“M*A*S*H” secured the 44th spot on Looper’s list of the greatest TV shows ever, with its depiction of life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital capturing CBS viewers from 1972 until 1983. For the first three seasons, the command at the unit was in the hands of Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson), a friendly midwesterner known for his worn fly fishing hat as opposed to traditional military gear. The third season concluded dramatically with a farewell between Blake and his colleagues, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) and Trapper John McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), leading to the shocking reveal of Blake’s crash-death in a helicopter.

The show’s appeal intensified after Stevenson’s exit, with the stricter Col. Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) stepping in as the new commanding officer. The series finale drew an audience of 106 million, marking it as the most-watched scripted TV episode of all time. However, in a 1991 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Stevenson unveiled the true reason behind his departure from “M*A*S*H” 16 years earlier. “I left the show because of money,” he confessed. “Every time CBS made me an offer, NBC would match it. My mistake wasn’t leaving, but in thinking America loved McLean Stevenson, whereas they really adored Henry Blake.”

Stevenson shared with the Los Angeles Times that his portrayal of Henry Blake was inspired by his father, a doctor in rural central Illinois. “My father was a country doctor, passing away at 80,” he noted. “I don’t think he ever charged more than a dollar for house calls nor could he balance a checkbook. He was likely the worst businessman.” CBS was flooded with outraged letters from fans upset over Blake’s demise, underscoring Stevenson’s insights about his character’s beloved status.

Unlike Blake, Harry Morgan’s Sherman Potter was more authoritative and less of a pal to Hawkeye and Trapper. Morgan’s portrayal earned him a 1980 Emmy and seven nominations overall for Potter, exceeding Stevenson’s four Emmy nods and single Golden Globe win for Blake. Although Blake’s death wasn’t the end of Stevenson’s television career, his 72-episode run on “M*A*S*H” remained the pinnacle of his professional journey.

“The McLean Stevenson Show” proved short-lived, airing just 12 episodes between 1976 and 1977. Stevenson conceded to the Times, “Launching ‘The McLean Stevenson Show’ wasn’t successful because no one was interested in McLean Stevenson.” Throughout the 1980s, he continued making TV appearances, featuring on shows like “The Love Boat” and “The Golden Girls,” while also starring in the brief “Dirty Dancing” series and hosting “The Tonight Show” nearly 60 times. His final credited appearance came in a 1993 episode of “Tales of the City,” before passing away three years later at 68 from a heart attack. Both he and Morgan are among the “M*A*S*H” cast members who have passed since its airing. Nonetheless, enthusiasts can purchase all 11 seasons of “M*A*S*H” on DVD from Amazon to celebrate their performances.