Hawkeye is eyeing a future in politics.
M*A*S*H vet Alan Alda joins the cast of NBC's The West Wing this upcoming season as a Republican from California with political aspirations, per the Hollywood Reporter.
A five-time Emmy winner, Alda is best known for his 11 years as Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce on M*A*S*H*. He recently did a brief guest stint on ER as Dr. Gabriel Lawrence, but the West Wing gig is his first major boob-tube commitment since M*A*S*H* ended in '83.
Alda was originally a candidate for the role of President Barlet, which eventually went to Martin Sheen. Now Alda will be Bartlet's potential successor.
He may be squaring off against another A-list Emmy winner. Jimmy Smits is ready to join The West Wing as a Houston congressman who also harbors Oval Office ambitions.
The addition of two proven TV vets could give the political drama a boost in the polls. While the West Wing managed to snag 12 Emmy nominations this year, the show's ratings have dipped to 11.8 million this past season from 13.5 million in 2002-03 and 17.2 million in 2001-02.
In related news, several other thesps are West Wing shoo-ins when the series' sixth season begins Oct. 20. Mary McCormack, who guest-starred last season as a deputy national security adviser is returning as a regular. Newbie Marley Shelton joins as a former feature reporter mentored by Danny Concannon (played by Timothy Busfield), who becomes the White House's deputy press secretary.
As for Alda, he recently wrapped shooting on The Aviator playing another politico, Maine Governor Ralph Owen Brewster. He's also scheduled to begin rehearsals in March for the Broadway revival of David Mamet's play Glengarry Glen Ross, costarring Liev Schreiber.