Shouldn't M*A*S*H Have Cast A More Attractive Female Lead As "Hot Lips" Houlihan? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-12-2011, 11:46 PM

I really mean no disrespect to actress Loretta Swit, but I was under the impression the "Hot Lips" character was supposed to be this real sexy vixen that was a doctor. If that is correct,Loretta Swit played the role nicely, but do you think she was attractive? Again, I apologize and don't want to bash her, I was just curious if another more attractive actress was suitable?

myriverse · 06-26-2011, 12:38 AM

I think she was most definitely attractive, and more so than the original Sally Kellerman (not that she wasn't attractive either). "Hotlips" wasn't supposed to be a sexy vixen. She was just an attractive woman.

And I think they are both, still, quite attractive.

Marvo301 · 06-26-2011, 01:22 AM

M*A*S*H was based on real people in a real war (police action). They weren't models, actors, or actresses. They were doctors and nurses and corpsmen. Another words real people. I think on M*A*S*H they did a good job of casting actors and actresses who liked like real people and not like models.

old grouch · 06-26-2011, 09:17 AM

Loretta Swit was perfect for the role of Hot Lips. She gave the character a perfect mix of beauty, brains, humor, toughness, and vulnerability.

associate · 06-26-2011, 09:48 AM

Hot Lips was supposed to be a by the book career army nurse that was also pretty. I think Swit filled that role to a tee

shotzette · 06-26-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

M*A*S*H was based on real people in a real war (police action). They weren't models, actors, or actresses. They were doctors and nurses and corpsmen. Another words real people. I think on M*A*S*H they did a good job of casting actors and actresses who liked like real people and not like models.

Loretta Swit is an extremely talented and attractive actress. No, she never has been "model-pretty", but she wasn't playing a model or an actress, she was playing a 1950's era nurse in a war zone. The few occasions when you got to see Hot Lips dolled up, she looked wonderful. However, the character was usually running around with no/minimal make up and un-coiffed hair, which was perfect for the occasion. I think that the show lost credibility in the later seasons when when the character had more modern/groomed hair and heavier make up.

06-12-2011, 11:46 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	*Shouldn't MASH Have Cast A More Attractive Female Lead As "Hot Lips" Houlihan?** I really mean no disrespect to actress Loretta Swit, but I was under the impression the "Hot Lips" character was supposed to be this real sexy vixen that was a doctor. If that is correct,Loretta Swit played the role nicely, but do you think she was attractive? Again, I apologize and don't want to bash her, I was just curious if another more attractive actress was suitable?
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06-26-2011, 01:22 AM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	MASH was based on real people in a real war (police action). They weren't models, actors, or actresses. They were doctors and nurses and corpsmen. Another words real people. I think on MASH they did a good job of casting actors and actresses who liked like real people and not like models.
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06-26-2011, 12:38 AM	#2
myriverse Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 25, 2011 Location: New Orleans Posts: 7	I think she was most definitely attractive, and more so than the original Sally Kellerman (not that she wasn't attractive either). "Hotlips" wasn't supposed to be a sexy vixen. She was just an attractive woman. And I think they are both, still, quite attractive.

06-26-2011, 09:17 AM	#4
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Loretta Swit was perfect for the role of Hot Lips. She gave the character a perfect mix of beauty, brains, humor, toughness, and vulnerability.

06-26-2011, 09:48 AM	#5
associate Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 03, 2004 Posts: 73	Hot Lips was supposed to be a by the book career army nurse that was also pretty. I think Swit filled that role to a tee