I love when I can sometimes go to the source. Reader Michael Rafferty
submitted a Friday question. Here's the question and the answer from
the man himself, Gary Burghoff. My EXTREME thanks to Gary for his time
and very illuminating response.
On MASH, first season, Gary Burghoff played Radar pretty much the same
as he did in the movie version. But,over time, Radar was softened and
became more gentle and naive. Was this a decision of Burghoff or was
this a creative decision of Larry Gelbart et al.?
Here's Gary's answer:
In the original feature film MASH, I created Radar as a lone, darker and somewhat sardonic character; kind of a shadowy figure. I continued these qualities for a short time (review the Pilot) until I realized that the TV MASH characters were developing in a different direction from the film characters. It became a group of sophisticated, highly educated Doctors (and one head nurse) who would rather be anywhere else and who understood the nature of the "hell hole" they were stuck in.
With Gelbart's help, I began to mold Radar into more Innocent, naive character as contrast to the other characters, so that while the others might deplore the immorality and shame of war (from an intellectual and judgmental viewpoint), Radar could just REACT from a position of total innocence. This made RADAR super ACTIVE, free and very interesting on a primary "gut" level, which at times delivered the horror of war (as well as the dark humor we became known for) in an effective, universal way that anyone could understand.
Larry, in one interview, was quoted as saying that Radar was his favorite character to write for. I think he liked the fact that the character lacked guile and he could write from his own honest "child's-self" as apposed to having to create "clever" intellectual hyperbole.
ACTING IS RE-ACTING. LARRY gave Radar "permission" to REACT IN SPADES!! in a free, delightful and direct manner. Once these decisions were made, RADAR became PURE JOY to play!! God bless Larry Gelbart and his talented writers such as your most excellent SELF!
I hope this helps.
Love "Ya~ Gary
Love ya, too. And P.S., Radar was one of my favorite characters to
write as well. It was a true honor to pen the "Goodbye Radar" episodes.
26 comments :
I noticed in the earliest episodes Radar was drinking moonshine with Hawkeye and Trapper in the swamp, later on his drink of choice was grape Nehi.
That's terrific---thank you Gary and Ken! One follow-up question to Gary: How hard is it to essentially take a character backward in their evolution? Or was the idea to simply flip the switch, realize that at some point there would be more episodes with the "new" Radar than with the old, and not worry about inconsistencies like the one mentioned above by Paul B?
Maybe, Radar got sick one time from Hawkeye and Trapper's Moonshine.
Thank you Gary and Ken. I appreciate the amount of creativity and care you both put into your work on the show. I enjoy the subtleties that Gary brings to each scene he is in.
Well, that totally answers a long time question I had about the weird re-virginizing of Radar. Thanks Ken and Gary.
"Hey, pipe down! There's people here on R & R! Resting and reading."
For Ken and anyone else who's interested, there's a Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish cast reunion on Tuesday.
https://youtu.be/YGtHWxygjfw
And don't forget the Frasier cast reunion this evening!
https://youtu.be/srJLtdQmsgM
"I think I've been slaked."
Ruptured Brooke. One of the great lines ever.
What an excellent explanation for something I wondered too. Many thanks to you and Gary!!
I've also always wondered what the story was behind the elevation of (the late) Kellye Nakahara (Nurse Kellye), Jeff Maxwell (Pvt. Igor Straminsky), and G.W. Bailey (Sgt. Luther Rizzo). Though Bailey was already a busy character actor before M*A*S*H, the others weren't - Maxwell & Nakahara were on early as non-speaking BG players.
What was the process behind their characters' evolutions? Did a producer notice that they were good actors and start giving them lines? Were they seen in something off-show that were revelations? Did they pester the producers for lines and they showed that they could carry scenes well? After enough main-cast turnover, had they 'earned' their shots? They eventually got prominent credits in the end roll and, while they didn't really have their 'own' plots, they became pretty prominent in a bunch. Bailey seemed to become a major antagonist to Winchester. Could you enlighten us?
Thanks, Gary.
I saw episodes of MASH on television first, and then I saw the movie.
I did not like the dark Radar in the motion picture because I thought I knew the real Radar.
An analogy...take Woody on Cheers. Something like Radar. But in CHEERS The Motion Picture, imagine he has the warmth of Lilith or the innocence of Paul.
Glad to see you adjusted to the changes you noticed and made Radar more sympathetic.
Thanks for that both Gary and Ken.
One moment in MASH always sticks with me, it was Radar at his desk and I think it was BJ that was asking the question to Radar, who was eating a bowl of ice cream nad Radars response was a very casual "down past where we burn the body parts." The casualness of the reply showed how people can get used to the carnage created. Just so well done.
cheers
Dave.
O.K. Once again I'm in the minority, but I was not a fan of Radar's transition. I don't remember the exact quote, but in one episode Radar said, "I'm the only guy who is going to leave here younger than when he got here." It's a good thing Burghoff left the show when he did. Because if he continued to regress eventually he would have to have his diapers changed and be burped after his bottle.
M.B.
P.S. Ken, is this a rerun?
Gerald said...
What an excellent explanation for something I wondered too. Many thanks to you and Gary!!
I've also always wondered what the story was behind the elevation of (the late) Kellye Nakahara (Nurse Kellye), Jeff Maxwell (Pvt. Igor Straminsky), and G.W. Bailey (Sgt. Luther Rizzo). Though Bailey was already a busy character actor before M*A*S*H, the others weren't - Maxwell & Nakahara were on early as non-speaking BG players.
Bailey's Rizzo seemed to be a replacement for Johnny Haymer's Sgt. Zelmo Zale, who started slightly before Ken arrived on the show, but departed with him, David and Gary, as "Good-Bye Radar" is listed as Haymer's last episode.
Why he was dropped and Bailey brought on, as the slightly lazier/less aggressive Luther Rizzo just a few episodes later, is actually a background story I'd like to hear, since Haymer's acting credits go on right up until his death in 1989.
Thank you, Gary. I worked for Larry Gelbart for two years in the late 70's short-lived "United States." It was a wonderful experience. Larry was an incredible writer and a great teacher!
My favorite episode was “Springtime.” It was written by Mary Kay Place (“Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”) and Linda Bloodworth. Great writers and Mary Kay Place acted in the episode as the one who “slaked” Radar. The entire episode was a delight!!!
Radar was also my favorite character on MASH and I sure missed him when he left.
MASH was just not the same show after Radar left. There were good episodes that deserve to be part of the show's best, but I don't think it felt as vital in the last three seasons.
I don't fault actors for leaving a show when they feel their time is up. That goes for all the cast changes in MASH and CHEERS. Well, in Coach's case it wasn't exactly voluntary. But I think it's important to adjust and evolve.
M*A*S*H will never fade away. It's a monument to all the soldiers who have fought in the wars past & present!!!
Radar is about to take the fall for a colonel's antique gun Frank has stolen. Potter tells him he could go to jail for 15 years. Radar is aghast: "I'll be in my 30s! That's almost DEAD!"
Another of my favorite moments is when Frank is trying to explain why he has accidentally shot B. J. when Margaret has gone missing. Radar is standing next to Potter when, in a splendid non sequitur, Potter says to Frank, "So naturally you shot Captain Hunnicutt!" It looks as though Radar is trying VERY hard to suppress a laugh.
Radar's departure took the heart out of the show, but even the later episodes are better than most of what else has ever been on television.
Gary, you are a master of your craft.
This is a great post today.
I'm one of the few left knocking around still alive who had the joy of seeing Gary play "Charlie Brown" live onstage in the original production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, back in another century. I knew he was special then, and he proved me right.
As one of the few under-30 gals who cherish M*A*S*H, I appreciate Gary's insight so much because my family and I have debated Radar's change over the years, and he is hands-down our favorite character (though my grandma is always partial to Col. Potter). Thanks!
Radar was the glue that kept the 4077 together
He was special. When they wrote him out of the series I cried.
Radar was definitely great it was sad to see him go Mash was still great. It’s the last show I watch before going to bed.It’s one of the best shows ever produced. One last comment if you put some time in the military some of the action of the actors were so great and so funny ��.
I’ll join you in the minority here. I liked Radar’s original quirky, quietly snarky character, and was disappointed when it was changed. Having said that, Gary’s portrayal was great, and his explanation for why the character was retooled makes sense.
@D McEwan, I'm jealous that you got to see YAGM,CB. I was a preteen in Texas at that time, and was obsessed with the record. Didn't realize for YEARS that Radar was played by Charlie Brown!
Still prefer the early Radar. Caught smoking a cigar and drinking in Henry's office. Was in on every scheme Hawkeye and Trapper planned. Didn't like the "Oh golly gee" I could get trouble Radar as much.
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