tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7506257440736912480..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: R.I.P. Wayne RogersBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-10646675163725713562016-03-18T17:09:24.272-07:002016-03-18T17:09:24.272-07:00FOUND! A guy, RJ, who runs a MASH site found the...FOUND! A guy, RJ, who runs a MASH site found the footage of Stevenson guesting on the Cher show, right after his character, Henry, is killed off on MASH.<br /> <br />http://www.mash4077tv.com/2016/03/18/found-mclean-stevenson-in-a-raft-on-cher-in-1975/comment-page-1/#comment-463711Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57919306280507087092016-01-13T11:56:16.423-08:002016-01-13T11:56:16.423-08:00...I co-authored a book on MASH, and my co-author ......I co-authored a book on MASH, and my co-author and I investigated the PA announcements through and through. I don't believe Rogers, given his reasons for leaving, would ever return to do a PA announcement, even if uncredited.<br />...If you ask me, Wayne Rogers was utterly vital to the magic that was the first 3 seasons of MASH. The tone of his voice or even just a look added to or complimented the show, in ways no replacement could. Rogers and Alda were brilliant, together, and I think House calls was very MASH like in it's humor.<br />...Why the producers of MASH couldn't give Rogers more episodes like ones were everyone was given more equal time, I don't know. That's all he wanted, and the ones they did like that were the best.<br />...God Bless Wayne Rogers. I feel like I lost a friend.<br />...As an aside, if anyone can help, I'm trying to find actual footage of McLean Stevenson on that life raft, waving and smiling, on either the carol Burnett or Cher show, the night after Abysinnia, Henry aired. I actually saw the clip on some sort of MASH retrospective, about 3 years ago. Now, I can't recall which.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53711272829308213672016-01-09T11:37:07.325-08:002016-01-09T11:37:07.325-08:00QUESTION FOR KEN: Can you or one of your "M*...QUESTION FOR KEN: Can you or one of your "M*A*S*H" contacts find out if it was Wayne Rogers who does a P.A. voice-over at the military base in the 4th season opener where BJ Hunnicutt is introduced? I've long thought that this briefly-heard announcer sounded a lot like Wayne, and there have been a few speculations about this on some Internet sites in recent years. But can someone who was actually with the show give us the authentic details on this?David Goehnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69864387910971010582016-01-07T12:44:45.348-08:002016-01-07T12:44:45.348-08:00I work at a small-town newspaper in Tennessee, and...I work at a small-town newspaper in Tennessee, and here's the story I ran today about Wayne Rogers' involvement with his alma mater, a private prep school located in our coverage area. He was an active and energetic supporter of the school, which he felt had done a lot for him: http://www.t-g.com/story/2265583.htmlJohn Carneyhttp://www.lakeneuron.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26515606130308321652016-01-05T21:49:10.726-08:002016-01-05T21:49:10.726-08:00Rogers was quoted once during his run on the serie...Rogers was quoted once during his run on the series that he enjoyed that Trapper was a bit less reflexively judgmental than Hawkeye, and one of the most memorable bits in the series did demonstrate that...Trapper and Frank are catching s short nap just outside the OR during one of the grueling marathons of surgery, and fall into an exhausted conversation, where Trapper gets a vivid sudden understanding of how an abused childhood can create a Frank Burns...this registers on Trapper's face, and he simply wishes Frank a good nap.<br /><br />I liked what I saw of CITY OF ANGELS, as well.Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5264171369521989482016-01-05T18:32:17.924-08:002016-01-05T18:32:17.924-08:00When Trapper laughed at something, it seemed to be...When Trapper laughed at something, it seemed to be genuine, as if Wayne was also having a good laugh. You don't see that much on TV anymore.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02657932542572968305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2616320123062121582016-01-05T11:30:18.742-08:002016-01-05T11:30:18.742-08:00My favorite scene with Wayne Rogers in that role w...My favorite scene with Wayne Rogers in that role was the tag of an episode where a B-story involved Trapper having a pinstripe suit made for him. He opens the door to Henry's office revealing that the stripes were horizontal, and Hawkeye and Radar completely lose it. <br /><br />I've always wondered if Rogers and the writers managed to prank the other two actors with the suit. Alda's line after the reveal sounds looped, and their incredulous shock seems more than just acted.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07999541621680032978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38173544803867334532016-01-05T09:54:47.881-08:002016-01-05T09:54:47.881-08:00Trapper John was always my favorite character on M...Trapper John was always my favorite character on MASH. He will be missed.kim tenhornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33318763465108220262016-01-04T06:31:35.341-08:002016-01-04T06:31:35.341-08:00I was sorry to hear of Wayne Rogers' passing. ...I was sorry to hear of Wayne Rogers' passing. Trapper was a great character in MASH, and I think at the start of the series they played him and Hawkeye almost interchangeably, and closer to the movie roles. Rogers was actually better at delivering the funny lines, something about the animation in his face, I think. The show started to veer away from just comic stunts and one liners, and have more character centric episodes, which probably did extend the life of the series, but that was when perspective seemed to be more from Hawkeye. I don't know if they decided to build the show more deliberately around one character, or whether they just thought Alda did the straight guy better, or what. But the show really was more comical in those first few years and Rogers was a lot of the reason. I also really enjoyed his appearances on Murder She Wrote! He came across as likeable and real, and I wished they would have used him more. McAlvienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26441700447284536402016-01-03T06:26:14.028-08:002016-01-03T06:26:14.028-08:00Sorry for everyone's loses.
Great commentary...Sorry for everyone's loses. <br />Great commentary and fascinating memories from all<br />Happy New Year everyone. The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14515641616806331142016-01-03T03:00:37.652-08:002016-01-03T03:00:37.652-08:00@Houston Mitchell:
"He really knew how to sa...@Houston Mitchell:<br /><br />"He really knew how to say a line perfectly..."<br /><br />That's exactly right. Trapper often didn't get enough to say or do, but Wayne Rogers was never less than amazing with what he was given. He and Alan Alda were a tremendous double-act. (I prefer B.J. to Trapper, but that's not a slight on Wayne Rogers; it's just that Beej was better developed as a character.)<br /><br />It's sad to consider that exactly half of M*A*S*H's season 1-3 regular cast is now gone (unless you count Jamie Farr and Bill Christopher as de facto regulars).<br />Francis Dollarhydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16974200244125077414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45219078344303390802016-01-02T19:08:43.868-08:002016-01-02T19:08:43.868-08:00I'm starting to believe that Blake was in an i...I'm starting to believe that Blake was in an intelligence mission, when he was "shot down". It was a ruse to hide his true mission.Albert Giesbrechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17742338183833125104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-28621423385147014272016-01-02T13:00:59.414-08:002016-01-02T13:00:59.414-08:00I never appreciated what Wayne Rogers brought to M...I never appreciated what Wayne Rogers brought to MASH when I was a kid, but as I began watching reruns as an adult, Trapper became my favorite character. He really knew how to say a line perfectly, whether it was talking about how Frank Burns slipped on a bar of soap, or, after Klinger opened a present and said "I'm touched!", the way Rogers said "I've always thought so" was just perfect. He's one of those guys that I wish I had a chance to go up to and say "Thanks for all the good memories."Houston Mitchellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91697885840226782982016-01-02T11:10:24.641-08:002016-01-02T11:10:24.641-08:00A couple of addenda ....
There was a fan book abo...A couple of addenda ....<br /><br />There was a fan book about MASH in which McLean Stevenson was asked if he would come back if they did a show about Henry coming out of the ocean with a bunch of kelp up his nose and winding up on a deserted island until they found him. He said he would. They didn't do it, but it would have been fascinating.<br /><br />Wendy, Carson did his senior thesis on Jack Benny--he idolized him. So they did a routine--Benny did it with others later--in which Carson explains everything that Benny does wrong. I don't know if that was in the episode you saw, but it also enabled Carson to do his Benny impression, which was quite good.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01998867386294693956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-2744695607636641512016-01-02T10:24:40.603-08:002016-01-02T10:24:40.603-08:00Wendy M. Grossman said...
Speakng of Antenna TV, o...<i>Wendy M. Grossman said...<br />Speakng of Antenna TV, on NYE we were channel-surfing and found it was showing episodes of Jack Benny and Burns & Allen. Stopped to watch...the guest on one of the Benny episodes was a very young Johnny Carson (who said he'd then been in show business for 12 years). It came across as an infomercial for Carson, who in the course of the episode did card tricks, played the drums, sang, danced, and did a mock interview with Benny in which he voiced his thoughts. Only the singing seemed to be faked.</i><br /><br />Benny was a big fan of Carson, and Carson always cited Jack Benny as his idol. Carson once said that if he was ever stuck for how to deliver a line or how to handle a bit of business, he would ask himself how Jack would do it. Benny also made regular appearances on Carson's TONIGHT SHOW up until his death. The two were close friends in real life. Given all that, it's not surprising that the Benny episode in question would amount to an extended plug for Carson's talents and for his TONIGHT SHOW, which he'd only recently taken over at the time the Benny episode aired.<br /><br />A quote from Jack on one of his TONIGHT SHOW appearances: "For years, I have been Johnny Carson's idol. He's said that many times. Now, Johnny Carson is my idol. And let me tell you something, it's not half as much fun this way."John K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5401798497275932132016-01-02T08:39:40.778-08:002016-01-02T08:39:40.778-08:00Several years ago Wayne was a keynote speaker at t...Several years ago Wayne was a keynote speaker at the Boston Seafood Show. Because of flight issues I was not able to attend and I still regret not being able to hear his wisdom.Rich Mitchellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-77903916445699212292016-01-02T08:30:37.766-08:002016-01-02T08:30:37.766-08:00Sometime in the 80's I was working the in the ...Sometime in the 80's I was working the in the Costume Shop of Adelphi University on Long Island. We were making costumes for a stage production that had both the actors Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs) and Wayne Rogers. Long story short I told Jean Marsh I would work for her anytime anywhere she was such a pleasure to work with. Wayne had a little problem with having his facial hair - which was being created in NYC- not arriving in time for a rehearsal. Everyone said it would not arrive in time. I told him I would stop in to see if I could pick up the items on the way back to work the next day. I remember what he said to me. He just wanted to hear someone say they would try instead of just saying no. I was truly honored to be on the receiving end of that.Roseannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08393487748949411049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37010442051987218362016-01-02T08:22:53.569-08:002016-01-02T08:22:53.569-08:00Back around 1977 I was a busboy at the magnificent...Back around 1977 I was a busboy at the magnificent Holiday Inn in Mission Viejo, CA. A taping of ABC's Battle of the Network Stars was in progress at nearby Saddleback College. It was my first week and McLean Stevenson was participating. He was a very nice man and the memory stands out for me because it was my first week and I thought celebrities would always be dropping in. Alas, that was not the case. Elke Sommer, Valerie Perrine and Flip Wilson each were there once, but it wasn't as if the place was the Brown Derby. <br /><br />I did have a personal experience with one unnamed celebrity that was not pleasant. At the time, this less than 21 years of age female (she wasn't even 18) from a very popular show at the time was in the hotel bar quite plastered. We had not served her, she had gotten blitzed elsewhere. When she was refused service she caused a scene and we had to get her out of there. She pulled the "do you know who I am" bit and I told her I sure did and that was exactly why she was leaving. Her career trajectory cratered like a Wile E. Coyote trick by the mid-80's.<br /><br />What's weird about the Stevenson memory is I know it was Fall of '77 when I saw him there, yet googling the show he did not appear on air until a year later. Oh well.Don K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52076362135850819332016-01-02T06:35:25.052-08:002016-01-02T06:35:25.052-08:00Speakng of Antenna TV, on NYE we were channel-surf...Speakng of Antenna TV, on NYE we were channel-surfing and found it was showing episodes of Jack Benny and Burns & Allen. Stopped to watch...the guest on one of the Benny episodes was a very young Johnny Carson (who said he'd then been in show business for 12 years). It came across as an infomercial for Carson, who in the course of the episode did card tricks, played the drums, sang, danced, and did a mock interview with Benny in which he voiced his thoughts. Only the singing seemed to be faked.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9744291454324550702016-01-02T03:20:57.951-08:002016-01-02T03:20:57.951-08:00I'll have to watch a few MASH episodes today ...I'll have to watch a few MASH episodes today in his memory. I liked him and the part he played.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54987855822229664472016-01-02T03:18:02.063-08:002016-01-02T03:18:02.063-08:00I'll have to watch a few MASH episodes from th...I'll have to watch a few MASH episodes from the first 3 seasons today in his memory.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18857247982307248192016-01-01T20:32:41.801-08:002016-01-01T20:32:41.801-08:00Sorry to hear. I could see how Wayne could be frus...Sorry to hear. I could see how Wayne could be frustrated being second banana.Mike Barerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447874605833321732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-72319358135483441722016-01-01T20:32:27.571-08:002016-01-01T20:32:27.571-08:00In 1978 I remember seeing McLean Stevenson on the ...In 1978 I remember seeing McLean Stevenson on the Tonight Show and when the subject of M*A*S*H came up I was surprised when he said, "Leaving that show was the biggest mistake I ever made", I guess because his attempts at starring in sitcoms had all failed and his career never recovered.James Van Hisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658381884799398658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16337743258129094632016-01-01T20:16:16.775-08:002016-01-01T20:16:16.775-08:00Speaking of McLean Stevenson, he is one of the gue...Speaking of McLean Stevenson, he is one of the guests on the "premiere" episode of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on Antenna TV.CarolMRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357698369178272616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-71486135958976113522016-01-01T20:04:40.046-08:002016-01-01T20:04:40.046-08:00Always enjoyed Wayne Rogers and had a very hard ti...Always enjoyed Wayne Rogers and had a very hard time accepting Pernell Roberts as the older Trapper John. By the way, I am currently watching the Carson show reruns on ANTTV and his guest is none other than McLean Stevenson. Happy New Year. Janice B. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com