Why is it that "The Fugitive" failed in syndication due to David Janssen's character finding the one-armed man

, clearing the doctor in its finale; but M*A*S*H succeeds in spite of the two hour final episode when the Korean War came to an end?

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-that-The-Fugitive-failed-in-syndication-due-to-David-Janssens-character-finding-the-one-armed-man-clearing-the-doctor-in-its-finale-but-M-A-S-H-succeeds-in-spite-of-the-two-hour-final-episode-when-the/answer/Jon-Mixon-1

The Fugitive had fewer overall episodes than M*A*S*H* did (120 vs 256). There’s more M*A*S*H* than there is The Fugitive to show to audiences.

The Fugitive requires that you be familiar with the ongoing narrative to enjoy it - M*A*S*H* on the other hand can be “dropped into” at almost any point and be enjoyed by viewers.

The Fugitive has several stories which are part of a linear narrative - They can only be shown in a linear sequence or they won’t be understood (nor enjoyed) by viewers. M*A*S*H* isn’t as encumbered as there are only a few two-parters.

The Fugitive is particularly dated - With only a few exceptions (The Beverly Hillbillies, Gunsmoke, Star Trek The Andy Griffith Show, etc.) most 1960s programs have never done well in syndication. The Fugitive was shown in syndication during the 1960s and somewhat during the 1970s. However by the 1980s, the series was viewed as being dated and was dropped from circulation.

1960s drama programs have never done well in syndication - While comedy is often “timeless”, most drama series are topical or require that the viewer have some sort of connection to its original airing. With the exception of Westerns and sci fi, no 1960s dramatic program is currently airing in syndication on any significant scale.