The success of Robert Altman’s original M*A*S*H movie almost killed any chance of a TV adaptation, because the producers wanted a sequel instead.
M*A*S*H is one of the most popular and acclaimed sitcoms ever made, but the success of the movie it was based on threatened to kill the TV show before it even got started. With its pitch-black humor and rebellious, anti-establishment tone, Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H became one of the defining movies of the New Hollywood movement – and one of the biggest box office hits of the 1970s. It takes place during the Korean War, but its storytelling and social commentary captured contemporary attitudes towards the then-ongoing Vietnam War, which resonated with American audiences at the time.
As with any hit movie, M*A*S*H had the potential for franchise expansion. But 20th Century Fox was initially more interested in developing a sequel to the movie than adapting it into a TV series, so the TV show was nearly called off before it even got to the pilot stage. It was only by virtue of the fact that writing a satisfying sequel to M*A*S*H was easier said than done that the TV show was given a second chance. Ed Solomonson and Mark O’Neill’s book TV’s M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book provides a detailed behind-the-scenes account of the origins of the series.
Fox Was More Interested In A Movie Sequel
William Self, the president of 20th Century Fox Television at the time that M*A*S*H premiered, thought the premise would make a great TV show before the movie version was even released. After watching an early screening of the movie, Self immediately inquired about the TV rights. Self had previously turned Fox movies like Peyton Place and 12 O’Clock High into successful TV shows. However, he was told that the TV rights wouldn’t be available for a while, because Fox was sure that M*A*S*H would be a commercial hit and wanted to capitalize on that success with a movie sequel, not a TV adaptation.
The MASH TV Show Happened Because MASH Goes To Maine Fell Apart
When M*A*S*H came out and became the huge hit that Fox anticipated, the studio began developing a sequel, M*A*S*H Goes to Maine, based on the second novel in Richard Hooker’s series. The sequel would’ve followed all the characters as they returned home after the war had ended. If the sequel had been made, the show wouldn’t have been greenlit until the late ‘70s and the timing might have been way off. And if the sequel wasn’t as popular as the first one, it might have killed some of the momentum and interest that the show had to build on.
Fortunately, Richard D. Zanuck – the president of 20th Century Fox at the time – was never satisfied with any of the scripts submitted for M*A*S*H Goes to Maine, so he canceled the sequel and called Self to see if he was still interested in developing a M*A*S*H TV series. Self was still eager to get the TV adaptation off the ground and the M*A*S*H TV series went on to become one of the most iconic and groundbreaking sitcoms ever made. The networks were dubious about a show based on such a raunchy movie. CBS was the only network that made an offer, and one of its all-time biggest hits was born.
