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 a writer and director, with the ensemble dramedy, "The Four Seasons" being perhaps his most notable hit. "Betsy's Wedding" is his last directing credit to date. After "M*A*S*H", Alda took on a series of roles that either parodied or directly contradicted his "nice guy" image. In 1993, he co-starred with Woody Allen (also the director), Diane Keaton, and Anjelica Huston in the comedy/mystery "Manhattan Murder Mystery". The four play a quartet of amateur crime solvers who become entangled in a murder plot possibly perpetrated by Keaton and Allen's neighbor. Alda's character is Ted, a playwright secretly in love with Keaton's