Archives: 7/2003 - 12/2003

2003

David Ogden Stiers Reading A Christmas Carol in Newport
12/15/2003 - reported by Kate
David Ogden Stiers will perform two staged readings of A Christmas Carol at the Newport Performing Arts Center in Newport, Oregon on Dec. 18 and again Dec. 23. Both performances are festival seating, and begin at 7:30 pm. By request from Stiers, the performances are offered as his gift to the community. Oregon Coast Council for the Arts suggests a donation of $5 per person, with proceeds benefiting the arts council. For more info contact the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA) at (541) 265-ARTS.

MASHback - a M*A*S*H Remake?
12/15/2003 - reported by Hawkeye13
Variety recently reported that CBS is sitting on a proposed special, MASHback, which tells the M*A*S*H story for the first three seasons. The author is Gary Markowitz, who has called Larry Gelbart "dad" -- "since I was 6 years old." Markowitz co-wrote original episodes "George," "Payday," and "Some 38th Parallels," and wrote "Margaret's Engagement." The special would be cast with new actors in the classic roles. Larry Gelbart has reportedly given it his OK but has not been involved in writing the material. The project was initiated by Myra Model, then at CBS. And if it goes forward as a movie, Markowitz says she will be attached as a producer with him. Update The Variety article is unclear as to whether the special is a remake of the storylines or a "behind the scenes" of the show. The article says "it would be cast with new actors in the classic MASH roles"; however, it also says Gelbart has "given CBS an OK to portray him". Anyone with further info, please email me.

Like Jazz: A New Kind of Musical
12/15/2003
Like Jazz, a musical by Cy Coleman based on a Larry Gelbart book, opened in Los Angeles and runs through January 25, 2004. The shows are Tuesday through Sunday at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, California. The musical offers a look into the world of jazz artists. For more info, check out the Mark Taper Forum and Playbill sites.

Larry Gelbart's Sly Fox Back on Broadway
12/15/2003
Playbill reports Elizabeth Berkley, Bob Dishy, René Auberjonois (Fr. Mulcahy in the original movie M*A*S*H), Bronson Pinchot and Irwin Corey will provide support to star Richard Dreyfuss in the upcoming Broadway revival of Larry Gelbart's comedy Sly Fox. It is set to open at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre on April 1, 2004. The director is Arthur Penn and the producers are Julian Schlossberg, Roy Furman and Ben Sprecher, the group which produced Fortune's Fool on Broadway in spring 2002. Previews will begin in early-to-mid-March. Sly Fox was first produced on Broadway in 1976 and went on to run 495 performances; it was also originally directed by Arthur Penn.

Season 5 Release Reminder
12/15/2003
For those who don't already have their copy, here's a reminder that Season 5 was released on Dec. 9. Amazon.com has both the DVD set and VHS set. They still have their ongoing promotion with free shipping for select orders over $25, which would include the DVD or VHS set.

Additional Performance of Peter VS. the Wolf With Stiers and the Newport Symphony
12/15/2003 - reported by Kate
The Newport Symphony will be performing Peter VS. the Wolf, the sequel to Peter and the Wolf, on Dec. 21 at 2 pm at the Florence Events Center in Florence, Oregon. David Ogden Stiers stars as the Wolf. Sylvain Frémaux, artistic director of the symphony, will conduct the piece. As previously reported, the Symphony will also be performing it on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Newport Performing Arts Center in Newport, Oregon. For more info contact the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA) at (541) 265-ARTS.

Swit Brings Star Power to 'Mame'
11/11/2003
The Newsobserver.com and ABC 11 both have articles about the recent production of Mame starring Loretta Swit which include background on and quotes from her.

Spooky World Report
11/4/2003
I made it to Spooky World in Foxboro, Massachusetts on October 25, 2003 to meet William Christopher, Gary Burghoff, and Jamie Farr. Here's my report and photos.

ET in TV Land
11/2/2003 - reported by Hawkeye13
TV Land will be reairing the ET in TV Land show about M*A*S*H tonight which was first shown in March. The hour long show includes interviews with series stars Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers, Mike Farrell, Gary Burghoff and William Christopher. According to TV Land's web site, it starts at 10pm EST; however, according to TV Guide, it starts at 10:30pm EST. So check your local listings or TV Guide for times and channels.

Loudon Wainwright III Tour Dates
11/1/2003
Loudon Wainwright III, the folk singer who played Captain Spalding, is currently on tour. The tour dates listed include concerts in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas. For more info, check out the Tour Dates on his official site. Tonight he plays at Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.

CBS At 75
10/31/2003
CBS At 75 will be airing on CBS this Sunday at 8pm EST. The three hour "entertainment extravaganza" is being broadcast live from the Hammerstein Ballroom at New York's Manhattan Center. The list of participating celebrities on the site is very large, but does include Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Wayne Rogers, and Loretta Swit. M*A*S*H aired on CBS during its original run.

Fires Ground Leo's "Aviator"
10/30/2003
The Aviator, Martin Scorsese's epic take on Howard Hughes starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the billionaire flyboy, was the only major film or television project impacted by the devastating wildfires raging through Southern California. The movie cast also includes Alan Alda, Ian Holm, and Cate Blanchett. A statement from Warner Bros., the movie's production company, said: "For our production, this is just a minor inconvenience as compared to those who are currently suffering through the devastating effects of the fire."

Alan Alda on the Mend
10/29/2003 - reported by Julia
E! Online has reported that Alan Alda was discharged from the Chilean medical center on Friday. He is on track for a complete recovery.

Local RV Park Gets Blip on 'Radar'
10/29/2003
The Citrus County Chronicle Online has an article about Gary Burghoff being the new celebrity spokesman for Nature Coast Landings RV Resort. The RV resort is near Crystal River, Florida. "My main function is to just tell people how wonderful this resort is," he said. Burghoff has been RVing since 1982.

Farr's Hababy's Christmas Eve Available
10/27/2003
Hababy's Christmas Eve, a children's book written by Jamie Farr and his wife Joy, is available at Amazon.com. The story is about Hababy, a young camel, and his friends Ali the horse, Rebecca the sheep, and Adeeb the goat. Father Habeebee tells the children a story of long ago, including something for each child -- something about a horse for Ali, a lamb for Rebecca, a goat for Adeeb and camels for Hababy. From Publish America's site: "Joy and Jamie Farr decided to put a children’s picture book together when someone asked, 'Whatever happened to Jamie's imaginary camel, Habeeby?' Great idea. Thus the creation of Habeeby and his family."

Jamie Farr on Hollywood Squares
10/27/2003
Jamie Farr, together with Jaye P. Morgan from The Gong Show, will be on Hollywood Squares the week of Nov. 3. Check your local listings or TV Guide for times and channels.

M*A*S*H Slot Machine Unveiled
10/27/2003
IGT unveiled a M*A*S*H-themed slot machine at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas which took place Sept. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Gary Burghoff, Bob Denver, Barbara Eden, Jeff Foxworthy, Kevin Nealon and cartoonist Scott Adams were among the many celebrities on hand to promote some of the products at the show.

William Christopher Destined to Act
10/27/2003
William Christopher recently starred as Ellwood P. Dodd in the Lake Pepin Players production Harvey. The Winona Daily News in September had an article about Christopher. The play ran Sept. 26 through Oct. 18 at the Allen/Hovde Theater in Pepin, Wisconsin.

Gary Burghoff's Artwork at CA Art Gallery
10/27/2003
Some of Gary Burghoff's wildlife artwork, amongst other artists, is featured at Gallery Interiors in Oroville, California.

Gary Burghoff Endorsement of Gulf Stream Coaches
10/27/2003
Gulf Stream Coach has a message dated from August posted in their news room from Gary Burghoff promoting their RV's. Burghoff has been quoted in RV magazines and the like in the past.

G.W. Bailey to Do Reading for Stories On Stage
10/21/2003 - reported by Aaron
G.W. Bailey, who played Sergeant Rizzo, will be doing a reading for the two "Stories on Stage" performances of "Homemade Mythologies" on November 9th. The performances will be held in the Stage Theatre at the Denver Center for Performing Arts in Denver, Colorado. After the performance, audience members should have an opportunity to talk to G.W. Bailey in person! Interested individuals should call 303-494-0523 or go to www.storiesonstage.org for more information or to purchase tickets.

Alan Alda Hospitalized in Chile
10/21/2003 - reported by Shanda
Alan Alda was operated on early on Sunday for an intestinal obstruction and was recovering at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in La Serena 290 miles north of Santiago. He was in Chile working on an astronomy documentary for Scientific American Frontiers. For more info, click here.

Loretta Swit to Star in Mame
10/13/2003 - reported by hawkshotlips1
Loretta Swit will star in the North Carolina Theatre Company's production of Mame. It will open Oct. 24 and run through Nov. 1 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in the BTI Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC. For more info, check out the North Carolina Theatre web site.

Gary Burghoff and Jo Ann Pflug at Toy, Model and Film Expo
10/11/2003
Gary Burghoff and Jo Ann Pflug, who played Lt. Dish in the movie, are on the large guest list for the Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film Expo. The event takes place in East Rutherford, NJ from October 31 - November 2. Check their site for info on tickets and more.

What Makes a TV Show a Lasting Hit?
10/11/2003
This CNN.com article about long lasting TV shows includes a mention of M*A*S*H.

David Ogden Stiers Narrates Peter VS. the Wolf
9/29/2003 - reported by Kate
The Newport Symphony will be having a "Children's Favorites" night on Saturday, December 20 at the Newport Performing Arts Center in Newport, Oregon. It will include Peter VS. the Wolf, the sequel to Peter and the Wolf, with David Ogden Stiers and a cast of actors.

Amazon.com Taking Preorders for Season 5
9/26/2003
Amazon.com has again started taking preorders for the Season 5 DVD set and VHS set; release date is December 9. They still have their ongoing promotion with free shipping for select orders over $25, which would include the DVD or VHS set.

Robert Duvall Gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
9/22/2003
Robert Duvall, who played Frank Burns in the original movie M*A*S*H, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, Sept. 18. Duvall has starred in numerous movies and won a best-actor Oscar for 1983's Tender Mercies. He also stars in the new movie Secondhand Lions with Michael Caine and Haley Joel Osment.

Stiers Voices the Penguin in Batman - Mystery of the Batwoman
9/17/2003
David Ogden Stiers provides the voice of the Penguin in the animated movie Batman - Mystery of the Batwoman. It is available for preorder from Amazon.com on both DVD and VHS with a scheduled release date of October 21, 2003.

Season 5 DVD Cover Art
9/17/2003 - reported by Margaret Houlihan
TVShowsOnDVD.com has posted cover art for the upcoming Season 5 DVD set. The release date is still anticipated to be December 9.

VH1 Goes Inside - TV Farewells
9/13/2003 - reported by Fighting4077
The VH1 Goes Inside episode on TV Farewells will take a look at the final episodes of "M*A*S*H," "ALF," "Beavis & Butthead," "Larry Sanders Show," "Married...With Children," "Mary Tyler Moore," "Melrose Place," "Murphy Brown," "Newhart," "Three's Company" and "The Wonder Years," as well as Jimmy Smits' final episode of "NYPD Blue." The episode will first air on cable network VH1 today at 2pm EST with an encore showing at 8pm EST.

John Ritter Passes Away
9/13/2003 - reported by Shanda
Actor John Ritter, who guest-starred in the M*A*S*H episode "Deal Me Out" as Private Carter and starred in various TV shows including Three's Company, died Thursday at the age of 54 from a heart attack. He was filming an episode of the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.

Alda in The Aviator
9/10/2003
Alan Alda is listed as part of the cast of The Aviator, a new Martin Scorsese movie about director Howard Hughes which is filming. Also currently included is Rufus Wainwright, son of Loudon Wainwright III. The cast also stars Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kate Beckinsale. Since it is still in production, details (including cast) may change.

MASH Scores on The Hallmark Channel
9/10/2003 - reported by Hawkeye Jr.
MediaWeek reports that the MASH Labor Day marathon improved the Hallmark Channel's ratings over the same period a year ago.

Loudon Wainwright III's So Damn Happy
9/6/2003
Loudon Wainwright III's new CD, So Damn Happy, is available at Amazon.com. The CD was released on August 19.

Farr Added to Guest List at Spooky World
9/4/2003
According to the Spooky World web site, the M*A*S*H cast members appearing will also include Jamie Farr, in addition to Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, and Loretta Swit as previously reported. All four cast members are scheduled to appear on October 24, 25, and 26.

Season 2 DVD for Region 4
8/16/2003 - reported by Aussie Jess
According to Michael D's Region 4 DVD Info Page, the M*A*S*H Season 2 DVD set is scheduled for release in Region 4 format on October 22. Region 4 is the format for Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.

New Time for Hallmark Channel Marathon
8/13/2003 - reported by Hawkeye Jr.
The September 1st marathon is now scheduled to begin at 9am ET.

M*A*S*H Debuts on Hallmark Channel on September 1
8/2/2003 - reported by Hawkeye Jr.
M*A*S*H will begin airing on the Hallmark Network on September 1 with an all-day marathon starting at 6:30am ET. The regular schedule will reportedly include 4 episodes back-to-back starting at 3pm EST Monday-Friday, with reruns at 10pm EST. Check the Hallmark Network web site for additional info when available. To find out if the Hallmark Channel is available in your area, click here.

Burghoff, Christopher, and Swit at Spooky World
7/24/2003 - reported by Ed G.
Gary Burghoff, William Christopher, and Loretta Swit will reportedly be at Spooky World on October 24, 25, and 26. Autograph signings begin at 6pm. Spooky World is a Halloween Theme Park which also has a number of celebrity guests. It is in Foxboro, Massachusetts and opens every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm from October 3rd through November 1st. For more information, check out the Spooky World web site.

Mike Farrell at DPF's 11th Annual Silent Auction
7/18/2003 - reported by mardigan
Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares will be hosting Death Penalty Focus's 11 Annual Silent Auction on Sunday, July 27, 2003 at 1pm in Santa Monica, CA. James Cromwell, who played Leo Bardonaro in the episode "Last Laugh" will be a special guest. The auction items include dinner with Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares at La Loggia Italian Restaurant, as well as TV & Movie Memorabilia including some M*A*S*H items. For more info, check out the DPF site.

Marcia Strassman in TV Series Tremors
7/18/2003
Marcia Strassman, who played Margie Cutler in a few early episodes of M*A*S*H, is part of the Sci-Fi Channel series Tremors. The show is based on the movie and airs on Sci-Fi on Fridays at 8pm EDT and Saturdays at 12am EDT.

New Episodes of The Dead Zone
7/11/2003 - reported by Shirley
An extended second season of The Dead Zone began on July 6. David Ogden Stiers stars as Reverend Gene Purdy in the show. It airs on the USA Network on Sundays at 10pm EDT.

Wayne Rogers on Fox News Channel
7/11/2003 - reported by Clint
According to Reuters, Wayne Rogers, who has appeared occasionally as a financial expert on various news programs in the past, will appear on three Fox News business programs: "Cashin' In," "Your World With Neil Cavuto" and "Bulls and Bears." Rogers is co-chairman and co-CEO of convenience store chain Swifty Serve and co-chairman of bridal retailer Kleinfeld. Check your local listings or TV Guide for times.

Spirited Away on Pay-per-view and DVD
7/11/2003
Spirited Away, Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature, is available on DVD at Amazon.com and is currently on some pay-per-view channels. In the English version, David Ogden Stiers provides the voice for Kamaji.

Elder Wainwright 'Happy' On Sanctuary Debut
7/8/2003
Billboard.com has an article about Loudon Wainwright III (Capt. Spalding), who is releasing "So Damn Happy" on Aug. 19. The live album was recorded in January 2002 at Los Angeles' Largo club and the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, CA.

FX M*A*S*H Marathon on July 4th
7/1/2003 - reported by Gale
This July 4th FX will be showing 14 hours of M*A*S*H starting at 9am EDT, concluding with "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" at 8:30pm EDT.

M*A*S*H Exhibit at the Strategic Air & Space Museum
7/1/2003 - reported by Nick
The Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Nebraska has a M*A*S*H Exhibit this summer with items on loan from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History Behring Center. It includes Hawkeye's robe, Radar's cap, Klinger's Cleopatra dress, and the sign post, among other things. Check the museum site for more details.































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