I Look Better in Basic Black


Series:	Hogan's Heroes
Episode:	I Look Better in Basic Black
Original Airdate:	April 1, 1966
Production Number:	5784-27
Written by:	Arthur Julian
Directed by:	Howard Morris
Produced by:	Edward H. Feldman & Bernard Fein

Regular[]

None

Hogan tries to find out why three American girls were brought to camp.

This is the twenty-seventh produced episode of the series, but is the twenty-eighth episode to be shown on television.
Jean Hale (as Kathy Pruitt) was married to Dabney Coleman at the time (they divorced in the 1980s). Jackie Joseph (as Charlene Hemsley) was at that time the wife of sitcom star, Ken Berry of F Troop.
A historical figure is mentioned in the episode: Lafayette.
A fictional character is mentioned in the episode: Buck Rogers.
An entertainment group is mentioned in the episode: The Rockettes.
A famous landmark is mentioned in the episode: The Statue of Liberty.
A famous day is mentioned in the episode: Armistice Day.
According to Newkirk, it takes an 8-man crew working in shifts about 16 hours to dig one tunnel from Barracks 2 to the barbed wire.
Private Nonowski is the Unsung Heroes' wigmaker. According to Hogan, he does beautiful work.

This episode is difficult to date, given the description that the girls give of the route by which they came to Stalag 13 and what they were doing just prior to being captured. The best fit appears to be late 1943, with the girls entertaining a detachment of Allied troops in Italy and then blundering across the lines by accident during a surprise attack. The only problem is the difference in driving distances, but then again the series always played fast and loose with how far away various locales were from Stalag 13.
At the end of the episode Hogan asks permission to celebrate Armistace day "The day we beat the Germans in the first World War." Americans no longer call Armistace day as such, as now it is Veterans day; however, we can assume that this episode takes place in the days before and including November 11th 1943, given the above statement, or 1944 if we assume the above to be false. In both cases it would be theoretically possible for women entertaining the troops to stumble acros s the lines.
It is also in this episode that we learn that Newkirk has been a POW longer than any of the heroes -- even longer than LeBeau. Newkirk reminds him of this fact during the episode. This has led most series fans to speculate that Newkirk, while serving as an RAF ground technician, was captured during the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunquerque in May of 1940, during the German invasion of France.

In the scene where the Heroes are dressed as women and are climbing into the truck, it is supposed to be at night. In a wide shot, you can clearly see the sun shining between buildings.

Previous episode:
The Safecracker Suite

Next episode:
The Assassin