The Untold Story: How MASH's Record-Breaking Movie Threatened the TV Show

Summary

M*A*S*H movie's success almost killed the TV show before it started due to plans for a sequel, but the sequel fell apart.

William Self, the president of 20th Century Fox Television, expressed his interest in developing a television show based on the content even before the movie's release.

Richard D. Zanuck ultimately decided to scrap the sequel and instead move forward with the TV show, which went on to become a highly successful and groundbreaking sitcom on CBS.

The success of the movie M*A*S*H, known for its dark humor and anti-establishment tone, posed a threat to the TV show adaptation. Despite being set during the Korean War, the movie's storytelling and commentary on the Vietnam War resonated with American audiences. Initially, 20th Century Fox prioritized developing a sequel rather than a TV series, putting the show at risk of cancellation. Only because creating a satisfying sequel proved difficult, the TV show received a second chance. The book TV's M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book by Ed Solomonson and Mark O'Neill offers an in-depth look into the series' origins.

Fox Was More Interested In A Movie Sequel

The MASH TV Show Happened Because MASH Goes To Maine Fell Apart

William Self, who was the president of 20th Century Fox Television at the time when M*A*S*H first premiered, believed that the concept would be ideal for a television series even before the movie version was released. Upon viewing an early screening of the movie, Self immediately expressed interest in securing the TV rights. Having previously transformed Fox films such as Peyton Place and 12 O’Clock High into successful TV shows, Self was informed that the TV rights would not be available for some time. This was because Fox was confident that M*A*S*H would be a commercial success and wanted to capitalize on that triumph by producing a movie sequel rather than a television adaptation.

After the enormous success of M*A*S*H, the studio decided to develop a sequel called M*A*S*H Goes to Maine, based on Richard Hooker's second novel in the series. The sequel would have depicted the characters returning home after the war ended. However, if the sequel had been produced, it would have faced a potential delay until the late '70s, which could have adversely affected its timing. Furthermore, if the sequel didn't match the popularity of the original, it might have hindered the show's ability to maintain momentum and sustain viewer interest.

Fortunately, Richard D. Zanuck, the president of 20th Century Fox at the time, was unsatisfied with the scripts submitted for M*A*S*H Goes to Maine. As a result, he decided to cancel the sequel. Zanuck then reached out to Self to inquire if he was still interested in developing a M*A*S*H TV series. Self's eagerness to bring the TV adaptation to fruition remained, leading to the creation of the highly influential and iconic M*A*S*H TV series. Initially, the networks had doubts about a show based on a risqué movie. However, CBS took a chance and made an offer, resulting in one of their all-time biggest hits.