven't spoken to him in quite some time. He was always super nice and very funny especially when talking with my uncle.
This is very interesting to read! I had heard he was a jerk, but he must have liked all of you deeply! (The topic of Gary came up on Reddit, when someone asked which celebrities are nice or which are mean, and so people wrote about their personal meetings with various celebrities.) The subject of Gary was something else. I thought he would be a really nice person, but story after story of people who had met him, or whose family lived by him, well, it was surprising. So, I am glad you had a great experience. Maybe when he knew your family, he wasn't tired of people.
@@BlackSeranna I think that Alan Alda would be the jerk
@@BlackSeranna super interesting. All of my experiences with him were very pleasant. I could definitely see him not wanting to interact with people. He did seem like he wanted to be alone. But did not hesitate to allow me to walk up while he was raking leaves and ask him questions. A couple times I did ask about the TV show. Most of the time I asked about his art which he was more than willing to talk about. Him and my uncle had a funny old man banter and I think that's what attracted him to interact with us. Whenever they cooked they would always save a plate for him and at some point in the night he would come over and get it have a couple words. And then be on his way.
So call him up, or go see him!
@@coryburns9161 me too!! Arrogant & egotistical.
He didn't hide his hand because of insecurity... They hid his hand simply because somebody with physical disabilities like that would never be drafted into the Army.
Thanks for this video. Gary was unforgettable as "Radar" in M*A*S*H, yet people forget how perfect he was in the musical, "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown", and just about every other project he worked on during his career. A true multi-talented man.
He delivered the conversation with Colonel Potter about the characters' private "war against the war" like someone who had ezperience. Superb work!
My whole family loved M*A*S*H. I liked the whole cast. All of us shed quite a few tears when Radar left, but we definitely cried a bit harder when Colonel Blake was killed on his way stateside. The way Radar announced Blake's death was what did it. My Mom owns the entire series in the infamous disk collection and I borrow it now and then. One of the best nostalgia devices there is.
From what I heard, Radar ad libbed that scene where he announced Col. Blake's death.
Bro same. We used to watch together and my mom has all seasons on dvd.
@@tundranomad they didn't tell the cast. Only Gary Burgoff and the writers knew about it so the crew gave a genuine gasp because they had no idea it was coming.
There is a funny outtake where Radar is too shy to remove his pants in front of Hawkeye and every time Radar thinks Hawk will see, he pulls up his pants again! Alan keeps breaking into laughter.
It's the episode with the soldier that didn't speak english, he kept yelling chinlee! They were giving him Radar's uniform so he could back to the front.
@@kkampy4052 I remember that, it was in the kitchen and the soldier had a meat cleaver . He was Greek i believe
@@kkampy4052 No, it was the episode Officer of the Day from Season 3.
Yes. Officer of the Day
Jesus Christ died for your sins... 3 days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
It was because Gary had severe heart-surgery. My social studies class all chipped in and bought him a blue fuzzy bathrobe, and when the teacher took it into him at the hospital, he couldn't stop crying.
That doesn't sound logical for why he left mash he was a young man...
Yeah that’s not why he left the show though. Just sayin. But this is a great story and that’s really cool that all of you pitched in and did that for him.
Do you chipped in to buy a millionaire a robe There were probably better charities available
@@whyi8343 people have a right to spend their money on whatever they want. You earn it, its yours.
@Charles I don't think that's the point the person known as" why i" was getting at..Of course, you can spend your money how you like. He was just having a lil fun with you..
One episode that got me was when Radar's mom sent a family movie reel with everyone in Iowa saying hi and Gary played the role as his mom. He was so good you could overlook him being mom and feel the sadness of them all missing each other.. Everyone in the 4077 Mash unit that watched it with Radar was crying. And Hotlips was my fav character. She was so beautiful and I liked how her character grew over the years
Just saw that episode a few days ago. I still watch the MASH reruns. Still so funny. My dad said it was accurate about Korea. He came back with PTSD my mom said. The military didn't call it that then.
❤❤❤
oh ya by the end of the series she had evolved from the blonde foil to an officer with feelings a heart and who struggled with the demands of rank
Yes, ALL the characters had their own special talents and their place in the show. For a teenager watching this show in the 1970s, Hotlips Houlihan was a young boy s dream.....
Margaret post divorce was great. Prior to that her grating voice and personality got on my nerves.
MASH was first and foremost an ensemble cast - or grew into that. It had numerous actors of stellar-level quality, but the thing that really made it work is how the characters bounced off one another, in endless variety and sparkle. For me, picking a favorite would be a disservice to my memories of the show itself. In turn, they scintillated, were uproarious, touching, gentle, quirky, and mischievous. (I'm sure I've left something out.) But they never would have shown so wonderfully if they hadn't been bouncing off someone else all the time.
I loved Hawkeye, BJ, and Charles, singly, in pairs, and as a trio. And wasn't Margaret the perfect fourth for bridge in that group! Father Mulcahey. I loved Radar greatly, and his relationship with Potter, and Sophie's stories. But what we would have missed without Klinger at the forefront as he was in the later years! And even some of the one-episoders were truly memorable. Remember the crazy soldier who outdid Klinger at crazy, speaking to Mr. Sock, and shooting down the invisible glider? (The episode's end with his letter to Klinger is for all time!) And I haven't covered the ground.
None of these brilliantly written characters would have captured our hearts so entirely if they had not all been acted brilliantly as well. Everyone who participated in making that show has my thanks and lasting gratitude for the marvelous times of enjoyment.
Never get tired of re-watching Mash.
I loved bumbling Lt.Col. Henry Blake played by Maclean Stevenson. It was a real tear jerker when Henry's plane was shot down and Radar had the agonizing duty to tell everyone the news. They were all in surgery and nobody could stop to greive.
Honorable Mention to Colonel Flagg.
Hey I have permission to die if necessary
I used to watch Mash with my great uncle. He was in Korea. He was a surgeon at a Mash unit. He said it was the worst experience of his life but watching MASH the movie and then the TV shows made his PTSD just about go away. He recorded every single episode every special on VHS commercials and all. Also every DVD imaginable involving Mash. I watch them once in a while so I can remember my Uncle Dave. And I get sad in the episode we're radar leaves and I Cry at the end of the last episode like I'm never going to see my Brothers in Arms Again.....😣😭
Outstanding story! I used to love MASH, but by the end , I couldn't not see their liberal mindset. They are the group who is running and ruining everything today. Liberals destroy everything they get control of. Everything. I still love the show, for the reason you stated. It reminds me of my friends in the military and our time abroad. However, none of them hated the Constitution. like the left does today.
@@3-2-1-. you got that all wrong man the left does don't hate the Constitution. They just want to bend it and warp it to suit their needs. Just like the Republicans do. So here's the deal whether you are a Democrat or a Republican you are the reason why the United States is such a shitty place live. Remember in a fist fight it starts with two people. So Republicans and Democrats are equally to blame for the situation that we're in right now. Because of the Republicans and Democrats if the rest of the world decided to invade the United States because they no longer want to put up with our BS the Republicans and Democrats would argue about what to do for so long that by the time they figured out what to do there'd be no more United States. So before you want to blame the left you need to look at the right to and remember that we are all one person just trying to live and because the left side doesn't like what the right side is doing and the right side doesn't like what the left side is doing you completely ignore what's going on in the middle and not because of people like you this country is going to hell and we're headed for a serious Civil War. And on that day you and I will meet on the battlefield and before you realized why you were just destroyed by me before your last breath I'm going to let you know its because you made me do it. You couldn't just get along coexist work together for the common good instead you had to be selfish and self-centered and because of that the last thing that you're going to see will be my cracked smile staring back at you. That's what the Republicans want and the Democrats are taking steps to try to prevent that but at the same time there's only so much you can do to tell somebody the stove is hot before you just let him touch it to find out for themselves. And all of this that I'm telling you I'd say to a Democrat too. So please don't take it personal. Especially in the off chance that we do meet on the battlefield. But just know I'll see you miles before you even think I'm there. Me and mine were trained to hide in a flat field of grass that looks like it hadn't been mowed in 4 days. So have fun with that one.
👍🏼 And to think that in the 1980s people were saying that shows like MASH made light of war, there was no humor in it, people in a war theater wouldn't make jokes, etc. This was an excellent show, and I loved watching it as a kid (late 70s until it ended).
I have all the mash on my DVR it was a once in a generation TV show.
Jesus Christ died for your sins... 3 days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
I’ve probably watched every episode at least 10 times. I absolutely loved Radar, I was so sad to see him go, it wasn’t the same without him, but I still loved the show afterwards. When I was very sick for a few years, MASH reruns kept me sane. It will forever hold a special place in my heart ❤️
I grew up watching M*A*S*H during the 70’s and 80’s with it’s original run and watched the subsequent re-runs ad-nauseam but never grew tired of such a wonderful program. It was the perfect series that showed humour and compassion, and left viewers never forgetting the horrors of war. It was set in Korea but was also a commentary on the Vietnam war. My uncle fought in Korea and my father was in Vietnam, both were tight lipped about their experiences, unlike my grandfather who fought in WWII who would regale me with stories of his time fighting in North Africa, the Middle East, PNG, Borneo, and finally as part of the allied occupation forces in Japan, so watching M*A*S*H was in a way my gaining an understanding of what my father and uncle went through. My favourite was Colonel Potter, but like everyone I also loved Radar O’Reilly.
reckon u might be an aussie. what units did yr grand pappy fight with ?
congrats on belonging to a family of true blue fighting patriots..
Yup, I got "Mashed" every friday night. 😏
Watched it when it originally aired too. We absolutely all knew it was about the Vietnam War. Mom's brother fought and came home with severe ptsd.
It was the episode during 3rd Season called Officer of the Day... where Hawkeye is Officer of the Day (OD Duty) and Radar is taking his pants off when a Korean woman walked in. It took a dozen takes since Gary could not stop laughing. That is what Alan spoke about in the message to Gary.
I figured it would be the sniper episode where RADARwas running through the camp, wearing only a towel. He goes left, a shot rings out. He goes right, another shot. He dashes for the showers, yanks open the door, and his towel falls off as he scrambles through the doorway.....
Yep, I've seen the outtakes and they both lose it pretty good
Actually, I was wondering if it was that episode where Hawkeye insists Major Houlihan give him some kind of conventional injection in his tushie, then Radar walks in as Hawkeye's pants are down, and Hawkeye (in the scene) couldn't stop laughing at Radar's embarrassment al walking in on him. Of course, then his pronouns would have been mixed up
Mash was one of the few American comedies that was truly funny, but still had an underlying serious side. I loved it!
This show holds a special place in my heart i used to hide behind the couch while my parents watched the show, I am 55 yrs old now and have watched the show about 93 % of every night of my life , i watch MASH while going to bed each night.. There is something about each char. and every change in the show that was perfect . I still watch every night it is my going to bed ritual , Thank You MASH for a lifetime of entertainment !!! and god bless the ones who have left us but forever in our hearts.
M*A*S*H* was a phenomenon in made for TV entertainment. It's enduring story and characters have yet to be duplicated in my opinion. I was in kindergarten when the show was becoming the big thing and throughout my elementary school years MASH, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, etc were talked about on the playground on a regular basis. There's been some great series to come out since then, but nothing like MASH.
I grew up watching MASH. Seeing some of the UA-cam videos is really bittersweet. There will never be another show like it.
MASH has one of the most emotionally devastating lines I have ever seen on TV.
When Hawkeye says, "It was a baby!" it just blew me away. It was wonderfully done. Even more devastating when you learn it actually really happened.
Yep, I watched that episode last night.
I remember that episode in the bus. Was really heartbreaking.
My favourite tv show,👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧🇬🇧
That episode traumatized me, I was too young, and I remember thinking a crying baby might someday cost me my life. I've since outgrown it but crying babies brought me great anxiety for a long time.
i was a small kid when i saw that episode and after realizing what really happened i was so upset. Mash was so much more than a comedy , it seems back then shows like mash and all in the family taught lessons and could make u cry as much as laugh.....
I was so influenced by this show as a teen, that after high school, I joined the military and became a surgical tech.
My favorite Memory of Gary Burghoff was also a Childhood one, My mother and I lived just down the hill from Gary and one day she found his wallet in the Albertson's parking lot, I tagged along to return the wallet to him and we all had lunch- talked about stamps and he showed us some of his new paintings. I always loved seeing him around when he was home- and getting a chance to say hi. Later in life I was able to give him one of my own paintings and though I never got a rare stamp from him I still collect them to this day. Thanks in part to his influence and my mothers encouragement.
Big and small stars loose stuff too!
I was assigned to the 46th surgical hospital "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" at Fort Devin's Massachusetts in the early 70's as the company clerk, Unlike radar I did not sleep with a teddy bear. Unlike the tv mash we did not use tents but rather inflatables which was a hospital and living quarters and mess hall which was all mobile.
In 1995, GB played the delightful Liam Conners in "Behind the Waterfall". He co-starred with his daughter, Gena Gale Burghoff.
Colonel Potter was my favorite. The episode with the sleeping pill and Margaret's butt rash had me in stitches.
I heard Mike Farrell speak in 1989, and he said that, when he asked Gary why he would leave MASH, the answer was, "Mike, I'm a 35 year old man, and people still see me as an 18 year old kid."
I hope Mike told him " Its because you're such a good actor"
What's not commonly known is that René Auberjonois, who played Father Mulcahey in the movie adaptation of mash was offered to reprise the role in the TV series adaptation, but he'd turned it down
Big mistake !
@@funnyfaceaz Depends on what your looking for in life dude.
Later on, Rene Auberjonois signed on to play the villainous Clayton opposite Robert Guillaume in "BENSON" earning 2 or 3 Emmy nominations for his comedic performance. So it still worked out very well for him.
@@chazarcola7639 yeah he was funny in that. Exchanges between him and Benson had tears going down my face from laughing so hard. It was funny.
@@iamalive.1255 LOL. I agree with you.
Benson and Clayton and Kraus. LOL.
Love Gary!! As Radar…but I’ve been lucky enough to know him as a REAL person. I appeared in a Neil Simon play with him in Fayetteville, North Carolina in the 90’s. “ The Odd Couple”. What a great experience to get close to him and see firsthand how intelligent and talented he really is. An excellent drummer! Not childlike at all. Kind, witty, but an entirely different personality than Radar!!
Thanks for the memories Gary!😀❤️
I think the scene was during a hepatitis outbreak "Hawkeye then visits Radar, who confides that he's been feeling insecure about how he's different than most of his other friends, who like to get drunk and consort with the various girls in town. Hawkeye gives him some wonderful, tender advice, telling him he takes "a little bit of Iowa with you wherever you go," and how one day, he'll meet the one special woman he's been waiting for his whole life. Radar is comforted, and thanks Hawkeye, only to have Hawkeye ask him to drop his pants."
3 years ago, I discovered MASH & it helped me keep my mind off of my depression & suicidal thoughts (it sounds strange, but it worked). I'm now 17 & I still enjoy watching the show today
Edit 1: Thank you all for the support. God bless you all!
Edit 2, the sequel: I find it just as ironic as you all do that the theme to MASH is "Suicide is Painless" yet it's helping me recover from my depression & suicidal thoughts.
I am glad you have decided to stick around as a fellow depressive with intrusive suicidal thoughts. Stay strong.
Season 2 “the trial of Henry Blake” when Klinger tries to escape with a hang glider scene made me actually laugh out loud for the 1st time in years. I just saw it a few days ago. Glad you are still fighting.
Stand strong dood. Try to get out of your own head. When you feel bad, turn outward. Volunteer in a soup kitchen, or other such charity. When you work with people who have it worse that you it brings perspective. Worked for me anyway.
Watch flying high. That movie will.make you laugh.
I hope u are doing ok today and i a.glad u found something to help u through it. have seen the movie too ? It's really good. I have been watching mash since I was young due to mental health issues too.
Gary's best moment on M*A*S*H was the last scene in Season 3, Episode 24, Abyssinia, Henry. I remember it vividly because it was the first tv show that I felt any real emotion for a fictitious character. His delivery was perfect.
Fun bit of trivia. The reactions to that piece of news about henry blake being killed were real as no one was told that was going to be what happened. not sure about gary but i agree, his delivery of the lines at the end were absolutely spot on and 100% perfect.
Radar showed the human side of soldiering and the child that we leave behind. As a US ARMY Medic 76-82 I loved this show and watched it with my brothers, back in the day. The MASH song was even played at an awards ceremony. The show is very accurate on every single bit, especially the bonds. Thank you Gary.
wonder if whomever picked that song for the ceremony knew the title and lyrics to the song. (Assuming it was a ceremony while you were in the Army) If it was while you were in the Army it wouldn't surprise me. Mil event coordinators often pick songs they feel are fitting when in actuality they aren't. lol (Retired Army, 89-12)
@@oif3vetk9 I know the tittle. The show was very popular. AFN didn't have many that were. Thank you for your service, you 20+ yr guy.
I was an Army Medic from 85-96 and served my first three at Walter Reed. MASH was a big influence on me in my choice of MOS.
Did they know it is a song about suicide?
@@oif3vetk9 Maybe they had their own maj burns is why they played it.
All the characters were good, but my favorite will always be Colonel Flagg.
Colonel Flagg and his deadpan humor. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
Love Colonel Flagg!!!
"Nobody goes until I do and I never do!" "You took a yellow red before a white American and that's pretty pinko."
There was a episode of M*A*S*H where they made a comedy of the goings-on at the unit; much to the disapproval of the officer who wanted the movie done. However, at the end "Hawkeye" turned to the camera and stated that they 'goofed off' to relieve the pressures of 'barbarian surgery' and having to watch the young soldiers die needlessly.
As soon as the series started, the show was swamped with former Korean doctors, nurses, et al, telling stories of actual happenings at MASH units during the real Korean War (which was shorter than the series itself!). These actual Korean veterans told many hilarious stories of shenanigans that actually transpired during the revel-making (again, to forget where they were and what they were having to go through and also 'do'' during the war itself...of which many of the actual stories were worked into the series itself, probably with some editing (,of course!)! basically, individual Korean MASH units actually 'pulled' many of the stunts used in the series, but were adapted for the main actors in the series to act out.
On the series A PIECE OF CAKE (about a aviation defense unit in WW II England on Masterpiece Theater [PBS}, back years ago), Alistair Cooke said that many active-duty British pilots who were flying during the time period in which the film was made, contacted the series makers and proclaimed that there was no military UNIT in the (then) aviation units that had such a makeup of characters; however, many retired WW II British pilots contacted the makers of the series and claimed, "their WW II aviation unit had an individual 'character' that resembled one of the individual characters in the flying unit portrayed on A PIECE OF CAKE..though not all in the same unit."
Both M*A*S*H and A Piece of Cake offered the viewers a synopsis of both of a typical WW II fighter unit defending England at the time and of the typical hijinx that went on with unit members of a combat surgical hospital near the Korean front trying to keep their sanity after impossible hours in surgery during the war.
I practically live just down the road from where Gary Burghoff has lived for many years, in Citrus county Florida, I won't mention the town out of respect for his privacy, though it is common knowledge around here. I live one county south of him in Hernando county and I can tell you he is just as well liked now as he was then. He is living the life he worked so hard for and deserves. Take care and God Bless from Florida.
Early tv series mash with Henry Blake and Wayne Rogers were funnier than later episodes IMO
Absolutely. Got to preachy also.
Agreed.
I also agree, but there's still solid stuff in the later seasons. I like how BJ and Hawkeye's relationship grows pretty organically. Winchester was a great replacement for Burns, and Potter's folksy demeanor was also pretty welcome. The show dips more heavily into the drama as the show goes on and while the show overall gets less funny as time goes on, it still keeps that heart that it started with. My real decline is Radar being replaced by Klinger, imo but the last episode will always be an incredible send-off to a long running show that could still be genuinely emotional at times.
I clearly remember seeing him on a program talking with children about disabilities and showing his hand to explain why Radar always had his hand in his pocket.
I just can’t remember if it was Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, or an After School Special.
His hand got stuck in Major Houlihan's kitty.
Radar had to have shot and asked Hawkeye to give it to him. A butt shot! Gary couldn’t drop trou and laughed and laughed and couldn’t stop! The scene😊 is somewhere on UTube.
Ill have to find that .Thanks
The bloopers appear in the 30th Anniversary Special. About the 35:00 mark. The episode is "Officer of the Day" from season 3.
@@DowNair Thanks
Love those keester klowns! Margrets' rash was priceless!
The pants thing was when Pierce was officer of the day and radar was taking his pants off in his room, and was supposed to notice Hawkeye watching him and call him out on it. There were many bloopers of that scene because Radar kept laughing and ruining the takes.
I always loved Gary. Such a sweet innocent portraying person. He is such a memorable person ❤
I love the episode with Radar’s home movies….the uncle with the cons of corn!
EDIT: The ‘Jocularity’ episode too.
Hello Debbie, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the Virus??
Another reason for Gary to hide his left hand is that his character would likely never have been allowed in the military with his digit difference. Hiding his hand kept from puncturing the illusion.
There was also a Series Three Episode "Officer of the Day" where Hawkeye is in charge of the camp where Colonel Blake is away in Tokyo. There is a scene where Radar is taking his trousers off and Hawkeye does joke about it. There is several outtakes of this which does appear in the 30th Anniversary Reunion show.
The funny moment Alan Alda was referring to was an outtake from the episode Officer of the Day.
I like the first few seasons when Henry Blake was on it
I also like the first seasons when trapper played by Wayne Rogers was on it, too. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
Yeah I liked him too and Frank Burns and hot lips hulahan and raidar but then when they started leaving one by one it wasn't that funny anymore.
@@sharonmatthews1237 Hello Sharon, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the Virus??
Col. Potter and Radar are in a jeep. Potter is looking through binoculars which a practical joker has blackened. Gary’s reaction when Harry Morgan’s eyes are ringed with ink is priceless. So genuine! I always wondered if he knew it was going to happen or did they keep him in the dark until the scene was shot? Lol non the less. 😂
Radar fell out of the jeep i think
One of my favorites!
That was pretty funny. Especially when he gets so tickled that he falls out of the jeep.
I still wonder about the infamous Pinstripe suit of Trappers. The laughter from Alda and Gary just seemed like first reaction and true blue laughing.
@@J_Lee712 That was hilarious!
Allan Franklin Arbus was my favorite,
known for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Sidney Freedman .
I love Allan Arbus! It would always be so comforting when he made an appearance on Mash. He also had one of my favorite lines, "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice!"
I read he just passed away recently... 😔
There was one other character from the movie, although not a main character, who was also in the series, but was only there for the 1st season.
Ho Jon. Everybody always forgets about this young Korean servant.
There was also the surgeon whose nickname was "Spearchucker,".
General Hammond appeared during the first season with actor G. Wood reprising his role from the film.
I’ve watched every episode cover to cover several times and always watch it if it comes on flipping through channels. I think there’s something so homey about MASH, something that brings back a comforting feeling of watching when I was a kid. Memories from childhood are always nice
I loved Radar!! He always reminded me of Charlie Brown, so it was cool learning he did the voiceover for him!!
And yes, I kept watching after he left, but I also always missed him. I cried when he left (especially with the teddy bear scene🥺), and I cried when the show ended, as well as when McLean Stevenson's character died. That was AWFUL!!!!!
I watch it, whenever it's on TV, it was on earlier this year, where I live. I still laugh at most of the episodes, there are a few that I still cry over. I think it will be around, for many more years.
@@jennysmith38 You can find some full episodes on UA-cam plus clips
@@UserUser-ww2nj thank you.
@@jennysmith38 you are welcome
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Jesus Christ died for our sins... Three days later he was risen from death. Jesus is alive and He can forgive you of your sins. MARK 1:15 Repent and believe in the gospel.
I was working in a Fred Meyer store years ago in Chico, CA and my department was Gardening/plants. I got a call over the intercom that help was needed in the Garden Department. I grudgingly walked over and Gary was standing there. Boy was I nervous. He was friendly and I helped him out and answered his questions. Then I thanked him for the article he had written for Guideposts Magazine. He said that at the time of filming Mash that he was miserable and made everyone else on set miserable, but he had now come to peace with himself. He was very gracious and we carried on a conversation for awhile. A few years later my parents were over on the Norther California coast near Bodega Bay and one of the art galleries was having a showing with Gary's animal drawings. My folks purchased one of his prints and related the Fred Meyer story. Gary signed the drawing for me and made a comment. However, to this day, I can no longer locate the signed print. Sigh.
I am glad that Gary burghoff was friendly towards you because some celebrities are rude to their fans. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
That’s cool
Thanks for the info on the Guidepost article. I hope I can find it!
I loved Radar. He seemed like the one who kept everything together. He always knew what to do. They all came to him for answere.
Hello Suzette, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the Virus??
" I'm not as think as you drunk I am "
After Hawkeye gave her a shot
" and I didn't get you anything "
My favorite lines.
Radar had the most range... and was the innocent, physically comedic, and narrative glue for the series. Without Burghoff there is no MASH. He was on par with Alda, Swit, and Farr.
I've watched MASH since the very beginning and still watch reruns of MASH. Radar was always my favorite he was such a sweet, gentle, kind, soul, he took such good care of his pets, he had dimples and slept with a teddy bear 🧸
I didn't even notice that they hid his hand, I just seen a good and caring person.
I never noticed his hand. I think they might have also wanted to hide it because it would have been something that forced him out of the military so they wanted to keep it realistic.
For my favorite character it was either Alan Alda the main star or the quirky father/priest William Christopher but Gary was definitely a beloved character for me.
It surprised me that you missed his other work. After MASH he started checking the speed of vehicles. First in Wisconsin and later via satellite all across North America. He is single handedly responsible for those signs you've seen that read, "SPEED CHECKED BY RADAR."
After watching MASH over and over for decades, Radar's character changed the longer the series went. At first, he was more like his character from the movie. A sleeper, with sharp wit, that wasn't so innocent. But as the series went on, his character started to regress into a nieve, innocent child. I think the character should have stayed truer to the movie Radar. That humor was a bit more sharp than the humor in the series, as it progressed.
They all hold a special place in my heart, but Radar sorta grew up over there. He went over a lil boy at heart and came home a man..... thats why he left his teddy bear. It was so heart breaking that episode.
I was born in the early seventies and grew up watching Mash. My favorite episode was when they were trying to figure out what he was doing with boxes he was sending home. They x-rayed them and he was sending home an entire Jeep piece by piece 😂😅🤣. I think that episode gave me and my late father our love for Jeeps.
I got a Jeep ad when this video ended. 🤔
I'm sure others have mentioned it but the scene Alan Alda was referring to was Gary disrobing and taking off his pants and Alan breaking up laughing while sitting on a bench. It is a classic blooper. To this day I still watch MASH reruns. It was and still is a timeless classic none of us will forget. I will never forget all of us in college watching the last episode in 1983. It truly is a great show!
Yes. That was S5E1 "Bug Out"
@@oregonwanderer It was season 3 episode 3 Officer Of The Day.
I wondered if it was the episode where that general tries to film a propaganda piece at the 4077th and Trap, Hawk, and Radar drop trough during one scene as a joke. Thanks for the clarification.
@@djtforever1414 You got it right! at about 16:36 is the scene they kept breaking up. As a bonus, it was a another great episode with Col Flagg (Edward Winter)!
@@RHCole OMG! How could I forget about that one! LOL
I remember a story about when this show first came on. A US Army Korean war veteran got about halfway through the first episode when he took his shotgun and blew up the family TV.
After my fifteen months in Korea , U.S. Army '74 -'75 (Yongsan and then 2d ID) I could no longer sit through an episode of M.U.S.H. either. But I still liked my TV....
My Dad served in Korea '73-'75 at the 121 Evac. I wonder if you and he ever crossed paths.
Also, thank you for your service. And I mean that sincerely.
I just wish he new that he was a inspiration to a lot of people that knew about his hand that are also disabled like him he taught us to strive for her to be the best we can be that's who we are! Thank you Gary! For teaching me that I lost my eye at 8 months old in 1976! Yes it people can be rough and treat bad! I just showed that I can do the same as them only thing was that I tried harder and people respected me for it! Thanks again Gary! M.A.S.H. IS STILL MY FAVORITE SHOW!
Radar was a great character and the way they handled his character development over the years was wonderful. I liked Charles because like the other characters he was just trying to survive. I found it strange that attempts were made to make Charles look bad for clinging to his social status to survive yet Hawkeye was an egomaniacal drunk yet some how a good person. weird. Sydney Friedman had one of the greatest line in TV history in my opinion, "Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice."
Radar was a great character and I don’t think the series would have lasted as long without him. My favorites were Sidney the shrink and Sgt. Rizzo from motor pool.
Gary Burghoff was excellent as radar. And he was so very talented. And I'm sure he still is as long as he's still alive. He was one of my favorites, McLean Stevenson was the other. And the most here jerking the scene was the one where McLean Stevenson's character is playing went down and radar had to explain it to everyone. A lot of messages in that one.
I admit I'm a huge M*A*S*H fan, I have all the seasons on CD, an official shirt and dog tags. I don't think there was a favorite character on M*A*S*H, for me, they were all great and all of them made the show what it was.
About the pants birthday Tweet. I'm sure Alan was referring to a scene where Hawkeye was officer of the day. It was a scene where Hawkeye was sitting down in the Colonel's office having a drink with the door connected to Radar's living quarters open. And Radar was changing getting ready for bed, they had to retake the scene multiple times because they had a laughing fit everytime Radar pulled down his pants and franticallyy pulled them back up as Hawkeye looked his way, Alan would crack up every single time..
I grew up watching this show and greatly appreciated the laughs, and pranks. But I also enjoyed all of the characters Radar ranks close to the top.
I watched it whenever I could when it first came out and later in reruns, even after Radar left. I missed Radar but there were other great characters to also watch.
Yeah Radar was my favorite and I watched some after that. I wonder how they would have brought Radar back if Gary had wanted to because he was sent home as the mother's last relative. At least there might have been a loophole which they didn't leave for McLean Stevenson by having Henry Blake be shot down (although a soap opera would let you assume death and somehow he would end up somehow surviving and reemerging). People generally tended to think the show was too much Alan Alda even though he was top billed and maybe if Gary was a problem it was because he really was getting burned out.
This is only my opinion but I enjoyed Gary’s character more in his earlier portrayal of Radar. He seemed to digress into more of a childlike naive character as time went on.
I read somewhere that the red drum set he played in an early episode was previously owned by Gene Krupa whom Gary was friends with.
Hawkeye, Trapper, and Radar were simply superb...
Love 💕💕💕
had the great plesure of meeting him many tears ago when i worked security at Nv. palace it was nice getting to talk to him
I have two favorite actors. McLean Stevenson and Gary Burghoff. Those two alone cracked me up every single time.
It's amazing how well and natural it looked, just putting his hand in a pocket. I never realized that he was hiding it. It just fit the character.
Born in the 60’s MASH was the time of day I spent with my mum and dad and we would all gather and just laugh or cry together!! Caught kissing by “the brothers” at my first boyfriend’s all boys catholic school dance, my nickname became “hot lips hoolihan”…😊Even the theme music makes me think of fun and family!! Loved them all!!
I grew up watching M*A*S*H in the 90s with my parents. They still play it all on TV and we still watch it at dinner time. I love that show.
The "pants blooper" was probably the one in "Officer Of The Day" where Hawkeye is sitting on a cot in Henry's office, watching while Radar is trying to get undressed to go to bed! They couldn't get the timing quite right, with Gary fiddling with the belt buckle and trying to get the line, "Would you turn your head, please?" out. It was apparently pretty late in the day, as Alan makes the comment, "I have an appointment tomorrow morning!"
If memory serves, someone else in the cast said that "some people" could dish it out, but he couldn't take it. And Gary snapped, "Well, I'm getting pretty tired of dishing it out." And didn't even realize what he'd said.
My favorite character on MASH is all of the them.
P.s. Every time he says "I'm just a kid!" it makes me smile! :)
My favorite MASH actor was Larry Linville (Frank Burns). It takes some serious acting talent to play the depth of characters that he played!
Radar was my favorite character on M*A*S*H. I was born in 1980, but I have read the book, which I own, and I have the movie, and the complete series, I watch M*A*S*H about 4x a year! It's my favorite TV show next to Little House on the Prairie.
Loved Radar, but Col. Henry Blake was my favourite.
I cried when Henry Blake's helicopter was shot down. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
I believe the pants episode scene that both Gary and Alan were in was Officer of the Day, where Alan was in the Colonel's office preparing to sleep, and Gary was getting undressed in the front office where he slept. There were many outtakes of that scene, and it had both of them laughing.
Sometimes we can't know what actors are thinking and feeling, and it is a puzzlement to us when an actor leaves. With Mclain Stevenson being the first to leave, then Rogers, and so on... MASH wound up being something far different from its conception. Was it a bad thing? Overall no... but the humor was toned down to include more serious topics, which i think the creators as well as Alan Alda felt needed to be included. War is not funny, in their minds. But for me, it wasn't about war. It was about people working under adversity, overcoming with things they had on hand... booze, sex, and friendship.
With each person who left, Gary was the one that left me with a sour taste in my mouth. I had just watched Goodbye Radar last night, and the whole time Radar was more upset than he was his usual lovable self. I don't know if that was because he just wanted out of there, or because they brought him back for those two episodes, or just poor writing on the part of the staff.
All in all, Gary put forth a great performance, and if all he was remembered for is doing a character by the fond name of Radar, he can be very proud of himself. It's not often you can be embedded in so many people's hearts. Yes, we remember all of the great people on MASH, but Gary was as they said in the show, "The one who actually ran the MASH unit"
Radar brought innocence to the show 🤔
Kelly Labrock 69 ❤ Kelly Bundy 69 ❤ Kelly Osborne 69 ❤ LeeAnn Theisen 69 ❤
That picture of Barbara Eden from "I Dream of Jeannie" is from the late 60s/early 70s, not the 50s. It went off the air just 2 years before MASH came on the air. Alan Alda was not in the original MASH film, neither was the character of "Col Potter"; so you're way off with that story. There is a scene, I think in "Officer of the Day", where Radar takes his pants off in front of Hawkeye, that might be the scene Alda was referring to. I think there's another episode where Hawkeye has to give Radar a physical.