Talk:McLean Stevenson/Archives/2015

1970s TV Timeline & Stevenson's Departure from "M*A*S*H"
As of April 8, 2015, the article says the following: "The original agreement with the producers of M*A*S*H was that if McLean's new sitcom, Hello Larry, were to flop, he would be welcomed back. Alan Alda was unhappy with McLean leaving so he had the show's writers reluctantly pen him an exit in the final episode of the 1974-75 season, in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged, only to board a plane that was shot down over the Sea of Japan, killing everyone on board."

"Hello, Larry" didn't go on the air until 1979, four years after Stevenson left "M*A*S*H." I doubt "Hello, Larry" was even a gleam in anyone's eye that far in advance. He didn't leave "M*A*S*H" to do "Hello Larry," because it wasn't on the drawing board yet. Stevenson did two other unsuccessful sitcoms before "Hello, Larry" ever came into being.

I don't think Alan Alda made the decision to kill Colonel Blake. Watch Larry Gelbart's online interview for the Archive of American Television, and you certainly get the idea it was an idea bouncing around between Gelbart and co-producer Gene Reynolds. Gelbart says Alda was informed of the decision, but Gelbart certainly implies the decision was made, THEN communicated to Alda. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.143.202.206 (talk) 00:05, 9 April 2015 (UTC)

Precise relationship to Adlai Stevenson
Would he not be twice-removed or 3-times removed first cousin of the presidential candidate? I am pretty sure the current description is incorrect.--Jrm2007 (talk) 01:18, 15 November 2015 (UTC)