tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post116074692721878859..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The best way to watch MASHBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72692753745392994982018-05-18T00:48:37.100-07:002018-05-18T00:48:37.100-07:00So now after all of these years, why isn't M*A...So now after all of these years, why isn't M*A*S*H on Blu-Ray? Perhaps with bonus features such as "After M*A*S*H" episodes and maybe even "W*A*L*T*E*R" or "Trapper John, MD". The show was beloved and would surely make a ton of cash. What the dilly-O?Tom Ciprianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09742673159878637985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-61420537508479397182017-05-01T16:07:30.083-07:002017-05-01T16:07:30.083-07:00Great article, Ken.
I recently rewatched all of ...Great article, Ken. <br /><br />I recently rewatched all of MASH in its entirety (Yes, all 251 episodes) and sometimes I had the opposite problem with the DVD quality. The print wasn't high quality enough for me. The resolution on that initial DVD release was about 700x576 pixels, whereas the resolution on a Blu-Ray now is at least double that. True, if you watch the episodes upscaled on a Blu-Ray player (which I did) the difference was mostly negligible.<br /><br />Ken, do you think MASH should get a Blu-Ray re-release? <br /><br />I'm somewhat envious that you got to view the actual film print in a screening room...<br /><br />PS, does anyone know if the "Karen Hall" that commented earlier the same writer who worked on the last few seasons of MASH?Taylor Costellohttp://facebook.com/taylorccostellonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55219045312041270072016-06-08T19:49:29.253-07:002016-06-08T19:49:29.253-07:00I've always wondered. When the final episode w...I've always wondered. When the final episode was made, was there any consideration of having Hawkeye commit suicide? I know it would have been heartbreaking, but somehow I think it would have been fitting. Then ending with the full vocal track to suicide is painless. It would have illustrated how terrible war is, and added meaning to the choice of theme music all the years it ran.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03567189290549584974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63575823307236757442015-10-03T09:56:30.048-07:002015-10-03T09:56:30.048-07:00It's now on Netflix, and the colors are pretty...It's now on Netflix, and the colors are pretty damn great on most episodes. Only audio includes the laugh track, though. Shane Michael Mathewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10507352444242856554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86180138965360292582013-03-16T10:57:37.145-07:002013-03-16T10:57:37.145-07:00I bought the seasons of M.A.S.H as they came out o...I bought the seasons of M.A.S.H as they came out on DVD back in 2002-2003 or so. I watch several episodes each night before falling asleep. I think some of the discs need to be replaced soon and I was beginning to look at the newer versions. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about the quality of each newer version, what they might contain that the older versions did not and if anyone knows if digital downloads will be available anytime soon.<br />Thanks for your help,<br /><br />CassieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30645874999151018482013-02-18T00:30:49.859-08:002013-02-18T00:30:49.859-08:00I've got one technical gripe with the DVDs (tw...I've got one technical gripe with the DVDs (two, if you count why "Our Finest Hour" wasn't re-created to the original full-hour version by just editing in the clips from previous episodes that were removed from the syndicated version of the episode that's on the DVD set; or 3, if you count the error of the DVDs using the opening with Gary Burghoff's credit in the first few episodes after he'd left the show): On the opening and closing shots of each episode that contain credit lettering, why are those shots so DARK??? I mean -- they're really, really dark ... and this is especially noticable on the first cut right after the final credits shots at the opening of an episode, or on the rarer occasions when the tag has a shot that immediately precedes another shot containing the freeze-frame with the final credit text. Why didn't Fox clean up those opening and closing shots within each episode?<br /><br />--Northest DavidNorthwest Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54168244043329193812013-02-10T16:08:49.228-08:002013-02-10T16:08:49.228-08:00I used to worry about what could have done better ...I used to worry about what could have done better on M*A*S*H...but it was keeping me up nights, giving me worry lines--so I cut it out.<br />Paul Ducanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15946247794721666152013-02-07T06:31:29.855-08:002013-02-07T06:31:29.855-08:00"I’m hoping that somehow in the next forty ye..."I’m hoping that somehow in the next forty years technology will fix that too. "<br /><br />I hope nobody does: it would take the charme of the 'old days' and turn the most fabolous serie in the world ever (just my opinion ;-) ) into something that wouldn't probably managed more than 4 broadcasts in today's TV-Land.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-49985128241194199552013-02-05T14:30:38.922-08:002013-02-05T14:30:38.922-08:00About the packaging on the MASH Martinis and Medic...About the packaging on the MASH Martinis and Medicine collection...<br /><br />It took me about two seconds to figure out I wasn't going to store the collection in the default packaging. So here's what I did:<br /><br />I bought a one of those narrow, 50 CD/DVD zip-up binders and transfered the whole set. The booklet fits perfectly in the binder and I keep it right by my TV. Works perfectly. I have the original packaging somewhere in a closet. Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107309396839340695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32482449620546309292013-02-05T14:27:03.214-08:002013-02-05T14:27:03.214-08:00And not only do the episodes look great, but this ...And not only do the episodes look great, but this is the most PERFECT DVD PRESENTATION of all. You get a 20th Century Fox logo, a few "do not copy" FBI warnings and then you're presented with the episode list. Just like that. It takes just a few seconds. And NO CONTINUOUSLY LOOPING THEME SONG while looking at the episode menu. Thank whomever made the decision! <br /><br />If MASH were done like a normal TV show on DVD, here's what we'd get:<br /><br />20th Century Fox Logo<br /><br />FBI Warning<br />Interpol Warning<br />French Warning<br />Dutch Warning<br /><br />*The theme song starts.<br />*Animated helicopter landing animation.<br />*Sal Viscuso voice over:<br /><br />"...Attention, All personnel. Report immediately to your TVs for another exciting episode from the 4077th..."<br /><br />Zoom in on "The Swamp" door...follow through the door as we hear Hawkeye's high pitched laugh...continuing into "The Swamp" and up to a TV where FINALLY the episode list for the DVD comes up. <br /><br />Thank you, whoever you are, that made the menu on the MASH DVDs as simple as possible!Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107309396839340695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44060475636236227932013-02-04T23:21:47.174-08:002013-02-04T23:21:47.174-08:00Ken, love that you posted this on Saturday, which ...Ken, love that you posted this on Saturday, which is also the morning I was out hiking to the MASH site in Malibu Creek State Park - cool! Do you have any memories of filming out there??XJillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6041977765855655862013-02-04T07:13:24.584-08:002013-02-04T07:13:24.584-08:00@Roger Owen Green: The only solution to the DVD p...@Roger Owen Green: The only solution to the DVD problem is, when you receive the Martinis and Medicine edition, have 36 empty jewel boxes, soft CD/DVD sleeves, or a 48-disk carrying case at the ready. Take all the disks carefully out of the cardboard sleeves, and never put them back in again.<br /><br />I did that, played a few disks, and no issues. But I'm surprised somebody at Fox hasn't redesigned the package (unless they've only done one manufacturing run and haven't gone back since then).Curt Alliaumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875046706746482871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80704925384253404852013-02-04T02:10:10.182-08:002013-02-04T02:10:10.182-08:00When I started watching MASH the other year on Swe...When I started watching MASH the other year on Swedish television, I was a little disappointed after buying a British DVD edition, cos I felt the quality of the DVDs wasn't as good as that which was being broadcast on TV. But maybe I was imagining things.Helenanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88724543252461181882013-02-03T14:55:33.836-08:002013-02-03T14:55:33.836-08:00I never bought the MASH DVD when it was on sale fr...I never bought the MASH DVD when it was on sale from Amazon - and I DO want it - because more than a few of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Martinis-Medicine-Complete-Collection/dp/B000HT3P5Q/" rel="nofollow">commenters complained about the quality of the packaging of the product</a>. Anyone here have the same problem? Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11926185536611960012013-02-03T13:10:48.587-08:002013-02-03T13:10:48.587-08:00Funny thing about the laugh track... When the firs...Funny thing about the laugh track... When the first season of MASH was first released on DVD, I bought it and tried watching a few episodes without it. I found it... odd. I'm not defending laugh tracks. All the single camera shows nowadays are better off without one. But it seemed to me that MASH, at least in those early days, was actually edited around the laugh track. In other words, Hawkeye would deliver his one-liner, and the camera would kind of linger on him, or cut to a reaction shot, and there would be a weird, silent little beat where they had left space for the laugh. The whole effect was kind of jarring and distracting, and it seemed to throw the pacing off. So I turned the laugh track back on. Again, I don't think this is an issue with shows that never had one, but I noticed this with MASH.Matt Neffer, Boy Spotwelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17370341215309019311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45120338496819835352013-02-03T12:29:23.975-08:002013-02-03T12:29:23.975-08:00I'm waiting for the 3D version on BluRay.I'm waiting for the 3D version on BluRay.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9738055738516393092013-02-03T07:17:04.942-08:002013-02-03T07:17:04.942-08:00When I was working my way through college at depar...When I was working my way through college at department stores. No matter which store I worked in, the TV departments insistently left every TV on the local ABC affiliate -- even when I would sneak over to switch the channels because something better was on. They would switch it back. Now I know why.<br /><br />When I worked at in film and commercial production, the film was transferred to tape at a fine facility and everything looked wonderful, but when I saw what I worked on broadcast on the air, it often looked and sounded faded and muddy. The director and producers didn't believe me.<br /><br />Thanks for clearing up the mystery.<br /><br />At home, we had a big Sears color console TV that would cut the ends of the picture, so we'd watch "The Ob Newhar Show." A friend of mine with the the same kind of TV used to watch "Get Smart" co-starring "Arbara Feldo."Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.mousetracksonline.com/blog.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35663509452264946432013-02-03T06:56:12.233-08:002013-02-03T06:56:12.233-08:00Your ending struck home to me. I can't tell yo...Your ending struck home to me. I can't tell you how many times I've watched something that I wrote and thought, "NOW I know how I should have written that scene!" Karen Hallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31385680500846218542013-02-03T06:31:57.386-08:002013-02-03T06:31:57.386-08:00Neil D - Question regarding the moustache and a bu...Neil D - Question regarding the moustache and a bunch of other things have been answered here by the man himself.<br /><br />http://www.mikefarrell.org/interviews/MASH.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66927277132181431522013-02-03T05:31:43.636-08:002013-02-03T05:31:43.636-08:00Ken, a semi-related sort of Friday question: I was...Ken, a semi-related sort of Friday question: I was reading this post:<br /><br />(http://splitsider.com/2013/02/watching-an-alternate-universe-cheers-that-shelley-long-never-left/#more-24072) <br /><br />about the alternate ending to Sam and Diane's wedding on Cheers. Were you around for this, or simply can you add any insights behind asking writers for two or three different scripts for one episode, and filming it all (meaning triplicate really)? Was it the equivalent of stunt casting, albeit more work?<br />thanksA_Homernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77266655887686882202013-02-02T21:34:25.140-08:002013-02-02T21:34:25.140-08:00I agree that NBC always had super saturation. Eve...I agree that NBC always had super saturation. Even the local affiliate where I live has more vibrant colors on their local news. Joey Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11718595858513830730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20809762278290338922013-02-02T21:00:39.269-08:002013-02-02T21:00:39.269-08:00The laugh track on MASH always drove me nuts, even...The laugh track on MASH always drove me nuts, even on original broadcast. There was that one "koo koo kookla koo" laugh that you heard over and over and over. It didn't even sound human! The Mutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09149977320388415139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9389946190147539182013-02-02T20:28:04.580-08:002013-02-02T20:28:04.580-08:00Ken-
Have you ever watched a re-run of a show yo...Ken- <br /><br />Have you ever watched a re-run of a show you wrote or contributed to and thought there was no way it could have been better? Like it was the perfect show or as perfect as it was going to get? Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19797392863641853782013-02-02T18:14:58.587-08:002013-02-02T18:14:58.587-08:00I second John's comment on the MTM prints that...I second John's comment on the MTM prints that WNBC-TV New York used in the early '80s. MARY TYLER MOORE and THE BOB NEWHART SHOW looked dark and washed out. Might've been a film-to-tape transfer. Also in New York, ODD COUPLE [Paramount] reruns on WPIX-TV also looked terrible. At least the MTM shows, as put on DVD by their current owner 20th Century Fox look much better than what I once saw on TV. DWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54489399312154725792013-02-02T17:49:19.087-08:002013-02-02T17:49:19.087-08:00Whether it was better prints or better equipment, ...Whether it was better prints or better equipment, the thing I remember when MASH went into syndication is that the reruns looked far better when I watched them on a channel in a bigger city, like WNEW (now WNYW) in New York, than when I was seeing them off a station in a smaller market, where the prints really did look dark and/or faded. And certain studios seemed to do a far better job getting decent prints out to stations than others -- syndicated shows from Paramount or Fox showed limited deterioration in re-runs; on the other hand, MTM's syndicated film prints looked abominable on both image and sound, even though in the case of "Mary Tyler Moore", those re-runs in New York were on WNBC just before the 5 o'clock news. If the prints look like crap being broadcast on the equipment out of 30 Rock, they're crap prints.<br /><br />Once you got to the mid-80s, and everything was going out on videotape, even the small market stations had better images. My problem then were the shows were pre-edited for syndication to add in extra commercial time, and sometimes whoever did the editing for the studios did a worse job than Floyd out in Market #150 did when he used to cut the film negative with a single edge blade (case in point -- the station I was watching MASH on in Texas back in the early 80s edited the final show of the third season so that the part taken out was the final tacked-on "Goodbye to Henry Blake" closing tag. They cut it so the rest of the show was intact, the commercial break was between the helicopter taking off and the final OR scene, and the show went to credits on the fade out from Hawkeye and Trapper. When Fox pre-edited the show, they hacked from the middle of the episode, and kept the final ad break and the Henry Blake highlight reel. If you have to take out part of the show to add commercials, the first way was far more effective). Johnnoreply@blogger.com