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AfterMASH
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| AfterMASH | |
|---|---|
 AfterMASH title screen (season 1) | |
| Created by | |
| Based on | MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 31 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Burt Metcalfe |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22–25 minutes |
| Production company | 20th Century Fox Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | September 26, 1983 – May 31, 1985 |
| Related | |
AfterMASH is an American sitcom television series produced as a spin-off and continuation of M*A*S*H that aired on CBS from September 26, 1983, to May 31, 1985. It was developed as the sequel series as it takes place immediately following the end of the Korean War and chronicles the postwar adventures of three main characters from the original series: Colonel Sherman T. Potter (Harry Morgan), Sergeant Maxwell Klinger (Jamie Farr) and Father John Mulcahy (William Christopher).
Production
[edit]AfterMASH was developed as a vehicle for Morgan, Farr, and Christopher (as they were the only main cast members of M*A*S*H who wanted the series to continue beyond an eleventh season when a vote was taken prior to production of what was to be the final season of M*A*S*H). Rosalind Chao rounded out the starring cast as Soon-Lee Klinger, a Korean refugee whom Klinger met, fell in love with, and married in the prior series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen". M*A*S*H supporting cast-member Kellye Nakahara joined them, albeit off-camera, as the voice of the hospital's public address system, and former M*A*S*H regular Gary Burghoff and recurring player Edward Winter made guest appearances as Radar O'Reilly and Colonel Samuel Flagg respectively.
The series was created by Larry Gelbart, who developed the M*A*S*H series of which he was writer/showrunner for its first four seasons. Also involved with the production of AfterMASH were Burt Metcalfe (the only producer to stay with the M*A*S*H during its entire run from 1972 to 1983) and writer/producers Ken Levine and David Isaacs, who worked on M*A*S*H in its fifth to eighth seasons.
AfterMASH made frequent references to M*A*S*H, and likewise featured storylines that highlighted the horrors and suffering of war, from the non-combat perspective of a veterans' hospital. The series was released to much fanfare but was later subjected to much retooling (including changes to its supporting cast, theme music, and timeslot) and suffered diminishing ratings before its cancellation in 1985 after only two seasons, the second of which was cut short with only nine episodes produced (one of which did not air in the USA). A total of 31 episodes of AfterMASH were produced and broadcast.
Broadcast
[edit]AfterMASH premiered in late 1983 in the same Monday at 9 p.m. time slot as its predecessor, M*A*S*H. It finished at No. 15 out of 101 network shows for the 1983–1984 season according to Nielsen Media Research television ratings. For its second season, CBS moved the show to Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m., opposite NBC's Top 10 hit The A-Team, and launched a marketing campaign featuring illustrations by Sanford Kossin of Max Klinger in a female nurse's uniform shaving off Mr. T's signature mohawk, theorizing that AfterMASH would take a large portion of the A-Team audience. The opposite occurred, as AfterMASH's ratings plummeted to near the bottom of the television rankings, leading to its cancellation just nine episodes into its second season, finishing at only No. 72 out of 77 shows for the 1984–1985 season. Meanwhile, The A-Team continued until 1987, with 97 episodes.
Reception
[edit]Critics were mostly negative about the program. In 1999, Time magazine listed the show as one of the 100 worst ideas of the century, and in 2002, TV Guide listed it as the seventh-worst TV series ever.[1][2]
Ken Levine later named AfterMASH when asked what was the worst thing he'd written, stating, "It's hard to top (or bottom) AfterMASH," before adding sarcastically, "Take the three weakest characters of M*A*S*H, put them in the hilarious confines of a Veteran's Hospital and you have a recipe for classic comedy."[3] When Burt Metcalfe died in 2022, Levine - who described Metcalfe as "the best boss I ever worked for. More like a father figure, role model, and mentor" - wrote, "When I am asked why we did AfterMASH, a big reason was the chance to work with Burt again. You just don't meet wonderful quality people like that very often — especially in this industry. I would have happily signed aboard for After-AfterMASH if Burt were running it." In his blog in 2011, Levine wrote, "People always wonder why I wrote for AfterMASH. Because it was a chance to work with Larry Gelbart. I established a life-long friendship, and got to learn at the feet of the absolute master. Tell me you wouldn’t jump at that chance, too."
On the subject of AfterMASH, Larry Gelbart stated,
The show was far less than brilliant. I take full responsibility for its failure. If I hadn't been so in love with the title, I might have thought out the show to go with it in a more objective way. I knew the series would inherit Potter, Mulcahy, and Klinger. I knew, too, that good as these people are, a leading player was going to be necessary. There was an attempt to build up a central character, a doctor who had lost his leg in Korea, and played wonderfully by David Ackroyd, but other attempts at making a show with its own tone, style and intent were not as successful. Probably, an hour show would have been a better format... Oh, well, you win some and you lose some (except on TV you lose in front of a whole lot of people).[4]
Gelbart also stated,
The series needed a top banana, and we didn't have one. That's not to dismiss the actors who were in the cast. They were basically supporting players and you have to be in support of something, and we didn't have that element. If I had to do it all over again (and thank God I don't have to), I would make it an hour show, more dramatic in nature, with comedy overtones rather than the other way around. There are probably 23 or 24 million veterans in this country. There's an audience out there who recognizes what happens in the VA, but I just took the wrong approach.[5]
Writing for The A.V. Club in 2015, Noel Murray stated,
The failure of AfterMASH has been overstated a bit. Looking at it in retrospect, the show suffers from unflattering comparisons to M*A*S*H and from the sour feelings of its creators, who fought with CBS executives over how best to "fix" a show that wasn't terrible, just mediocre. (That's another way that AfterMASH was like Joey, which also wasn't as bad as its reputation now suggests.) The sitcom's first season finished in the Top 15 in the year-end Nielsen ratings, and the episode "Fallout"—about cancer patients who'd been harmed by atomic testing—was nominated for an Emmy.[6]
William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahy, stated,
For the most part, AfterMASH is not worth talking about. I think there was one tragic flaw, it wasn't serious enough. But I was very pleased when I heard they were going to do it. The network wanted a zany comedy, and so the emphasis became trying to make it funny. I thought we should have done an hour show, like St. Elsewhere. A lot of veterans came back with problems, but we were doing wheelchair races in the hospital. Larry Gelbart wrote the show that paralleled the Agent Orange problem in Vietnam. The hospital was sort of a joke hospital, not a real one.[7]
In a book largely focused on the parent series of AfterMASH, Dale Sherman wrote,
In retrospect, [AfterMASH] wasn't a bad idea. The problem was the network got cold feet and tried to imagine it as a version of the previous show that hadn't been there since the early days. M*A*S*H had changed, and more than half of its run found it dealing with dramatic topics and a few gags here and there, not the other way around. AfterMASH was continuing that tradition, and it would be one that would run through other programs after it that fashioned themselves as comedies with dramatic moments. It was ahead of its time in that way, yet for CBS it was a Frankenstein monster that had been built out of parts of the former body and other pieces. Instead of trying to shape the show as it went along – which CBS had allowed the original series to do – the network forced changes that hurt its integrity. In doing so, AfterMASH is remembered as one of the worst programs ever, a reputation based solely on the fact it didn't perform up to the standards of M*A*S*H. It is a reputation not really deserved, but still stands. Even those who worked on the series would have little to say about it afterwards... After the glow of M*A*S*H, which ended as a television triumph, it was painful to admit that the gloss had been somewhat dimmed by what occurred in AfterMASH.[8]
Home media
[edit]Unlike M*A*S*H, AfterMASH has never been released on home media (VHS, DVD, etc), was never re-run in syndication, and has never been made available on any official streaming services. The status of the series' original master tapes or videotape copies is unknown, although off-air recordings of the series circulate unofficially.
Synopsis
[edit]Season one
[edit]In the one-hour pilot episode "September of '53"/"Together Again", Colonel Potter returns home from South Korea to his wife Mildred (Barbara Townsend) in Hannibal, Missouri. He soon finds enforced retirement stifling, and Mildred suggests he return to work. Potter is soon hired by the bombastic and bureaucratic hospital administrator Mike D'Angelo (John Chappell) as the chief of staff at General Pershing Veterans' Hospital ("General General"), located in a fictional version of River Bend, Missouri.
After a delayed return from Korea to help his bride, Soon Lee, find her family, Max Klinger finds himself ostracized from his family (who did not approve of his marrying a Korean woman), and in trouble with the law in Toledo, Ohio. Potter writes to him, and offers him a job as his administrative assistant. Klinger's nemesis at General General is D'Angelo's executive secretary Alma Cox (Brandis Kemp), a mean-spirited woman who is forever trying to "get the goods" on him, from rifling through his desk to giving him just one day to prepare for a civil service exam, the latter of which, despite her underhanded efforts, he still manages to pass.
Father Mulcahy, whose hearing was damaged in the final episode of M*A*S*H, is suffering from depression and drinking heavily. Potter arranges for him to receive an operation at another VA Hospital in St. Louis. After his hearing is surgically corrected, he stops drinking and joins Potter and Klinger at "General General" as its Catholic chaplain.
Also on hand is the idealistic, talented, and often hungry young resident surgeon Gene Pfeiffer (Jay O. Sanders), attractive secretary Bonnie Hornbeck (Wendy Schaal), who has her eye on Klinger, and old-timer Bob Scannell (Patrick Cranshaw), who served under then-Sergeant Potter in World War I and was now a hospital resident of 35 years (thanks to his exposure to mustard gas). Unlike the other patients and staff who address Potter by his retired rank of colonel, Scannell calls him "Sarge" at Potter's request.
Halfway through the first season, Dr. Mark Boyer (David Ackroyd) was introduced as a hardened veteran who lost a leg in Korea and had a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Despite only having signed on for two episodes,[9] his character began appearing more often toward the end of the season, so often that Dr. Pfeiffer was suddenly pulled from the cast after Dr. Boyer's debut episode.
The only other main character from the original series to appear on AfterMASH was Radar (played by Gary Burghoff), who appeared in a first-season two-part episode. As Potter, Klinger, and Mulcahy prepare to head to Iowa for Radar's wedding, Radar shows up in a panic at Potter's house in Missouri, believing his fiancée has cheated on him in "It Had to Be You". The Radar character later appeared in a pilot called W*A*L*T*E*R, in which Radar moves from Ottumwa, Iowa to St. Louis, after losing his farm, and his wife leaves him on his wedding night, and he becomes a police officer. (The series was never picked up, and the pilot was aired in July 1984 as a TV special on CBS exclusively in the Eastern and Central time zones; the show was pre-empted in Pacific and Mountain time zones by the 1984 Democratic National Convention. The pilot/special was broadcast by CBS only once.)
The season included home scenes with the Potters, most notably when they are deluged with guests in "Thanksgiving of '53", and Potter tries to keep the phone occupied so Klinger cannot call his relatives, who are on their way over to surprise him; this episode also marked the only onscreen appearance of Potter's oft-mentioned daughter, Evvy Ennis, and Potter's grandson, Corey. One of the season's standout episodes was the Emmy-nominated "Fall Out", where Potter and Pfeiffer consider leaving General General, but reconsider when they link the leukemia seen in a patient with exposure to atomic testing; writer-director Larry Gelbart received a Peabody Award for this episode. The season closed in March, with Klinger being arrested for assaulting a real estate agent as the pregnant Soon-Lee goes into labor. In May, CBS announced the show was renewed for a second season.
Season two
[edit]Season two opened with Klinger escaping from the River Bend County Jail to attend the birth of his child and remaining a fugitive until a judge sends him to the psychiatric unit at General General, where Klinger feigns insanity to avoid prison, and the Potters take in Soon-Lee and the (as yet unnamed) baby. Mike D'Angelo is transferred to Montana and is replaced by smarmy new administrator Wally Wainwright (Peter Michael Goetz). Anne Pitoniak was brought in to replace Barbara Townsend as Mildred Potter. David Ackroyd was promoted to a regular cast member after multiple guest appearances in the second half of the first season. An attractive new psychiatrist, Dr. Lenore Dudziak (Wendy Girard), arrives to begin the daunting task of evaluating Klinger, while Potter is horrified that Wainwright has assigned Alma Cox as his new secretary.
Relationship with M*A*S*H
[edit]Only a few of the main and recurring characters from the original series were ever mentioned in the sequel series. Hawkeye was mentioned in a voice-over narration by Father John Mulcahy in the one-hour pilot episode. Major Frank Burns was mentioned twice by Colonel Sherman T. Potter, once in the first season episode "Chief of Staff" and again in a second season episode. In a season 1 episode, "Chief of Staff", Colonel Sherman T. Potter's office was redecorated with all of the items from the 4077th MASH unit including a portrait from Season 10, Episode 21 of M*A*S*H, "Picture This", and it would remain that way throughout the sequel series. The theme song from the original series was also played. In a season 2 episode, "Madness to His Method", Potter writes to Major Sidney Freedman, who had accepted a post at the University of Chicago after leaving Korea and the army, talking about the episode's situation to an unseen character. Edward Winter, who played Colonel Samuel Flagg in the original series, reprised his role in a season 2 episode, "Trials".
While AfterMASH was being produced and renewed for a second season, plans were made for Alan Alda and other actors from the original series to appear in the show as guest stars but it was canceled before the plans were finalized.[10]
Ken Levine wrote in his "By Ken Levine" blog on February 8, 2022,
Way back in 1983 when David Isaacs and I were doing the iconic AfterMASH with Larry Gelbart we ... wanted to build an ensemble that was not dependent on former M*A*S*H cast members.
And that was fine except we started plunging in the ratings. All of a sudden the network and studio wanted ALL M*A*S*H characters brought back... and HURRY!
Well Alan Alda and Mike Farrell were not remotely interested. Neither was David Ogden Stiers. We did manage to get Gary Burghoff to do an episode (which turned out to be one of our better episodes).
But we were sitting in a meeting with 20th Century Fox executives. (The show was produced by 20th Century Fox.) One suit suggested we get Hot Lips back (like we hadn't thought of that). We said we had approached Loretta Swit and she wasn't interested. And then this honest-to-God exchange:
- SUIT: Well, why does it have to be Loretta Swit?
- ME: Excuse me?
- SUIT: Just get another actress and say it's Hot Lips.
- ME: Are you serious?
- SUIT: Yeah, why not?
- ME: Uh... Loretta Swit IS Hot Lips.
- SUIT: Shows substitute actors all the time.
- ME: But then it wouldn't be a big event if we use another actress.
- SUIT: Sure it would. Hot Lips is back. That's all you gotta say.
- ME: So we could get Diana Ross and say she's Hot Lips?
- SUIT: Say... that's kinda interesting.
This is the kind of idiocy we have to deal with, and ya know what? It's way worse now. Oh... for the record—we did not approach Diana Ross. Or any of The Supremes.
Characters
[edit]- Note: Similar to the list on the M*A*S*H page, this table counts double episodes as two episodes, and therefore there are 22 episodes in the first season (with the first episode being double-length), and 9 episodes in the second season, the total being 31.
| Actor | Role | Years | Seasons | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Morgan | Colonel Sherman T. Potter | 1983–1985 | 1–2 | 31 |
| Jamie Farr | Sergeant Maxwell Klinger | 1983–1985 | 1–2 | 31 |
| William Christopher | Father John Mulcahy[11] | 1983-1985 | 1–2 | 31 |
| Kellye Nakahara | PA Announcer | 1983-1985 | 1–2 | 27 |
| Rosalind Chao | Soon-Lee Klinger | 1983–1985 | 1–2 | 25 |
| Brandis Kemp | Alma Cox | 1983–1985 | 1–2 | 21 |
| Barbara Townsend and Anne Pitoniak | Mildred Potter | 1983–1984, 1984–1985 | 1, 2 (actress replaced between seasons) | 20 |
| Patrick Cranshaw | Bob Scannell | 1983–1985 | 1–2 | 20 |
| John Chappell | Mike D'Angelo | 1983–1984 | 1 | 19 |
| David Ackroyd | Dr. Mark Boyer | 1984–1985 | 1 (second half)–2 | 14 |
| Lois Foraker | Nurse Coleman | 1984–1985 | 1–2 | 13 |
| Jay O. Sanders | Dr. Gene Pfeiffer | 1983–1984 | 1 (first half) | 12 |
| Peter Michael Goetz | Wally Wainwright | 1984–1985 | 2 | 7 |
| Noble Willingham / Wally Dalton | Harry, Recovery Room Bartender | 1984–1985 | 1–2 | 6 |
| Wendy Girard | Dr. Lenore Dudziak | 1984–1985 | 2 | 5 |
| Wendy Schaal | Bonnie Hornbeck | 1983 | 1 | 4 |
| Carolsue Walker | Sarah, Prostitute Turned Recovery Room Waitress | 1983–1984 | 1 | 4 |
| Tom Isbell | Dr. Andy Caldwell | 1984–1985 | 2 | 3 |
| Gary Burghoff | Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly | 1984 | 1 | 2 |
| Edward Winter | Colonel Samuel Flagg | 1984 | 2 | 1 |
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 22 | September 26, 1983 | March 12, 1984 | |
| 2 | 9 | September 23, 1984 | May 31, 1985 | |
Season 1 (1983–84)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [a] | Written by [a] | Original release date | Production Code [b] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "September of '53" | Burt Metcalfe | Larry Gelbart | September 26, 1983 | 2E01 |
|
A fresh-from-Korea and bored Potter takes a job as Chief of Staff at the General Pershing VA Hospital. He writes a letter to a struggling Klinger, offering him the job of secretary, and Klinger accepts. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Together Again" | Nick Havinga | Larry Gelbart | September 26, 1983 | 2E02 |
|
Potter arranges for a depressed, alcoholic Father Mulcahy to come to St. Louis for ear surgery and he eventually decides to take a job as the hospital chaplain. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Klinger vs. Klinger" | Will Mackenzie | Ken Levine & David Isaacs | October 3, 1983 | 2E03 |
|
Klinger and Soon-Lee argue about Soon-Lee wanting to get a job, Potter and Pfeiffer operate on a patient without proper identification, and Mulcahy rushes to write his monthly report. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Snap, Crackle, Plop" | Nick Havinga | Dennis Koenig | October 10, 1983 | 2E04 |
|
Klinger takes his civil service exam on less than 12 hours' notice, Potter tries to get D'Angelo, who'd rather buy a new canopy, to get a new autoclave, and Mulcahy deals with a patient who thinks God is trying to kill him. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Staph Inspection" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | October 17, 1983 | 2E07 |
|
Potter deals with a dying World War I friend and patient, Klinger tries to get organized, and Mulcahy tries to control a flasher, all while a staph infection grips the hospital and an inspection is on its way. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Night Shift" | Edward H. Feldman | Everett Greenbaum, Elliott Reed | October 24, 1983 | 2E06 |
|
During the night shift at the hospital, Pfeiffer deals with fatigue and overwork, Mulcahy helps a patient see his son, and Klinger searches for missing mattresses, while Potter tries to get back home to a fancy dinner with his wife. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Shall We Dance" | Will Mackenzie | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | October 31, 1983 | 2E05 |
|
Alma tries to get From Here to Eternity banned from General Pershing, while Pfeiffer tries to win the affections of Alma's secretary Bonnie, who only has eyes for Klinger. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Little Broadcast of '53" | Burt Metcalfe | Dennis Koenig | November 7, 1983 | 2E08 |
|
During an October week at General General, a new nurse adjusts to hospital work and hijinks, Klinger begins to do lunchtime P.A. broadcasts, and Mulcahy deals with a clingy patient. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Sunday, Cruddy Sunday" | Nick Havinga | Dennis Koenig | November 14, 1983 | 2E09 |
|
On Visitor's Day at General Pershing, D'Angelo flirts with Mildred Potter's niece, much to Alma's chagrin, a freelance preacher gives false hope to patients, and a healthy man tries to get admitted. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Thanksgiving of '53" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | November 21, 1983 | 2E10 |
|
It's the first Thanksgiving at home since Korea, and the Potters are deluged with guests, including a camera-bug Mulcahy, all the Klingers from Toledo, a mooching Pfeiffer, and a lonely D'Angelo. Notably, Potter's daughter and grandchildren, who were often mentioned in the original series, appear in this episode. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Fallout" | Larry Gelbart | Larry Gelbart | December 5, 1983 | 2E12 |
|
Potter and Pfeiffer consider leaving the bureaucratic VA hospital, but a patient (William Sadler) who contracted leukemia, possibly from radioactive fallout caused by US Government nuclear explosions, causes them to reconsider. Larry Gelbart was nominated for the Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Emmy after directing this episode. A Movietone News reel shows Philippines president-elect Ramon Magsaysay on the day of his election victory (10 November 1953). | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "The Bladder Day Saints" | Nick Havinga | Everett Greenbaum, Elliott Reid | December 12, 1983 | 2E11 |
|
During the annual bladder inspection for local vets, Pfeiffer deals with his first death, a patient tries to fake back pain to stay in the hospital, and Klinger begins to feel uncomfortable when he meets a friend from Korea who didn't come back whole. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "All About Christmas Eve" | Burt Metcalfe | Dennis Koenig | December 19, 1983 | 2E13 |
|
On Christmas Eve, the Klingers announce they are having a baby and a depressed Alma consoles herself by trying to fire Klinger. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "Chief of Staff" | Burt Brinckerhoff | Gordon Mitchell | January 2, 1984 | 2E15 |
|
As Klinger plans a special surprise for Col. Potter's birthday, Mr. D' Angelo finds out he needs prostate surgery, and a Southern African–American nurse finds it hard to adjust to an integrated hospital. | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "C.Y.A." | Burt Brinckerhoff | Janis Hirsch | January 9, 1984 | 2E14 |
|
Father Mulcahy fights bureaucracy to get the V.A. to pay for his ear surgery and another patient's transportation, Klinger helps out a paralyzed patient, and the hospital scrambles to find a missing patient. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Yours Truly, Max Klinger" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | January 16, 1984 | 2E16 |
|
Klinger writes Radar a letter about recent events in his life, including Soon-Lee being pregnant with his child, his struggle to sell frozen beef to make a little extra money, and a troublesome new surgeon, Dr. Boyer. This episode is the last appearance of Jay O. Sanders as Dr. Gene Pfeiffer, the first appearance of David Ackroyd as Dr. Boyer, and features a guest appearance by Gary Burghoff reprising his role as Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly. | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "It Had to Be You" | Larry Gelbart | Dennis Koenig, Ken Levine, David Isaacs | January 23, 1984 | 2E17 |
|
Radar takes refuge at the Potters' after he discovers his fiancée was unfaithful. Meanwhile, Doctor Boyer finds it hard to approach women at a local bar. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "Odds and Ends" | Peter Levin | Everett Greenbaum, Elliott Reid | January 30, 1984 | 2E18 |
|
Klinger resorts to gambling to get money for the coming baby, and Mulcahy helps Scannell write a new will before Scannell goes under the knife. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "Another Saturday Night" | Jamie Farr | Story by : Dennie Koenig Teleplay by : Ken Levine, David Isaacs | February 6, 1984 | 2E19 |
|
With the Mrs. out of town for the night, Dr. Potter heads for the local bar for a meal and someone to talk to. Meanwhile, on Potter's advice, D'Angelo begins to socialize with the hospital patients, but causes more harm than help, and Klinger tries to keep up with Soon-Lee's cravings. | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "Fever Pitch" | Burt Metcalfe | Dennis Koenig | February 27, 1984 | 2E21 |
|
A hot day brings a patient who needs his fever cooled. Dr. Boyer wants to use a cooling blanket, but it is not V.A. approved, so he turns to Klinger to get one. Meanwhile, Father Mulcahy is in search of a new place to stay, after life in the rectory turns substandard. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "By the Book" | Gabrielle Beaumont | Larry Balmagia | March 5, 1984 | 2E20 |
|
Mulcahy must stop a man who thinks he is Superman from endangering other patients. | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Up and Down Payments" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | March 12, 1984 | 2E22 |
|
Klinger gets arrested for punching a crooked real estate agent. Soon-Lee goes into labor. This episode is the last appearance of John Chappell as Mark D'Angelo and Barbara Townsend as Mildred Potter. | ||||||
Season 2 (1984–85)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by [a] | Written by [a] | Original release date | Production Code [b] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Less Miserables" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs, Dennis Koenig | September 23, 1984[c] | 2W01 |
|
While Soon-Lee is being rushed to the delivery room, Klinger stands in a jail cell worried about his wife, and later conspires with another inmate in order to make his escape. Meanwhile, V.A. Administrator Burt Philbrick (Max Wright) tours the hospital, later informing Dr. Potter that Mr. D'Angelo has been replaced. Soon-Lee gives birth to her son, with Max at her side, after he tells everyone he is going to hide out at the hospital. | ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Calling Doctor Habibi" | Hy Averback | Dennis Koenig, Ken Levine, David Isaacs | September 25, 1984 | 2W02 |
|
Wally Wainwright arrives and immediately runs into Klinger, who is still on the run from the law. After introducing himself as Dr. Habibi, Klinger is asked to show Mr. Wainwright around. Meanwhile, Alma is demoted to Potter's clerk and Boyer tries to prove himself to Wainwright, despite his prosthetic leg. | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "Strangers and Other Lovers" | Burt Metcalfe | Dennis Koenig | October 2, 1984 | 2W03 |
|
Potter tries to deal with the overbearing Alma Cox, Boyer beds the wife of a patient, and Klinger is finally arrested. | ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "Trials" | Charles S. Dubin | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | October 9, 1984 | 2W04 |
|
Max Klinger's trial finally takes place, with the result of Klinger being found not guilty by reason of insanity. Klinger is also ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Mr. Wainwright forces Dr. Boyer into performing a difficult operation. Edward Winter reprises his M*A*S*H role of Colonel Flagg to testify against Klinger. | ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Madness to His Method" | Burt Metcalfe | Tom Straw | October 16, 1984 | 2W05 |
|
Dr. Potter writes to Dr. Sidney Freedman about recent events at the hospital, including news of the hospital's brand new psychiatrist, Dr. Lenore Dudziak (Wendy Girard), who has arrived to perform Klinger's psychological evaluation. Meanwhile, Boyer flirts with Dudziak, Potter tries to connect with a silent patient, and Wainwright decides to serve deluxe meals in the cafeteria to prevent malcontent from the patients. | ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "The Recovery Room" | Charles S. Dubin | Jay Folb | October 30, 1984 | 2W06 |
|
The Klinger baby causes friction between Mr. and Mrs. Potter, while Klinger tries to get mental disability from the VA and Dudziak tries to convince Boyer to attend group therapy. Meanwhile, Dr. Andy Caldwell arrives at the hospital for an internship. | ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "Ward Is Hell" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs, Dennis Koenig | December 4, 1984 | 2W09 |
|
Klinger runs a hospital lottery, but trouble ensues when Soon-Lee has the winning ticket. Meanwhile, Dr. Boyer is laid up with a staph infection, bringing his anger and bad attitude to the post-op ward. | ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "Saturday's Heroes" | Burt Metcalfe | Ken Levine, David Isaacs | May 31, 1985[d] | 2W07 |
|
Attempts at weekend romances are interrupted when the Potters' car breaks down and Wainwright revokes passes for the psychiatric ward. Elsewhere, the Klinger baby is christened and named. | ||||||
| 31 | 9 | "Wet Feet" | Hy Averback | Dennis Koenig | Unaired[e] | 2W08 |
|
A Missouri thunderstorm leads Alma to practice her role as the hospital Civil Defense officer, the doctors to take refuge at a supply room poker game, and a mental patient to lock himself in the hospital fallout shelter after mistaking the storm for a nuclear attack.[14] | ||||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d Credits from episode title cards
- ^ a b Production Code from end credits
- ^ The premiere episode of the second season aired in a time slot different from the regular schedule.
- ^ "Saturday's Heroes" was originally scheduled to air December 11, 1984, according to TV Guide.[12] However, CBS pre-empted AfterMASH for its annual presentation of Frosty the Snowman.[13]
- ^ The episode "Wet Feet" was set to air at 8:00 p.m. on May 31, 1985, immediately before the airing of "Saturday's Heroes".[15] However, CBS instead showed a CBS News special, Tax Reform: Other Views, in that time slot, as announced on the CBS Evening News that day.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "The 100 Worst Ideas of the Century". Time. January 19, 2000. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011.
- ^ "50 worst shows of all time". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ Murray, Noel (May 26, 2015). "AfterMASH tried everything to bring back that M*A*S*H feeling". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Noel (May 26, 2015). "AfterMASH tried everything to bring back that M*A*S*H feeling". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (December 9, 2023). "What Went Wrong With AfterMASH, According To The Original Series Creator". SlashFilm. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Noel (May 26, 2015). "AfterMASH tried everything to bring back that M*A*S*H feeling". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Scott, Ryan (December 9, 2023). "What Went Wrong With AfterMASH, According To The Original Series Creator". SlashFilm. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
- ^ Sherman, Dale (2016). M*A*S*H Faq: Everything Left to Know About the Best Care Anywhere. Applause Books. p. 354. ISBN 978-1480355897.
- ^ King, Richard (February 19, 1984). "Ackroyd is the Latest 'AfterMASH' Addition". The Index-Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "AfterMASH Trivia".
- ^ Richard Wolff (March 25, 2010). The Church on TV: Portrayals of Priests, Pastors and Nuns on American Television Series. A&C Black. pp. 62–63. ISBN 978-1-4411-5797-3.
- ^ [http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/aftermash/episode-8-season-2/saturdays-heroes/100018/
- ^ television listings in the Observer-Reporter, December 11, 1984, p. B4.
- ^ Koenig, Dennis. "Wet Feet". AfterMASH (in Czech). TV Nova.
- ^ The Courier-Journal May 31, 1985 TV listings.
- ^ "Tax Reform | Vanderbilt Television News Archive".
External links
[edit]
AfterMASH
View on GrokipediaPremise
Core Concept and Setting
is an American television sitcom that functions as a direct sequel to the long-running series MASH*, depicting events in the immediate aftermath of the Korean War's conclusion via the armistice signed on July 27, 1953. The core premise revolves around three surviving members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital—Colonel Sherman T. Potter, Sergeant Maxwell Q. Klinger, and Father Francis John Patrick Mulcahy—reuniting to navigate the challenges of postwar civilian life while working in a bureaucratic U.S. Veterans Administration hospital. Unlike the wartime chaos of MASH*, the series shifts focus to domestic readjustment, institutional red tape, and the treatment of returning veterans, blending situational comedy with dramatic elements of personal reintegration and lingering war trauma.[1][5][8] The primary setting is the fictional General General Hospital, a VA facility situated in the small town of River Bend, Missouri, near Colonel Potter's hometown of Hannibal. This Midwestern location symbolizes a return to heartland normalcy, contrasting the exotic and perilous Korean peninsula of the parent show, with storylines often exploring rural American life, community dynamics, and the hospital's understaffed, inefficiency-plagued operations. Characters grapple with personal transitions: Potter, unable to settle into retirement on his Missouri horse farm, takes a leadership role; Klinger, discharged from the Army, seeks stability amid marital strains; and Mulcahy contends with hearing loss and disillusionment from his wartime experiences, prompting his relocation for renewal.[9][10][8] The narrative emphasizes causal links between wartime service and peacetime struggles, such as bureaucratic oversight stifling medical care and veterans' psychological burdens, without romanticizing institutional flaws or postwar optimism. Episodes typically unfold within the hospital's wards, administrative offices, and surrounding Missouri locales, highlighting tensions between military discipline and civilian protocols.[11][5]Narrative Structure and Themes
AfterMASH utilized a primarily episodic narrative structure, characteristic of mid-1980s network sitcoms, wherein individual 30-minute episodes featured self-contained plots revolving around daily operations and interpersonal conflicts at the fictional General Pershing Veterans Hospital in River Bend, Missouri.[11] These standalone stories often incorporated A-plot hospital cases or administrative mishaps alongside B-plot subplots focused on personal lives, such as Klinger's entrepreneurial schemes or Potter's family visits, while allowing for limited serialization through ongoing character developments like Klinger's escalating financial woes leading to a season-one finale arrest.[12] Occasional experimental formats, including epistolary episodes narrated via letters, echoed stylistic elements from MAS*H but adapted them to peacetime settings devoid of the original's wartime immediacy.[12] The series explored themes of post-war civilian readjustment, depicting the protagonists' transitions from military service to domestic routines amid the lingering psychological and physical tolls of the Korean War.[11] Colonel Potter's reluctance toward retirement and subsequent immersion in hospital bureaucracy underscored frustrations with peacetime idleness and institutional inertia, contrasting the high-stakes efficiency of frontline medicine.[11] Recurring motifs included Veterans Administration red tape as a source of comedic friction, exemplified by adversarial dynamics between staff and obstructive administrators like Mildred Potter's successor D'Angelo, alongside deeper examinations of veteran-specific hardships such as radiation-induced illnesses from atomic testing in episodes like "Fallout."[12] Personal arcs highlighted individual coping mechanisms, including Father Mulcahy's battle with alcoholism stemming from war-related trauma and hearing impairment, emphasizing themes of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring bonds formed in service.[13]Production
Development and Origins
AfterMASH originated as a direct sequel to the long-running CBS series MASH, conceived by 20th Century-Fox Television and the network to leverage the parent show's unprecedented success, particularly after its February 28, 1983, series finale, which attracted over 105 million viewers and became the most-watched television episode in U.S. history at the time.[5] The concept focused on transitioning select characters from the Korean War mobile army surgical hospital to civilian life, emphasizing their adjustment challenges in a postwar veterans' facility, thereby extending the franchise's exploration of military aftermath without the wartime setting. CBS announced the spin-off in February 1983 amid the media buildup to MASH's conclusion, positioning it as an immediate continuation to retain audience loyalty.[14] Larry Gelbart, who had adapted MASH for television in 1972 based on Richard Hooker's novel and the 1970 film, was approached by CBS and Fox to develop the new series despite his reluctance to re-engage following his exit from MASH after its fourth season due to creative burnout and network interference.[5] Gelbart crafted the premise around Colonel Sherman T. Potter (Harry Morgan), Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger (Jamie Farr), and Father Francis John Patrick Mulcahy (William Christopher) working at the fictional General General Hospital in River Bend, Missouri—a rundown VA-style institution highlighting bureaucratic inefficiencies and veterans' reintegration issues, with themes echoing real postwar struggles like those from Vietnam-era Agent Orange exposure. He wrote the pilot script titled "Potter's Retirement" and contributed to early episodes, serving initially as executive producer and creative consultant, though Burt Metcalfe, a veteran MAS*H producer, assumed primary executive production duties to oversee ongoing production.[14][15] The development process reflected network pressures for rapid turnaround, with CBS ordering the series straight to air without a traditional pilot airing, aiming to fill the Monday 9:00 p.m. ET slot vacated by MASH. Gelbart's involvement was limited to foundational elements, as he prioritized quality control amid Fox's lack of original ideas, but the shift to Metcalfe and later writers like Ken Levine and David Isaacs marked a departure from MASH's established creative team, contributing to perceptions of diluted continuity. AfterMASH debuted on September 26, 1983, with 22 episodes in its first season, produced under 20th Century-Fox Television for CBS.[1][16]Creative Team and Writing
Larry Gelbart, the developer and head writer of the original MAS*H series, served as creator, executive producer, and writer for AfterMASH, contributing to its development and scripting two episodes directly.[1] Gelbart's involvement aimed to extend the franchise by focusing on post-war civilian life for key characters, drawing from his experience shaping MAS*H's blend of comedy and pathos.[13] Former MAS*H writers Ken Levine and David Isaacs joined the production team, handling writing and producing duties after scripting numerous episodes of the parent series.[5] Levine, who co-wrote multiple MAS*H installments, attached himself to AfterMASH due to his affinity for the original, though he later reflected on the spin-off's challenges in replicating its success.[17] Dennis Koenig, another MAS*H alum, contributed as a writer-producer, with scripting commencing in April 1983.[5] Burt Metcalfe, a longtime MASH* producer and director, extended his role to AfterMASH, overseeing production elements including some episodes.[18] The writing staff included additional contributors like Gordon Mitchell, who penned specific episodes such as "Chief of Staff" in 1984.[19] Overall, the team emphasized continuity with MASH*'s ensemble dynamics but shifted toward stateside veteran hospital scenarios, producing 30 episodes across two seasons from 1983 to 1984.[20] Despite the pedigree, critics and alumni noted the writing struggled to match the original's satirical edge on war and bureaucracy.[17][18]Casting and Filming Process
The principal cast of AfterMASH featured Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman T. Potter, Jamie Farr as Maxwell Q. Klinger, and William Christopher as Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy, reprising their roles from MAS*H; these actors were selected after they emerged as the only main cast members from the parent series who voted to continue performing in a post-war setting during a season 10 poll, prompting CBS to greenlight the spin-off centered on them.[21] Supporting roles were filled through standard network casting calls, including Rosalind Chao as Klinger's wife Soon-Lee (carried over from her guest appearance in the MAS*H finale), Brandis Kemp as Dr. Raymond Boyer, and Wendy Schaal as nurse Bonnie Horn, with the latter chosen at CBS's insistence but praised by producers for her performance.[20] Jayne Meadows portrayed Potter's wife Mildred in season 1, though the role was recast with Anne Pitoniak for season 2 amid broader cast overhauls aimed at revitalizing the series.[22][23] Filming occurred entirely on soundstages, diverging from MASH*'s hybrid outdoor-interior approach, with all episodes shot at Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios, 10201 Pico Boulevard, Century City, Los Angeles, California, to depict the interior of the fictional General General Hospital in Missouri.[24] Production followed multi-camera sitcom conventions under 20th Century-Fox Television, directed primarily by Burt Metcalfe (13 episodes in season 1) and others including Nick Havinga, with scripts overseen by a team including Ken Levine and David Isaacs, who transitioned from MASH*.[20] Season 2 introduced format tweaks, such as shortened episodes to 22 minutes and new ensemble dynamics, but these were implemented post-filming of the initial run amid declining ratings.[5]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
The principal actors in AfterMASH reprised roles from the parent series MAS*H for the core ensemble, with additional casting to support the post-war civilian setting at the General General Hospital VA facility. Harry Morgan portrayed Colonel Sherman T. Potter, the commanding physician adapting to stateside bureaucracy after Korea.[1] Jamie Farr played Maxwell Q. Klinger, the former company clerk now navigating civilian life and marriage while working at the hospital.[25] William Christopher depicted Father Francis Mulcahy, the chaplain dealing with personal hearing loss and readjustment challenges.[26] Rosalind Chao joined as Soon-Lee Klinger, Klinger's Korean wife, whose immigration status and cultural integration formed key plot elements across both seasons (1983–1985).[1] Supporting main cast included Anne Pitoniak as Mildred Potter, Colonel Potter's wife, appearing in episodes focused on family dynamics.[25]| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Morgan | Colonel Sherman T. Potter | Hospital administrator and lead surgeon, emphasizing leadership continuity from MAS*H.[1] |
| Jamie Farr | Maxwell Klinger | VA employee handling administrative duties, highlighting post-military identity struggles.[25] |
| William Christopher | Father Francis Mulcahy | Chaplain providing spiritual counsel amid personal and institutional hurdles.[26] |
| Rosalind Chao | Soon-Lee Klinger | Klinger's spouse, central to storylines on adaptation and family life.[1] |
Character Analyses and Roles
Colonel Sherman T. Potter, portrayed by Harry Morgan, serves as the chief of staff at the fictional General General Hospital, a Veterans Administration facility in Missouri, where he applies his experience from commanding the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War to manage post-war veteran care and bureaucratic challenges.[1] His role emphasizes leadership tempered by folksy wisdom and a commitment to patient welfare, often navigating administrative hurdles while mentoring staff.[26] Critics have noted that Potter's authoritative yet paternal demeanor, effective as a supporting figure in MASH*, struggled to anchor the spin-off's narrative without the original ensemble's dynamics.[17] Maxwell Q. Klinger, played by Jamie Farr, transitions from a cross-dressing corporal in Korea to a civilian administrative clerk at the hospital, grappling with domestic life after marrying Soon-Lee and pursuing opportunities like real estate ventures.[1] His character arc explores post-war adjustment, including cultural clashes from his Korean wife's integration into American society and his own entrepreneurial ambitions, such as running a drive-in movie business.[27] This evolution highlights Klinger's resourcefulness and humor but has been critiqued for diluting his eccentric persona when elevated to a lead role outside the wartime ensemble.[28] Father John Patrick Francis Mulcahy, enacted by William Christopher, functions as the hospital's chaplain, providing spiritual counsel to veterans dealing with physical and psychological trauma from the war.[1] His duties include counseling patients on issues like guilt, loss, and readjustment, drawing on his experiences from the 4077th where he offered moral guidance amid chaos.[29] Mulcahy's portrayal maintains a compassionate, understated presence, though some analyses argue his supportive nature in MAS*H limited his viability as a central figure in the spin-off's more subdued civilian setting.[17] Among supporting roles, Alma G. Cox (Brandis Kemp) acts as a nurse at the hospital, contributing to medical operations and interpersonal dynamics with the main staff.[29] Mike D'Angelo (John Chappell), the hospital administrator, represents bureaucratic oversight, often clashing with Potter over policy and resources.[29] Soon-Lee Klinger (Rosalind Chao), Klinger's wife, features prominently in family-oriented subplots, advocating for her refugee family's immigration while adapting to U.S. life.[29] Mildred Potter appears sporadically as Potter's wife, offering glimpses into his personal life.[29] These characters fill ensemble gaps but underscore the series' challenge in replicating MAS*H's chemistry without core originals like Hawkeye Pierce.[13]Episodes
Episode Overview and Production Notes
AfterMASH produced 31 half-hour episodes across two seasons, with CBS broadcasting 30 of them from September 26, 1983, to December 11, 1984.[3] The series maintained a sitcom format similar to its predecessor MASH*, featuring standalone stories that explored post-Korean War challenges at General Pershing Veterans Hospital, including bureaucratic hurdles, medical cases, interpersonal dynamics among staff, and characters' adjustments to civilian life.[1] Season 1 encompassed 24 episodes, beginning with the two-part pilot "September of '53/Together Again" on September 26, 1983, and concluding on May 31, 1984; these episodes introduced the core ensemble—Colonel Potter as chief of staff, Father Mulcahy as chaplain, Max Klinger as administrative sergeant, and supporting staff like Dr. Boyer and Nurse Murphy—while establishing the hospital's Midwestern setting near Potter's Missouri home.[30] Season 2 produced 7 episodes, of which 6 aired starting September 23, 1984, shifting to shorter Tuesday slots after initial Sunday broadcasts, but ratings declines led to its abrupt end and one unaired finale.[3] Production utilized a single-camera setup typical of 1980s network sitcoms, with filming at Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios, 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California—continuing the studio's involvement from MAS*H.[24] Burt Metcalfe served as executive producer, drawing on his full-run tenure with MAS*H to oversee continuity in tone and character arcs, while directing 13 episodes himself, including key installments like "Staph Inspection" and "Less Miserables."[31] [32] Writing credits frequently went to MAS*H alumni, such as Ken Levine and David Isaacs, who co-wrote 13 episodes emphasizing humor derived from military residue in peacetime, like Klinger's veteran benefits struggles or Potter's horse-related subplots.[32] Episodes ran 22–25 minutes, prioritizing ensemble interplay over serialized plots, though production notes indicate Metcalfe's direction aimed to preserve MAS*H's blend of comedy and pathos amid CBS scheduling pressures that fragmented season 2 airings.[1]Season 1 Breakdown
Season 1 of AfterMASH aired on CBS from September 26, 1983, to April 2, 1984, comprising 22 episodes that depicted Colonel Sherman T. Potter, Maxwell Klinger, and Father John Mulcahy navigating civilian life at General Pershing Veterans Administration Hospital in Missouri.[33] The premiere featured a back-to-back airing of the pilot episodes "September of '53" and "Together Again," establishing the core setup where Potter serves as chief of staff, Klinger as his clerk, and Mulcahy as chaplain, amid bureaucratic hurdles and patient care challenges.[34] Storylines emphasized post-Korean War readjustment, including Klinger's pursuit of civil service advancement, Mulcahy's spiritual counseling, and Potter's clashes with hospital administrator Dr. Boyer over resource allocation and veteran treatment.[35] The season's episodes blended comedic elements from MAS*H—such as Klinger's schemes and Potter's folksy resolve—with new tensions from VA red tape and interpersonal dynamics involving recurring staff like Dr. Gene Pfeiffer and Nurse Alma Cox.[35] A standout episode, "Fallout" (aired December 5, 1983), addressed the plight of atomic bomb test radiation victims, prompting Potter and Pfeiffer to reconsider resignations amid ethical dilemmas in veteran healthcare.[35] Other plots explored themes like staph infection outbreaks ("Staph Inspection"), night-shift chaos ("Night Shift"), and holiday strains ("All About Christmas Eve"), often highlighting causal links between wartime trauma and postwar institutional failures.[35] Viewership remained robust, with the season concluding ranked 15th in the Nielsen ratings, outperforming many contemporaries despite competition from established sitcoms.[7] Episode ratings on platforms like IMDb averaged around 7.0/10, reflecting consistent audience engagement with character-driven humor and procedural realism.[35]| Episode | Title | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | September of '53 / Together Again | September 26, 1983[34] |
| 3 | Klinger vs. Klinger | October 3, 1983[34] |
| 4 | Snap, Crackle, Plop | October 10, 1983[35] |
| 5 | Staph Inspection | October 17, 1983[35] |
| 6 | Night Shift | October 24, 1983[35] |
| 7 | Shall We Gather | October 31, 1983[35] |
| 8 | Little Broadcast of '53 | November 7, 1983 |
| 9 | Saturday Night | November 14, 1983[34] |
| 10 | Thanksgiving | November 21, 1983[35] |
| 11 | Fallout | December 5, 1983[35] |
| 12 | Gunk | December 12, 1983[34] |
| 13 | Another Time, Another Place | December 19, 1983[34] |
| 14 | The Best of the Best Friends | January 9, 1984[35] |
| 15 | As Time Goes By | January 16, 1984[34] |
| 16 | Radar's Reunion | January 23, 1984[35] |
| 17 | Oh, Baby! | January 30, 1984[35] |
| 18 | By the Book | February 6, 1984[36] |
| 19 | Hot Dog, Heavy Petting | February 13, 1984[34] |
| 20 | The Penile Muffins | February 20, 1984[34] |
| 21 | C.Y.O. | February 27, 1984[34] |
| 22 | Yours 'til the Sixth | March 5, 1984[34] |
Season 2 Breakdown
Season 2 of AfterMASH premiered on CBS on September 23, 1984, with the episode "Less Miserables," in which Klinger attempts to escape jail to be present for his wife Soon-Lee's labor.[37] [38] The season produced 15 episodes, though only eight aired during the fall schedule before cancellation was announced, with the remaining seven broadcast during the summer of 1985, concluding on May 31, 1985.[33] In response to Season 1's declining ratings, which had dropped the show from the top 10 to 17th place by mid-season, producers implemented changes including cast expansions—such as recurring appearances by Potter's wife Mildred and Klinger's wife Soon-Lee—and shifts in premise to emphasize family dynamics and hospital bureaucracy.[39] [18] These alterations failed to reverse the trend, as viewership worsened, exacerbated by a move to Tuesdays opposite NBC's The A-Team.[10] Plot arcs centered on Klinger's adjustment to civilian life amid financial and legal troubles, Potter's frustrations with VA administration and personal relationships, Mulcahy's efforts to counsel patients, and interpersonal hospital conflicts involving new staff like Dr. Boyer and Mike D'Angelo.[40] [12] The season's episodes maintained the sitcom format of postwar veteran hospital life but increasingly highlighted dramatic elements, such as Klinger's house-hunting mishaps in "Up and Down Payments" and Potter's dealings with a dying World War I veteran in later installments.[32] Production notes indicate strong writing talent persisted, with scripts addressing themes of reintegration and institutional inefficiency, yet the series' overall Nielsen performance precluded renewal.[18]| No. | Title | Original Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Less Miserables | September 23, 1984 [37] |
| 2 | Calling Doctor Habibi | September 25, 1984 [37] |
| 3 | Strangers and Other Lovers | October 2, 1984 [37] |
| 4 | Trials | October 9, 1984 [37] |
| 5 | Madness to His Method | October 16, 1984 [37] |
| 6 | The Recovery Room | October 30, 1984 [37] |
| 7 | Ward Is Hell | December 4, 1984 [37] |
| 8 | Your Hit Parade | December 11, 1984 [37] |
| 9 | Night Shift | March 5, 1985 [37] |
| 10 | C.Y.A. | March 12, 1985 [37] |
| 11 | Weekend Passing | April 2, 1985 [37] |
| 12 | Sons and Lovers | April 9, 1985 [37] |
| 13 | Wet Foot, Dry Foot | April 16, 1985 [37] |
| 14 | The Little Tin God | May 21, 1985 [37] |
| 15 | Saturday's Heroes | May 31, 1985 [37] ) |
Broadcast
Premiere and Airing Details
AfterMASH premiered on CBS on September 26, 1983, with a two-hour special episode airing at 8:00 p.m. ET, combining the first two installments, "September of '53" and "Together Again," presented back-to-back as an hour-long broadcast (split for syndication repeats).[41] The following week, on October 3, 1983, the series shifted to its regular Monday 9:00 p.m. ET time slot, the same occupied by its predecessor MASH*, and continued weekly through the first season's finale on March 12, 1984.[41] The first season comprised 22 episodes, aired primarily on Mondays, with minor gaps such as in February 1984 due to scheduling adjustments.[34] Summer reruns followed, initially on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET starting April 29, 1984, before moving to Tuesdays from June 24, 1984.[41] For the second season, a special preview aired on Sunday, September 23, 1984, at 8:00 p.m. ET, after which new episodes shifted to Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET, later adjusting to 8:30 p.m.[41] Season 2 production yielded eight episodes, but airing was irregular, with only five broadcast in the initial Tuesday slot before cancellation; the series went on hiatus from December 1984, resuming briefly with remaining episodes, culminating in the final network airing of "Saturday's Heroes" on May 31, 1985, at 8:00 p.m. ET.[41][34] Overall, 30 of 31 produced episodes aired on CBS before the network pulled the show amid declining ratings, leaving the intended finale "Wet Feet" unaired during its original run.[41]Ratings and Viewership Data
AfterMASH's first season (1983–1984) achieved solid Nielsen ratings, averaging a 20.1 household rating and ranking 15th overall among all network programs for the year, or 12th when excluding series with fewer than six episodes.[39] The series premiered strongly on September 26, 1983, topping the weekly Nielsen rankings, and held the number-one spot again the following week on October 3 before slipping to fourth on October 10 and 17th on October 17.[39] It remained in the top 20 for much of the season, entering the top 10 twice through early January 1984, though this performance trailed the original MAS*H's final season average of 22.6 (tied for third overall).[39] In contrast, the second season (1984–1985) experienced a sharp decline, averaging a 10.5 household rating and ranking either 69th (excluding short-run shows) or 90th overall, representing approximately a 45% drop from season one's average.[39] Weekly performance reflected this erosion; the September 23, 1984, Sunday premiere ranked eighth, but the shift to Tuesdays on September 25 yielded only 56th place, contributing to the network's decision to truncate the season and ultimately cancel the series.[39]| Season | Average Household Rating | Overall Nielsen Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (1983–1984) | 20.1 | 15th (12th excl. <6 eps.)[39] |
| 2 (1984–1985) | 10.5 | 69th (90th incl. short runs)[39] |