Final Episode of M*A*S*H

The final episode of M*A*S*H, titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” marked the end of the popular American television series, which aired for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983, and portrayed the lives of doctors and staff at the fictional 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.

The series finale aired on February 28, 1983, and was directed by Alan Alda, who also played the lead role of Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce. The two-hour-long episode was written by a team of eight writers, including Alda, and was watched by over 105 million viewers, making it the most-watched television event in US history at that time.

The episode centered on the final days of the Korean War and the efforts of the M*A*S*H unit members to come to terms with the end of the conflict and their imminent return to civilian life. It featured several emotional storylines, including the breakdown of Hawkeye due to witnessing a traumatic event, the departure of Charles Winchester (played by David Ogden Stiers) who befriends a group of Chinese musicians, and the evolving relationship between Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell).

As the ceasefire is announced and the war comes to an end, the characters say their goodbyes and leave the 4077th, each heading off to different destinations to start new chapters in their lives. The final scene shows Hawkeye flying away in a helicopter, looking down at a farewell message spelled out in stones by B.J., which reads “GOODBYE.”

The final episode of M*A*S*H received critical acclaim and remains a memorable and significant event in the history of television. The show’s impact on popular culture is still felt today, as it highlighted the human side of war and showcased the camaraderie and struggles faced by medical professionals during times of conflict.