M*A*S*H (TV series) debut of the Charles Winchester era. Whereas Gelbart and Reynolds were the comedic voice of "M*A*S*H" for the show's first five seasons (1972–1977), Alan Alda and newly promoted Executive Producer Burt Metcalfe became the new dramatic voice of "M*A*S*H" for Seasons 6–11. By the start of Season 8 (1979–1980), the writing staff had been completely overhauled, and with the departure of Gary Burghoff, "M*A*S*H" displayed a distinctively different feel, consciously moving between comedy and drama, unlike the seamless integration of its first five years. The end of the Vietnam War in 1975 was a significant factor as to why storylines
Alan Alda was scheduled to guest star on "", portraying former police and naval officer John Winters, the father of the former main character . It is unknown whether he filmed his role before the series was redesigned and Rex Winters written off. After the release of his movie "Tower Heist", Alda was devastated when on December 7, 2011, his decades-long friend Harry Morgan from "M*A*S*H" died. Alda returned to Broadway in November 2014, playing the role of Andrew Makepeace in the revival of "Love Letters" at the Brooks Atkinson Theater alongside Candice Bergen. In 2016, Alda appeared in Louis C.K.'s web-based