He did not survive the crash. After the M*A*S*H finale, maybe the most memorable episode of the most memorable TV series was the one in which Col. Blake was supposed to go home. But as doctors, theyre forced to continue with their jobs despite their grief. In the TV series, Henry is a reservist called up to active duty from his private practice in his hometown of Bloomington, Illinois. [7] The final scenes have always been shown in syndication, and were uncut on the DVD release of the series' third season in 2003. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. According to his colleague Loretta Swit, Blake left because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. This was also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. because he was tired of his supporting role to Alan Alda and Wayne years later that he regretted his decision to leave. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. "Abyssinia, Henry" is the 72nd episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and the final episode of the series' third season. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. [17] The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in "Welcome to Korea," the first episode of the next season. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". According to multiple accounts, one most famously from co-star Loretta Swift, corroborated by writer Ken Levine, McLean left because he wanted to be No. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. The overwhelming combination of paperwork and incessant arrivals of incoming wounded often left Henry feeling exhausted, but like the others, Henry soldiered on as best he could. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Only two actors have portrayed the character of Henry Blake: Coincidentally, both actors died one day apart; Stevenson passed away on February 15, 1996, and Bowen the day after; both died of a heart attack. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer, 20 Best free fitness apps for Android devices. Henry is being discharged because he has earned enough points. According to his colleague Loretta Swit, Blake left because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. This was also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine. He died in the final episode of the show, which aired in 1983. WebOn the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. The Ottumwa native was fictionalized as Radar OReilly in the 1968 novel MASH by Richard Hornberger who wrote under the pen name Richard Hooker. Death. "4/22/1979 - Steve Martin / The Blues Brothers" (, 37. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. The creators and also the network granted his wish. After bringing Meg to the hearing to testify in Henry's behalf, the presiding officers were ready to drop the charges with Frank's approval, which he naturally refused at first, but when Hawkeye and Trapper threatened to tell Frank's wife about Margaret, Frank abruptly changed his mind. He is eventually released and returns to the 4077th, but dies shortly thereafter from his injuries. M*A*S*H fans hearts broke everywhere when the show decided to kill off fan-favorite Henry Blake during the shocking Season 3 finale Abyssinia, Henry.. In The Trial of Henry Blake, Hawkeye and Trapper fought to secure Henry's command when Margaret and Frank brought formal charges against him for, as they put it, giving aid and comfort to the enemy. We got so much mail, said M*A*S*H executive producer Burt Metcalf. Henry spots an emotional Radar saluting him and approaches to return the salute, hug him, and chide him like a loving father to behave himself, before boarding and flying away. Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". WebMcLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better because "everyone loved Henry". Lt. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. But M*A*S*H writers had another idea. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. Job/Role in Unit: Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. 1." Why did Frank Burns leave? Who was the first Colonel Blake in Who turned down the role of Hawkeye in mash? The episode of M*A*S*H in which Henry Blake died is one of the most famous and well-known episodes in television history. the Season 3 finale. They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. Heart ("Abyssinia", pronounced "ab-ee-SIN-ee-ah" can be understood as "I'll be seeing you".)[1]. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Both were canceled the same year and the finale episodes aired one day apart. Heart The expression Abyssinia, Henry comes from a Flapper era, 20s era. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. He said something similar to Hawkeye and Trapper when explaining that he had not, in fact, signed a dishonorable discharge for a soldier who was homosexual, despite Frank threatening to go over his head again. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. Commanding Officer/Senior Surgeon at the 4077th M*A*S*H He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. In 1980, the Argus-Leader reported that Alan Alda was the highest-paid TV actor of all time, earning $5.6 million a season on M*A*S*H, which also included the money he made as a writer. Henry generally let their insults roll off his back, but Frank and Margaret frequently went over Henry's head when they didn't get their own way, filing formal complaints to army brass, particularly senior officers whom Margaret is very close to. So why did they do it? Why did Frank Burns leave? Henry's affectionate individual goodbyes to the others are cut short by the imminent arrival of his helicopter, but Hawkeye pulls him aside and persuades him to give a long parting kiss to Margaret, to her surprise and Frank's annoyance. Want Some Related Articles? The episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the final scene is reported killed by enemy fire. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake is a character introduced in the 1968 Richard Hooker novel M*A*S*H. He also appeared in the 1970 film, played by Roger Bowen, and more famously in the first three seasons of the television series by McLean Stevenson. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Please whitelist to support our site. Over time, however, Henry became more assertive and willing to stand his ground when it involved principle or serious medical matters. scene was cut from the episode. What is the reflection of the story of princess urduja? Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Episodes following this represented a major change in focus for the show; the individual effects and psychological damages of war were explored more, often in parallel to the ending of the Vietnam War, and the Korean culture was portrayed in greater depth than had been done before, instead of focusing on a "boorish, military mindset" as before. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. A Katherine Baumann played a 21 year old girlfriend. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. How did McLean Stevenson die? In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. The episode, titled The Colonels Last Flight, aired on February 28, 1975, and was the shows 16th episode. RELATED: Ten Of The Saddest Moments From M*A*S*H. (She wrote) I feel that I have joined that all too non-inclusive fraternity of those who have lost a dear one overseas. I thought that was such an incredible observation by someone so young. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Everyone was overwhelmed with grief and shock, even Frank and Margaret, who could be seen sobbing at the news. Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. While he was beloved by most of the camp, particularly Hawkeye and Trapper for his down-to-earth, laid-back manner, he was disliked and scorned by Margaret and Frank, with Margaret preferring stricter military discipline while Frank yearned to take command. Rogers said that aside from missing the castand his friendship with Alda in particularhe had no regrets about leaving the show after season three. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. His tenacity nearly cost him his life when, in Cowboy, he stubbornly refused to let a distraught helicopter pilot go on leave to see his wife, and the nearly unbalanced pilot almost killed Blake four times. The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". Hair Color: To his aggravation, Lorraine sent him her bills and used check books to balance their account, though Henry insisted that he was terrible with numbers; he once complained about an expensive Vet bill for their elderly house cat care. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. It also proved that television could handle complex issues like death with sensitivity and intelligence. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. He is best known for his role as Lt. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series Just hours later, Roger died of a heart attack as well on February 16th. Did He Cheat on Ariana Madix With Raquel Leviss? M*A*S*H was not about happy endings. Blake will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. And Rule Number 2 is doctors can't change Rule Number 1.". Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Lorraine is an excellent cook, but irresponsible with money and, according to Henry, acted like Frank Burns in drag-(in fact in a film she sent to Henry of herself and their children she is actaully not bad looking) she also has a fistful of credit cards and $3,500 worth of Bridgework in her teeth (of which Henry owes $1,700). Trapper and Hawkeye threw him a big farewell party where everyone said their goodbye to him. Loretta Swit said it was because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one . (This is also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine) The departure would take place the last episode of the third season. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. When the series concluded in 1981, the bear mysteriously disappeared for nearly 30 years, prompting my non-ending search for my little on-camera companion and friend. Look, all I know is what they taught me in command school; there are certain rules about a war, and Rule Number 1 is that young men die. Most important to Ottumwa is the clerk, Radar OReilly, nicknamed for his acute hearing. Thirty-nine years ago today (March 18, 1975) one of the most memorableand shockingmoments in American television was broadcast: In the final episode of the third season of MASH, Lt. Height: (, During the first three seasons, Henry is absent in the episodes ", "It's entirely possible that Henry's wife Lorraine did not, in fact, cheat on him (to the extent that he had cheated on her), in that she referenced the 1945 film Brief Encounter. "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 TV series season finale) In the 1970 film, though SFC Vollmer was the camps Sergeant Major, it was Radar who was company clerk and was invariably entrusted with everything by Colonel Blake. Then, M*A*S*H and the 4077th go about the business of tending to the wounded. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. Trapper and Hawkeye make joking comments, but Radar announces, "I have a message. It was a surprise, it was somebody they loved. However, the army will credit time for civilian professional experience for commissioning officers with essential skills, such as medical doctors, and he may have received such credit. The creators and also the network granted his wish. In return, Radar, more or less, was Henry's backbone, and kept the unit running like a well-oiled machine, utilizing his nearly magical skills for getting everything done, counter-balancing Henry's laissez-faire attitude. Under Henry's watch, Hawkeye and Trapper repeatedly got away with numerous shenanigans, either because Henry looked the other way, or they were able to manipulate him into seeing things their way. And that's not good. Here's an oldie but a goodie half of the family dying, other half pregnant. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. WebOn the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. Stevenson didnt say a word afterward and later went to his trailer and cried, skipping the wrap party. He was in charge of the 4077th. Unlike the television Radar, Shaffer is not remembered as a clerk. Majors Margaret Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Frank Burns (Larry Linville) celebrate privately that Frank will become the unit commander. Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. McLean Stevenson/Date of death. Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. While they were on opposite sides of the country, they were both saying goodbye to their loved ones in the hospital around the same time. The 4077th were happy for him. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others [3], To evoke genuine emotions of shock and sadness, the final O.R. Similar to Henry, Potter was easygoing, fun-loving and compassionate enough to earn the deep respect of his staff (including Margaret, but not Frank, who resented being passed over for command), but in contrast, Potter was a career soldier and consummate leader and surgeon, and never hesitated to put his foot down when things got out of hand.