The hit show M*A*S*H is now considered a television classic, but its start was far from smooth. During its first season, the show received dismal ratings and faced cancellation—yes, this is the same show that would go on to break television records and sewage systems with one of the most-viewed finales in television history. Interestingly, the episode that almost got the show canceled had the bad luck of being the least favorite episode of series lead Alan Alda as well. That episode, “Major Fred C. Dobbs,” struck a chord, but not the kind the creators had hoped for.
While M*A*S*H ultimately gained fame for its dark humor and real emotional gambles, “Major Fred C. Dobbs” was one such episode that lacked the depth viewers would come to anticipate. For Alda and others involved, it represented everything they wanted to move past as the show matured into something more meaningful.
Why Alan Alda disliked the episode “Major Fred C. Dobbs”
Alda felt the story did not align with the characters’ logic or motivations, as in the episode, Hawkeye and Trapper try to stop their nemesis Frank Burns from leaving, even though they clearly dislike him. To Alda, this did not make emotional or even comedic sense.
He called the gold-painted jeep subplot a low point in the series, admitting that some episodes just did not work. The actors reportedly never liked the premise, and Alda has mentioned that the idea was likely pushed by network executives. The result was a confusing and poorly received episode that didn’t reflect what M*A*S*H could become, nearly derailing the show entirely.
How Alan Alda’s least favorite storyline contributed to ‘M*A*S*H’s near cancellation
“Major Fred C. Dobbs” capped off a season that was uneven in tone and struggling with identity. At the time, MASH had low ratings and little hope of renewal. Many credited the show’s second life to reruns, where audiences who missed the original airings finally took notice of its potential.
Had CBS not seen a rise in popularity from those reruns, or if certain insiders hadn’t pushed for its return, the series might have ended after just one season. Instead, M*A*S*H was given a second chance and went on to become a groundbreaking mix of comedy and drama.