Through its unique mix of humour, drama, and heart, the popular TV show MASH has been entertaining viewers for decades. Many people think of the show as a classic, but behind the scenes, there are still a lot of little-known secrets and mistakes that have been kept. Here are some of the most interesting secrets and blunders from the set of MASH. They range from mistakes in military practice to surprising facts about the cast.
Radar O’Reilly was almost written off of MAS*H because actor Gary Burghoff was having health problems. This is one of the most interesting facts about the show. Burghoff had Poland syndrome, a disease that makes the chest muscle not develop enough and can sometimes cause webbed fingers. Even with this problem, Burghoff was eager to keep playing Radar, and he did a great job of hiding his left hand during scenes.
Another story from the set of MAS*H is that Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret Houlihan, didn’t like the name “Hot Lips” given to her character. Swit thought the nickname was mean and took away from her character’s pride as a major in the U.S. Army. She finally got the writers to stop using the nickname and focus on making her character more likeable and giving her more skills.
In addition to these secrets, there are also many mistakes and bloopers that can be seen in the series. One big mistake is that there is a Bell Huey UH-1 chopper in Henry Blake’s office, even though it wasn’t built until 1956, which is a few years after the events of MAS*H, which take place during the Korean War.
Even with these flaws, MASH is still one of the most famous and loved TV shows of all time. People are still entertained by its unique mix of humour, drama, and heart, and its influence on pop culture can still be felt. Whether you’ve watched MASH for years or are just now learning about it, it’s a true classic that will make you laugh and feel good.