M*A*S*H, based on Robert Altman's 1970 film (which in turn was based on Richard Hooker's novel), premiered Sept. 17, 1972; it was set at the 4077th M*A*S*H (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) Unit located a few miles from the front line in wartime Korea; it did not receive high ratings in the first season's Sunday time slot but was moved to Saturday night in the second season (1973-74) where it zoomed to fourth place and remained a top ten show for all but one of the next nine seasons; in it's eleven seasons and 251 episodes, the series depicted the horror and futility of war; Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds produced the show during its first few seasons (1972-76), Burt Metcalfe produced the show during the latter seasons; regular cast members included Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, McLean Stevenson, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, David Ogden Stiers, and Mike Farrell; the series ended in 1983 while it was still popular.
From the description of Collection of M*A*S*H television series scripts, 1972-1982. (University of California, Los Angeles). WorldCat record id: 40077202
