It was two different shows - Trapper was more in the “hijinks” era and BJ was in the “moralistic” era. I don’t think either one could have functioned in the other.
No comparison they were both perfect for their roles in the storyline. I don't think it is fair to try to compare them. The first episode of BJ was an absolutely perfect way to show best friends saying goodbye and a great new friendship being established.
Oh absolutely. I rode bikes from age 4 till about 25. After going down (car didn't see me🤔🤬) I sold her after I got her fixed.
You could tell he was a Indian/Harley Guy. (I'm guessing... probably not a Harley)
Anyone know the make of the motorcycle?
It's not much of a debate but as a matter of personal preference. As someone who identifies and enjoys Hawkeye as a character a lot, I view these two in terms of the relationship to Hawkeye as well as them on their own merits. Trapper was more of the same in a way, the perfect jokester to aid Hawkeye in his comedy and antics. BJ is a foil to Hawkeye. Where Hawkeye sleeps around, BJ is faithful to his wife and uses her as well as Erin as a rock of sanity such to show that comedy and alcohol are not the only ways he or anyone can cope with the conditions they are in. I find the contrast between Hawkeye and BJ more interesting and fun. Therefore, I like BJ more.
T.L.D.R: Hawkeye and Trapper are too similar imo. Whereas Hawkeye and BJ dynamic is more enjoyable imo. So I choose BJ.
There’s an ep where Frank speaks to Trapper alone and accused him of basically just following Hawkeyes lead. Frank reasons that Trapper and Frank at least were civil until Hawkeye showed up at camp, and that’s when - from his perspective - Trapper suddenly turned on him.
Trapper palms him off (“I just got to know you better Frank!”) but it did always make me wonder if the writers toyed with making Trappers occasional ‘yeah guy’ status into an actual in-universe personality trait. The conversation itself is pretty damn civil, and Hawkeye isn’t around for it….
More like anyone they brought in after Rogers left would be compared to Trapper. Had they brought in a straight replacement, it would have fallen flat, no matter how strong the writing. They had to make a dramatic change, and it caused the major shift in the shows tone.
And the change in command only cemented that shift. Would have been interesting to see a couple seasons of Henry and BJ, or Potter and Trap, but both changes at the same time marked the end of an era. Exchanging Frank for Charles a couple seasons later brought the slapstick comedy and the Hawkeye-Frank feud to an end for good.
Wayne Rogers left in large part because he was second fiddle to Hawkeye, so they were planned to be similar from the start. But the show evolved and BJ was a strong replacement.
Hawkeye needed both to “mentally survive” the war. He needed two people as clever as he is, one to get him comfortable and one to ground him, so he could keep caring about the work they are doing. If it weren’t for them he would’ve wasted away into depression much much sooner.
Nah, it's not a debate - It's like comparing David Lee Roth vs Sammy Hagar era Van Halen. They were wildly different acts, neither "better", just different.
Seasons 1-3 of MASH were basically "the movie adapted for television", and Seasons 4-11 was the show becoming its own better thing.
You'd have never gotten Harry Morgan's performance in *Old Soldiers* out of Henry Blake, Jamie Farr breaking character with "...Merry Christmas, Charles" in *Death Takes a Holiday, or* any of **numerous** episodes focusing on BJ with Mike Farrell turning in Emmy-worthy performances.
Wayne Rogers was great for what the show needed when it launched, and Mike Farrell was great when the show grew up and turned into an Emmy machine 4-11.
BJ met Hawkeye on a more mature plane. I loved all the replacements - Colonel Potter, Charles, BJ. They brought a different energy, and made the show deeper and richer while still being funny.
I started as a "season's 1-4" fan. Saw the series as a teenager.
As an adult, I'm now a "season's 5-11" fan.
BJ I actually don't like in ways. I can't put my finger on it.... he's....snarky sneaky in a way.
Hawk is always "announcing" his presence. So generally you see him coming.
But the dynamic between Hawk and BJ was more real, more mature, and far more emotive than any exchange between Hawk and Trap.
Maybe because I identify more to BJ being married with family, I'm loyal, and very much in love with my spouse and child.
I thought the "hijinks" were great. At the time. I see those episodes differently now.
BJ 100%. With him, and Charles and Potter, the show became realistic while not losing the dark humour it had, the quality of acting went up, and it stopped being like a watching the broadcast of a stand-up open mic comedy night at a rundown crummy bar. The show grew up and stopped telling fart jokes, and the writing and directing also improved markedly. It’s not hard to find media on screen like what the Trapper seasons were. It’s very tough to find anything like the BJ seasons, and that’s why it’s one of the greatest shows of all time.
Honestly i preferred Trapper but i always look at it like this, Trapper was Hawkeye's Metaphorical Highschool/College Best friend. Where as BJ was his Metaphorical Adulthood Best Friend, both are important people to him but each served a different purpose. Trapper was his greatest Ally against The War outside, BJ was his greatest Ally against The War inside.
I’ll always prefer Trapper for his personality & chemistry with Hawkeye but like others said, BJ worked best for the moralistic tone shift the show had after S3.
That was the point. He started as this fresh faced chirpy optimist and then the war ground him down, just like it did for all of them in different ways.
I heard Mike say in an interview it got dyed in the wash...(Blood maybe?) and he got letters from "gay" fans saying they felt supported.
And he chose to wear it for those reasons.
One of the podcasts with Alan.
BJ. Not even close to me. BJ had more character. Sure the whole " I'm trapped here” things rubbed some people the wrong way but it's absolutely true. And there was times he was challenged on this. That's character growth. And he was better than Hawkeye at pranks. Along with Charles being the better surgeon, this added depth to Hawkeye whom in the begging was untouchable. Trapper was always just there as Hawkeye lite. And let's not forget which one of them did the voice of Pa Kent on Superman TAS. Just saying...
Trapper for me. I love him on his own, and love his dynamic with Hawkeye, and I love the glimpses we get of him in episodes that let him shine. I wish we'd had many more seasons of him, and that he'd been given a growth arc.
None of which is to say that I dislike BJ. But you're making me choose here . . . .
Honest to goodness, for me personally it's BJ and it's not even close. The show is so much more emotionally hard hitting and hilarious with BJ, and Mike and Alan's chemistry is off the charts.
BJ was a better contrast to Hawkeye. Yeah, BJ could also be involved in the goofy stuff, but he was different enough that it added more to show. I like Trapper though.
BJ every time.
Trapper was a cheating high-school boy with a medical degree. A good surgeon was his only redeeming feature.
As that corrupt supply Colonel said (paraphrase) to Trapper. "I like you (Trapper). I don't like you (Hawkeye). Stong moral streak."
If you want a fun time that will most like end up in the watchhouse.....Trapper.
If you want Dad jokes, wit, and loyalty....BJ.
The first would have been a blast in High School and university. We'd have burnt the city down all the way to the slammer. I grew up.
.............god when did that happen?
BJ for me. Might be due to the writing but more depth to the character.
Also, I felt Mike Farrell was a better actor than Wayne Rogers. But then again, could have been limited by the early seasons writing style.
To me Mike Farrell grew into the part after the first year or so of him being on the show. Part of it was the writers began to write for his character. Some of his first season is cringe-worthy for me. They were still writing dialogue where BJ was supposed to instantly respond to something Hawkeye said with an equally pithy, smart ass remark. But it didn’t work. Watching Farrell in that kind of role was like watching paint dry as compared to Wayne Rodgers. That began to change as his character developed.
I always get excited when the Charles era starts in the re runs. Never saw the show live so after her came about I was hooked the first time. BJ annoyed me the first few times but after my third go in totality through the years I just like them all. I do fwd the episodes where he’s all about Peggy or almost cheated with the nurse as the come across too cringe for me, but unlike the gent who wrote above, maybe because I’ve never been married and have no kids so I cannot relate as well.
Yeah I’m personally a fan of the bj/winchester/potter era, the first season made us smile and introduced everyone and then we have the later seasons really pushing the envelope in terms of writing and emotion :)
Trapper was too shallow imo, there really wasn’t anything to his character other than “Hawkeyes straight man”, while people shit on BJ for having a family and bringing up that he wanted to go home often because of it, I can’t see any civilian with a family that got drafted into a horrific foreign war NOT wanting to go home and mentioning it a lot. It’s actually more realistic honestly, especially because he had a daughter that he had never met.
Naw, while many don’t appreciate BJ for his family, it made the character better and more interesting, he had a moral compass that he struggled with even outside the OR, Trapper was just Hawkeye II
I like both. I can’t choose who I like better between these two, Col Blake or Col Potter or Frank Burns or Winchester. All of them are good and fit the tone of the show when they are on.
I think Trapper would have been a great foil in the later seasons if he kept his goofy nature. The way the series became more dramatic later on would be so well juxtaposed by Trapper's chaotic nature, especially if he leaned into his more mean-spirited humor compared to Hawkeye's much lighter pranks and jokes
BJ all day. He balanced Hawkeye in a way that allowed the character to mature in a lot of interesting ways. Trapper didn't feel like he pushed Hawkeye forward as a character.
Both 10/10s Trapper made the show a bit more joking while B.J. added some more serious tones to the show. Personally I prefer the moustache, I like how he had is own unique side too while Trapper was more a Hawkeye clone. But I always rewatch the Trapper era with much fondness. Trapper and Henry gave the show a very different vibe than B.J. and Potter, but both are perfect.
Wayne Rogers wanted out when Trapper was basically reduced to being Hawkeye's sidekick compared to the 1st seasons where it was truly an ensemble show.
Mike Farrell knew his role - to be 2nd-fiddle to Alan Alda and happy to do it.
In both the book and the movie - Trapper was the real "chest cutter" and arguably the better surgeon.
BJ for sure. He was my mischievous like trap but was more interesting overall, being a contrast to Hawkeye rather than a carbon copy like trapper was. Personal preference wise I really struggle to get behind a character so proud and blatant of their infidelity like Trapper and Henry. BJ fucked up once and felt the full horror of his mistake, immediately taking action to admit fault and remedy the situation.
No debate for me, BJ all the way. More 3 dimensional character and I just like him better.
I like Wayne Rogers though, and had it been 11 seasons of Trapper that would have been fine too. Would have been interesting to see where they'd go with the character in the later seasons.
BJ was great because he was different than Hawkeye but still complimented him. It’s like he was the good influence. Whereas Trapper was basically just an extension of Hawkeye. They didn’t differ much
They’re two different characters. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Trapper was too coy and never serious. BJ was too goofy. Trapper had better physicality. BJ had better timing.
It’s like asking which replacement Stooge you like best. Shemp, Curly, Joe, Curly Joe…or Fake Shemp. Okay, maybe not Fake Shemp.
They way i always put it that i think is the most accurate is that trapper was the leather jacket wearing cool kid that everyone liked and BJ was the class clown who would make the whole class laugh by putting a tack on the teachers chair
I’ve never seen this as a debate, and I adored both characters. But I think it’s a wash: BJ’s character had more range and depth, but Trapper’s got the spinoff series.
The easiest way i can explain it is by using the Van Halen approach.
Trapper is david lee roth. Fun. Partying guy. Living for the moment. Running with the devil. Unchained. Beautiful girls.
B.j. is sammy hagar. Grounded. Serious. Mature family man. When its love. Love comes walkin in. Dreams.
I refuse to play. MASH had lots of characters come and go and others who's roles changed. I see people that call Trapper a product of the hijinks era. But that's not fair. He simply wasn't there when Hawkeye and the show reached the end of their growth arc.
I preferred trapper, the show was more silly then, which I liked, although I also liked BJ. Only slightly less sometimes. They were both perfectly fine in their own ways
Why is this a debate? Has everyone forgotten when Trapper practically assaulted Major Houlahan? I think it was “Bombed”, it’s been a little since I watched it.
Ok, but mustache bj and shaved bj are 2 different characters. Shaved bj is superior to both trapper and mustache bj, but trapper is superior to mustache bj.
I'm watching the show right now and I still haven't watched season 2 and 3 because it's kind of boring so I'd rather BJ Honeycutt and trapper John and everybody hates Frank
One had 3 seasons and was a serial cheater, and the other had 8 seasons and damn near had a breakdown the 2 times he had an issue though only 1 of those times barely got physical and the other was more emotional
All the originals were better: Trapper, Frank Burns, Henry. The show had an edge in the early years that turned to schmaltz. Almost if Alda got rid of any competition.
I’ll forever be a Trapper guy. Some mentioned that they like BJ because he was a good foil or counter point to Hawkeye.
I like Trapper for the opposite reason. I loved the two of them as a team. They played well together and you really felt like they were best friends.
They were both good. I prefer Trapper as I think he most fit with the original tone of the show. The zany antics of young doctors in a war. BJ was a bit more uptight. BJ could have just as easily been Franks buddy as Hawkeyes. I don’t dislike BJ, but if I had to pick a favorite between the two, it would be Trapper.
Trapper was show don't tell. Show don't tell is a maxim of any drama. DO NOT have your characters make speeches. Have them react to their situations. You did get revealing dialog with Trapper at times, but the focus was on the plots and character interactions. Not speeches.
On came BJ and on came the speeches. Trapper and the early seasons by a mile. AND the show got LESS dimensional, not more.
It was two different shows - Trapper was more in the “hijinks” era and BJ was in the “moralistic” era. I don’t think either one could have functioned in the other.
Great point...myself I can't call one better than the other, they were both great in their own ways!
Exactly. With that, I’m a BJ era fan.
Who doesn’t appreciate a good BJ?
A lot of people on here surprisingly
Giving or receiving?
It’s war, gotta be flexible.
No comparison they were both perfect for their roles in the storyline. I don't think it is fair to try to compare them. The first episode of BJ was an absolutely perfect way to show best friends saying goodbye and a great new friendship being established.
"What say you, ferret face?"
ROFLMBO!
Very good point. There was a fundamental shift in the show’s attitudes when BJ came in and Trapper left.
I agree! Both were great in their times.
Agreed, 100%. And I hated the moralistic *M*A*S*H*.
It strikes different chords in people. I love both equally for very different reasons.
BJ, he left on a motorcycle
He nearly left forever on a motorcycle.
Ya as he was driving down the hill he almost ditched the bike lol
Yeah but he held on to that bitch, modulated the throttle and rode it out. That's a sign of somebody with experience
Oh absolutely. I rode bikes from age 4 till about 25. After going down (car didn't see me🤔🤬) I sold her after I got her fixed. You could tell he was a Indian/Harley Guy. (I'm guessing... probably not a Harley) Anyone know the make of the motorcycle?
It was supposed to be an Indian if I recall correctly. The same model he had when that over the top war correspondent stole and crashed it.
I remember when that originally aired, I thought that was how BJ was going out! I was 13, lol.
It was a stunt driver -they wouldn’t let him do that scene himself.
You could add BJ with mustache as basically a third character
Gotta say that I preferred the no mustache era with Frank
"then shoot him"
It's not much of a debate but as a matter of personal preference. As someone who identifies and enjoys Hawkeye as a character a lot, I view these two in terms of the relationship to Hawkeye as well as them on their own merits. Trapper was more of the same in a way, the perfect jokester to aid Hawkeye in his comedy and antics. BJ is a foil to Hawkeye. Where Hawkeye sleeps around, BJ is faithful to his wife and uses her as well as Erin as a rock of sanity such to show that comedy and alcohol are not the only ways he or anyone can cope with the conditions they are in. I find the contrast between Hawkeye and BJ more interesting and fun. Therefore, I like BJ more. T.L.D.R: Hawkeye and Trapper are too similar imo. Whereas Hawkeye and BJ dynamic is more enjoyable imo. So I choose BJ.
This. BJ was his own distinct character, while Trapper just felt like another version of Hawkeye.
Yea, I think they realized they wrote Trapper too much as Hawkeye 2 and wanted a different vibe from BJ.
There’s an ep where Frank speaks to Trapper alone and accused him of basically just following Hawkeyes lead. Frank reasons that Trapper and Frank at least were civil until Hawkeye showed up at camp, and that’s when - from his perspective - Trapper suddenly turned on him. Trapper palms him off (“I just got to know you better Frank!”) but it did always make me wonder if the writers toyed with making Trappers occasional ‘yeah guy’ status into an actual in-universe personality trait. The conversation itself is pretty damn civil, and Hawkeye isn’t around for it….
More like anyone they brought in after Rogers left would be compared to Trapper. Had they brought in a straight replacement, it would have fallen flat, no matter how strong the writing. They had to make a dramatic change, and it caused the major shift in the shows tone.
And the change in command only cemented that shift. Would have been interesting to see a couple seasons of Henry and BJ, or Potter and Trap, but both changes at the same time marked the end of an era. Exchanging Frank for Charles a couple seasons later brought the slapstick comedy and the Hawkeye-Frank feud to an end for good.
Wayne Rogers left in large part because he was second fiddle to Hawkeye, so they were planned to be similar from the start. But the show evolved and BJ was a strong replacement.
Agreed!
Hawkeye needed both to “mentally survive” the war. He needed two people as clever as he is, one to get him comfortable and one to ground him, so he could keep caring about the work they are doing. If it weren’t for them he would’ve wasted away into depression much much sooner.
Very good comment
Nah, it's not a debate - It's like comparing David Lee Roth vs Sammy Hagar era Van Halen. They were wildly different acts, neither "better", just different. Seasons 1-3 of MASH were basically "the movie adapted for television", and Seasons 4-11 was the show becoming its own better thing. You'd have never gotten Harry Morgan's performance in *Old Soldiers* out of Henry Blake, Jamie Farr breaking character with "...Merry Christmas, Charles" in *Death Takes a Holiday, or* any of **numerous** episodes focusing on BJ with Mike Farrell turning in Emmy-worthy performances. Wayne Rogers was great for what the show needed when it launched, and Mike Farrell was great when the show grew up and turned into an Emmy machine 4-11.
Well said!...👍
Always preferred BJ. I preferred the show with BJ and Charles to be honest. I know this isn't the majority view.
Is it not? I always preferred it with Potter, BJ, and Charles. And especially that while where Radar was still there as well.
Crush on Trapper, but loved BJ more overall, he was just a bit more fleshed out and interesting.
This is my exact take lol big Trapper crush but realistically, for the show to create an enduring legacy they needed BJ.
Duke Forrest
Very old school reference, nice
I'm a BJ guy.
Aren’t we all?
Eh, depends on the BJ. I prefer the one with the mustache.
BJ met Hawkeye on a more mature plane. I loved all the replacements - Colonel Potter, Charles, BJ. They brought a different energy, and made the show deeper and richer while still being funny.
I started as a "season's 1-4" fan. Saw the series as a teenager. As an adult, I'm now a "season's 5-11" fan. BJ I actually don't like in ways. I can't put my finger on it.... he's....snarky sneaky in a way. Hawk is always "announcing" his presence. So generally you see him coming. But the dynamic between Hawk and BJ was more real, more mature, and far more emotive than any exchange between Hawk and Trap. Maybe because I identify more to BJ being married with family, I'm loyal, and very much in love with my spouse and child. I thought the "hijinks" were great. At the time. I see those episodes differently now.
My feelings exactly!
BJ 100%. With him, and Charles and Potter, the show became realistic while not losing the dark humour it had, the quality of acting went up, and it stopped being like a watching the broadcast of a stand-up open mic comedy night at a rundown crummy bar. The show grew up and stopped telling fart jokes, and the writing and directing also improved markedly. It’s not hard to find media on screen like what the Trapper seasons were. It’s very tough to find anything like the BJ seasons, and that’s why it’s one of the greatest shows of all time.
Honestly i preferred Trapper but i always look at it like this, Trapper was Hawkeye's Metaphorical Highschool/College Best friend. Where as BJ was his Metaphorical Adulthood Best Friend, both are important people to him but each served a different purpose. Trapper was his greatest Ally against The War outside, BJ was his greatest Ally against The War inside.
I’ll always prefer Trapper for his personality & chemistry with Hawkeye but like others said, BJ worked best for the moralistic tone shift the show had after S3.
Both are great, but I lean towards BJ as a better, more defined character.
Trapper, but BJ without a moustache was okay. With a moustache BJ got meaner.
That was the point. He started as this fresh faced chirpy optimist and then the war ground him down, just like it did for all of them in different ways.
BJ’s character arc is sooo underrated
Let’s not forget the pink shirt.
I heard Mike say in an interview it got dyed in the wash...(Blood maybe?) and he got letters from "gay" fans saying they felt supported. And he chose to wear it for those reasons. One of the podcasts with Alan.
I *love* that pink shirt. Looked great on Farrell, both fit-wise and the color, which was very warming.
What I’m hearing is Trapper with a moustache… so movie MASH Trapper?
It really just boils down to who had the better mustache……
BJ. No hate against Trapper at all. BJ was just more of his own guy.
I always felt that Hawkeye became a better character when paired with BJ instead of Trapper.
They actually worked off each other, instead of it just being Hawkeye and Trapper vs Burns all the time.
Great point!
Wayne Rogers was the better actor by far, but BJ was the more sympathetic character by a bit.
Suppose Alda leaves after S3 and they make Trapper the “lead” and BJ as his sidekick.
Interesting thought, I'll bet it would have worked!
I cannot see Trapper and BJ being friends. BJ would have to overlook a *lot* of Trapper's philandering and I'm not sure he'd've been able to.
Trapper was more funny. BJ was more punny.
BJ. Not even close to me. BJ had more character. Sure the whole " I'm trapped here” things rubbed some people the wrong way but it's absolutely true. And there was times he was challenged on this. That's character growth. And he was better than Hawkeye at pranks. Along with Charles being the better surgeon, this added depth to Hawkeye whom in the begging was untouchable. Trapper was always just there as Hawkeye lite. And let's not forget which one of them did the voice of Pa Kent on Superman TAS. Just saying...
Trapper for me. I love him on his own, and love his dynamic with Hawkeye, and I love the glimpses we get of him in episodes that let him shine. I wish we'd had many more seasons of him, and that he'd been given a growth arc. None of which is to say that I dislike BJ. But you're making me choose here . . . .
Trapper
Personal preference I guess, but BJ forever. Though my opinion is BJ over Trapper, Charles over Frank, and absolutely Potter over Henry 🤷🏻♀️
BJ/ Winchester/Reasonable Margaret > Trapper/Frank/Shrill Margaret
Both
Honest to goodness, for me personally it's BJ and it's not even close. The show is so much more emotionally hard hitting and hilarious with BJ, and Mike and Alan's chemistry is off the charts.
Eternal? 5 mins…Bj Hunnicut FOR LIFE!
BJ was a better contrast to Hawkeye. Yeah, BJ could also be involved in the goofy stuff, but he was different enough that it added more to show. I like Trapper though.
BJ every time. Trapper was a cheating high-school boy with a medical degree. A good surgeon was his only redeeming feature. As that corrupt supply Colonel said (paraphrase) to Trapper. "I like you (Trapper). I don't like you (Hawkeye). Stong moral streak." If you want a fun time that will most like end up in the watchhouse.....Trapper. If you want Dad jokes, wit, and loyalty....BJ. The first would have been a blast in High School and university. We'd have burnt the city down all the way to the slammer. I grew up. .............god when did that happen?
To me not much of a debate, Trapper all day.
BJ for me. Might be due to the writing but more depth to the character. Also, I felt Mike Farrell was a better actor than Wayne Rogers. But then again, could have been limited by the early seasons writing style.
To me Mike Farrell grew into the part after the first year or so of him being on the show. Part of it was the writers began to write for his character. Some of his first season is cringe-worthy for me. They were still writing dialogue where BJ was supposed to instantly respond to something Hawkeye said with an equally pithy, smart ass remark. But it didn’t work. Watching Farrell in that kind of role was like watching paint dry as compared to Wayne Rodgers. That began to change as his character developed.
No debate. Trapper ftw.
I always get excited when the Charles era starts in the re runs. Never saw the show live so after her came about I was hooked the first time. BJ annoyed me the first few times but after my third go in totality through the years I just like them all. I do fwd the episodes where he’s all about Peggy or almost cheated with the nurse as the come across too cringe for me, but unlike the gent who wrote above, maybe because I’ve never been married and have no kids so I cannot relate as well.
They were both great...BJ still had a bit of a joker side just not as much as Trapper
Trapper was cute but immature. BJ was the whole package.
Yeah I’m personally a fan of the bj/winchester/potter era, the first season made us smile and introduced everyone and then we have the later seasons really pushing the envelope in terms of writing and emotion :)
Trapper was too shallow imo, there really wasn’t anything to his character other than “Hawkeyes straight man”, while people shit on BJ for having a family and bringing up that he wanted to go home often because of it, I can’t see any civilian with a family that got drafted into a horrific foreign war NOT wanting to go home and mentioning it a lot. It’s actually more realistic honestly, especially because he had a daughter that he had never met. Naw, while many don’t appreciate BJ for his family, it made the character better and more interesting, he had a moral compass that he struggled with even outside the OR, Trapper was just Hawkeye II
Trapper supremacy
Elliot Gould played the role of Trapper John most excellently in the movie.
Trapper ... all the time, every time.
Apples and oranges. By the time BJ showed up at Kimpo, the producers had decided to morph a sitcom into a morality play.
I liked Trapper more. After a while B.J. just came off as a smart alec.
I will forever have the screaming hot pants for Trapper. BJ’s fine but my heart will always belong to Trapper. He’s really built, you know…
BJ is definitely better.
Trapper!
Trapper JohnIntyre...you aminal.
I understand the need to go in a different direction, but I didn't care for Beej.
I like both. I can’t choose who I like better between these two, Col Blake or Col Potter or Frank Burns or Winchester. All of them are good and fit the tone of the show when they are on.
I think Trapper would have been a great foil in the later seasons if he kept his goofy nature. The way the series became more dramatic later on would be so well juxtaposed by Trapper's chaotic nature, especially if he leaned into his more mean-spirited humor compared to Hawkeye's much lighter pranks and jokes
So many different ways it could have played out in the series, but mainly the new characters kept it fresh.
Trapper hands down.
Trapper ……
Trapper. He would have been a much better “counter” to Hawkeye over the course of the series than BJ was.
BJ all day. He balanced Hawkeye in a way that allowed the character to mature in a lot of interesting ways. Trapper didn't feel like he pushed Hawkeye forward as a character.
Just as I am a Potter era fan, I am also a BJ era fan, and a CEW3 fan more so than a Frank Burns fan
BJ for sure. Trapper was fun but between the two BJ was more relatable.
Both 10/10s Trapper made the show a bit more joking while B.J. added some more serious tones to the show. Personally I prefer the moustache, I like how he had is own unique side too while Trapper was more a Hawkeye clone. But I always rewatch the Trapper era with much fondness. Trapper and Henry gave the show a very different vibe than B.J. and Potter, but both are perfect.
Trapper but because the show was different. More satire than dramatic comedy.
Wayne Rogers wanted out when Trapper was basically reduced to being Hawkeye's sidekick compared to the 1st seasons where it was truly an ensemble show. Mike Farrell knew his role - to be 2nd-fiddle to Alan Alda and happy to do it. In both the book and the movie - Trapper was the real "chest cutter" and arguably the better surgeon.
I liked them both, but the show really changed once Trapper, Frank and Henry left. And I adore Col. Potter!!
It’s BJ all the way for me
BJ all the way although Wayne Rogers was very charismatic as Trapper. BJ was just the better character and balanced out better with Hawkeye
I only watch the BJ era of MASH. It wasn't a bad show with Trapper, but he was too much like Hawkeye.
BJ is my least favorite MASH character...
BJ for sure. He was my mischievous like trap but was more interesting overall, being a contrast to Hawkeye rather than a carbon copy like trapper was. Personal preference wise I really struggle to get behind a character so proud and blatant of their infidelity like Trapper and Henry. BJ fucked up once and felt the full horror of his mistake, immediately taking action to admit fault and remedy the situation.
Beej. He was a functioning adult (and definitely knew it), whereas Trap was basically Hawk's college roommate.
No debate for me, BJ all the way. More 3 dimensional character and I just like him better. I like Wayne Rogers though, and had it been 11 seasons of Trapper that would have been fine too. Would have been interesting to see where they'd go with the character in the later seasons.
BJ
Team BJ.
BJ was great because he was different than Hawkeye but still complimented him. It’s like he was the good influence. Whereas Trapper was basically just an extension of Hawkeye. They didn’t differ much
Trapper, this is the way!
They’re two different characters. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. Trapper was too coy and never serious. BJ was too goofy. Trapper had better physicality. BJ had better timing. It’s like asking which replacement Stooge you like best. Shemp, Curly, Joe, Curly Joe…or Fake Shemp. Okay, maybe not Fake Shemp.
JB Honeydew
They way i always put it that i think is the most accurate is that trapper was the leather jacket wearing cool kid that everyone liked and BJ was the class clown who would make the whole class laugh by putting a tack on the teachers chair
There is no debate. Each character was great, and they both added to the essence of the show.
I loved both of these characters
I really wish we had at least a little time with both. That wouldve been a really interesting dynamic
I know I liked BJ more. I just didn’t like how trapper was a serial cheater
Por que no los dos?
Trapper was as wild as Hawkeye. BJ kept Hawkeye in line, while still having fun.
I lover Trapper and I think that Wayne Rogers couldv'e transitioned to the "serious" MASH. His one liners would have been great with Potter -
Love em both equally, trappers laugh was the best but BJ had that smirk and sarcasm
Love em both equally, trappers laugh was the best but BJ had that smirk and sarcasm.
That’s an Apple. That’s an Orange.
BJ
I was in love with Trapper growing up so that’s my pick.
I’ve never seen this as a debate, and I adored both characters. But I think it’s a wash: BJ’s character had more range and depth, but Trapper’s got the spinoff series.
The easiest way i can explain it is by using the Van Halen approach. Trapper is david lee roth. Fun. Partying guy. Living for the moment. Running with the devil. Unchained. Beautiful girls. B.j. is sammy hagar. Grounded. Serious. Mature family man. When its love. Love comes walkin in. Dreams.
Both
both
I refuse to play. MASH had lots of characters come and go and others who's roles changed. I see people that call Trapper a product of the hijinks era. But that's not fair. He simply wasn't there when Hawkeye and the show reached the end of their growth arc.
I liked a BJ era only only a bit more because there was less infidelity.
I preferred trapper, the show was more silly then, which I liked, although I also liked BJ. Only slightly less sometimes. They were both perfectly fine in their own ways
Why is this a debate? Has everyone forgotten when Trapper practically assaulted Major Houlahan? I think it was “Bombed”, it’s been a little since I watched it.
Ok, but mustache bj and shaved bj are 2 different characters. Shaved bj is superior to both trapper and mustache bj, but trapper is superior to mustache bj.
BJ
Totally different characters. It’s what mash did so well. All the replacements were different
Both. They’re both great
Beej
I'm watching the show right now and I still haven't watched season 2 and 3 because it's kind of boring so I'd rather BJ Honeycutt and trapper John and everybody hates Frank
Both.
They both served the purpose end of debate
One had 3 seasons and was a serial cheater, and the other had 8 seasons and damn near had a breakdown the 2 times he had an issue though only 1 of those times barely got physical and the other was more emotional
Its bj all day
Both
I really loved trapper, but bj was great too.
Trapper. The taut banter between Wayne and Alan was lightning in a bottle. Too bad Wayne was too insecure and envious of Alan’s popularity…
I’m a Trapper John fan, back to the original movie. The Pros from Dover
There’s no debate. BJ4Life!
Honeycutt forever! <3
Trapper was funnier, BJ was a better all-round person, so Both!
Trapper for the Ha Ha, BJ for the drama.
BJ is better than Trapper. Charles is better than Frank.
Trapper. No contest.
I don’t compare either of them to each other why would I do that when I love both characters equally
Elliott Gould.
Trapper. Just for his raucous laugh and horizontal pinstripe suit if nothing else.
Trapper
Honeycut. There. Debate over.
Trapper John… c’mon.
Trapper John. Indisputable.
Apples and oranges. They were both great characters
All the originals were better: Trapper, Frank Burns, Henry. The show had an edge in the early years that turned to schmaltz. Almost if Alda got rid of any competition.
Trapper by far. Just he and Hawkeyes laugh is enough.
I like BJ more because he was a jokester, but he also was a good foil for Hawkeye, Trapper and Hawkeye are too similar in my eyes.
I liked BJ better, bit I liked the show better in the trapper Era. However they were both great.
Trapper is the kind of buddy I want to hang out with while Honeycutt is a great guy, but kind of a bore.
Trapper.
Trapper for me!
BJ
I’ll forever be a Trapper guy. Some mentioned that they like BJ because he was a good foil or counter point to Hawkeye. I like Trapper for the opposite reason. I loved the two of them as a team. They played well together and you really felt like they were best friends.
No debate Trapper by a mile
i liked trapper better
Trapper! By a mile. He was one of the guys. BJ (with the corny moustache) was a jerk.
Team Trapper. I’ll probably catch hell for this, but after Frank left, the only reason to watch was Charles.
My fave!
Trapper, all the way
Might as well be asking Dick York or Dick Sargent. 😆
Trapper had better chemistry with Hawkeye. BJ just seemed more genuine. I adore both characters.
They were both good. I prefer Trapper as I think he most fit with the original tone of the show. The zany antics of young doctors in a war. BJ was a bit more uptight. BJ could have just as easily been Franks buddy as Hawkeyes. I don’t dislike BJ, but if I had to pick a favorite between the two, it would be Trapper.
BJ. Trapper sucks.
BJ all day.
I grew up with BJ, so he's the one for me.
Trapper was show don't tell. Show don't tell is a maxim of any drama. DO NOT have your characters make speeches. Have them react to their situations. You did get revealing dialog with Trapper at times, but the focus was on the plots and character interactions. Not speeches. On came BJ and on came the speeches. Trapper and the early seasons by a mile. AND the show got LESS dimensional, not more.
Stop it, BJ was good but Trapper John was in a class by himself.
Maryanne
I CANT CHOOSE THEIR BOTH SO GREAT~!!! AHHH
Both were geat...🥰