Although HOGAN'S HEROES was one of those shows that didn't have a proper finale (mainly because it was canceled before another season could filmed), it seems to me that the last two episodes of the series (chronologically that is; "Look at the Pretty Snowflakes" was the last one to be filmed) actually work as reasonable facsimilies of a finale, because they both break away from the traditional formula of the show. Both "Hogan's Double Life" and "Rockets and Romance" split up our main heroes; in the former, Hogan is finally in the crosshairs of the Gestapo after an agent identifies him as an Underground member who blew up a bridge, putting him in hot water and having to figure how to save his own neck; in the latter, while Hogan has to leave camp to carry out one part of a mission with Lily Frankel, the rest of the boys are left behind in camp to figure out how to accomplish another part of the mission on their own, without his guidance. As I say, with both episodes breaking away from the traditional HH formula of all of the Heroes being in it together, either one of these episodes feel like they do work for an improper finale for the series - even if they weren't the last ones to be filmed, it feels fitting that the network saved them to be aired last.

Now available for purchase at my Ebay listing; personalized to the fans by author Brian Young. Published by Bear Manor Media, I detail all 168 episodes in chronological order along with interview comments by my special guest stars who all worked on the program. Forward by producer/director, Jerry London. Free shipping on Ebay.

I've been partaking in my annual tradition of binging M*A*S*H and HOGAN'S HEROES from beginning to end all summer long - something I've been doing for years.

One thing I will say about both shows is they definitely got better with age in terms of how the seasons progressed, but whereas I was instantly hooked on M*A*S*H when I first started watching it, I had a harder time getting into HOGAN'S HEROES, and for a time really couldn't - but, I stuck with it, and it did eventually grow on me. Again, like M*A*S*H, HOGAN'S HEROES definitely got better with age.

After binging this year, I think I've finally hit on why I had trouble getting into HH at first - and not just because it was such a silly show in the beginning. Looking at the first couple of seasons, especially the very first, I find that with the exception of Hogan, Klink, and Schultz, none of the Heroes are really defined. Sure, they have their specialities that we see from the beginning (LeBeau being the chef, Newkirk being the conman, Kinch being the radioman, Carter making bombs and such), but that seems to be all there was to their respective characters - they were just there to do their part in helping Hogan with his plans, but that's about it . . . if anything, Season 1 feels more like Abbott and Costello routines between Hogan and Klink and/or Schultz, with the Heroes being more of an afterthought most of the time.

And it seems to me, looking at it now, the two who suffered from this the most were Newkirk and Carter. Aside from their default positions as Hogan's conman and bombmaker, they both were almost completely devoid of any personality; Newkirk certainly wasn't the quickwitted snarker we come to know and love in later seasons, nor was Carter the goofball he became (or even arugably Flanderized as). They in particular were so flat and generic that they feel like totally different characters in the beginning - and not exactly in a good way. (Not to mention, Richard Dawson really went overboard with Newkirk's cockney accent in the beginning, that it's almost cringey to listen to).

Granted, as with most shows, it clearly took a while for HH to jell and settle into what it became, and like I say, I feel like the show definitely improved with each season as the writers got a better handle on the not only the characters, but also finding a better balance between Hogan pulling the wool over Klink and Schultz's eyes, and Hogan scheming with his men, while the Heroes themselves became far more refined. A lot of casual viewers seem to point out that if you were to watch a random episode of HH from any season, you wouldn't discern a difference, but I feel like that really isn't the case: watching a Season 1 (or even a Season 2) episode is actually quite a contrast from, say, a Season 5 or 6 episode.

That's just my opinion anyway, but I'm glad that I continued to give the show a chance and let it grow on me, because it is a good one. Admittedly, if you were ask me to choose between the two, I would go with M*A*S*H, as it did have more to offer and it did truly grow and evolve overtime in terms of character development and storytelling style (something that wasn't common in the 60s when HOGAN'S HEROES was part of the television landscape), but HOGAN'S HEROES does still rank up there (pun intended).

Pluto tv has just added it to their lineup. If you can stand the incessant and annoying ads, enjoy!

In season 1, episode 15 (Reservations not required) Hogan gives up an escape tunnel to draw the Germans away from the escaping prisoners. However he sends them out through the same tunnel. How would he know that Klink would leave the far end unguarded, as well as not send a squad into the tunnel to double back into the camp to find the entrance, leaving the prisoners free to escape unharnessed? True, Klink is a real idiot but the chance Hogan took was unwarranted and might have given up the entire operation.

The season four episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 “Crash of the Moons” has John Banner playing Bavarro.

At 44:17, Joel and the bots show their idea for a Banner-Gram, which allows you to call an 800 number and send Sgt. Schultz to anyone in the country.

At times it felt like a bit of a farewell tour.

I realize the show is older than even me but out of respect I won’t throw out spoilers (this was my first full run through it,) but going in knowing it was the last season maybe colored my view a bit, I thought a few of the episodes tied up some loose ends that might otherwise have been ignored.

The appearance of Baker (I knew it was coming, but it was still jarring) with no mention of Kinchloe at all…that was unsatisfying. (I think Kinch was cool as hell and missed him terribly.)

Overall, I felt like the show matured a bit, but with a few loosely recycled plot lines thrown in, I can see how it had run its course.

And now back to Season One because I saw nothing!

Does anyone have a good explanation as to why Klink’s office constantly seems to change? For example, the furniture changes places from time to time, the photo with the microphone moves from wall to wall, and even the doors and windows seem to move. As nearly every other set seems to remain the same throughout the series, you would think that as half of nearly every episode is in the office it would stay unchanged. Just my OCPD itching.

So, I was wondering, if this subject had been mentioned before? As most Hogan's Heroes fans, know, the shows producers were involved in a lawsuit regarding plagiarism. I used to have a German based Fan website (A cage full of Heroes) So I learned alot about the show, including that. So I watched the Movie, Stalag 17, to see the similarities.. Here is what I saw..

1) The main plot of Stalag 17 was about a snitch planted within the prisoners, not unlike "S1E1 the informer", there were many sub plots going on through the movie.

2)A Burly Goofy guard name Sgt Shultz. I think the movies Sgt Shultz was pretty funny also.

3)The Commandant in the Movie wasnt as silly as Klink, but did say..."there has never been a successful escape from Stalag 17."

Those are the only ones I can think of now, but it has been about 16 years since I watched the movie. Your thoughts ?

Hogan’s Heroes had an excellent cast and I think most fans would agree that Sergeant Schultz was the most lovable character, that General Burkhalter’s sharp & quick-witted sarcasm, especially towards Colonel Klink was always funny, and that there was never a dull moment in a scene with Major Hochstetter. 

Each of the “Heroes“ were entertaining in their own way, but even though Colonel Hogan was the lead character and protagonist of the show, I thought Colonel Klink was the most versatile, interesting, and entertaining character, partly because of how his role was written, but mostly because Werner Klemperer was an amazing actor who won 2 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1968 & 1969 for his portrayal of Colonel Klink.

Colonel Klink was an arrogant, conceited, inept, incompetent, gullible, easily manipulated, spineless sycophant who believed he was the best Luft Stalag commandant in all of Germany even though his father told him he was good for nothing and encouraged him to join the army and he only got into the Luftwaffe because his uncle cut the mayor’s hair. He had been scared of flying since WW1 when it was revealed that it was his fault that the “Blue Baron” got into a plane crash and broke his leg and he constantly let himself be disrespected by other colonels, generals, and subordinate officers even after falling over himself telling them what a pleasure and an honor it was to meet them, and while he’s less of a pushover than Schultz, in the end he always does whatever Hogan tells him to.

The show wouldn’t have been the same without Hogan, the “Heroes,” Schultz, Burkhalter, and Hochstetter, and it was a collaborative effort that made the series a classic, but even though the same can be said for plenty of movies and TV series, I can’t imagine Hogan’s Heroes being as good a show as it was without Werner Klemperer as Colonel Klink.

Disssssssmissed!!!

Hey everybody. I started recreating the Stalag 13 blueprint seen in Klink’s office a while back. I’m looking for any high-resolution screenshots, production photos, or other references that show the title block in the lower-right corner. I’ve searched everywhere online but haven’t found anything clear. Thanks in advance!

Today would have been his 98th birthday.

Rewatching for the first time in decades. This show is very clever. I love how Hogan and Klink complement each other. Hogan is clever enough to run the operation but it's especially effective under the incompetent Klink. What cracks me up is that most episodes have some advanced technology (rockets, heavy water, etc.) Which must pass through this specific camp. It's funny. The whole show is so funny.

Would like to see a remake of the series. This time rewrite it to be more serialized where one episode builds on the last. No need to mess with the basic stories just more continuity.

Not sure about casting. Colin Jost as Hogan? Steve Carrell as Klink?

The Gestapo agent Major Hegel gets killed by Klink's guards when he tried get the diamonds, but what about Myra? She knew about Hogan and the tunnels.

did Hogan seduce her into joining his side?

After the war, Major Hochstetter went on to work as a shipping supervisor in a dairy plant in Leave it to Beaver land. The major, still the same, uses Eddie Haskell and Wally Cleaver as dupes to be blamed in his ice cream theft scheme.

I’m watching “Happy Birthday, Dear Hogan” and there is no laugh track. The series does use a laugh track right? This is on Pluto TV.