Posted on 07/31/2018 6:33:22 AM PDT by SMGFan
Alan Alda announced Tuesday that he has Parkinson's disease.
Alda -- the Emmy award-winning actor who starred in the long-running series "M.A.S.H." as beloved combat doctor Hawkeye Pierce -- said in an interview on "CBS This Morning" that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2015.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
A good friend of mine got it in his early 30’s. He’s 60 now, and he’s been through hell. I visit him every week, and last night he told me he some lumps, and they’re concerned his cancer has returned. Please say a prayer for him.
Seeing what my friend has to deal with, and what other famous Parkinson’s patients, like Pope John Paul II go through, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
Liked him as Senator Owen Brewster in “The Aviator”.
“I want to see the color of his lies.”
“Is that a yak?”
Wishing him well, despite his political inanity.
Sorry he has this, but then, he’s 82. Well past the warranty expiration at this point, and as harsh as it sounds, it’s really just a race now to see what ends up being cause of death. I happen to like most of MASH, even the later Col Potter era. Jamie Farrell is annoying, and Alda did turn the show into something of a personal hobby horse, but the chemistry between the characters did get better. Linville’s “Frank” character was way too one-dimensional, and got “flanderized” badly. Stiers’ “Winchester” was a much better foil for Alda, as he was legitimately a really good doctor and at least as sharp-witted.
That’s well said. As an actor, he created a truly memorable character.
Sorry to hear this. Definitely will add him to my prayers.
/Altho I sympathize, I gave up on him years and years ago when he helped turn MASH into a horribly anti-American and anti-Military show.
I was a fan of the show. Then I married a Vietnam combat vet. He hated the show and would rant if I just passed by it while changing the channels. I can’t even watch the re-runs now.
I like a lot of Alda’s other work, tho and am sorry to hear he has to deal with this.
I never thought of MASH as anti-American. It was definitely anti-war, but who isn't anti-war? While sometimes necessary, no sane person is pro-war. But sane people also know when its necessary. Some wars are necessary from a standpoint of US interest (i.e. WWII), some are not (i.e. Bosnia/Croatia). Some are very debatable in grey area in between. Its a last resort and should be. I could get behind those who are anti-war if they could ever understand that tearing down America is not the way to end wars.
Unfortunately nobody gets well from Parkinsons.
It’s a progressive disease, and the end stages aren’t pretty. Alda is in his 80’s so there’s that too.
He’s a huge Lib but I will give him credit for being a stand-up guy. At one point the producers of M*A*S*H were planning to write Father Mulcahy out of the show because William Christopher had come down with hepatitis and was too sick to perform.
Knowing the Christopher was married with children and really needed the job, Alda went to bat for him and threatened to quit if they did not retain him.
I think Alda is more of your classic old-school Lib like Paul Newman. I have not heard him espousing any of this Trump Derangement or any sort of violence.
After trapper and Henry left the show sucked.
“I never thought of MASH as anti-American.”
I thought it was anti-US military. They treated the US military as morally equivalent as the communists. They never made fun of the anti-war movement either.
I can’t imagine CBS doing a similar show about the incompetence of the IRS, EPA, or welfare agencies.
I am waiting on a comedy about fake news.
That being said, I wouldn’t wish Parkinson’s on anyone.
Agreed, I will only watch the first three seasons. After BJ, and Potter came on I did not like it; Alda ended up taking over the show and moved it very Left. Then they started giving more air time to Klinger, who was at best a 2 minute diversion.
I don't remember every episode. They certainly did poke fun at incompetence of the military with many characters. I am not sure I can recall a moral equivalence to communism, but I can recall some military characters being portrayed as war mongers or incompetent or both. I guess I chalk that up to trying to find humor in a not so humorous topic, and one can laugh or not depending on how they take it.
MASH, to me, was as much a 'brothers in arms' like Saving Private Ryan as it was anything else; the entire camp staff trying to survive/endure the daily aftermath in the OR of the battle going on around them.
You are correct about the general slant of TV shows of course. But I think it might be even harder to find humor in the IRS or EPA.
Fake news on the other hand, that could be very funny ...seems like its already a reality show
Totally agree.
“Then there were the really good old days of Ho John, Spearchucker, Ugly John, and even Private Boone, lol.”
Don’t forget Colonel Flagg, the paranoid Military Intelligence officer. He appeared in only six (or so) episodes - but his character was hysterical.
same think I was thinking about Farell.
He’s the camp Self Abusement Director.
A friend of mine is in end-stage Parkinson’s right now. The theory is that hers was caused by having encephalitis as a kid.
What a horrible disease. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Believe he was also in an episode of “AfterMASH”. Who else here remembers that well intended, but very poorly constructed venture, lol?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.