MovieChat Forums > Trapper John, M.D. (1979) Discussion > Was WAYNE ROGERS ever considered for thi...

Was WAYNE ROGERS ever considered for this role?

posted 9 years ago by bmhurts-770-301832
2 replies | jump to latest

I JUST read on some thread that Wayne Rogers was considered for the role of TRAPPER JOHN M.D. for the show by the SAME NAME.. I can UNDERSTAND.. casting, CBS.. BRIEFLY considering ROGERS for the ROLE.. since he was the one who brought TRAPPER . 'to life', BUT, really?

1st-he left the show M.A.S.H. and they had to find someone to replace him. SOME NETWORKS BLACKLIST actors who have been 'difficult, HARD,etc. ' Granted, he did not seem to leave on bad terms (supposedly) like McLean Stevenson-after all, TRAPPER JOHN did not go down in a plane! (Sadly, we never got to SEE HIM, but, got a weird 'goodbye', weird, since many of us had not gotten over 'HENRY'S DEATH YET from the finale last season'

But, I have seen interviews in which he (W.R.) said he left M.A.S.H. because he said he was not making enough $S, and could make A LOT more working outside the industry..(which he did, does, in investments, see him on FOX BUSINESS). I know he did not leave the industry, but wanted to be in SERIES when HE STARRED... (not series where there are cast ensembles like M.A.S.H. -LESS $$ for salaries.. I guess, UNLESS you become the Ex. Producer, etc. )

BUT.. SERIOUSLY, M.A.S.H started in 1972, Rogers left in 1976.. T.J., M.D. Started in 1979.... Which normally would have been FINE, but, TIMELINE WISE?

M.A.S.H. of course was set in the KOREAN WAR..1950-1953
TJ, M.D. took place in modern day.. (S.F., CA.) 1979,
26 years after the K.W. ENDED.
W.R. was 43 when he left M.A.S.H, 46 IN '79..
(THOUGH, he did not look in his 40s at the time!).

THATcould have been the reason to 'pass' on Rogers, but, Hollywood is GREAT on MAKEUP.. MAKING some actresses/Actors look years younger then they are, OR, let's face it, sometimes we are JUST TOLD to believe it, RIGHT! (LOOK AT PERNELL!BONANZA He was not much younger then Lorne Greene, but Greene was 'PA', and 'HOSS' (the actor who portrayed) was only 6 mos. younger, though 'ADAM', (character) was supposed to be the MUCH OLDER, WISER brother on BONANZA If you watched, really watched, you could see ALL of this, but, we were told otherwise, and most of us just went WITH IT!

SO... if the show, T.J., M.D. did not DWELL on the fact that ROGERS,his character, not that he was a SURGEON in a WAR, but that the WAR was over 26 YEARS BEFORE! People , well most, would ignore that fact! (others, who are OCD LIKE ME.. well, we would be.. he is NOT DOOGIE HOWSER! He could have been a soldier.. BUT, not a SURGEON.. etc. etc. etc..)

The show would have only had to add a 'lil grey, and have the character say.. 'Being in my late 50s (???) '

BUT, I do not know if what I read was a wild URBAN LEGEND? SOME PRESS put out by CBS to get viewers excited? or, was he really considered and ROGERS said 'no, not enough $$? No, don't want to be typecast as an older person? or, did CBS JUST NOT WANT TO WORK WITH an actor who BAILED on one of the most popular series out there? (WAIT? ROBERTS DID THAT TOO!)

[–] revolver95 9 years ago

Wayne Rogers was already working on House Calls when Trapper John MD started. As far as I know House Calls was successful. I doubt CBS would kill off one successful show for a show that has potential.
As for age, Pernell Roberts was only a few years older than Rogers.
Hiring an actor who quit a show would not be a problem. If the actor brings in viewers, all problems can be forgiven.
So, was Wayne ever considered for the role? I'm sure his name was on a list, but probably never offered the role.

[–] crood 8 years ago

House Calls actually debuted two months AFTER Trapper John, but easily could have been in production already.

The most likely reasons are Rogers' age, the fact that he was already working on House Calls (maybe), and the fact that the Trapper John producers were insisting it WASN'T a spinoff of the MASH TV series, just of the books and movie.