Movies - TV
The Emotional M*A*S*H Episode That ‘Wrecked’ The Entire Cast
By BJ COLANGELO
The war dramedy series “M*A*S*H” tackled some harrowing subject matter. However, one episode packed such an emotional punch that it even left the actors devastated.
In the TV special “M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television,” actor Mike Farrell talked about filming the Season 8 episode “Old Soldiers,” which centered on Colonel Potter.
Potter discovers he is the last surviving member of his WWI veteran group and has received the promised last bottle of brandy for outliving the others to toast to their memories.
Potter delivers a big speech that includes mourning his friends Ryan, Giannelli, Stein, and Gresky, but he also thanks the new friends he’s made with the 4077th.
In an archived interview, Potter’s actor Harry Morgan declared the emotional episode is his favorite. “I tell you, one time I started, and I couldn’t even get through the scene.”
Farrell choked up when talking about the scene. He said, “The idea was stunning to me, and I think to all of us. We were all wrecked by the end of that scene. Wrecked.”