Something Major ... Major ... Rolls Into TV Land When M*A*S*H Premieres on New Year's Day

Something Major ... Major ... Rolls Into TV Land When M*A*S*H Premieres on New Year's Day

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Land kicks off 2007 in a "MAJOR" way when M*A*S*H -- one of the most successful shows ever seen on television -- debuts on the network with the week-long "Major Major M*A*S*H Marathon." Beginning Monday, January 1 through Sunday, January 7, viewers can ring in the new year with the gang from the 4077th as TV Land airs the following in prime time: all the major episodes from the series; the original major motion picture of the same name; the 20th and 30th major reunion specials and the major landmark series finale. Throughout each day, TV Land will showcase iconic M*A*S*H performers in guest appearances on other TV Land shows, as well as M*A*S*H episodes featuring famous guest stars such as John Ritter, Laurence Fishburne and Blythe Danner. Additionally, on TVLand.com, fans can play a M*A*S*H trivia game and find information about the history of the show and cast. M*A*S*H will air in its regularly scheduled timeslot of Monday and Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. and Tuesday-Sunday at 10 p.m. (all times ET/PT) beginning Monday, January 8.

According to TV Land's New Generation Gap Study, M*A*S*H is THE #1 favorite show among Adults 40-59 and a Top 5 show among all adults. Additionally, Baby Boomers selected M*A*S*H as their all-time favorite TV show, followed by CSI, Star Trek (which joined TV Land in November), Law & Order and 24. Also, Alan Alda's Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce character ranks as a top 5 all-time favorite TV character among Adults 18-59. The landmark study, which included input from more than 4,000 respondents nationwide, was commissioned by TV Land, a division of Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks (VIAB), to deepen the networks' understanding of Boomers and was conducted by San Francisco-based Age Wave under the direction of its president, Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., the nation's foremost authority on Baby Boomers, and Harris Interactive(R).

"M*A*S*H is undoubtedly one of the greatest television shows of all time," states Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. "With an incredible ensemble cast and witty, sharp writing, it is no wonder it is the #1 show among Baby Boomers. It is an excellent complement to our already stellar line-up."

Throughout the week, TV Land will complement classic episodes of M*A*S*H with the following:

* The shows' 20th and 30th Anniversary retrospectives (20th Anniversary
Reunion airs Wednesday, January 3 at 10 p.m. and Saturday, January 6 at
4 a.m. 30th Anniversary Reunion airs Thursday, January 4 at 10 p.m. and
Sunday, January 7 at 4 a.m.)

Written, produced, and directed by Michael Hirsh, this 1991 20th
Anniversary Reunion special is hosted by actress Shelley Long at the Fox
Ranch, where the series' exterior scenes were shot. The special includes
cast members' insight into the characters they played. Alan Alda, Gary
Burghoff, William Christopher, Jaime Farr, Mike Farrell, Larry Linville,
Harry Morgan, Wayne Rogers, David Ogden Stiers, Loretta Swit and Gene
Reynolds are featured.

Originally airing May 17, 2002, the M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion
special reunites cast members Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Wayne Rogers,
Loretta Swit, Gary Burghoff, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, David Ogden
Stiers, William Christopher and Allan Arbus, as well as producers Gene
Reynolds, Larry Gelbart and Burt Metcalfe as they reminisce with clips
on the beloved, and at times, controversial series.

* The original MASH movie (Airs Monday, January 1 at 10 p.m. and Friday,
January 5 at 10 p.m. and re-airs immediately)

In this film which inspired the landmark series, the 4077th Mobile Army
Surgical Hospital is shaken up by the arrival of Captains "Hawkeye"
Pierce (Donald Sutherland) and "Duke" Forrest (Tom Skerritt). Joined by
renowned chest-cutter "Trapper" John McIntyre (Elliott Gould), the
surgeons set about dealing with the daily carnage of the war.

* M*A*S*H series finale (Airs Tuesday, January 2 at 10 p.m. and re-airs
immediately, Saturday, January 6 at 11 p.m. and Sunday, January 7 at 8
p.m.)

This finale remains one of the most successful show installments in
television history and -- when broadcast in 1983 -- was a major
programming milestone which attracted over 105 million viewers, the
largest TV audience ever.

* "Before They Were M*A*S*H Stars" (Airs Monday-Sunday between 6 a.m. and
8 p.m.)

TV Land airs episodes from its programming line-up of Gunsmoke, The
Jeffersons, Good Times and The Andy Griffith Show which feature M*A*S*H
stars Jamie Farr, Larry Linville and Loretta Swit.

* "Famous Guest Star Episodes"

TV Land showcases M*A*S*H episodes which feature notable guest stars
such as John Ritter, Ned Beatty, Rita Wilson, Laurence Fishburne and
Blythe Danner.

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 staff 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 the hope of being discharged and Father Francis Mulcahy (William Christopher), who runs an orphanage and serves as the unit's chaplain.

Many cast changes occur throughout the series' run as McIntyre is discharged and is replaced by Dr. "B.J." Hunnicut (Mike Farrell), a clean cut family man. Dr. Burns is also later discharged and replaced with Dr. Charles Emerson Winchester (David Ogden Stiers), a Boston blueblood who does not get along with Pierce and Hunnicut. The most significant departure from the series comes with the exit of Henry Blake, who is replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan). Throughout the series, there is a great deal of character development as Houlihan becomes friendlier, Pierce becomes more sensitive and Klinger becomes more assuming of his authority.

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Now seen in over 88 million U.S. homes, TV Land is a division of MTV Networks. TV Land's program mix features popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials and a TV-referential interstitial environment, all programmed with a specific audience in mind -- the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television and features all-time Classic hits like All in the Family, I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and Bonanza.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Source: TV Land

CONTACT: Jennifer Zaldivar, +1-212-846-8964,
jennifer.zaldivar@tvland.com, or Vanessa Reyes, +1-310-752-8081,
vanessa.reyes@tvland.com, both of TV Land

Web site: http://www.tvland.com/

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