My Friend Larry Gelbart

Achingly funny as it was, Larry Gelbart's writing gave off sparks that turned a hard light on the way we are. Some people even said at the time that his episodes of M*A*S*H, with their unblinking account of the costs of war, helped our country lose its patience with the one they were then fighting in Vietnam. He certainly pointed us, with zero sentimentality, toward a more compassionate look at one another. Many physicians have told me they entered medicine to become the kind of doctor they saw in the character of Hawkeye Pierce.

Larry, who died September 11, at 81, had a graceful presence and humble affability that didn't hint at his enormous influence. He inspired many other writers, although few could match his skill at folding words together like verbal origami.

But, I remember him above all for being the one everyone at the table wanted to be sitting next to. Wit wafted from him like perfume from a rose.

He was incandescent. Larry's genius for writing changed my life because I got to speak his lines -- lines that were so good they'll be with us for a long, long time; but his other genius -- his immense talent for being good company -- that's a light that's gone out, and now we're all sitting here in the dark.

 

 

Comments

[KatK]

I watch no television with one exception - re-runs of MASH. I've been a fan since the show first aired in the 1970s and have probably seen every episode a hundred times. Even so, I still never fail to become involved in the story. The spirit of camaraderie Gelbart created in each episode is comforting, even when the subject matter otherwise is grim.

MASH has been hugely influential - and that influence lives on in a new generation. My kids (11 and 13) and their friends now watch it. What a legacy Gelbart left. Congratulations to him, Alda and the other cast members for creating such an amazing show.

[flawedplan]

Lovely tribute. Enduring thanks to Alan Alda, a good man, the best.

[Sseb]

Wonder tribute. Such kind and true words. This is what is missing from the national discourse-­intelligen­ce, respect and class.

This has to have been a tough couple of months for you, Mr Alda, what with losing your friends, Mr Hewitt and Mr Gelbart. My sympathies to you.

Much as I have enjoyed your pathological characters the past few years. I still hope you will find one to play that rivals Hawkeye's sometimes preachy, but always finely honed sense of justice and fairness. Our country sorely lacks such a voice.

Thank you for your many artistic and educational contributions, and my best to you and your family.

[oldjerseygirl]

Have you not been listening to our President's speeches? I find him entirely just and fair as well as intelligent and humorous.
And I've been a big fan of Alan Alda for a very long time, too.

[TRichards]

A show which is never mentioned, penned by Gelbart, was "United States" -- a brilliant series on marriage that was given no support by the suits and pulled after a handful of episodes.

The episodes were brilliant -- the Gelbart mix of sadness and laugh-aloud lines. One that stands out in my mind had each of the partners being interviewed separately by off-stage sex researchers. Separately, at different points in the show, each was asked whether their partner had ever had an affair. When the wife was asked, she said, "No" and took a sip of coffee as the camera studied her face which gave away the lie by its effort to be blank.

The researcher: "Do you want to talk about it?"

The episode ends with the two in bed.

She: "Did they ask you how I was in bed?"

He: "Yes, I said you were O.K."

She: "I said you were the best."

He: "I was just kidding."

She: "So was I."

The shows humor was special -- not from characters reaching for punch lines but from characters who had intelligence and wit as part of their beings.

[Punkynsnow]

What a really nice tribute. You're a pretty good wordsmith yourself Alan.

[IndyPendant]

Alan, we miss you. Do another movie, would ya?

j

[garbs]

He will be missed. Gebhart's humor was a great avenue to express political views. It brought to light many issues that were not discussed in our day to day lives. Look beneath the humor and you will find statements and commentary relevant to the event in question from one perspective. Some of the arguments showed a great deal of banter between both sides of the political spectrum.

He made a difference by bring the Korean War to life for those of us too young to know.

[Christopher Fink - Huffpost Blogger]

I had the great fortune to meet Larry and work with him on WGA issues. I have never met a man who so humbly and gently carried such social conscience, sharp wit and true kindness wherever he went.

As accomplished and successful as he was, he was so open and such a regular guy with everyone he met, including younger, far less accomplished writers.

He was and remains a powerful inspiration to me, a role model of what a remarkable person a writer, an American and a human being could be.

He will be greatly missed, the impact of his presence on this planet however will in one way or another, be remembered and re-discovered as time goes by.

[Chip W]

Alan,
What happened to Scientific American Frontiers?
You were a really good liaison between science folks and lay people.
I want more.

[Devilslakewoman]

And so we bury Hawkeye Pierce, who "folded words together like verbal origami."

Alda's eulogy is sublime.

And Mary Travers too, and Uncle Teddy, and Patrick Swazie, and on and on - all, so soon, too soon.

Dammit.

[LCLA]

I had not heard of Mary Travers' death yesterday until your post. The world is poorer without her. No more Peter, Paul & Mary, but their legacy lives on in their music and their example. Such gentle but powerful people. Have you been to jail for justice?

[mtflyer]

I am sure that I have seen every episode of M*A*S*H several times but each time I find something nw that I somehow missed earlier. That a program can hold your attention and teach you at the same time for so many seasons is extraordinary and unique. What a team it took to do this! A team of Larry Gelbart showing us the pathos of war through a superb ensemble cast of characters that we could relate to and care about. As a retired veteran I can assure you that his insights into their daily lives as they ealt with the horror of the war and the snafus of the system they worked under. It was so easy to see the correlation with Vietnam and in retrospect- more current failures of foreign policy and leadership. Thank you Hawkeye for making us laugh-it was the only way to get through it all. I have often wondered if there was ever a thought about doing with you what they did with McIntyre (Trapper John, M.D. with Pernell Roberts). If so, better left undone. Alan, you'll always be my hero.

[HawaiianLady]

My favorite Larry Gelbart line came when Frank was teaching the Korean kids patriotic songs and slogans, and when he began to lead them, they said, "You tell 'em, Ferret Face!" I remember your mentioning on a talk show that it was his line. I thought it was pure genius.

[mamacat]

To be remembered with kind words is as good as it gets.

[joycehelene]

I believe I must have seen one of Larry Gelbert's first plays as we both went to Fairfax High School in LA during the 1940's and I remember enjoying the production that he put on. It always stuck with me how funny and good it was and somehow I knew he would go on and prove himself in his profession. I am glad I knew him at the beginning of his long successful career.

[dosaybe]

Hard to imagine life without Larry G's lines going through my head.. Thank you too for bringing them to life.