Here’s Why Wayne Rogers WALKED AWAY from ‘M*A*S*H ‘

No doubt about it, by the mid-seventies, M*A*S*H was one of the most popular shows on television, and the reasons why were obvious. First and foremost, Wayne Rogers, Alan Alda, and the rest of the cast, well, they were great. But it was more than just that: the creative team, led by Larry Gelbart, was top-notch, as well. These wonderful ingredients combined to create one of the most successful comedies in the history of television history. 

Then, at the end of the third season, McLean Stevenson decided to leave the show. I remember his final episode well, and if you’re a fan of M*A*S*H, you know why. “Abyssinia, Henry,” which aired on March 18, 1975, was a devastating and controversial episode in which Stevenson’s Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake finally gets discharged, but is killed by enemy fire before he can go home. Stevenson’s run on the show ended with a send-off so memorable, fans are still discussing it.