The landmark television comedy-drama MAS*H officially ran from September 17, 1972, to February 28, 1983. Over the course of 11 seasons, the series broadcast 256 episodes on CBS, outlasting the actual military conflict it depicted by nearly triple the duration. While the Korean War spanned three years from 1950 to 1953, the fictional 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital occupied weekly television schedules for over a decade, transforming from a cynical black-comedy war satire into a poignant, dramatic cultural institution.
Understanding the exact run of the show requires looking beyond simple calendar years. The broadcast schedule bridged two distinct eras of American network television, saw massive cast rotations, and culminated in a series finale that shattered audience records—a record held for decades.
The Broadcast Timeline: Season by Season
MAS*H didn't just air for 11 calendar years; it was carefully structured into eleven distinct production blocks that evolved significantly in tone. The premiere hit CBS on a Sunday night in late 1972, introducing viewers to Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John, Henry Blake, and Radar O'Reilly.
- Seasons 1–3 (1972–1975): The early years leaned heavily into fast-paced, irreverent workplace comedy and slapstick, contrasting the horrors of war with the zany antics of draft-exempt surgeons.
- Seasons 4–7 (1975–1979): A major transitional phase. Key original cast members like McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers departed, replaced by heavy-hitters like Harry Morgan and Mike Farrell. The tone matured, balancing sharp wit with heavier dramatic storytelling.
- Seasons 8–11 (1979–1983): The final stretch saw Alan Alda take on significant writing and directing roles, steering the episodes toward moral dilemmas, psychological trauma, and deep character studies.
The final episode, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," aired as a massive two-hour movie event on February 28, 1983. It drew an estimated 121.6 million viewers, standing as the most-watched single television broadcast in US history for many years.
The MAS*H Time Paradox
One of the most frequent points of confusion for viewers is the massive discrepancy between real-world broadcast years and the internal timeline of the show.
While the series aired for 11 years, the narrative timeline within the 4077th is treated as a continuous three-year stretch corresponding to the Korean War's duration (1950–1953). Because of this compression, characters experienced multiple Christmases, Thanksgivings, and changing seasons during what was ostensibly the same year of the war. For example, multiple holiday episodes were produced across different calendar years while the characters remained stuck at the same point in the conflict. This creative choice allowed writers to explore countless independent medical scenarios and moral crises without being strictly handcuffed to a linear historical calendar.
Common Misconceptions About the Run
Audiences often misremember when certain elements of the show occurred. Clearing up these timeline errors helps paint an accurate picture of television history:
- The Movie Confusion: The TV show is frequently conflated with the original 1970 feature film directed by Robert Altman. Though the series was adapted from that movie and the original book by Richard Hooker, none of the primary television cast members—aside from Gary Burghoff as Radar—appeared in the film.
- Cast Continuity: Many assume the iconic core cast stayed together for the entire run. In reality, the show underwent a near-complete turnover. By the final season, only Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, and Jamie Farr remained from the original regular ensemble.
- Syndication Dominance: Because MAS*H entered heavy daily syndication immediately following its 1983 finale, younger generations often overestimate or miscalculate its original active production window, confusing years of continuous rerun syndication with active network production.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total episodes of MAS*H were made?
There are 256 produced episodes spread across 11 seasons. A standard syndication package sometimes counts a few two-part episodes differently, leading to occasional minor variations in total episode counts cited online, but official records list 256 distinct broadcasts.
Did any actors stay for the entire run?
Only Alan Alda (Hawkeye Pierce) appeared in every single episode of the series. Loretta Swit (Margaret Houlihan) came close, missing only a couple of episodes due to scheduling conflicts with other projects.
Why did the show end when it was still popular?
MAS*H wasn't canceled; it ended voluntarily. By 1982, the cast and creators felt they had exhausted the creative possibilities of the setting and wanted to wrap up the series on a high artistic note rather than stretching it out until ratings declined.
Was MAS*H filmed in front of a live studio audience?
Most episodes utilized a traditional single-camera setup without a live audience or laugh track, though CBS forced the production team to include a laugh track for most seasons. Producers eventually negotiated the right to omit the laughter during operating room scenes, where it felt entirely inappropriate.
