McLean Stevenson, Harry Morgan, Larry Linville, and Wayne Rogers are all long gone. Now, David Ogden Stiers checks out, but that smug jackass Alan Alda is still with us. Is there no justice?
Alan Alda is unbearably smug.
I don’t agree with his politics, but Alan Alda truly made the show. I don’t love Alan Alda, but I love Cap’t Benjamin Franklin Pierce.
First, and to the point of the thread, David Odgen Stiers was a good actor. He had presence, and played his character convincingly.
And now to the Alan Alda issue.
Alda was and is a remarkably poor actor. Try this, watch a MASH episode, and turn off the sound. Watch Alda. Wooden, robot-like, he is not Hawkeye, he is Alan, he convinces few, if anyone.
Then, turn UP the sound, and close your eyes. Listen to Aldas repeating of his dialog. You have seen people who are not accustomed to public speaking who read ... every ... little ... word ... one ... at ... a time. This is Alda's delivery, sped up slightly, but he's repeating dialog, not acting.
And Mike Farrell.
So is William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahey. He died this past year.
So is William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahey. He died this past year.
So is William Christopher, who played Father Mulcahey. He died this past year.
Father Mulcahey is gone to. So is Colonel Flagg. So is Major Sydney Freeman.
Farrell should have been croaked a long time ago.