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
M*A*S*H (TV series) created after an attempt to film the original book's sequel, "M*A*S*H Goes to Maine", failed. The television series is the best-known of the "M*A*S*H" works, and one of the highest-rated shows in US television history. "M*A*S*H" aired weekly on CBS, with most episodes being a half-hour (25 minutes) in length. The series is usually categorized as a situation comedy, though it has also been described as a "dark comedy" or a "dramedy" because of the often dramatic subject matter. The show is an ensemble piece revolving around key personnel in a United States Army "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" (MASH) in