54 Years Later, The Greatest Sitcom Of All Time Is More Difficult To Watch Than Ever

The greatest sitcom of all time remains a must-watch, but seeing it now with the additional context makes it more difficult. Comedies, in any form, have been fan-favorites for decades. Multi-camera ones, which are filmed in front of a live audience and complete with divisive laughter, have slowly lost their popularity in the last few years, with people preferring the single-camera format. Regardless of what form of it is popular now and where to watch them, there's no denying that comedies will always have an audience.

Proof of the enduring appeal of sitcoms is the continued relevance of MASH. When the Alan Alda-led series debuted, it was already the second adaptation of Richard Hooker's book: MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. Instead of veering away from the story due to the success of Robert Altman's film just a couple of years earlier, CBS leaned in and greenlit the project. 54 years later, MASH has maintained its relevancy, thanks to its availability on streaming and reruns on TV. Aside from long-time fans, a new generation of viewers are also introduced to it, although watching the entirety of its whole run now is taking a bigger emotional toll.

Why MASH's Comedy Is Difficult To Enjoy Now

MASH's premise is quite simple; it follows a group of doctors, nurses, and personnel stationed in a mobile army surgical hospital stationed in Korea during the Korean War. Every episode's story is both plot and character-driven, and although the show evolved multiple times over the years, it maintained this narrative approach. What makes MASH such a fantastic series is how it's able to balance comedy and drama. One moment, Klinger is parading his flamboyant dresses, and in the blink of an eye, Hawkeye and the rest of the doctors are grappling with the idea of death and so much unnecessary struggling brought about by the war.

That said, because MASH is so good at conveying the horrors of war, it makes it difficult to watch now, considering everything that is happening in the world. It excelled in almost all kinds of comedy, particularly witty banter and silly physical humor, but in between every schtick, viewers are hit with the harsh realities of their situation. MASH shows the struggles from multiple perspectives —from BJ, who has to miss the first few years of his daughter's life after he was drafted to Potter, who was sent halfway around the world despite his old age and even after already serving in the previous war, as well as the people of South Korea, whose lives are upended during the crisis. Despite the well-executed humor, the current state of global affairs now emphasize the more serious aspect of MASH.

Will MASH Ever Get Rebooted?

In the last decade or so, reboots and revivals of fan-favorite TV shows have been the go-to for many Hollywood studios. Shows like Roseanne, Frasier, and Full House have all made their way back to the screen with new content. Even procedurals, such as the Rockford Files and Matlock are back. Admittedly, not every project is a success, but something like MASH, given its relevancy, might arguably be perfect for the storytelling approach.

Unfortunately, despite the temptation to revive the 11-season MASH for a new generation, it's likely better to leave the show untouched. This way, its legacy can be preserved, which is the biggest risk when it comes to doing any kind of reboot. The success of the show will be very difficult, if not downright impossible, to replicate, not just because of its masterful storytelling, but due to various industry changes. There expectation would simply be way too high. In any case, those who want to enjoy MASH can do so by checking it out on streaming or catching it on syndication.