I’ll include one and you can include your own. This is not a game. It’s a discussion thread on these “What If” topics we bring up.

What If… Bob Crane was cast as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H instead of Col. Hogan on Hogan’s Heroes?

This popped in my head after watching an interview with Crane (his last, just before his murder). When comparing the two shows, he mentioned the characters on M*A*S*H were carrying on like “sex maniacs”, while on Hogan’s Heroes, they were a bunch of guys who happened to be in the prisoner of war camp during the second World War. Knowing about Crane’s private life, I almost expected him to say, “I was on the wrong show!” That got me thinking about him as Hawkeye.

It would have been a totally different show, and Crane was a few years older than Alda, but I could see him playing Hawkeye. Would it have been better? No, I can’t say it would be but it could still work. And who knows, if he was working on M*A*S*H, he may not have been murdered, so Hawkeye wouldn’t have to be written out after season six.

The problem, if we're stuck in 1972, is that Alda (at 36) was already old for the role. Crane at 44 would be even more of a stretch. If the time is more flexible, then I think that a younger Crane would have worked just fine as Hawkeye. Early MASH is not all that different from McHale's Navy, and I think Crane could easily have led a lighter ensemble through 150 episodes or so (Hogan went 168).

The problem, if we're stuck in 1972, is that Alda (at 36) was already old for the role. Crane at 44 would be even more of a stretch. If the time is more flexible, then I think that a younger Crane would have worked just fine as Hawkeye. Early MASH is not all that different from McHale's Navy, and I think Crane could easily have led a lighter ensemble through 150 episodes or so (Hogan went 168).

Yeah, that's a good point. I was a little concerned about his age when I posed this question but since it's a make-believe scenario, I didn't worry too much about it.

How old is Hawkeye supposed to be? Did they ever mention his age in the show?

How old is Hawkeye supposed to be? Did they ever mention his age in the show?

I'm not sure. I think there's some throwaway line about him being in WWII, but for me I don't detect any career arc like you see with Henry, Margaret, Frank, or Charles. It just seems like it's medical training and then Korea.

I’ll include one and you can include your own. This is not a game. It’s a discussion thread on these “What If” topics we bring up.

What If… Bob Crane was cast as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H instead of Col. Hogan on Hogan’s Heroes?

This popped in my head after watching an interview with Crane (his last, just before his murder). When comparing the two shows, he mentioned the characters on M*A*S*H were carrying on like “sex maniacs”, while on Hogan’s Heroes, they were a bunch of guys who happened to be in the prisoner of war camp during the second World War. Knowing about Crane’s private life, I almost expected him to say, “I was on the wrong show!” That got me thinking about him as Hawkeye.

It would have been a totally different show, and Crane was a few years older than Alda, but I could see him playing Hawkeye. Would it have been better? No, I can’t say it would be but it could still work. And who knows, if he was working on M*A*S*H, he may not have been murdered, so Hawkeye wouldn’t have to be written out after season six.


And then you would have had Col. Klink instead of Col. Potter acting as his boss. Now that would have made for a great show!

"Hogan!! You dumbkopf! Watch where you put that needle!"