17 September: M*A*S*H

On this date in 1972 M*A*S*H, one of the most widely viewed TV sitcoms, made its TV début. 10 things you might not know about the programme.

1. MASH stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.
2. It was a book and a film before it was a TV series. The book was written by H. Richard Hornberger, collaborating with W.C. Heinz. It was based on Hornberger's experiences as a surgeon during the Korean War. The book was called MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors and was published in 1968. In 1970, Robert Altman made a film based on the book.
3. Screenwriter Larry Gelbart penned the pilot episode in just two days. And was paid $25,000 for it.
4. CBS inisited on adding canned laughter despite Gelbart and executive producer Gene Reynolds not wanting it. It was a comedy show and therefore had to have a laugh track. The only concession CBS were prepared to make was to not have canned laughter during operating room scenes. The BBC, however, didn't include any canned laughter at all.
5. Historical fact was sometimes sacrificed to ensure there was nothing unpatriotic about the show. While there were soldiers who stood outside in the freezing cold trying to make themselves ill so they'd be sent home, scenes showling soldiers doing that on the show were cut.
6. Several people involved in the series had served in the military, including screenwriter Larry Gelbart and actors Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Mike Farrell and Jamie Farr.
7. Alan Alda wrote 13 and directed 31 episodes. He was the first person ever to win awards for acting, writing and directing on one programme.
8. When the programme came to an end in 1983, the final episode, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen was the most watched TV finale of all time. 121.6 million people tuned in.
9. The series lasted 11 years, longer than the Korean War itself which only lasted three years, one month and two days.
10. As well as the established stars, a number of famous faces appeared as guests, some before they were famous. Patrick Swayze, Ron Howard, Rita Wilson, Teri Garr, Blythe Danner and Shelley Long, to name but a few.

NEW!

Obsidian's Ark

Teenage years bring no end of problems. Daniel Moran's include getting hold of computer games his parents don't think he should have; a full blown crush on the beautiful Suki from Zorostan; maintaining his status as a prefect and getting his homework done. He must also keep from his parents and sister the fact that he is a superhero with a sword from another world.

Trish wonders how to get science whizz Tom to notice her; how to persuade him that the best way to stand up to the school bully is to fight back. She doesn't want her friends, especially not Tom, to know she is a genetic variant with superpowers. Little does she know that Tom has secrets of his own.

Suki struggles to make friends at school when she cannot understand everyday cultural references, and they all suspect her of being a terrorist. She, too, has a secret, but is it what her classmates assume?

When Daniel stumbles upon a plot by an alliance of supervillains to plunge the world into war, he tries to alert the established superheroes, but none of them believe him. When the Prime Minister's only daughter, Yasmin Miller, is abducted, Daniel knows the villains' plan is underway. It seems humanity's only hope may be Daniel and the ragtag bunch of teenage superheroes he recruits. Can he pull together, not only his own team, but the older heroes as well, in a bid to save the Earth from a devastating war?

Themes: 

Superheroes; Coming of age; Leadership; Kidnap and rescue; Aliens; Friendship and rivalry; Terrorism; Secrets.

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