Which long running wartime series had to rewrite parts of their final episode because of a brush fire damaging the set?

Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (1983)

M*A*S*H was a series about a MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit during the Korean War and ironically, lasted longer than the actual war.

While the final episode was being filmed, a brush fire destroyed most of the set. The only items left are a rusted out hulk of jeep and ambulance. Instead of rebuilding they wrote the fire into the story by having North Koreans start a brush fire. This was decided since it was the last episode and to save money.

Each of the characters left by different vehicles. In order of departure are the characters and their vehicles:

Klinger: in an ox cart

Mulcahy: in an ambulance

Margaret: in a jeep

Winchester: in a garbage truck

Col. Potter: on horseback (Sophie)

BJ: on a motorcycle

Hawkeye: in a helicopter

More Info: www.imdb.com

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16 Comments

John W Shreve

I didn't watch it too often, but I liked it.

Howard Groopman

In the summer of 1972, I had a temp job delivering mail in midtown Manhattan. One day, over by Radio City Music Hall, I signed up to watch a TV pilot later that afternoon. A small group was placed in a room with gadgets to indicate electronically what we thought was funny or not. It was the first episode of MASH. I know I liked it a lot, so it's all my doing that the show succeeded, LOL. We got a CBS ballpoint pen for our time. (I had seen the movie MASH back in 1970)

Corey Taylor

At least it ended with the characters going home, NTM one character getting married(Klinger).

filmnut

In 1979 my girlfriend “Kat” introduced me to Steven Spielberg out in Malibu Aguri and took me out to the set. It was really a thrill for a “filmnut” like myself. She was a craft merchant who worked the “Christmas Fair” circuit. It was a semi-private affair out in Malibu Canyon. We were invited to a Christmas Party at Spielberg’s house.

mouthy

Loved MASH!! Was so to see it end.....

c grhm

I loved this show: still do. I remember the ending took some slack as a lot of people thought it could have/should have been much better. I've never heard about the brushfire, but it helps explain the final episode.