I prefer the funny as opposed to the serious, but that's just me.

It went down the tube when Trapper John left.

I did not like the Winchester years as much as the Burns years. I think last season was had more bad moments then good, all though the season finale I thought was really good.

Hmmm, I disagree. Winchester actually became friends with Hawkeye and BJ were Frank never even came close. There were some great eps showing this and the one that comes to mind is the one with Hawkeye being worried about his Father's surgery. Winchester hung out with Hawkeye and they talked about the Father/Son relationship.

I was in Costco today purchasing Season 9. I already own 1-8, and I was thinking to myself that this was probably going to be the last one that I buy. The writing and storylines really began to stretch at the seams, and the actors just looked too damn old and tired in those last couple seasons. Didn't like a lot of those episodes, like where Margaret tries to "hook up" with the impotent Swiss soldier. As I recall, those later season episodes had a lot of Sgt. Rizzo (G.W. Bailey) who I couldn't stand.

The last few years really were an exercise in dragging a premise out way too long. I agree with Jack Straw that the Rizzo character should've been an early war casualty. Beyond Rizzo, and Klinger becoming a worthless buffoon, the rest of the characters seemed to maintain their sit-com integrity, and I always like Winchester as a foil for Hawkeye and BJ. But the plots were weak and Margaret seemed to have to yell every line and it just got old. Outside of the finale, which was excellent, the show would've done better to end a season or three sooner.

Most definitely the early years (more specifically the 'Henry Blake/Trapper John' years). It was good a few years after they left, though.

Despite the fact that the last two seasons did not even come close to measuring up to the earlier ones, this is still my favorite show of all time. As it aged, it got very sanctimonious and was filled with groan-inducing puns instead of real comedy.

Yes, "groan inducing puns" is a good way to describe how the show changed. In the earlier years the comedy writing was razor sharp, whereas later on it felt very forced and contrived. In spite of what I said earlier, it's gonna be a tough decision as to whether to complete the smile or leave it with a few missing teeth (to borrow a Winchester line).

Yep.

I liked the series from beginning to end, but enjoyed the funnier (earlier with Henry) more.

A little off topic, I think it would be wondeful if before the last season is issued on DVD, they include as an extra the Mary Tyler Moore narrated behind the scenes MASH special that was shown on PBS. I cannot recall the name of it, but I taped it at the time it aired. Their was lots of cool interviews with the writers (Gelbart, Reynold) and actors about the shows and character development. It covered up to the Winchester years, but before the last few seasons. Anyone else recall this?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DG

I found some reunion pics of the MASH gang taken around 2002. I have to warn you that some of them really look older. Enjoy.

I never found Frank Burns to be an interesting character, At least Col. Blake had a human side. I thought most of the later eps. were good except for the recycled storylines.

I think Frank Burns leaving is the cutoff, although there are some Winchester eps that I think are very funny.

I watch the early years much more often than I do the later years when re-runs are on.

I've never seen one single frame of MASH. Any good?