There’s a good reason Loretta Swit’s Margaret looks so moved during her final scene in MASH. The CBS sitcom MASH ran for 11 seasons in total, and arguably no character changed the most during that run than Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan. She was the sworn enemy of Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and Trapper (Wayne Rogers) during the early years and was involved in an affair with the weaselly Frank Burns (Larry Linville). Loretta Swit’s favorite MASH episode “The Nurses” featured an emotional breakthrough for her character – which came about from the actress’ demand that Houlihan get some proper character development.
