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MASH Fire Forged Iconic Series Finale
9 Oct
Summary
- A wildfire destroyed the MASH set in 1982.
- Fire footage was unexpectedly incorporated into the finale.
- The finale became the most-watched TV program ever.
Forty-four years ago, a wildfire on the 20th Century Fox Ranch on October 9, 1982, unexpectedly altered the MASH series finale. The fire, which engulfed what is now Malibu Creek State Park, destroyed the beloved sitcom's set.
Cast and crew were given ten minutes to evacuate as the fire approached. During this urgent wrap-up, footage of the encroaching flames was captured, which would later be incorporated into the finale episode, "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen."
Executive producer Burt Metcalfe and writer Alan Alda decided to weave the real-life fire into the show's storyline. Metcalfe successfully pitched expanding the finale to CBS, turning it into a feature-length television event to resolve numerous storylines.
After filming the finale, the crew rebuilt and repainted the set, only to return it to its charred state. The episode "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" aired on February 28, 1983, becoming one of history's most-watched broadcasts, drawing over 100 million viewers.
Series editor Stanford Tischler described Los Angeles as a "ghost town" on the night of the finale, with streets eerily empty as nearly everyone watched the show indoors. MASH, which ran from 1972 to 1983, earned 14 Emmy Awards during its 11-season run.
