...on Life Goes On? According to Herbie J. Pilato's Life Story: The Book of Life Goes On, Max Gail, the one and only Wojo, was in the running to play the role of the Thatcher family patriarch, Drew. So was Barney Miller guest star, Charles Frank, before the role ultimately went to Bill Smitrovich. (Charles Frank did land the recurring role of Tyler Benchfield's father on LGO.)

I never heard about Max Gail auditioning for LGO. I can't really imagine anyone other than Bill Smitrovich in that role but I'd love to see Max's audition tape just to see what he would be like in that part!

I can't imagine anyone else as Drew other than Bill Smitrovich myself, but I think Max Gail could definitely have pulled it off. Bill Smitrovich, in real life, had been a teacher for special needs kids, including those with Down's, so I think that's what cinched the role for him.

Here are photos of Charles Frank's appearance on Barney Miller, the cowboy who solicits an undercover Wentworth at a massage parlor. This was in the second season episode, aptly titled, "Massage Parlor". This episode also marks the first guest appearance of Kenneth Tigar.