McLean Stevenson Departed M*A*S*H for Top Billing, Changing the Show's Arc
Stevenson quit M*A*S*H after three seasons, citing a desire for center-stage status and telling TV Guide he wanted to be “one of one” as Hawkeye became the series’ focal point. Co-creators Gelbart and Reynolds crafted Henry Blake’s death as a farewell that underscored war’s cold reality. Stevenson later regretted leaving, and his post‑M*A*S*H projects—The McLean Stevenson Show and Hello, Larry—failed to reach the show’s earlier success, cementing the exit as one of TV’s most infamous.