The death of Henry Blake on the death of McLean Stevenon's Blake in MASH season 3. This saw the 4077TH's commanding officer leaving the camp to head home - only for the unit to receive word he was killed when his plane was shot down.

Killing off a major character in a TV show simply wasn't done during this era, and the backlash to Blake's demise was swift. Now, it's regarded as a groundbreaking moment, with "Abyssinia, Henry" also labeled one of MASH's best episodes. Harsh as Blake's death was, it underlined the tragedy of war and that good people can die at any time. There have been reports of a more upbeat ending being filmed for Stevenson's exit, which simply allowed Blake to leave the 4077th without incident.

There Was No Happy Alternate Ending For Henry Blake In MASH's Season 3 Finale

Reports of a rosy ending to Blake's story aren't true

Despite the series being a runaway success, it was Stevenson's call to quit. Stevenson became one of the first MASH actors to exit, with the actor being eyed to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show during a period when it looked like the veteran host might exit. Stevenson had also grown tired of being part of an ensemble and felt it was time to front his own show. In the script presented to Stevenson and the cast, "Abyssinia, Henry" closed with Blake leaving camp and flying home.

There was no happier alternate ending for Blake, as the plan was always to kill the beloved commander in MASH's season 3 finale...

However, as the film crew began to wrap up and get ready for a goodbye party for Stevenson, showrunner Larry Gelbart presented the actors with a secret final page. This featured the tag where a heartbroken Radar (Gary Burghoff) announces Blake's death, and the camera pans over the cast's stunned reactions. According to a 1975 issue of the Evening Independent (via MASH4077THTV), there was an alternate happy ending filmed for Blake in case the network changed its mind.

In truth, there was no happier alternate fate for Blake, as the plan was always to kill the beloved commander. The final scene of MASH's season 3 finale had the intended effect of upsetting audiences, with CBS soon receiving over 1,000 letters of complaint. Stevenson was also said to have been stunned and upset about the move and opted to leave the set instead of sticking around for the planned wrap party.

Henry Blake Was "Resurrected" By Cher A Month After His MASH Death

Maybe rumors of a happy ending for Blake began here

One of the more bizarre footnotes from MASH's Henry Blake saga arrived with a May 1975 episode of Cher's fittingly titled variety show, Cher. This episode featured Stevenson as a guest, and an opening skit saw Cher announcing Stevenson before cutting to the actor dressed as Blake sitting in a rowboat. "Blake" then waves to the audience and states "Hey guys, I'm OK! I'm OK!"

It appears this tiny sketch left an impression on those who saw it at the time, especially as the episode only aired once. In the years that ed, many mistook the Henry Blake skit as having appeared on The Carol Burnett Show instead of Cher. It also feels like reports of a scene where Blake lived may have originated from this sketch.

CBS' Planned To Cut Blake's Death From Future Airings Of "Abyssinia, Henry"

The network was not happy with the call to kill Blake

CBS was not at all on board with the decision to kill Blake on MASH, fearing the anger it might spark. Speaking with IGN in 2002, Gelbart revealed it took some bargaining with the network to get them to sign off on Blake's demise. Even then, they had a backup plan ready in case people really hated the ending.

The show was always divided into three – there was a first act, a second act, and then just a tag that followed the final commercials, a scene of about a minute or two in duration. We always used to resolve whatever conflicts there were in a show in the first two acts, because we didn't know if anyone would be hanging around after the commercials. But we acceded to that condition. CBS' idea was that if there was a very, very strong negative reaction, they didn't have to rebroadcast it with that tag on there.

Of course, CBS was correct about Blake's demise sparking an angry response. Even so, some recognized it as a bold, brave move on MASH's part. Instead of a nameless soldier with no lines dying during surgery, Blake was a fleshed out human being who audiences had gotten to know and love over three seasons. Having him die just as he's been sent back to his wife and children - one of whom he's never met - hammered home the tragedy.

MASH's season 3 finale also marked the final appearance of Wayne Rogers as Trapper, with the actor quitting between seasons.

According to Gelbart, at least one rebroadcasting of MASH's season 3 finale dropped the tag. Simply cutting this brief scene would have given Blake a happy ending - but since his death was mentioned many times in later seasons, there was no real effort by CBS to either undo it or ignore it.

Source: Evening Independent (via MASH4077THTV), IGN