CBS' sitcom "M*A*S*H" went on for 11 seasons, and by the end of its run, it was a ratings juggernaut. The "M*A*S*H" series finale was watched live by 125 million viewers , a record no other sitcom has beaten and — given the sad state of network TV viewership numbers — a record no sitcom will likely ever beat again. But while the show's success may seem like a given today, at the time it was unclear if CBS would even keep it going beyond its first season.

The "M*A*S*H" pilot was ranked 45th in its time slot, and in subsequent weeks, the show only ranked lower. The series' ratings nadir came on December 10, 1972 with "Germ Warfare," which ranked 56th in its time slot. If it had continued on this trajectory, the show would've been canned and few people today would even remember it existed.

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