I have never 'gotten' Hogan's Heroes

[mr_mjb1960]

Well, I whole-heartedly share your sentiments - except for the "terrible" part. :)


Klemperer was Emmy nominated five times...and won twice. Hogan's Heroes, as a series, was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series three out of its six years...but never won. So, while I can understand people not liking it, or even hating it, I think branding it "terrible" is a bit much. It had many of the same writers, directors, and stock actors as The Andy Griffith Show and was even shot, right next door to it, on the same 40 Acres set. Production values were pretty high.Werner was also an accomplished opera star,appearing in The Met's version of the "Ring" trilogy..he remained an opera singer until he died. (At least I think he did) Michael Boyce

[lv70smusic]

I was never a big fan of the show, but my brother loved it so I saw quite a few episodes. I remember finding the Schultz character amusing because he was so stupid, but not liking much else about it. I haven't seen an episode of this since I was a kid.

[mr_mjb1960]

I was never a big fan of the show, but my brother loved it so I saw quite a few episodes. I remember finding the Schultz character amusing because he was so stupid, but not liking much else about it. I haven't seen an episode of this since I was a kid.John Banner played the happy-go-lucky Schultz...he was the first person on the show to pass away... from a Heart Attack....a sad and tragic loss.:shake: Michael Boyce

[Jerryb]

Many of the actors playing the German characters were Jewish. Klink was half Jewish. Shultz was Jewish,Burkhalter was Jewish and so was LaBeu.

Not sure if I spelled those names right.

[Marty Milton]

Originally Posted by Jay F
It was not a concentration camp. It was a prison camp for allied soldiers. All the difference in the world.

Originally posted by Squealy
Yes, that was my point. People confuse "prison camp" with "concentration camp" because it's the Germans.
IIRC, the original concept for Hogan's Heroes was that it would be set in a concentration camp. I guess it was difficult writing jokes about that setting. ;)

[chargrove]

John Banner played the happy-go-lucky Schultz...he was the first person on the show to pass away... from a Heart Attack....a sad and tragic loss.:shake: Michael Boyce

Are you certain? I thought he outlived Bob Crane.

[Blencathra]

John Banner (from IMDB) d 28 January 1973, Vienna, Austria (abdominal hemorrhage)

Bob Crane d1978

[Henry the Horse]

I don't understand people not liking this show. They should all be put in the "cooler". And then sent to the "Russian Front"!:D

[David R. Modny]

IIRC, the original concept for Hogan's Heroes was that it would be set in a concentration camp. I guess it was difficult writing jokes about that setting. ;)

I'm not sure where you may have heard this, but it's 100% false. The show was never, ever, ever even considered to take place in a concentration camp. I just want to clarify this, as to not start any more rumors. :)

As others have mentioned, half the principal cast was Jewish. Robert Clary, himself, was *in* a concentration camp (Buchenwald) during WWII and lost part of his family to the Holocaust. John Banner also spent time in, and escaped, a concentration camp. The show's origin was actually intertwined with a couple of things, including another pilot that never got off the ground, starring Vito Scotti, titled "Campo 44." (Scotti would also eventually turn up on HH, in a guest-starring role, as Major Bonacelli). While the inspiration for the show actually came -- at least in part -- from "Von Ryan's Express."

BTW, for anyone who might be interested in the show, I would highly recommend Brenda Scott Royce's excellent book on it. I have the original issue, but it has since been updated and reissued under a different title.

[rburly]

I didn't even see the show until maybe the second season. My parents never watched it so when I saw it at a friend's house, it grabbed me a little and I watched it when I could.

I'm not sure why my parents (my dad) never watched it. He was a pilot in WWII, but he loved McHale's Navy and it's the only show that I remember wondering if my dad was going to live through, he laughed so hard. He just didn't think Hogan's Heroes was funny I guess. It's not one of my favorites from then, but it was yet another good show from the era.

[Winter Hugohalter]

Thought Hogan (and Batman) fans might remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHD_53UqBeA

[btomarra]

Just MHO but it bothered me that they made the Germans look stupid. I watch it every now and then but not one of my favorites.

[Blencathra]

Just MHO but it bothered me that they made the Germans look stupid. I watch it every now and then but not one of my favorites.

That sort of thing never bothered me in a comedy show - I firmly believe that nothing is sacred. It would be more distasteful in drama.

[Henry the Horse]

Thought Hogan (and Batman) fans might remember this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHD_53UqBeA

I wonder how they pulled that off? They were on two different networks.:confused:

[Blencathra]

I wonder how they pulled that off? They were on two different networks.:confused:

That'd be alien intervention Henners!

[Dudley Morris]

IIRC, the original concept for Hogan's Heroes was that it would be set in a concentration camp. I guess it was difficult writing jokes about that setting. ;)That's not true, but as part of a parody of the show MAD featured a caustic sendup called "Hochmann's Heroes" that was set in a concentration camp, and made all sorts of puns about showers and gas. Apparently the writer found the show as objectionable as some folks here do.

[David R. Modny]

Just MHO but it bothered me that they made the Germans look stupid. I watch it every now and then but not one of my favorites.

It was actually the *Nazis* that they made look stupid. They were very sensitive in portraying the German bystanders to the war in a favorable -- and at times even helpful to the Allied cause -- light. I'm sure the producers knew that they would be treading in dangerous waters if they didn't.

They were also able to draw a distinction between those who were truly egomaniacal dupes (Klink), and those who really wanted nothing to do with the whole thing (Schultz).

And, again, it's one of the reasons why the show was even able to gain some popularity with German viewers when it eventually aired there.

[Henry the Horse]

That'd be alien intervention Henners!

:ignore:

[His Masters Vice]

MASH and Viet-Nam did not share that sensibility. I just wish that the people behind MASH for all of their 'preachiness' would have had the courage of its own convictions and set the show (and the preceding film) in Viet-Nam.


They wanted to do that, but it was vetoed by the network... If they had the courage of their convictions then the show would have never aired.

As for Hogan's Heroes, it is clearly a parody of WWII movies, especially those about POW camps.

[David R. Modny]

I also think that there was a period in the 1960's where even the films of the era started looking at the, often, absurdities of war through over-the-top satire. One of the best examples of this absurdist, tragio-comic approach was a rare 1967 film, starring Anthony Quinn, called "The 25th Hour" (obviously *not* the Edward Norton film of the same name). If you ever happen to get a chance to see it, I'd highly recommend it. I'm a big Quinn fan, and this is a terrific little film and performance.

And that was something that I think Hogan's Heroes always tried to drive home. That is, that the entire Nazi movement was often driven by small-minded (often feeble-minded) men who became intoxicated by power once they put on that uniform - and were not true (or great) leaders in any sense of the word. There was even a point made that, before the war, Klink was a nebbish bookkeeper, while Schultz was actually the president of the largest toy factory in Germany...the irony of it all.

[wayneklein]

Ever since I was a kid I hated this show. It was in endless repeats back in the late 70s and on quite a bit IIRC.

Over the years whenever I see an episode, I still can't understand why this is a 'classic'. IMHO it's not funny, smart, witty, edgy...if anything it's just boring. It's also totally rediculous, but many old TV shows are and that's part of the charm I guess. I just don't know why this one bothers me.

Most recently I've watched a few episodes on HDNet. The HiDef restorations of a TV show this old look superb (cropped top and bottom, but not badly), but the show itself still puzzles me.

Some of the HDNet shows are actually without a laugh track. Without the producers telling you where to laugh, it becomes almost surreal to watch.

I know it has a lot of fans, I just don't understand why.

dan c


Liked it as a kid. Didn't survive the transition to adulthood for me. I also find the whole thing distasteful now. Now "Stalag 13" on the other hand...

[magick28]

I hated this show to ,like mash there was no talent and was not funny in the least.

[sws]

I didn't watch it when we were in the middle of the Viet Nam War and I won't be watching it under any other circumstances either. I would have a hard time thinking of a worse idea.

[kevintomb]

I've never "gotten" a lot of sit-coms, MASH, Friends, Seinfeld, etc. I've tried to watch them all but I can't find the humor most of the time. And yet, I'll watch The Three Stooges over and over and laugh my arse off. Must be something wrong with me....


you dont get SEINFELD??

The 3 stooges arent funny exactly ...they are just STUPID. ( yeah I love them, but honestly..they are just slapstick and guys hitting each other) SEINFELD requires some attention to get some of the jokes, and it usually has a STORY that all connects together at the end...not sure if that helps, just sounds like you like zany silly comedy more...but thats cool..I like all types!:righton:

[kevintomb]

I hated this show to ,like mash there was no talent and was not funny in the least.



MASH never seemed more than a bit funny to me...and the drama seemed forced since it intermingled with weird comedy...

Honestly I LOVE Scrubs and they combine humor and drama, but mash..just never got it really..even though I dont hate watching it or anything, its just not that great to me.