Alan Alda commemorates 40-year anniversary of ‘M*A*S*H’ finale

Beloved veteran actor Alan Alda has commemorated the 40-year anniversary of the anti-war sitcom MASH’s final episode with a simple tweet.

Starting off as a commentary and an open critique of the Vietnam war, the sitcom brought humour to overcoming hardships and put a spotlight on the importance of camaraderie.

pic.twitter.com/6RC2xSTLI2

— Mrs D’Onofrio (@galactic1492) March 1, 2023

The show’s two-and-a-half-hour final episode, titled Goodbye, Farewell and Amen, still holds the record for television’s most-watched finale, with 125 million tuning in to say goodbye to their favourite group of misfits.

Taking to Twitter, Alda didn’t even have to name the show and fans knew exactly what he was referring to.

40 years ago today. ⌛️❤️

— Alan Alda (@alanalda) February 28, 2023

Fans flooded social media with memories of the heartbreaking finale, thanking Alda for delighting them with years of entertainment.

Mash is one of my comfort shows and still brings me joy, laughter, and tears no matter how many times I’ve seen an episode. Thank you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3pV1Qg5paZ

— Ann (@BSideAnn_) February 28, 2023

And I still remember it like it was yesterday. My favourite TV show all-time.

— Dan Ralph (@danralphcp) February 28, 2023

It was the one night of the entire 8th grade school year that our Grammar teacher, Mrs. Alfieri, didn’t give us homework

(I hope my punctuation is correct.)

— Paul Ollinger (@Paul_Ollinger) February 28, 2023

Seeing Hawkeye break down recalling his repressed memory in the finale is one of the most devastating moments in TV history that I can recall.

Even 40 years later, it hasn’t lost its impact for me.

— Andy Hutton (@AndrewHutton) February 28, 2023

Thank you and all the other actors/writers involved for giving us a show that still resonates today. I tell people that Hawkeye was my favorite characters growing up and I wanted to be him. Turns out, I ended up a lot more like B.J. and I’m ok with that too.

— RStone (@theonetrophysc) February 28, 2023

The 1972 sitcom is based on the medical personnel of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital stationed in Korea during the 1950s Korean war and was so well-loved that it ran for a full 11 years, eight years longer than the war itself.

To celebrate the show’s 50-year anniversary, Alan Alda and another prominent cast member, Mike Farrell, reunited to toast the show’s milestone anniversary.

The pair played witty but loveable surgeons and bunkmates – Alda as Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce and Farrell as BJ Hunnicutt.

Mike Farrell and I today toasting the 50th anniversary of the show that changed our lives – and our brilliant pals who made it what it was. MASH was a great gift to us. pic.twitter.com/FGd8ZwBgIq

— Alan Alda (@alanalda) September 17, 2022

MASH’s popularity has remained strong through the years, the show continues to be an audience favourite through re-runs.