“M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television” is a new two-hour special looking back at the series with the show’s executives and actors. The show garnered 14 Emmy awards and lasted almost four times longer than the Korean War, the backdrop of the series.

The series was based on the 1970 feature film of the same name. Immediately after the film was produced, the powers that be recognized it would make a great TV show, so they began writing it up and in 1972 “M*A*S*H” premiered. The antics of the doctors and nurses at the 4077th division at this mobile Army surgical hospital provided plenty of laughs as well as emotional moments.

Those looking at the show include Alan Alda (Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce who loved women and booze), Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter “Radar” O’Reilly who had the ability to predict what was going to happen), William Christopher (Father Mulcahy), Jamie Farr (Cpl./Sgt. Max Klinger who wanted desperately to get out of the Army so he dressed as a woman in hopes of getting a Section 8 discharge), Mike Farrell (Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt), Wayne Rogers (Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre), Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan), plus Gene Reynolds and Burt Metcalfe, who were the series’s executive producers. There are also segments with writer/producer Larry Gelbart, Lary Linville (Maj. Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Col. Sherman Potter), McLean Stevenson (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) and David Ogden Stires (Maj. Charles Winchester III), all of whom have passed away since the series ended in 1983.

What made the series so popular? Was it the comedy set against the horrors of war? Was it the drama that added depth to the situation? Was it the characters whose interpersonal relationships were often whacky? Was it the cast themselves? Actually, it was all of these and more.

When a series loses a central cast member, not due to death but because of desires of that actor to move on, shows often go by the wayside. But “M*A*S*H” was different. As they brought in “replacements” for Rogers, Stevenson,and Linville over the run of the series, the new characters added different elements to the group. And unlike many other shows, this change only served to add to the fun of the series.

The cast of this special looks back over individual episodes that touched them personally and the relationships both on camera and off. There are sentimental recollections and hysterical ones as well. The show provided both ups and downs for viewers. The horrors of war combined with the crazy antics of the characters proved to be a dichotomy that captured the hearts of audiences. And the network received plenty of letters both for and against different episodes, as the producers recall. But in the end, it was a show that was beloved by viewers for 11 years over 251 episodes. The war itself lasted three years.

It has been 40 years since “M*A*S*H” ended and it continues to be a beloved classic sitcom. “M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television” premieres Monday on FOX.

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