And we're back, moving into Hogan Season 5...
- In a highly unlikely opening (but necessary for the plot), the boys are watching a war movie in the barracks. Klink wants to make a film about the "true" Stalag 13, and can do it with his new prisoner--the star of the film. Alan Oppenheimer is back as the pompous movie star. Schultz gets to play Klink in the "film", and Burkhalter becomes the producer. Of course, it's all a diversion for sabotage activities as "Hogan Goes Hollywood".
- There's a secret codebook Hogan wants his hands on, so they send Newkirk to break into Klink's safe. Unfortunately, it ends up in "The Well". One blown up waterworks, a fake escape, and a greased up Carter later... At one point, they mention Carter has to go down half a mile into the well, and a moment later, they have to drop him back in--how does that not kill him?
- Marya is back, and she's brought along a Count! He's on his way to the Russian Front with a attache case chained to his wrist. An attempt to get the case turns into a trap, a trip, and a suicide mission for Klink and the boys--they are "The Klink Commandos". The Count is played by Frank Marth, best known for his recurring role on "The Honeymooners".
- The Nazis have opened a gas station--at Stalag 13--and the boys need to take it out in "The Gasoline War". Dawson even gets to do the little old lady bit again. Of course, there's also the prerequisite beautiful agent, played by Marianna Hill, who also was on Star Trek and appeared in the Elvis Presley film "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" among others.
- Burkhalter's sister returns--Kathleen Freeman is back in the role--so Hogan and the boys kidnap her to swap for an underground agent. It's an "Unfair Exchange". As it normally goes when Frau Linkmeyer arrives, the episode script could just as easily be used on any 60's TV show.
- Hogan uses Klink as a courier for important papers, but it doesn't go well. The Gestapo finds him with the papers, so "The Kommandant Dies at Dawn" unless the boys can spring him. The Field Marshal for the week is played by Ned Wertimer, who must have been trying out uniforms for his role of Ralph the Doorman on The Jeffersons.
- There's a new Nazi "Bombsight" that could end the war--so Hogan's got to get the plans (why do they always pick Stalag 13?). Several failed attempts later, he decides to discredit the demo instead. For a 60's sitcom, there's quite a large number of explosion effects as the camp is bombed.
Cast info:
Harold J. Stone played three roles during the series. He had hundreds of television guest roles from the 50's to the 80's, including westerns and crime shows, but only had one regular TV role--on Bridget Loves Bernie. He passed away in 2005.
More of Season 5 next time. Remember, you can play along! The DVD box set is available on Amazon.