Movies News Talk
With its mix of comedy, drama, and moving tales set against the backdrop of the Korean War, the beloved television series Mash—which ran eleven seasons—captivated viewers. Though the show had a big cast of characters, one recurring presence stayed under wraps: the P.A. Announcer, sometimes known as "Tony." Though he spoke constantly throughout the series, "Tony" never made an onscreen appearance, which gives the daily activities of the 4077th camp more mystery.
Two performers, Todd Susman and Sal Viscuso, assumed the role of P.a. Announcer over Mash's run. Originally the announcer in the pilot episode, Jamie Farr—known for his performance as Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger—quickly switched to his more well-known character. Susman, who also starred as Private Baker in the second season episode "Operation Noselift," voiced roughly 47 episodes. Having a long career, versatile actor Viscuso assumed the part for an estimated forty episodes and also made appearances in other parts of the series.
The lack of "Tony" spurred conjecture among fervent viewers who dug into the specifics of the show to try to solve the riddle. According to one well-known view, Todd Susman's Private Baker is actually the P.a. Announcer. This thesis makes use of Baker's participation in the 4077th and the similar voice qualities. It is difficult to verify or refute this link, though, since the show offers scant details on the P.A. Announcer. But the show's writers embraced the mystery, leaving "Tony's" identity as a constant source of fascination.
Keeping "Tony" off-screen was a deliberate creative decision taken to accentuate the special appeal of the show. In a blog post, MASH writer Ken Levine clarified that the idea sprang from the original 1970 movie and helped to accentuate the odd and erratic environment of the 4077th. "Tony's" invisible presence combined with the sometimes funny and often urgent announcements became a regular feature of the show's fabric, giving the fictional universe some reality and grounding. MASH chose to keep the mystery whole rather than expose "Tony's" identity, letting viewers envision the person behind the voice, so adding still another level of appeal to the show.