Some of These M*A*S*H Secrets Are Over 40 Years Old!

The TV classic M*A*S*H was about the doctors and staff stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea in the early 1950s. In order to cope with the stresses of war, the gang often resorted to hijinks, frivolity and petty rivalries when off-duty. The run of this edgy “dramedy” lasted three times as long as the real life Korean War did, and became one of the highest rated television programs of all time. Think you know everything there is to know about the acclaimed sitcom? Here are some behind-the-scenes things that the producers of the show never wanted you to know.

1. Max Klinger was supposed to be gay

The character Corporal Maxwell Klinger, played by Jamie Farr, was originally written as a gay character who was to appear in just a single episode. But then they changed the character to a straight guy who was trying to get himself discharged by pretending to be a cross-dresser. This seemed to work with the audience and the role was extended to 215 episodes. Once the character had been promoted, however, they dropped the cross-dressing shtick.