The Ironies Of MASH

During its 11-year run, the TV show MASH consistently criticized the US involvement in the Korean War, cleverly using it as an allegory for the Vietnam War. Numerous episodes showcased a moral relativism between the US side and the communists, highlighting the doctors’ impartiality towards the wounded. Interestingly, they often discussed the idea of declaring the war a tie so they could return home. The atmosphere on the MASH set was occasionally tense, particularly in the early years. In one episode, a sniper was ultimately shot by an army helicopter, which sparked objections from Alan Alda (Hawkeye). Interestingly, some members of the writing staff pointed out that Alda had recently portrayed an armed sheriff in a TV movie, causing the star to become upset and retreat to his dressing room.

Some individuals involved in the production speculated that Alan Alda, who was known for his pro-feminist views, faced difficulties in reconciling his character, the womanizer Hawkeye, with his personal beliefs. Despite maintaining a professional demeanor, Alda kept his distance during the early years of the show, often retreating to his dressing room whenever conflicts arose on set. As the star of the show, it was expected of him to set a standard of behavior for the rest of the cast. However, Alda simply wanted to focus on delivering his lines, contributing his creative ideas, and returning home to New Jersey on Fridays. On one occasion, he was requested to record a video greeting for Navy stations, but he declined, arguing that it might inadvertently encourage the troops to prolong the Vietnam War. Even during Christmas, he remained detached and refused to purchase any gifts for his fellow cast and crew members, deviating from the customary practices of television stars.

Alda’s aloofness led to challenges with some cast members. McLean Stevenson insisted on doing only one take, inspired by Sinatra’s approach. He preferred sitting down in scenes, just like Sinatra. Gary Burghoff’s dedication to understanding Radar’s motivation caused delays and frustration among directors. Loretta Swit’s behavior became argumentative. Wayne Rogers and Larry Linville were the only ones who did not cause any issues. Despite the challenges, the ratings of the show continued to increase.

The source material provided the ultimate irony. MASH persistently criticized the army, portraying Generals as foolish and communist characters as honorable. As the show gained new cast members and grew in popularity, Alda appeared to become more relaxed. However, one individual who struggled to watch was Dr. Richard Hornberger, the author of the book that inspired both the movie and TV series. He was particularly unsettled by Alda’s depiction of Hawkeye, a character based on himself, as Hornberger was a Conservative, patriotic, pro-military supporter.

The irony reached its peak with the source material. MASH consistently ridiculed the army, depicting Generals as buffoons and communist characters as noble. As the show evolved with new cast members and increased success, Alda appeared to become more at ease. However, one person who found it hard to watch was Dr. Richard Hornberger, the author of the book that inspired both the movie and television series. He was especially troubled by Alda’s portrayal of Hawkeye, a character modeled after himself, as Hornberger was a Conservative, flag-waving, pro-military advocate.