MAS*H: Season 10 (1981)

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Its ninth season shortened to a mere 20 episodes thanks to a Hollywood writers' strike, M*A*S*H returned to a full 24-episode manifest for its tenth season, which began in October of 1981. With the defection of series regular Gary Burghoff two seasons earlier, the starring-cast lineup was now firmly "set" at seven actors--Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, Loretta Swit, David Ogden Stiers, Jamie Farr and William Christopher--and would remain so until its 11th and final season one year later. Although there were signs of fatigue and repetition during season 10, for the most part M*A*S*H managed to remain fresh and surprising with the occasional "gimmick" episode. The most noteworthy of these was the program's only foray into the paranormal, "ollies of the Living--Concerns of the Dead", in which the ghost of a dead GI looked on as the surgeons of the 4077th saved the life of his wounded buddy--and also occasionally carried on other-worldy conversations with a feverish Cpl. Klinger (Jamie Farr). M*A*S*H's ratings continued to be impressive during the 1981-82 season, though its drop from fourth to ninth place indicated that viewers might have been taking the decade-old series for granted. The same could not be said of the people responsible for the Emmy awards, who bestowed upon M*A*S*H its tenth and eleventh Emmys, with costars Alan Alda and Loretta Swit as the lucky recipients. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi