A handy graph depicting how long each major character was on the series for. Seasons with said character present are in blue whereas seasons where the character was absent are in white. In all, a total of four characters left the series during its 11-season run (Trapper John, Col. Blake, Frank Burns, and Radar), while three characters joined the cast, all of whom replacing cast members who had left (Col. Potter, B.J. Hunnicutt, and Charles Winchester).
