MASH’smost hated character left the series during a time when the better option would have been to give him some redemption.Many actors exitedMASHduring its run, which in hindsight, actually helped keep the show on the air.The death of McLean Stevenson’s Blake inMASHseason 3changed the series forever, pushing it in a more dramatic direction in later seasons. It helped that Blake’s replacement Potter (Harry Morgan) was the total opposite of his predecessor, which shook up the formula.
The showrunners made a choice early on that once an actor left, their replacements would be totally different. When Larry Linville exited as Frank Burns following the fifth series, the weaselly second-in-command was replaced by the snobbish Charles (David Ogden Stiers). The latter was again the polar opposite of Frank; a great surgeon, an intellectual and a professional. In a sense,Frank leavingMASHcompleted the show’s dramedy evolution, taking it away from the more sitcomy feel of the early years.
Frank Burns Was MASH’s Biggest Villain For The First Five Seasons
“Ferret Face” was the ultimate foil to Hawkeye and Trapper
The first season ofMASHvery much mimicked the character dynamics found in the 1970 movie. Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) were equal co-leads, Radar (Gary Burghoff) was a darker figure than he would evolve into, while Frank was the uptight, arrogant and hypocritical ranking surgeon.MASHgave Frank few redeeming qualities; he was a mediocre surgeon at best and despite his religious nature, is openly cheating on his wife with Margaret (Loretta Swit).
Despite being a detestable figure, Larry Linville still managed to make Frank Burns oddly likable.
Hawkeye and Trapper both hated the army and, in Frank, they had a living, breathing embodiment of its worst qualities. He was easily the sitcom’s most cartoonish character, andFrank only became more outlandish and unlikable as the seasons wore on. He was even willing to get Henry Blake and Hawkeye tried for treason on trumped-up charges. Despite being a truly detestable figure, Linville still managed to make Frank oddly likable.
10 Funniest Episodes Of MASH
MASH always blended comedy with tragedy, though it definitely got more dramatic in later seasons. Still, the show has many hilarious episodes.
“Ferret Face” tormented the 4077th for five seasons, only to exit offscreen due to his heartache over Margaret’s marriage. Charles then took over, and while he and the other surgeons clashed, he was a way more nuanced figure. Even so,later years ofMASHmissed some of the acidic edge Frank brought to the camp- even if such a broad character didn’t fit in with the new tone.
Larry Linville Left MASH As He Felt Frank Was Too One-Note
Frank’s performer thought MASH was better off without such a Major bummer
Margaret started out as a humorless, rule-abiding villain, but by the timethe highly-ratedMASHfinaleaired in 1983, she had become one of the most fleshed-out characters. This was at the request of Swit, who wanted more dimension brought to the character. It was for this reason Linville decided to leave following the fifth series.Linville could see the more dramatic, grounded directionMASHwas heading in, and felt Frank was no longer a good fitfor the show.
Linville also believed the Major had been so despicable and selfish that there was no way to redeem him. In truth,Burns leaving before the sixth season marks a shift in the show’s tone, and it would be tough to imagine the Frank Burns seen in the early years making it to the show’s finale. When Linville’s five-year contractended, it was his decision not to renew it, feeling there was no fresh direction to take the character.
Larry Linville was also approached about reprising Frank Burns for the spinoffAfterMASH; he rejected the offer.
Frank Should Have Been Redeemed On MASH
If Margaret could evolve, so could Frank Burns
While being interviewed for the bookTV’s MASH: The Ultimate Guide Book,series creator Larry Gelbart expressed regret at the sheer lack of dimension in the Frank Burns character. He thought Frank’s characterization was “just lazy writing,” and that he and the other writers should have attempted to make the Major a little more human. Had Frank continued in the same vein from season 6, it’s easy to see why Linville would have been frustrated and itching to leave.
Season 1 (Recast after pilot)
Radar O’Reilly
Season 8
However, by this point inMASH, Margaret was already becoming a more dimensional figure. This was a big change from the “Hot Lips” introduced during the first series, so the option was there for Frank to get some redemption too.Season 6 could have seen Burns reflect on his horrid ways, and working to become both a better manand surgeon. Hestillcould have been a jerk who clashed with Hawkeye, but the show already showed little moments of humanity buried inside Frank.
There were seeds of character development future seasons could have watered, offering Linville something different to play while redeeming Frank in the eyes of audiences…
For instance, Frank can be seen tearing up following the announcement of Henry Blake’s demise.MASHseason 3 episode “O.R.” saw him opening up to Trapper too, revealing he came from a miserable home with an abusive father and just wants to be liked. Frank is heartbroken when Margaret marries another soldier, which prompts his exit. There were seeds of character development future seasons could have watered, offering Linville something different to play while redeeming Frank in the eyes of audiences - well, as much as hecouldbe redeemed.
Why Frank’s Exit Was Offscreen In MASH Season 6
Larry Linville passed on a well-paid exit
In the same way Wayne Rogers leftMASHbetween seasons, Linville decided to exit when his contract was up.Frank was last seen in the season 5 finale “Margaret’s Marriage,“and by the opening of year six, he suffered a nervous breakdown offscreen and was replaced by Charles. In his blogBy Ken Levine,MASHwriter Levine revealed they wanted Larry Linville to return for one final farewell episode. This would have given Frank a proper exit, but the actor passed for rather personal reasons.
We wanted to bring Larry back for the first episode of season six to arrange Frank Burns’ departure and were even willing to pay him a lot of money. But Larry was going through a very bitter divorce and didn’t want his ex-wife to get half so he passed. True story.
It’s a shame Linville declined one last outing, since the character’s exit inMASHseason 6’s premiere feels too abrupt. Of course,Hawkeye and the rest of the 4077th are delighted by the news of Frank’s departure, though the arrival of Charles as his replacement dulls some of their joy. From Linville on down, just about everybody felt Frank had been taken as far as he could, but it’s not hard to feelMASHmissed an opportunity with him.
Margaret’s marriage and possibly Frank’s long-suffering wife divorcing him may have triggered some meaningful changes in Frank and pushed him to at least become a half-decent surgeon. Maybe he and Hawkeye could have even formed a begrudging respect for each other - though a full-on friendship seems doubtful forMASH’seternal foes.
MAS*H
Cast
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
