Alan Alda – M*A*S*H

According to a 1983 article in the New York Times, the finale of “M*A*S*H” had a viewership of 125 million people. The episode was so anticipated that it was broadcast to U.S. army squadrons based in Korea. Even advertisers paid a premium of $450,000 for a 30-second slot.

It had all the essential things that make a finale tick, especially for something labeled as a comedy-drama: Emotional content about the horrors of war and comic relief to take the edge off the tension. In fact, it’s the most-watched finale in TV history. Its lead actor Alan Alda appeared in a 2021 episode of “Stars in the House.”