M*A*S*H Revisited

It's the 25th Anniversary of the last episode of M*A*S*H. The finale still holds the number one spot for the most watched program ever on American television. If you've never seen it, the Hallmark Channel is re-running it in early March.

I've only seen a handful of episodes, but the few I caught were sharp, clever and good humored, especially in the face of the subject matter.

Imagine a show in 2008 that took a look at the Vietnam War. With 1000 channels, the internet, apathy and general divisiveness, it wouldn't make it. It would get pushed onto CBS or A&E, left to rot on Friday or even worse Saturday nights. Without a gimmick or a special guest star, it probably wouldn't get picked up for the rest of its inaugural season. Too edgy. Not sexy enough. Too soon.

And it would be just fine, but there's nothing else like it anymore...yet. I'm holding out hope that people can fall in love with scripted television again. We're waiting on you Aaron Sorkin.