M*A*S*H fans?

Question

Why was William Christopher not in the first episode? There is another red haired padre in the first episode, then at the end they list his name as permanently assigned to the 4077th. Why did he not come back? Anyone?

Answer 1

Maybe the first guy didn't work out or he got sick...anything.......so they got someone else to play that part.

Answer 2

You'd have to watch the movie MASH. The first Padre (Father Mulcahy) was also called "Dago Red" and played by an actor named Rene Auberjonois who turned down the chance to reprise his role of in the series.

George Morgan played Father Mulcahy in the pilot episode of "M*A*S*H" but was replaced by William Christopher two episodes later. Don't know why the change, but either they wanted to recast the actor in the role because he didn't "fit" or there was an availability issue that required a recast.

Answer 3

Characters and cast members of a lot TV shows come and go, especially at the early season of the life of a TV Show. To make a TV show you have to the right blend of actors and actresses to pull off a TV show. No one wants their TV show to last pass one season. So, I guess the guy they had playing the first padre on Mash wasn't funny enough or didn't look like a priest. When you take a look at William Christopher he comes across looking like a sweet and innonce guy and I guess that's what the producers of the TV show Mash wanted was someone to be the straight man to all the "wordly" characters that were on the show. "Wordly" meaning Street Smart.

Answer 4

I think in the first couple of episodes they were trying to stay with characters based on the movie MASH. In the movie the padre was called dago red.

Answer 5

Think Chairman and Irish got it right and how about Col Potter, just saw the episode when he was general inspecting the camp!