M*A*S*H (1972) had a broad audience, including M*A*S*H moms, Army veterans, college students, and even kids. It was only natural for the whole family to sit down together and watch their favorite weekly series.
However, not all parents thought M*A*S*H was the best show for their kids to watch, including M*A*S*H’s very own McLean Stevenson.
Stevenson was known for his character, Lt. Col. Henry Blake, who made his grand departure in season three.
According to a 1973 interview with The Province, Stevenson had been hard at work starting a new side hustle: trying to discourage children from watching TV. Not all TV, just some of it—his series included.
“My purpose was to try to explain to them a little of what TV is—and what it isn’t,” Stevenson said. “I told them that sometimes TV is pretend. It’s fun to watch—it’s entertainment. But it is not reality. I explained that it’s not possible for some situations to even …