This Hilarious ‘M*A*S*H’ Scene Had To Be Filmed Almost Twenty Times

During filming for a season three episode of M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff could not stop laughing during his part with Harry Morgan— who played the mentally deranged Major Barford Hamilton Steele until the following season. Although the final version of the moment was not rib-cracking, Gary admits to finding it “unbearably funny” on set.

Larry Gelbart mentioned in Ed Solomonson and Mark O’Neill’s T.V.’s M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book that the scene, which was shot at the Fox Ranch in Malibu Hills, actually happened in real life. “The situation was based on a real one that Everett Greenbaum witnessed during his days as a Navy pilot in WW2,” he explained.

What was so funny?

Gary recalled the scene, which involved Major Steele inspecting the troops. “I can see him coming. Harry asks me a question and then yells, ‘NO TALKING IN RANKS!’ I knew it was coming, and I’d start to go,” he said, noting that his laughter led to multiple retakes. “I think we did it like 18 times.”

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Morgan, on the other hand, was not as amused; however, they soon noted the chemistry between both actors and used it to the series’ advantage. “I think that was the decisive moment when Gelbart and Reynolds saw the incredible chemistry with Morgan,” Gary continued. “I think you probably see me biting my lip in one of those long shots when Harry Morgan is inspecting us.”

Their chemistry saved the show

Stevenson left the show due to frustration and was written out in the season’s finale, where his character received an honorable discharge. To the audience’s shock, Blake’s plane was said to have been shot down. Being a favorite character, the death of his character, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, caused outrage among M*A*S*H fans, whose complaints irritated CBS executives.

Thankfully, the chemistry between Gary and Morgan helped salvage the situation as Morgan performed excellently as Sherman T. Potter. Morgan’s brilliant replacement of Blake earned him a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series in 1980.