TV Guide - 2/24/73

Another issue of TV Guide with a M*A*S*H cover--in this case, the very first time the show's cast graced the cover, undoubtedly reflecting that the show, then still in its first season, was gaining steam, creatively and with audiences.

I found this on eBay, so I don't have the actual issue on hand to check out the article. Maybe should I pick it up, if only for the cool vintage ads...

"The Interview" - 35 Years Ago Today

One of (if not the) M*A*S*H's finest episodes, Season Four's The Interview, aired on this date in 1976.

To mark this occasion, The Archive of American Television is featuring clips from the show plus interviews with some of the people who were involved in the creation of this amazing show, like Alan Alda, Harry Morgan, Larry Gelbart, and Gene Reynolds. Click here to check it out!

M*A*S*H Dog Tags - 1981

I found these for sale on eBay the other night. While I wasn't intrigued enough to buy them, I did want to mention them here.

Licensors tried their best to market the massively-popular M*A*S*H brand in the early 1980s, but none of the products: action figures, puzzles, trading cards, or board games set the world on fire. I assume official M*A*S*H-style dog tags met the same fate.

I do, however, love the fairly casual cast photo that adorns the package. The absence of Gary Burghoff suggests it was snapped after the eighth season, but Mike Farrell doesn't look like he has his mustache yet, so I can't be sure!