M*A*S*H ran from 1972 to 1983, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time. Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units were real, but the show’s 4077th was fictional. It was loosely based on the experiences of US Army surgeon Hiester Richard Hornberger Jr during the Korean War, who wrote the book MASH in 1968, spawning a film and a TV show.
The 2.5 hour final episode of M*A*S*H, set to the war’s ceasefire, remains the most watched series episode in US TV history as of 2026, and for 27 years was the most watched TV production ever (not counting the Apollo 11 moon landing, which was categorized as a news story). The ad spots sold for more money than Superbowl spots.
This is the intro theme from the TV show (youtube).
Dr. Hornberger died in 1997 at age 73 from leukemia. This is Hornberger during the Korean War, serving in the real life 8055th MASH unit.
The main characters from the show are still household names 43 years after the end of the series.
Probably the news?
Here’s a schedule from 1982. Doesn’t seem to be the sort of station to have news.
2 KTVU
6:00 Jim Bakker
7:00 Woody Woodpecker and Friends
8:30 Romper Room
9:00 Six Million Dollar Man
10:00 Rockford Files
11:00 Donahue - Guest: Lana Turner
NOON Big Valley
1:00 Dialing for Dollars Movie: “A Man for All Seasons”, Part 2 of 2 (1966 Best Picutre) - Paul Scofield (Best Actor), Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Orson Welles, Robert Shaw, Susannah York.
3:00 Scooby-Doo
3:30 Tom & Jerry
4:00 Spider-Man
4:30 Gilligan’s Island
5:00 Star Trek
6:00 Three’s Company
6:30 Laverne & Shirley & Company
7:00 M*A*S*H
7:30 Barney Miller
8:00 8 O’Clock Movie: “September 30, 1955” (1977) - Richard Thomas, Susan Tyrell, Dennis Quaid, Lisa Blount.
10:00 Channel 2 News
11:00 M*A*S*H
11:30 Love, American Style
MIDNIGHT Big Valley
1:00 Lucy Show
Nice find!