The Whys Behind the Goodbyes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Discharged and shot down over the sea of Japan

The world of American television in 1975 was much different than today. With just three major networks on TV, Americans generally watched the same shows and became very attached to the characters and storylines. That's why Red Shirts were killed off on "Star Trek", not Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, etc. So the last few minutes of Henry's last episode were shocking to everyone, including most of the cast.

If you are a true "M*A*S*H*" fan, you probably know these words by heart:

"I have a message. Lieutenant Colonel... Henry Blake's plane... was shot down... over the Sea of Japan. It spun in... there were no survivors." -- Corporal Radar O'Reilly

According to Biography Channel's "The Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals", McLean Stevenson had been unhappy that Alan Alda's character of Hawkeye seemed to be becoming the show's star, instead of it remaining more of an ensemble. He complained frequently, and, because of the bad blood, the producers of the show killed off his character so he couldn't return.

Answer: She never left actually

Margaret Houlihan was one of the four main characters who stayed throughout the 11 seasons of the show.

Bonus note: The closest army-brat Margaret had to a hometown was Fort Ord, located in Monterey, California, which is also my home town. : )

Answer: Discharged and sent home to Boston to his wife and kids

Trapper John, played by Wayne Rogers, received his discharge papers while best friend Hawkeye was on leave in Tokyo. Hawkeye raced to the Air Force base to catch Trapper before he left, only to learn he missed saying goodbye by ten minutes. He sat, dejected, and ta-da, in walked B.J. Hunnicutt, smoothly stepping into the role of Hawkeye's best friend.

Behind the scenes, Wayne Rogers expected to return for season 4, and was in contract negotiations with the show's producers; like Mclean Stevenson, Rogers was not happy with how Alan Alda's character had taken on a starring role. The negotiations fell through, and thus Trapper was discharged. The actor went on to have an extremely successful career in investing and money management. The character of Trapper returned in the 1979, this time played by actor Pernell Roberts; Trapper had gone on to become chief of medicine at a San Francisco Hospital.

Apparently actor Mike Farrell didn't mind playing second fiddle to Alan Alda's Hawkeye, as he stayed for the rest of "M*A*S*H*"'s run, another eight seasons.

Answer: Had a nervous breakdown, got promoted, and was sent stateside

Major Burns and Major Margaret Houlihan had been carrying on an affair (despite his being married) since season 1. Margaret dumped him the previous season when she overheard him talking to his wife on the phone and referring to Margaret as, among other things, "an army mule with bosoms." Although they may have still carried on, by the end of season 5, Margaret was engaged to the strapping Lt. Colonel Donald Penobscott.

In the first episode of season 6, Frank was late returning from his R&R, even as the 4077 was understaffed and in desperate need of a surgeon (even a bad one, apparently). The officers later learned that Frank had had a nervous breakdown and was caught harassing a high-ranking officer and his blonde wife on the street. Despite this, Frank was promoted to Lt. Colonel and was sent to practice at a veteran's hospital in his hometown, driving Hawkeye more than a little crazy.

Behind the scenes, apparently the actor, Larry Linville, voluntarily left the show, feeling that he had done all he could with the character of Major Frank Burns. Critics and fans of the show have noted that after the departure of Frank Burns, the show took on a more serious tone, drawing more pointed connections to the Vietnam War. Original show creator and producer Gene Reynolds left at the same time, and I personally feel you can tell, because Hawkeye's character got more and more screen time. I believe Reynolds was holding that in check, but when he left, Alan Alda took over as executive producer and Hawkeye dominated the episodes.

Answer: False

"Jocularity" Father Mulcahy was played by a different actor in the pilot, but his character was with the show to the very end.

Answer: True

Spearchucker Jones was in the first half of the first season and then wasn't there, with no explanation given. He was the only African-American actor in the regular cast.

Wikipedia indicates that the show's producers learned that there was no record of an African-American surgeon serving in the Korean War, so we know why they got rid of Speakchucker. I'm still looking to see if they explained why the character himself left.

Answer: He got as far as Guam but then was called back to the 4077

BJ, who had been desperately missing his wife and daughter, Erin, back home, was one of the first officers to receive official go-home papers. He got as far as Guam, when, back at the 4077, Col. Potter put in a request for a surgeon to replace Hunnicutt. The army sent Hunnicutt back. This was a blessing to Hawkeye, because he had missed being able to say goodbye to BJ earlier. BJ was the one who left the message in stones "Goodbye" that Hawkeye saw as he flew out of the 4077th on a chopper for the last time.

(Thanks for the help!)

Answer: He stayed in Korea to help Soon-Yi find her parents

Klinger was desperate to get out of the army for years and years, but, at the end of the show, newly married to Korean citizen Soon-Yi, he chose to stay in the country to help her find her missing parents.

Klinger and Soon-Yi showed up in the spin-off, "Aftermash": they left Toledo to move to the fictional town of River Bend, Missouri, in order to help Colonel Potter run a veteran's hospital. So he made it back to the States after all.

Answer: Staying until the end, then went home to Boston

Major Charles Emerson Winchester -- "I do one thing at a time; I do it very well; and then I move on" -- stayed from when he replaced Major Burns to the end of the show. He returned to Boston for a prestigious surgery position.

Charles was a multi-dimensional character, sometimes a snobby foil to Hawkeye and BJ's antics, sometimes experiencing moments of understanding and kindness.

Answer: His Uncle Ed died

Radar talked about his Uncle Ed running the farm back home in Ottumwa, Iowa throughout the series, as Radar's mother was a widow. When Uncle Ed died, Radar was sent home on a hardship discharge. He left his teddy bear at the 4077.

According to "The Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals", the actor who played Radar, Gary Burghoff, tired of his role quickly. He felt he was too old (not to mention too bald) to play Radar, whose mannerisms and background made him seem about 18 years old (Burghoff was 29 when the TV show started). He also had a wife and newborn daughter at home, and wasn't interested in working so much. He was ready to leave by season 4, and reduced his scenes considerably, until he finally left at the beginning of season 8.

Bonus note: Burghoff was the only actor to play his character in the original "MASH" film and then on the TV show.