TV Land Rolls Out The Red Carpet With the ”M*A*S*H’ Weekend Marathon’ Featuring Celebrity Guest Appearances by Ron Howard, Patrick Swayze, Laurence Fishburne, Teri Garr, Blythe Danner and More

NEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Long before “Johnny” took “Baby” out of the corner in “Dirty Dancing” and “Opie” and “Richie Cunningham” added director extraordinaire to his resume, Patrick Swayze and Ron Howard both paid guest visits to “M*A*S*H’s” 4077th. On Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 from 8pm-4am ET/PT, catch both of these stars – along with a medley of your other favorite film and television icons – on TV Land when the network becomes a virtual celebrity central during the “‘M*A*S*H’ Weekend Marathon.” This showcase features guest appearances by John Ritter, Laurence Fishburne, Teri Garr, Blythe Danner, Leslie Nielsen and more. Throughout the marathon, there will be no shortage of antics, pranks and escapades that still captivate viewers, making “M*A*S*H” one of the most successful shows ever seen on television.

“It’s always exciting to recognize huge stars on the television screen before they truly hit it big,” said Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. “‘M*A*S*H’ is a fan favorite for our audience of people in their 40s and viewers are sure to enjoy this marathon.”

Based on the 1970 Robert Altman film of the same name, “M*A*S*H” revolves around life at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, where wounded and sick soldiers are treated. The show centers around Dr. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce ( Alan Alda) and Dr. “Trapper” John McIntyre ( Wayne Rogers), two brilliant Surgeons often preoccupied with attractive nurses, practical jokes and merry-making, all while disregarding military decorum. Their relaxed approach is a source of consternation for other medical staffers including Dr. Frank Burns ( Larry Linville) and Lt. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan ( Loretta Swit), whose secret love affair is no secret. Lt. Colonel Henry Blake ( McLean Stevenson) is the camp commander who gives “Hawkeye” and “Trapper” free reign, further irritating Burns and “Hot Lips.” Lt. Blake is aided by the nervous, yet efficient, Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly ( Gary Burghoff). Other show regulars include Corporal Max Klinger ( Jamie Farr), a doctor’s aide in the operating room who wears women’s clothing in hopes of being discharged and Father Francis Mulcahy ( William Christopher), who runs an orphanage and serves as the unit’s chaplain.

The schedule for “M*A*S*H” is as follows (more details can be found at tvland.com):

          TIME            SATURDAY, MARCH 7             SUNDAY, MARCH 8

         8:00PM               MASH #027                    MASH #189
                          "Radar's Report"             "Bottle Fatigue"

         8:30PM               MASH #083                    MASH #016
                            "Dear Peggy"               "The Ringbanger"

         9:00PM               MASH #174                    MASH #037
                          "Too Many Cooks"               "Deal Me Out"

         9:30PM               MASH #095                   MASH #196
                        "The More I See You"          "War Co-Respondent"

        10:00PM              MASH #034                    MASH #049
                            "The Sniper"            "The General Flipped At
                                                            Dawn"

        10:30PM              MASH #017                    MASH #216
                      "Sometimes You Hear the         "Blood Brothers"
                               Bullet"

        11:00PM              MASH #233                    MASH #243
                      "The Tooth Shall Set You         "Foreign Affairs"
                                Free"

        11:30PM              MASH #135                    MASH #151
                         "Comrades In Arms,        "Our Finest Hour, Part 1"
                                Part 1"

        12:00AM              MASH #136                    MASH #152
                      "Comrades in Arms, Part     "Our Finest Hour, Part 2"
                                  2"

        12:30AM              MASH #164                    MASH #221
                               "Inga"                  "Identity Crises"

         1:00AM               MASH #120                    MASH #118
                            "Souvenirs"                "The General's
                                                        Practitioner"

         1:30AM               MASH #103                    MASH #065
                            "The Nurses"               "The Consultant"

         2:00AM               MASH #242                    MASH #193
                        "Trick Or Treatment"             "Lend a Hand"

         2:30AM               MASH #054                    MASH #190
                            "Springtime"                "Heal Thyself"

         3:00AM            DAYLIGHT SAVINGS                 MASH #177
                                                  "Good-Bye Radar, Part 1"

         3:30AM            DAYLIGHT SAVINGS                 MASH #178
                                                  "Good-Bye Radar, Part 2"

         4:00AM               MASH #073                       xxx
                      "Welcome To Korea, Part
                                 1"

         4:30AM               MASH #074                       xxx
                      "Welcome To Korea, Part
                                 2"

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SOURCE TV Land