M*A*S*H

"M*A*S*H" is an American television comedy-drama series that originally aired from 1972 to 1983. Developed by Larry Gelbart and based on the 1970 film "M*A*S*H," the series followed the doctors, nurses, and staff of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Alan Alda starred as Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, a gifted surgeon whose humor and rebellious attitude helped him cope with the horrors of war. The ensemble cast also included Loretta Swit as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, Jamie Farr as Corporal Maxwell Klinger, William Christopher as Father Mulcahy, and Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman Potter. Earlier cast members included Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre, McLean Stevenson as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake, and Larry Linville as Major Frank Burns. Mike Farrell later joined as B.J. Hunnicutt, while David Ogden Stiers played Major Charles Emerson Winchester III. "M*A*S*H" became famous for blending comedy with serious stories about death, injury, friendship, fear, and the emotional cost of war. The show gradually became more dramatic while retaining its humor and strong character relationships. The final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired in 1983 and became one of the most-watched television broadcasts in American history. "M*A*S*H" remains one of the most acclaimed and enduring television series ever produced, making cast autographs, photographs, scripts, and memorabilia especially popular with collectors of classic television and military-themed entertainment.