I watch several episodes of M*A*S*H, the TV series, every single day. No joke. You can thank the streaming services that keep it alive for me. I’ve also had almost every DVD for every season. The film that started it all, which was based on Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, turns 50 this year.

The film is undoubtedly great, but the TV series, which debuted two years later in 1972, is legendary. We can talk forever about the classic lines such as “Hello Ferret Face!” when BJ Honeycutt (played by Mike Farrell) debuted on the show and every Potterism such as “Buffalo Bagels!” or “Horse Hockey!” from Colonel Sherman T. Potter.

Or how about the many times that they made us cry? For example, there’s the death of Potter’s predecessor Henry Blake and one of the most emotional scenes for me is when Margaret Houlihan, played by the lovable Loretta Swit, stays by the side of a patient who talks about going home to his fiance, but who will be dead within the hour. She does it all with a smile on her face while she’s falling apart inside.

I’m not even going to start talking about Alan Alda because I can be here for hours praising this man’s acting. I will say, though, that his laugh is one of the best and most contagious laughs ever on television, and his ability to make us laugh, cry and get angry about the war was second to none. (By the way, follow him on Twitter and learn about what he has done since M*A*S*H ended if you don’t already know. You’ll be incredibly impressed.)

I have been fortunate in my journalism career to have interviewed Wayne Rogers, who played Trapper John, about his financial success from projects and investments after he left the show. He was so down to earth, and it was an honor getting to talk to him.

And where would M*A*S*H be without its supporting cast? I also had the chance to interview G.W. Bailey, who played Sgt. Rizzo — he’s so sweet.

What’s your favorite episode? Tell me in the comments.

3 Places You Can Visit

Now if you’re a fan and love M*A*S*H as much as I do, there are a few places you can visit to celebrate the movie’s anniversary this year — or, hey, wait until 2022 to celebrate the TV show’s 50th anniversary. It’s up to you.

Malibu Creek State Park: Located in Cornell, California, which was once the film location ranch of 20th Century Fox, Malibu Creek State Park is a beautiful 8,000-acre site with 15 miles of streamside trails and abundant wildlife, but most importantly to us M*A*S*H fans, it was used as the exterior scenes of the M*A*S*H television show and film. When you get to the park, there will be a map of the area or you can download it from the Malibu Creek M*A*S*H website. The show left behind a jeep and, of course, the directional sign.

Toledo Mud Hens: Take yourself out to a ball game and watch the Mud Hens play in Toledo, Ohio. They were cheered on by Toledo native Max Klinger (played by Jamie Farr) on M*A*S*H and are a real baseball minor-league team! You can see them play a game on your trip to Ohio. Buy a ticket and support them!

Tony Packo’s: Speaking of Klinger, you can’t go to Ohio and not eat at the place he raved about, Tony Packo’s. It’s a real cafe that serves authentic Hungarian food. The original Tony Packo’s is located on Front Street in Toledo, but there’s another location on South Superior Street. You can also buy some of Packo’s food throughout the country or even shop online.