Behind-the-Scenes As Compelling As On-Camera Drama

"M*A*S*H" has pitched its cable tent exclusively at Hallmark Channel with digitally remastered, uncut episodes containing footage from the series' original 11-year run on CBS.

The series' award-winning history is an open book. But along the way to the annals of television history, the show faced a few roadblocks - and landmines!

•Roll Call - McLean Stevenson campaigned to portray Hawkeye, but diplomatic negotiations resulted in his accepting the role of Lt. Colonel Henry Blake instead.

•Draft Dodger? -- Alan Alda, who had some reservations about signing up, joined the troops just one day before rehearsals were to begin.

•Battle Cry - Producers Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds lost one major battle - they did not want a laugh track. CBS won the fight, but no laughter was ever heard in the operating room.

•Chances for Survival - Poor performance got the series off to a rocky start. But when the network renewed the show and strategically switched its timeslot, "M*A*S*H" scored a direct hit.

"M*A*S*H" helicopters into homes Mondays through Fridays (10 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. E/P) with uncut episodes containing footage from its original run from 1972-83. 255 episodes have been digitally remastered, including the two-and-a-half hour finale, the most-watched television show of all time.