# Why/how McLean Stevenson left "M\*A\*S\*H\*" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838 "2006-01-13T17:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/21 "2006-01-13T21:19:13Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Stevenson did “Hello Larry” for NBC after briefly going back to CBS to play a priest in another very-short-lived sitcom. The only good thing to come out of _Hello Larry_ is my most awesome ringtone ever: > [@](#): > > _The calls are comin’ in > You’d better start to grin > 'Cause you never know just what they’re gonna say > Hello Larry… Hello Larry > Hello Larry… Hello Larry > Hello Larry… Well… Hello Larry!_ I make sure to let it ring long enough to play the entire thing while I pretend I’m wearing a polyester suit and do a little dance. It’s so awesome, and I know it makes everyone green with envy. I mean, I can actually _see_ their complexion change. I used to think that was just an expression. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/22 "2006-01-13T21:29:56Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve heard the same about Wayne Rogers, but I have no idea what my source is. TVLand Confidential, probably. Rogers was upset that Trapper wasn’t just playing second fiddle to Hawkeye, but rather was hardly in the show at all towards the third season. Since Rogers was primarily doing the show for fun, and giving one line per episode was not fun, he quit. I remember seeing an interview with Rogers where he said something along the lines of: “I was losing money by doing this show, the least they could have done was make it fun. They didn’t, so I left.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/23 "2006-01-13T22:01:44Z")
Too many actors appear in a hit TV series and think they’ve finally entered arrived. What they fail to realize is that for most of them appearing in a hit TV series is not the beginning of their career - it’s the peak. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/24 "2006-01-13T22:17:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Alda was playing Hawkeye, who was the main character in the book and movie. > Anyone with a clue would have known he was playing the lead. Actually, when I first saw the movie a few years ago I was struck by how much it seemed that Trapper was much more of a lead than he was in the series. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/25 "2006-01-13T23:17:35Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Not quite. He was actually the _great_-grandson of one of Adlai Stevenson’s _brothers_ (making him a great-great-grand-nephew, or something like that). Ooops. Thanks. Then [IMDb.com](http://IMDb.com) has it wrong (not for the first time :rolleyes:). That’ll teach me to rely on a movie website for politicotrivia. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/26 "2006-01-14T03:39:09Z")
From what I’ve heard, both Stevenson and Rogers seemed to feel that originally the show was supposed to be more of an ensemble piece, with them and Alda each getting their share of major storylines. In fact, both Stevenson and Rogers were reported to feel that they had fallen to third banana behind Alda and “the other guy.” Linville was sick of playing Frank Burns, pure and simple. I saw him in the short-lived _Grandpa Goes to Washington_ after M_A_S\*H and even with the crappy role he had, he showed me he had more talent than he had been called on to use. And just to round things out, Gary Burghoff left because he had played Radar forever. Apparently the prospect of complete anonymity was still better than more Radar. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/27 "2006-01-14T03:52:21Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Gary Burghoff left because he had played Radar forever. Apparently the prospect of complete anonymity was still better than more Radar. At the time, maybe – but it wasn’t long before he signed on to _W_A_L_T_E_R\*, and I’ll bet he was disappointed that it didn’t get picked up. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/28 "2006-01-14T03:55:33Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > And just to round things out, Gary Burghoff left because he had played Radar forever. Apparently the prospect of complete anonymity was still better than more Radar. Yes. Remember, Burghoff also played Radar in the original movie. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/29 "2006-01-14T04:02:18Z")
I wasn’t aware of Burghoff’s withered hand when the series first aired. Now in re-runs I am totally distracted watching for how they cover up. He now sells his corny nature paintings on the web. ---
**Author:** ![Analogue\_Skywalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Analogue\_Skywalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Analogue_Skywalker)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/30 "2006-01-14T04:05:05Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > Yes. Remember, Burghoff also played Radar in the original movie. quick hijack… how old was Radar supposed to be? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/31 "2006-01-14T04:08:48Z")
> [@Analogue Skywalker](#): > > quick hijack… > > how old was Radar supposed to be? I’m guessing no more than 20. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/32 "2006-01-14T04:10:23Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > I wasn’t aware of Burghoff’s withered hand when the series first aired. Now in re-runs I am totally distracted watching for how they cover up. Kinda like James Doohan’s missing finger. Now whenever I watch ST:TOS I look for it. ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/33 "2006-01-14T04:23:37Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > snip… > > He now sells his corny nature paintings on the web. And he cashes that royalty check everytime it comes in. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/34 "2006-01-14T04:41:35Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’ve heard that the producers wished to signal that the show was going into a more serious direction. > > I have no cite. yeah, when Hawkeye went into the nuthouse for a while it really threw me off. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/35 "2006-01-14T06:36:17Z")
Since people have started mentioning people other than McLean Stevenson in this thread, this will only be a slight hijack. Back in May 2004, I started a thread about bad career decisions: > **[Bad Career Decisions - Shelley Long, Pernell Roberts ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=254719)** > > There have been cast members that have left successful TV shows and achieved less fame and money than they ever had with the original show. A few examples: Shelley Long - “Cheers” Pernell Roberts - “Bonanza” David Caruso - “NYPD Blue” Jeff... You’d be surprised at all the “names” that have moved into oblivion. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/36 "2006-01-14T08:11:04Z")
> [@Max the Immortal](#): > > The only other explanation I can conceive of is that since MASH was originally based on the folks at a real MASH in the Korean war, Blake’s death may have mirrored a real-life incident. Just a WAG, though. Nothing about it in the original book, or in the follow-up books done by the original author (not the TV spin off books.) Pick em up - the real Hawkeye is a Republican, who tells a wild story about getting a sea serpent to nuke Hiroshima when the bomb fails. :eek: I bet Hooker was pushing as far from Alda as possible. I saw Stevenson on Johnny Carson, and IIRC he claimed they never told him what was going to happen to his character. He seemed rather pissed about it. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/37 "2006-01-14T13:27:11Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Harry Morgan was at least the equal of Stevenson He was great in that role, but I still kept expecting Jack Webb to show up. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/38 "2006-01-14T14:28:18Z")
I heard that Radar was a prick in real life. Any truth to that? Regarding who was the star and who was supporting, I think Alan Alda was supposed to be the star, and the casting was so perfect that it became an ensemble cast. Just my opinion. I loved that show. I remember the glory that was Wednesday night. When you could catch M.A.S.H. _three_ times that day. The early re-run, the current episode, and the late rerun. Aaaaah…heaven. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/39 "2006-01-14T14:39:22Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I saw Stevenson on Johnny Carson, and IIRC he claimed they never told him what was going to happen to his character. He seemed rather pissed about it. A making-of special (don’t know if it made it to the DVD or not) said the actors filmed what they thought was the whole episode, up to the chopper taking off. Then the OR set was readied, and the director handed out the last page of script. So no one knew what was going to happen until a few minutes before shooting. ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838/40 "2006-01-14T14:40:07Z")
I _Liked_ **Hello Larry** … …Yes, of course I Was Stoned…It Was the early 80’s 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-how-mclean-stevenson-left-m-a-s-h/339838.md?page=3)