Character Development from Script to Screen: an Examination of

Abstract

The critical study of television has grown over the years--the formulas used in television series, its influences on all audiences, and its aesthetic appeal. M*A*S*H is one television show that has been successful through its popular appeal to audiences. For ten seasons, this success has depended on the precedence of character development over plot. This study focuses on an examination of one script, from the 1980-81 season, "Letters" written by Dennis Koenig. This script shows how important character extension is for the success of the show. The analysis of the four drafts exhibits how Koenig characterizes, reestablishes, reaffirms, and alters four of the major characters: Hawkeye, Margaret, Charles, and Potter. The "Letters" script and actual presentation shows how these characters react to and deal with the situations in which they are placed.