The television show M*A*S*H was a huge hit. The cast, however, found it difficult to parlay the show's success into outside deals because of the stark nature of the show. Who would want their products associated with a sitcom based on a war?
Hi-Ho Crackers, the poor man's Ritz Crackers apparently did. They hired Gary "Radar" Burghoff to endorse their line of NotQuiteRitz Crackers.
Leaving a successful show was only the second biggest mistake made by Gary Burghoff...
Technology companies apparently thought highly of the show. Atari hired Alan Alda to endorse its line of home computers.
Now seriously, what is it I'm endorsing? One of these typewriters?
IBM was so sure that M*A*S*H viewers would be swayed by the cast, it hired as many of them as it could three years after the show ended its run to promote IBM's futuristic line of computers.
We're not sure what's in these boxes or what those odd televisions do, but the checks cleared, so yay IBM!
