When the series finale of M*A*S*H aired in 1983, fans eagerly tuned in to watch the show’s
emotional send-off. While the series finale may have been a fitting ending to the series,
it wasn’t actually the last episode of the show that was filmed! Instead,
the last episode filmed was the previous episode,
which featured the characters of M*A*S*H coming together to bury a time capsule. The filming
of this penultimate episode proved the last time the cast and crew of the show were ever together,
and hundreds of journalists were gathered to commemorate the momentous occasion.
Join Facts Verse as we take a look at rare footage from the last M*A*S*H episode ever filmed.
Although the series finale of M*A*S*H may have provided a fitting ending to the
series for the show’s fans at home, the episode wasn’t actually the last episode of the series
that was filmed! Instead, the final episode of the series that was filmed was the penultimate
episode. The penultimate episode was called “As Time Goes By”. The episode revolved around
the show’s characters getting the idea to bury a time capsule commemorating their time in the war.
Given that the cast and crew of M*A*S*H had been filming the show together for 11 seasons,
the filming of “As Time Goes By” proved an incredibly emotional occasion. The episode
aired on February 21, 1983, though it had been filmed a month previously.
The filming of the episode had occurred on January 14, and it was a momentous occasion.
According to the cast and crew, the filming of “As Time Goes By” was incredibly emotional. The time
capsule that the show’s cast buried on-screen featured real-life props from the series,
meaning that the on-screen time capsule doubled as an actual time capsule for the cast and crew.
Sadly, the time capsule ended up being dug up shortly after filming
due to construction that was happening around it.
Actor Mike Farrell shared after filming that it was hard for him to film the scene of them
burying the time capsule, knowing that it would be the last time that the cast would
ever be standing together on set. The burial of the time capsule was the final scene filmed,
and the event was so emotional for the cast and crew that the director
actually had to try and keep them from crying in order to get the scene done.
Just as occurs in the plot of “As Time Goes By”, the cast and crew gathered things from
their time together to put into a time capsule that they then buried in the final scene.
Some of the things the cast and crew buried included props and costumes. Though
the capsule was dug up shortly after due to the aforementioned construction, it was reburied and
is said to currently still reside somewhere on the 20th Century Fox lot. In addition to
the cast and crew of M*A*S*H, the event was also attended by hundreds of journalists.
There were estimated to be around 300 journalists present
for the final scene of M*A*S*H that was ever filmed. According to Alan Alda,
the presence of the journalists distracted from the cast and crew’s enjoyment of the experience
to a degree. It was meant to be a very personal moment for those that had worked on the show,
and the intrusion of the journalists ruined some of the intimacy. However,
it still proved a very meaningful experience for those involved, as well as audiences at home!
While the plot of the time capsule was the main storyline in the penultimate episode of M*A*S*H,
there were also a few other plotlines going through it. The character of Margaret spearheaded
the campaign to create the time capsule, while other stories involved Father Mulcahy taking
care of some refugees and Hawkeye trying to track down a missing helicopter pilot.
The pilot never ends up being found, which leads Hawkeye to bury a piece of the pilot’s helicopter
alongside the time capsule at the end of the episode. According to Hawkeye, he does this
not only to commemorate the pilot but also to pay respects to all that was lost in the war.
In addition to being the penultimate episode aired and the last episode filmed, “As Time
Goes By” ended up being the only episode of M*A*S*H to include a dedication.
The episode was dedicated to a woman by the name of Connie Izay. Connie was a registered
nurse that had served as a technical advisor on the series for several years,
starting in 1977 and ending with her death from cancer in 1982. If you’re enjoying this video
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While “As Time Goes By” wasn’t the final episode of M*A*S*H aired, it was the episode that was
filmed last. The series finale gave the folks at home a chance to say goodbye to the series,
but the filming of “As Time Goes By” was the cast and crew’s time to say goodbye.
The episode starts with the character of Winchester reading a newspaper
that features an article about the burial of a time capsule.
Although Winchester doesn’t think that a time capsule is a good idea, Margaret hears him talking
about it and decides that she wants to make one for the 4077th. Of course, 4077 is the number
assigned to the characters’ Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, with Mobile Army Surgical Hospital being
what M*A*S*H stands for. When Margaret shares the idea with Hawkeye, he initially doesn’t seem
like he’s all that into it. However, he comes around to the idea of the time capsule soon
after hearing it. In fact, he and Margaret end up butting heads over what they think should
be buried in the time capsule. Hawkeye wants to help Margaret decide what ends up going into it,
while Margaret feels that she should be able to decide what goes into it all by herself.
In addition to the plot of the time capsule, there is also the aforementioned plot of the refugees,
as well as the matter of the missing helicopter pilot. However, most fans will have much more
fond memories of the main plot of the episode, which is the one centering on the creation and
burial of the time capsule. Margaret ends up collecting a good deal of meaningful things to
put into the 4077th’s time capsule. As Margaret goes about collecting her things, Hawkeye also
collects some things of his own. Some of the things Hawkeye collects include a bottle of
cognac that he took from Winchester and a piece of toast that he took from Igor.
The strange nature of the items that Hawkeye has chosen to include in the time capsule initially
annoys Margaret, as she feels that Hawkeye has purposefully chosen the items in order to mock
her efforts to commemorate the 4077th. However, she soon realizes that Hawkeye is being sincere in
his efforts and simply has different tastes about what should end up in the time capsule. Over the
course of the episode, Margaret and Hawkeye end up becoming closer than ever as they decide to
bury the metaphorical hatchet of their longtime feud alongside the 4077th’s chosen belongings.
Besides the aforementioned items curated by Hawkeye, other items that end up being
buried in the time capsule include some spark plugs offered up by Rizzo, some combat boots
offered up by Kellye, a selection of Zane Grey novels offered up by Col. Porter,
a fishing lure from B.J., and a teddy bear that had been left behind by the character of Radar,
who was no longer on the series by the time of the show’s 11th season.
Father Mulcahy also offers up a pair of boxing gloves to place in the time capsule, with the
boxing gloves having a particularly poignant meaning. According to Father Mulcahy, his hope
for the future is that there will be no need for weapons any stronger than boxing gloves.
Finally, Hawkeye offers up the aforementioned piece of the missing pilot's helicopter.
While Margaret is initially once again angry at Hawkeye's insistence that the overly large piece
of scrap be buried alongside her time capsule, she eventually relents once she understands
the sentiment behind Hawkeye's desire. The piece ends up being buried alongside the time capsule,
and the scene marked the very last scene of M*A*S*H that was ever filmed. As soon as the
director of the episode closed the scene, the surrounding hundreds of journalists
enclosed on the set to get pictures of the tearful cast and crew’s candid reactions.
While “As Time Goes By” was the last episode of M*A*S*H filmed, it wasn’t the last episode aired.
The last episode of M*A*S*H to air was the series finale, which was titled “Goodbye, Farewell and
Amen”. The series finale was actually the first episode of M*A*S*H’s 11th season to be shot,
which makes it ironic that it was the last one to air. However, the series finale proved a fitting
ending to the series that pleased fans. The series finale was actually a made-for-television film
that aired on February 28, just a week after the airing of “As Time Goes By”.
The feature-length series finale of M*A*S*H follows the crew of the 4077th, saying their
goodbyes in preparation for their disbandment. Given that the cast
and crew had plenty more episodes to film afterward, the filming of
the episode wasn't nearly as emotional as the filming of “As Time Goes By”. However,
those watching the series finale at home certainly shed a few tears alongside the show’s characters!
Although the feature-length series finale of M*A*S*H served as a perfect ending to the series
for fans, it wasn't actually the last episode of the show that was filmed. Now it's time to hear
from you: did you know that the series finale of M*A*S*H wasn’t the last episode filmed,
or did you think that all shows were shot in sequential order? As always, like this
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