WKRP in Cincinnati

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WKRP in Cincinnati
File:WKRP in Cincinnati.jpg
Genre Sitcom
Created by Hugh Wilson
Starring Gary Sandy
Gordon Jump
Loni Anderson
Richard Sanders
Frank Bonner
Jan Smithers
Tim Reid
Howard Hesseman
Theme music composer Tom Wells
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 90 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Hugh Wilson
Producer(s) Rod Daniel
Bill Dial
Blake Hunter
Steven Kampmann
Peter Torokvei
Hugh Wilson
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 24–25 minutes
Production company(s) MTM Enterprises
Release
Original network CBS
Audio format Monaural
Original release September 18, 1978 (1978-09-18) –
April 21, 1982 (1982-04-21)
Chronology
Followed by The New WKRP in Cincinnati
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]
File:WKRP Bailey and Andy.jpg
Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers) and Andy Travis (Gary Sandy)
File:WKRP Jennifer and Johnny.jpg
Fever flirts with Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson)

WKRP in Cincinnati is an American sitcom television series that features the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta. Many of the characters and even some of the stories (including that of the Season 1 episode "Turkeys Away") are based on people and events at WQXI.[1] Wilson once told The Cincinnati Enquirer that he selected WKRP as the call sign to stand for C-R-A-P.[2]

The ensemble cast consists of Gary Sandy (as Andy Travis), Howard Hesseman (Dr. Johnny Fever), Gordon Jump (Arthur Carlson), Loni Anderson (Jennifer Marlowe), Tim Reid (Venus Flytrap), Jan Smithers (Bailey Quarters), Richard Sanders (Les Nessman) and Frank Bonner (Herb Tarlek).[3]

The series won a Humanitas Prize and received 10 Emmy Award nominations, including three for Outstanding Comedy Series. Andy Ackerman won an Emmy Award for Videotape Editing in Season 3.[citation needed]

WKRP premiered on September 18, 1978 on the CBS television network and aired for four seasons and 90 episodes, ending on April 21, 1982. Starting in the middle of the second season, CBS repeatedly moved the show around its schedule, contributing to lower ratings and its eventual cancellation.

When WKRP went into syndication, it became an unexpected success.[4] For the next decade, it was one of the most popular sitcoms in syndication, outperforming many programs that had been more successful in prime time, including all the other MTM Enterprises sitcoms.[citation needed]

Jump, Sanders and Bonner reprised their roles, appearing as regular characters in a spin-off/sequel series, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, which ran from 1991 to 1993 in syndication. Hesseman, Reid and Anderson also reprised their roles as guest stars.

Premise

The station's new program director, Andy Travis, tries to turn around struggling radio station WKRP by switching its format from dated easy-listening music to rock and roll, despite the well-meaning efforts of the mostly incompetent staff: bumbling station manager Arthur Carlson, greasy sales manager Herb Tarlek and clueless news director Les Nessman. To help bolster ratings, Travis hires a new disc jockey, New Orleans native Gordon Sims (who takes on the on-air persona of Venus Flytrap) and allows spaced-out former major-market DJ Dr. Johnny Fever, already doing mornings in the easy-listening format as John Caravella, to be himself. Rounding out the cast are receptionist Jennifer Marlowe and junior employee Bailey Quarters. Ruthless business tycoon Lillian Carlson is the station's owner and the mother of Arthur Carlson.

Characters

Main ensemble

  • Andy Travis (Gary Sandy). For the most part, vice president[5] and program director Andy Travis serves as the straight man for the eccentric staff of the station he has been hired to run. Before coming to WKRP, he had an unblemished record of turning around failing radio stations, but meets his match in his wacky staff members, of whom he becomes reluctantly fond. The show's opening theme song is about Andy and his decision to settle down in Cincinnati. In the Season 4 episode "The Creation of Venus," Andy echoes the opening-theme lyrics in talking about his past ("Got kinda tired of packing and unpacking, town to town, up and down the dial"). Andy usually wears very tight jeans, something to which Jennifer Marlowe alludes, much to Andy's surprise, in the Season 2 episode "Most Improved Station".
  • Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump), occasionally called the "Big Guy", is the middle-aged general manager, whose main qualification for the job is that his mother, a business tycoon, is the station's owner. Mama Carlson adopted strict methods in raising him in the mistaken belief that it would make him strong. Instead, it made him weak, and his bumbling, indecisive management style is one of the main reasons the station is unprofitable. Despite this, he is a principled, kind, decent and sometimes surprisingly wise man. He has far more interest in his hobbies (fishing, playing with various toys) than he does in the radio station, often hiding in his office from people who want to see him on business.
  • Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) (real name John R. Caravella) is a veteran disc jockey who comes to WKRP after being fired from a major Los Angeles station when he said "booger" on the air. In the Season 4 episode "Three Days of the Condo", always-broke Johnny surprisingly receives a $24,000 out-of-court settlement from that station for wrongful dismissal. Cynical and neurotic, and an occasional insomniac who consumes large amounts of coffee, Johnny is usually in trouble. He adopts the "Fever" on-air name as a quick improvisation in the pilot episode upon being told by Travis to abruptly change the format of his morning show, but he has used other monikers on the air at other stations, mostly to conform to whatever station format he found himself working with.
  • Les Nessman (Richard Sanders), the fastidious, bow-tied news reporter, who is a "mama's boy" of a man, approaches his job with absurdly earnest seriousness, despite being almost totally incompetent (a fact to which he is oblivious). He and salesman Herb Tarlek refer to themselves and Mr. Carlson as "the suits", compared to "the dungarees" (Andy and Johnny). As a running gag, Les wears a bandage in a different spot each episode, presumably due to attacks from his unseen monstrous dog Phil; the gag was inspired by Sanders bumping his head on a studio light and needing a bandage while making the pilot. Other gags are his fixation on agricultural news, and putting masking tape on the floor around his desk, which he insists his co-workers treat as the walls of his "office". He is staunchly patriotic and politically conservative, with the discovery of his biological father as a former card-carrying Communist making him deeply conflicted. Johnny Fever ribs him with wordplay by describing WKRP on the air as "the station with more music and Less Nessman."
  • Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson) is the station's receptionist and highest-paid employee. Contrary to a common assumption that she is merely "eye candy" for the station, Jennifer is informed, wise, and able to handle practically any situation, no matter how absurd, with aplomb. She herself sees her main job responsibility as deflecting any business calls (in person or over the telephone) for Mr. Carlson. Although very aware of her sex appeal, with various wealthy, powerful older men at her beck and call, she is friendly and good-hearted with the station staff. She is very strict about the limits of her job duties: she does not type letters (though she is in fact an expert typist), and neither makes coffee nor brings any to the office staff.
  • Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner) is the boorish, tasteless and vain sales manager at WKRP, who is sometimes referred to as "Little Guy" to Mr. Carlson's "Big Guy". He often wears loud plaid suits, with his belt matching his white shoes. He is unable to land the big accounts, but is effective in selling air time for products such as "Red Wigglers – the Cadillac of worms!" Although a married man with children, he persistently pursues Jennifer, who has absolutely no interest in him. While Herb is portrayed as buffoonish most of the time, he occasionally shows a sympathetic side. One of Herb's catch phrases is "no problemo", another is "okay fine". Herb is based on radio executive Clarke Brown.[6][7] Bert Parks appears in one episode as Tarlek's father, Herb Tarlek, Sr. The elder Tarlek is very much like his son.
  • Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid), the soulful, funky evening DJ, runs his show with a smooth-talking persona and mood lighting in the studio. His real name, Gordon Sims, is almost never used, and he maintains an aura of mystery. In an early episode, it is revealed that he is a Vietnam War deserter wanted by the US Army. In later episodes, his backstory is elaborated upon and it is revealed that after deserting, he spent several years as a high school teacher in New Orleans while working part-time as a radio personality. In spite of the fact that he is a nighttime DJ and Johnny Fever works the early morning shift, the two are often seen together and become good friends as the series progresses, with Venus taking the job in the first place in part due to his admiration for Johnny as a DJ.
  • Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers), the young ingenue of the radio station, is originally in charge of billing and station traffic. However, having graduated from journalism school with some training in editing, and intent on becoming a broadcast executive, she is later given additional duties as an on-air news reporter, in which she proves more capable than Les Nessman. As the series progresses, she overcomes her shyness and develops self-confidence. Beginning with the second season two-part episode "For Love or Money", she occasionally becomes linked romantically with Johnny Fever. The dynamic between Jennifer and Bailey has been likened to that between Ginger and Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island. Jan Smithers was one of two WKRP cast members who was the first choice for the role she played, Gordon Jump being the other.[3] Creator Hugh Wilson said that despite Smithers' lack of experience (she had never acted in a situation comedy before), she was perfect for the character of Bailey as he had conceived her: "Other actresses read better for the part," Wilson recalled, "but they were playing shy. Jan was shy."[3]

Other characters

  • Lillian Carlson (Sylvia Sidney in the series pilot, Carol Bruce afterward) is Arthur Carlson's ruthless, domineering mother – often referred to as Mother Carlson (with Arthur calling her Mama) – and the owner of WKRP. An extremely successful and rich businesswoman, her only regret is that her approach to parenting (the "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" school of child-rearing) backfired as her son ended up indecisive, weak-willed and afraid of her. As a display of her cutthroat attitude, she has a painting hanging above her fireplace in her living room of two pairs of dangling legs of people just hanged. In the series' final episode, it is revealed she had always intended WKRP to lose money (for the tax write-off), which explains why she allows the incompetent employees to continue working at the station. The only one who is regularly able to get the better of her is her sarcastic butler, Hirsch.
  • Carmen Carlson (Allyn Ann McLerie) is Mr. Carlson's sweet-natured wife. The two met in college, he being her chosen date to a "bring a loser" dance at the sorority she was pledging, something he was unaware of until their twenty-five year college reunion as they never did go to the dance and she never did pledge that sorority. Though happily married, they are so anxious to avoid hurting each other's feelings that they rarely tell each other what they really think. They have a son, Arthur Carlson, Jr. (Sparky Marcus appearing in one episode), whom they've sent off to military school. During the second season Carmen has a surprise pregnancy and during the third season gives birth to a daughter, Melanie.
  • Hirsch (Ian Wolfe) is Mother Carlson's "houseboy." He is well into his eighties, but is energetic and seems unfazed by any new circumstances. Hirsch regularly expresses his dislike for his employer in otherwise charming and polite exchanges. His coffee is terrible, unless there is a guest, in which case he prepares it with care.
  • Lucille Tarlek (Edie McClurg) is Herb's devoted nasal-voiced wife, who, deep down, knows that he chases after Jennifer. Lucille is perhaps the one woman who does see Herb's charms. Herb and Lucille have an adolescent son and daughter, Herb III and Bunny (N.P. Schoch and Stacy Heather Tolkin, one and two appearances respectively).
  • Three other DJs at the station are mentioned, but (with one exception) never seen. Moss Steiger has the graveyard shift after Venus and is mentioned as having attempted suicide at least twice; he eventually dies in The New WKRP in Cincinnati. Rex Erhardt (who was seen in the fourth-season episode "Rumors", and played by Sam Anderson) hosts a program after Dr. Johnny Fever's morning show; and Dean the Dream has the afternoon drive slot. Another DJ, Doug Winner (Philip Charles MacKenzie), is hired and fired in the same episode ("Johnny Comes Back").
  • Series writer Bill Dial infrequently shows up as Buckey Dornster, WKRP's station engineer.
  • Longtime actor William Woodson (though not credited) served as the announcer of the series (imploring the audience to stay tuned for the tag scene, in the episodes that had one) and did various voice-over roles during the run, including the pre-recorded announcer of the intro/outro to Les's newscasts, and the narrator of the trial results in the first-season episode "Hold Up".

Episodes

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WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy television series that features the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The series was created by Hugh Wilson and originally aired on the CBS network from September 1978 to April 1982.

Series overview

Season Episodes Premiered: Ended: DVD set
release date
1 22 September 18, 1978 June 4, 1979 April 24, 2007
2 24 September 17, 1979 March 31, 1980 October 28, 2014[8]
3 22 November 1, 1980 April 12, 1981 October 28, 2014
4 22 October 7, 1981 April 21, 1982 October 28, 2014

Episodes

Season 1: 1978–79

  • Producer: Hugh Wilson
  • Story editors: Tom Chehak, Bill Dial, Blake Hunter
Ep Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1 1 "Pilot" Jay Sandrich Hugh Wilson September 18, 1978
Andy Travis takes over as program director at WKRP, a Cincinnati easy listening station, and his first act is to change the format to rock music. Trivia: Sylvia Sidney played Mama Carlson, owner of the station, in this episode only. The part would hereafter be played by Carol Bruce.
2 2 "Pilot, Part 2" Michael Zinberg Hugh Wilson September 25, 1978
While Andy tries to come up with a publicity stunt to advertise the format change, a group of elderly listeners invade the station protesting the removal of their favorite music.
3 3 "Les on a Ledge" Asaad Kelada Hugh Wilson October 2, 1978
When a baseball player falsely accuses him of being gay, Les climbs out on the ledge of WKRP's building and threatens to jump.
4 4 "Hoodlum Rock" Michael Zinberg Hugh Wilson October 9, 1978
WKRP sponsors its first rock concert, by the British "hoodlum" group ("we're... several cuts below punk") Scum of the Earth, whose members (Michael Des Barres, Peter Eibling, and Jim Henderson) are extremely well-dressed, highly articulate, and quite violent. Trivia: Des Barres and his real band, Detective, perform the Scum of the Earth music on the episode.
5 5 "Hold-Up" Asaad Kelada Tom Chehak October 16, 1978
Johnny does a live remote from a stereo shop owned by huckster Del Murdoch (Hamilton Camp), but an out-of-work DJ (Garry Goodrow) shows up with a gun and hijacks the broadcast. Trivia: Bill Dial, a producer, writer, and story editor on the series, makes the first of two on-screen appearances in this episode as WKRP's engineer Bucky Dornster (he would also appear in the season 2 episode "Baseball"). Series creator Hugh Wilson appears as a police officer.
6 6 "Bailey's Show" Asaad Kelada Joyce Armor & Judie Neer October 23, 1978
Shy, unassertive Bailey finally gets her chance to produce when WKRP does a public service interview show, but her first guest (Woodrow Parfrey), purportedly a child psychologist, turns out on the air to be nuts.
7 7 "Turkeys Away" Michael Zinberg Bill Dial October 30, 1978
Mr. Carlson decides to take a more hands-on managerial approach by doing the greatest Thanksgiving promotion in radio history - dropping live turkeys from a helicopter. Trivia: In 1997 TV Guide ranked this episode at number 40 on its '100 Greatest Episodes of All Time' list.[9] It is based on a real event that happened at WQXI, the station many of the WKRP characters were based on.[10]
8 8 "Love Returns" Asaad Kelada Bill Dial November 6, 1978
Andy has to choose between love and work when his ex-girlfriend, country singing star Linda Taylor (Barrie Youngfellow), offers him the chance to go on the road with her.
9 9 "Mama's Review" Asaad Kelada Hugh Wilson January 15, 1979
In a clip show, Andy and Mr. Carlson recount to Mama Carlson what has been happening at the station since it switched to a rock format.
10 10 "A Date with Jennifer" Asaad Kelada Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman January 22, 1979
When Les wins the coveted Silver Sow Award, he asks Jennifer to be his date for the banquet, and she says yes. A jealous Herb tries to get Mr. Carlson to institute a policy against employee dating.
11 11 "The Contest Nobody Could Win" Asaad Kelada Casey Piotrowski January 29, 1979
Thanks to an on-air slip-of-the-lip by Johnny Fever, WKRP is forced to offer a $5,000 contest prize instead of just the intended $50.00, but Andy and Venus hatch a plan to make the contest unwinnable.
12 12 "Tornado" Will Mackenzie Blake Hunter February 5, 1979
A tornado hits Cincinnati. When Andy gets injured by a breaking window, Johnny Fever becomes too emotional, and Les' disaster readiness plan turns out to have more to do with communists than natural disasters, Mr. Carlson has to go on the air and take charge.
13 13 "Goodbye, Johnny" Asaad Kelada Blake Hunter February 19, 1979
Johnny is offered a better-paying job in Los Angeles, and his co-workers at WKRP try to manipulate him into staying in Cincinnati. Trivia: This episode marks the first of three appearances by Edie McClurg as Herb Tarlek's wife Lucille.
14 14 "Johnny Comes Back" Asaad Kelada Blake Hunter February 26, 1979
Johnny leaves for the job in L.A. but is soon fired. He returns to WKRP, where the new morning man (Philip Charles Mackenzie) seems like a nice guy but turns out to have a dirty secret. Trivia: Sam Anderson makes the first of four appearances on the series in this episode as Mason Nobel, a DJ applying for a job. He would appear in one episode in each season, all in different roles (although his character Rex Erhardt in the season 4 episode "Rumors" is very similar to this one). Comedian Jeff Altman appears as a record company representative.
15 15 "Never Leave Me, Lucille" Asaad Kelada Bill Dial March 5, 1979
Herb breaks up with his wife Lucille (Edie McClurg) and moves in with Johnny. Jennifer tries to get Herb and Lucille back together again so she won't have to put up with Herb's advances.
16 16 "I Want to Keep My Baby" Asaad Kelada Hugh Wilson March 12, 1979
A woman who listens to Johnny's show leaves her baby at the station. Johnny refuses to turn the baby over to child services until he has contacted the mother.
17 17 "A Commercial Break" Rod Daniel Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman March 26, 1979
Herb lines up the biggest sales contract in the station's history—over $200,000 per year to record and run a commercial jingle for the owner of a funeral home chain (Fred Stuthman), who wants to sell plots to a younger demographic.
18 18 "Who Is Gordon Sims?" Rod Daniel Tom Chehak April 2, 1979
Venus has to reveal that he is wanted as a deserter from the United States Army because he went AWOL just days before returning Stateside at the end of his Vietnam service, eight years before joining WKRP.
19 19 "I Do, I Do... For Now" Will Mackenzie Tom Chehak April 23, 1979
Jennifer pretends Johnny is her husband to ward off a childhood friend from West Virginia (Hoyt Axton) who shows up in Cincinnati expecting her to go through on their teenage agreement to get married. Trivia: Buzz Sapien, a stage manager and associate director on the series, appears in this episode as Man in Elevator.
20 20 "Young Master Carlson" Will Mackenzie Hugh Wilson April 30, 1979
Mr. Carlson's obnoxious son (Sparky Marcus) runs away from military school, and Mama Carlson decides that he should be given a short-term job at the station.
21 21 "Fish Story" Asaad Kelada Raoul Plager May 28, 1979
Herb dresses up as the WKRP mascot, a carp, and gets into a fight with the WPIG pig (played by Lee Bergere); meanwhile, Johnny and Venus take an on-air alcohol test with a police officer (Jerry Hardin), with Johnny's reflexes strangely improving with each drink. Trivia: The script for this episode is credited to 'Raoul Plager,' who does not exist. Series creator Hugh Wilson actually wrote the episode under duress from the network to infuse the show with more physical comedy, and used the alias to signal his frustration with their demands.
22 22 "Preacher" Michael Zinberg Bill Dial June 4, 1979
Andy tries to fire the Reverend Little Ed Pembrook (Michael Keenan), who sells John the Baptist Shower Curtains and The World Is Coming To An End Lawn Furniture on his show. Trivia: The only episode in the series in which the character of Herb Tarlek does not appear.

Season 2: 1979–80

  • Executive producer: Hugh Wilson
  • Producers: Bill Dial, Rod Daniel
  • Executive story consultant: Blake Hunter
  • Story editors: Dan Guntzelman, Steve Marshall, Steven Kampmann, Peter Torokvei
Ep Title Directed by Written by Original air date
23 1 "For Love or Money: Part 1" Will Mackenzie Mary Maguire September 17, 1979
Johnny makes a date with Bailey for a movie, then stands her up when he gets a call from Buffy (Julie Payne), his demented ex-girlfriend who is suing him for palimony.
24 2 "For Love or Money: Part 2" Will Mackenzie Mary Maguire September 24, 1979
Johnny's friends rush over to help him deal with Buffy's threat of a lawsuit.
25 3 "Baseball" Hugh Wilson Hugh Wilson October 15, 1979
Les accepts a challenge for WKRP to play a softball game against the number one station in town, WPIG.
26 4 "Bad Risk" Will Mackenzie Tom Joachim & Gene Fournier October 22, 1979
Herb moonlights as an insurance salesman and sells a comprehensive policy to a depressed Les, who promptly has a bizarre accident with his motor scooter.
27 5 "Jennifer Falls in Love" Will Mackenzie Paul Robinson Hunter October 29, 1979
Jennifer falls in love for the first time in her life, with a man (Thomas Callaway) who is almost her male equivalent; blonde, beautiful, and a gold-digger.
28 6 "Carlson for President" Will Mackenzie Jim Paddock November 5, 1979
While running for City Council, Mr. Carlson blurts out a damaging piece of information about the incumbent (Howard Witt) during a televised debate. Feeling guilty, he tries to throw the election.
29 7 "Mike Fright" Will Mackenzie Dan Guntzelman November 12, 1979
During a garbage strike, Johnny jokingly tells his listeners to dump their trash on the steps of City Hall. When hundreds of people actually do so, Johnny becomes so self-conscious about his influence that he finds himself unable to talk on the air.
30 8 "Patter of Little Feet" Will Mackenzie Blake Hunter November 26, 1979
Mr. Carlson's wife Carmen (Allyn Ann McLerie) reveals that she's pregnant. Mr. Carlson's initial joy turns to worry as he starts to think she is having the baby only to please him, while his mother recommends an abortion.
31 9 "Baby, If You've Ever Wondered" Rod Daniel Bill Dial December 3, 1979
In the latest ratings, WKRP goes from #16 to #14 in the Cincinnati market. Everyone considers this a cause for celebration except Andy, who feels like a failure because the climb in ratings isn't greater.
32 10 "Bailey's Big Break" Will Mackenzie Steve Marshall December 10, 1979
Bailey gets the job of assistant newscaster, but a jealous Les tries to keep her from getting a regular spot on the air.
33 11 "Jennifer's Home for Christmas" Rod Daniel Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall December 17, 1979
Jennifer's friends think she is going to be alone for Christmas, so each of them arrives at her apartment with a tree.
34 12 "Sparky" Rod Daniel Steven Kampmann & Peter Torokvei December 24, 1979
Mr. Carlson hires former Reds manager Sparky Anderson as the host of a sports interview show, which turns out to be such a disaster that Carlson has no choice but to fire his hero.
35 13 "God Talks to Johnny" Will Mackenzie Hugh Wilson December 31, 1979
Johnny is convinced he's heard God talking to him, saying "John, I love you, I want you to seek knowledge, and I want you to be a golf pro."
36 14 "A Family Affair" Rod Daniel Tim Reid January 7, 1980
After getting angry at Venus for going out with his sister Carol (Allison Argo), Andy overcompensates to prove he is not a racist. Trivia: After the early 1990s, guest star Allison Argo left acting and became an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
37 15 "Herb's Dad" Rod Daniel Steven Kampmann & Peter Torokvei January 14, 1980
Herb's father, the salesman Herb Tarlek Sr. (Bert Parks), runs away from the Shady Rest nursing home and asks his son to lend him money so he can go to California on yet another scheme. Trivia: Guest star Bert Parks worked extensively in radio in real life, during the 40's, 50's, and 60's.
38 16 "Put Up or Shut Up" Will Mackenzie Blake Hunter, Steve Marshall, Steven Kampmann January 21, 1980
Jennifer is tired of Herb making passes at her. At Bailey's suggestion, she tries to call Herb's bluff by actually accepting a date with him.
39 17 "The Americanization of Ivan" Hugh Wilson Hugh Wilson (story)
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall (teleplay)
January 28, 1980
A visiting Soviet hog expert (Michael Pataki) asks Bailey to help him defect to the United States. Trivia: Michael Pataki also appeared in the season 4 episode "Circumstantial Evidence."
40 18 "Les's Groupie" Rod Daniel Paul Robinson Hunter (story)
Steve Marshall (teleplay)
February 4, 1980
Les goes out on a date with a woman (Kristina Callahan) who listens to his show, and after they spend one night together, she moves into his house.
41 19 "In Concert" Linda Day Steven Kampmann February 11, 1980
Everyone at WKRP is overcome with feelings of guilt after a major concert they've helped to promote ends up resulting in the death of 11 people. Trivia: This episode was based on a real-life tragedy at a Who concert that took place at Riverfront Coliseum on December 3, 1979.
42 20 "The Doctor's Daughter" Frank Bonner Lissa Levin February 18, 1980
Johnny has to figure out how to act like a father when his college-aged daughter Laurie (Patrie Allen) comes to visit with her obnoxious boyfriend (Derrel Maury).
43/44 21/22 "Filthy Pictures" Rod Daniel Hugh Wilson (story)
Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall (teleplay)
March 3, 1980
A sleazy photographer (George Wyner) takes nude pictures of an unsuspecting Jennifer while she's in a changing room, and her friends try to find a way to steal the photos before he sells them to a magazine. (This one-hour episode aired in two parts for syndication.)
45 23 "Venus Rising" Nicholas Stamos Dan Guntzelman & Steve Marshall March 10, 1980
Venus is tempted by a job offer from WREQ, but learns it's an automated station that only wants him as an affirmative-action hire. Meanwhile, Herb makes a bogus claim of another job offer, hoping for a raise, but it backfires. Venus negotiates a deal with Andy that settles all issues.
46 24 "Most Improved Station" Rod Daniel Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman March 31, 1980
After WKRP loses a "Most Improved Station" broadcasting award while Johnny wins one for "Best Radio Personality," in-fighting starts among the WKRP staffers, and a special meeting is called so they can work out their problems.

Season 3: 1980–81

  • Executive producer: Hugh Wilson
  • Supervising producer: Rod Daniel
  • Producers: Blake Hunter, Steven Kampmann, Peter Torokvei
  • Story consultants: Dan Guntzelman, Steve Marshall
  • Story editor: Lissa Levin
Ep Title Directed by Written by Original air date
47 1 "The Airplane Show" Rod Daniel Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman November 1, 1980
To compete with WPIG's traffic helicopter, Les starts reporting the news from a World War I biplane piloted by a deranged veteran (Michael Fairman) on Veterans Day. Trivia: This is the fourth of five episodes in which the script is co-credited to Richard Sanders (Les Nessman) and actor/writer Michael Fairman, who previously appeared as the shoe store owner who complains that Les is blocking his doorway in the season 1 episode "Turkeys Away." Flying stunts were performed by Harold Johnson, an accomplished aviator and then-serving mayor of Moraine, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati, and childhood hometown of series star Gary Sandy.[11]
48 2 "Jennifer Moves" Linda Day Hugh Wilson November 8, 1980
Jennifer buys a house in the suburbs. As the staff helps her move, the neighbors prove to be cheating husbands, jealous wives, corrupt phone servicemen, and worse; meanwhile, Les hears voices on the upper floor and Herb can't successfully negotiate the piano into the house.
49 3 "Real Families" Rod Daniel Peter Torokvei November 15, 1980
The reality show "Real Families" does an episode about Herb and Lucille (Edie McClurg) and their kids, where the hosts (Peter Marshall and Daphne Maxwell, pre-Reid) seem eager to disprove the unconvincing claim by Herb's colleagues that he's a "hard worker, loyal husband, and all-around fine person."
50 4 "The Baby" Rod Daniel Blake Hunter November 22, 1980
Mr. Carlson's wife goes into labor. The whole gang goes to the hospital to be there when she gives birth, but Mr. Carlson has second thoughts about being in the delivery room with her.
51 5 "Hotel Oceanview" Rod Daniel Steven Kampmann November 29, 1980
To land the coveted Vicky Von Vickey jeans account, Andy, Mr. Carlson, and Herb travel to a hotel in Dayton to make a presentation to the company president (guest star Dr. Joyce Brothers). While there, Andy deals with projector issues, Herb makes time with Ms. Vickey's sexy assistant (Linda Carlson), who is now a woman but was once a guy Herb went to school with, and everyone is afraid of becoming the next victim of the Dayton Poisoner.
52 6 "A Mile in My Shoes" Rod Daniel Dan Guntzelman December 6, 1980
When Herb has jury duty, Andy takes over sales and Venus takes over programming.
53 7 "Bah, Humbug" Rod Daniel Lissa Levin December 20, 1980
In a dream brought on by eating one of Johnny's brownies, Mr. Carlson encounters three ghosts who show him why he's making a mistake by not giving generous Christmas bonuses.
54 8 "Baby, It's Cold Inside" Rod Daniel Blake Hunter January 3, 1981
On a day when the heat is not working at the station, Mama Carlson comes to visit, gets drunk on liquor confiscated from Johnny Fever, and starts reminiscing about her late husband.
55 9 "The Painting" Rod Daniel Steven Kampmann January 10, 1981
Bailey is enamored of a painting Herb bought at Mr. Carlson's church auction, while Herb only cares about finding a way to make some money on it.
56 10 "Daydreams" Rod Daniel Peter Torokvei January 17, 1981
While Mr. Carlson rehearses a boring speech about radio history that he's written for an upcoming conference/banquet, his employees drift off into a series of personal daydreams.
57 11 "Frog Story" Rod Daniel Bob Dolman January 24, 1981
After Herb accidentally sprays pink paint over his daughter's pet frog, Greenpeace, he brings it to the station looking for a way to save it.
58 12 "Venus and the Man" Rod Daniel Hugh Wilson January 31, 1981
Trying to talk a gang leader (Keny Long) out of quitting school, Venus bets the young man that he can teach him about the structure of the atom in only two minutes.
59 13 "Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide: Part 1" Rod Daniel Steve Marshall February 7, 1981
Forced to host a disco dance show on TV, Johnny comes up with a new alter ego; the phony, smarmy "Rip Tide." Guest star: Mary Frann.
60 14 "Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide: Part 2" Rod Daniel Steve Marshall February 7, 1981
Johnny's "Rip Tide" alter ego starts to take over his whole life. Conclusion of two-part episode. Guest star: Mary Frann.
61 15 "Ask Jennifer" Linda Day Joyce Armor & Judie Neer February 14, 1981
Jennifer steps in as the voice of an advice talk show titled "Ask Arlene" when the planned host turns out to be a pill-popper. Jennifer quickly finds success, but wants out once a piece of advice goes wrong.
62 16 "I Am Woman" Linda Day Lissa Levin February 21, 1981
Bailey leads a campaign to save the home of WKRP, the Flimm Building, from being torn down. Mr. Carlson withdraws his support after Mama Carlson offers to finance a new home for the station, leading to a confrontation.
63 17 "Secrets of Dayton Heights" Frank Bonner Jon Smet February 28, 1981
Les learns that the man who raised him was not his biological father, and that his real father (Bill McLean) was once a Communist and is now a barber in a nearby town.
64 18 "Out to Lunch" Dolores Ferraro Ben Elisco (story)
Peter Torokvei (teleplay)
March 14, 1981
Co-workers suggest to Herb that his three-martini lunches with clients are turning him into an alcoholic. Guest star: Craig T. Nelson.
65 19 "A Simple Little Wedding" Nicholas Stamos Blake Hunter March 21, 1981
Mr. Carlson and his wife decide to renew their marriage vows. Just as she did with the planned first wedding, Mama Carlson tries to take over the event, while Herb throws a predictably tacky bachelor party for Mr. Carlson. Trivia: Longtime character actor Ian Wolfe, whose film and TV career lasted more than 55 years, makes his first appearance in this episode as Mama Carlson's less than efficient and not particularly deferential butler Hirsch. He would reprise the part three more times, including in the final episode "Up and Down the Dial."
66 20 "Nothing to Fear But..." Asaad Kelada Tim Reid (story)
Dan Guntzelman (teleplay)
March 28, 1981
Everyone becomes paranoid after the station is robbed.
67 21 "Till Debt Do Us Part" Frank Bonner Howard Hesseman & Steven Kampmann April 5, 1981
When his first ex-wife gets engaged, Johnny is overjoyed about paying less alimony, but worries that his ex's fiancé (Hamilton Camp) is a womanizing creep. Trivia: Hamilton Camp also played stereo store owner Del Murdoch in the season 1 episode "Hold Up."
68 22 "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" Linda Day Hugh Wilson and Max Tash April 12, 1981
Evangelist Dr. Bob Halyers (Richard Paul), a take-off on Jerry Falwell, threatens WKRP with a boycott unless they stop playing songs with "obscene" lyrics.

Season 4: 1981–82

  • Executive producer: Hugh Wilson
  • Producers: Blake Hunter, Peter Torokvei, Dan Guntzelman, Steve Marshall
  • Story consultant: Lissa Levin
Ep Title Directed by Written by Original air date
69 1 "An Explosive Affair: Part 1" Linda Day Steve Marshall October 7, 1981
WKRP receives a bomb threat from the terrorist group "Black Monday," and Andy sends Johnny and Venus to broadcast from the transmitter while the station is being searched. Meanwhile, Mr. Carlson's former secretary (Rosemary Forsyth) visits, and he misreads her desire to meet for lunch.
70 2 "An Explosive Affair: Part 2" Linda Day Steve Marshall October 14, 1981
Andy realizes the threatened bomb is actually at the transmitter where he's sent Johnny and Venus. He tries to contact them, but Johnny has smashed the phone out of frustration over a missed bet on a horse.
71 3 "The Union" Linda Day Blake Hunter October 21, 1981
While the station's employees consider unionizing, Mr. Carlson deals with feelings of betrayal.
72 4 "Rumors" Linda Day Peter Torokvei October 28, 1981
Johnny stays at Bailey's place while his apartment is being fumigated, leading to rumors that the two are sleeping together.
73 5 "Straight from the Heart" Dan Guntzelman Dan Guntzelman November 4, 1981
Herb secretly checks into a hospital for heart tests, but then sneaks out and takes Les to a 3D pornographic movie.
74 6 "Who's on First?" Dan Guntzelman Dan Guntzelman November 11, 1981
Mr. Carlson has to pretend to be Herb to make a sale while Herb is in the hospital, while Les pretends to be Mr. Carlson, and Johnny pretends to be Andy to avoid paying a gambling debt.
75 7 "Three Days of the Condo" Linda Day Lissa Levin November 18, 1981
Johnny receives a $24,000 legal settlement ($62,500 today) from the L.A. station that fired him. To stop Johnny from wasting the windfall, Venus advises Fever to invest in a condo at Gone With the Wind Estates.
76 8 "Jennifer and the Will" Dolores Ferraro Blake Hunter December 2, 1981
After Jennifer's elderly boyfriend Colonel Buchanan (Pat O'Brien) dies on a date with her, she discovers she has been named executrix of his will.
77 9 "The Consultant" Dolores Ferraro Hugh Wilson December 30, 1981
Mama Carlson hires a professional radio consultant (David Clennon) to evaluate WKRP, and the consultant threatens Andy with a bad report unless the station subscribes to his programming services.
78 10 "Love, Exciting and New" Frank Bonner Lissa Levin January 6, 1982
Andy spends time with Mama Carlson in order to talk her into replacing the station's transmitter, but he starts to think she might be sexually harassing him. Actress Colleen Camp plays herself on air for Les Nessman's "Show Beat" segment, talking about her (actual) appearance in the 1981 film They All Laughed.
79 11 "You Can't Go Out of Town Again" Howard Hesseman Dan Guntzelman January 13, 1982
Mr. Carlson learns that his wife Carmen first went out with him in college only because her sorority dared her to date someone on the "dip list." Trivia: The Varsity Sweater that Mr. Carlson wears in this episode is similar to the Official Colors of Otterbein University, Gordon Jump's alma mater. There is also an Otterbein Pennant on the wall of Mr. Carlson's Office.
80 12 "Pills" Asaad Kelada Steve Marshall January 20, 1982
WKRP has to do commercials for a client (Robert Ridgely) whose "diet pills" are actually a legalized form of speed.
81 13 "Changes" Will Mackenzie Peter Torokvei January 27, 1982
Venus tries to act and dress more stereotypically "black" to prepare for an interview with a militant magazine, whose writer (Tom Dreesen) turns out to be white; meanwhile, Herb adopts a classier image with Jennifer's help.
82 14 "Jennifer and Johnny's Charity" Will Mackenzie Blake Hunter February 3, 1982
Class conflict is in the air when Johnny's friends from the fire-damaged Vine Street Mission meet Jennifer's wealthy friends who are preparing to donate money to rebuild it.
83 15 "I'll Take Romance" Asaad Kelada Lissa Levin February 17, 1982
Les goes out with a woman (Livia Ginise) he met through a computer dating service, not realizing the service is a front for prostitution.
84 16 "Circumstantial Evidence" Frank Bonner Tim Reid & Peter Torokvei February 24, 1982
A woman (Daphne Maxwell Reid) frames Venus as her accomplice in an armed robbery. Trivia: Daphne Maxwell Reid also appeared in the season 3 episode "Real Families." She is credited both times as Daphne Maxwell. She and Tim Reid, aka Venus Flytrap, married the same year this episode aired.
85 17 "Fire" Will Mackenzie Dan Guntzelman March 17, 1982
Herb and Jennifer are stuck in an elevator together when a fire shuts down the Flimm Building.
86 18 "Dear Liar" Frank Bonner Steve Marshall March 24, 1982
In a take-off on the Janet Cooke scandal, Bailey drafts a fictional character to serve as the focus of a news story on a children's hospital, only to have Les read it on-air when she leaves for lunch.
87 19 "The Creation of Venus" Gordon Jump Blake Hunter March 31, 1982
Venus and Andy tell Mama Carlson the real story of how Venus came to work at WKRP.
88 20 "The Impossible Dream" Nicholas Stamos Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman April 7, 1982
Egged on by his mother, Les announces that he is going to fulfil his lifelong dream by going to New York to audition for the CBS Evening News.
89 21 "To Err Is Human" Linda Day Lissa Levin April 14, 1982
Herb screws up yet again and Mr. Carlson is finally ready to fire him, but Jennifer tries to find a way to save Herb's job by talking to the businessman (Tom Sullivan) Herb offended.
90 22 "Up and Down the Dial" George Gaynes Dan Guntzelman April 21, 1982
The new ratings arrive, and WKRP has finally become a successful station, rising to #6 in the Cincinnati market with Johnny Fever as the #1 DJ. But when a new news director (Nicholas Hormann) shows up and says he was hired by Mama Carlson, Andy soon finds out that she plans to change the station to a 24-hour news format. Trivia: This was the final episode, but at the time the show was expected to be renewed, leaving no opportunity for a specific series "finale."

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Kiesewetter, John. "WKRP reunion will be live streamed June 4," The Cincinnati Enquirer, Thursday, May 29, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2021
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  5. Season 1, episode 17, “A Commercial Break”.
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  8. Seasons 2-4 released as part of a complete set. https://www.shoutfactory.com/tv/comedy/wkrp-in-cincinnati-the-complete-series
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External links

Timeslots and success

WKRP in Cincinnati debuted in 1978 in CBS's Monday 8 p.m. timeslot, competing against ABC's Welcome Back, Kotter and NBC's top-20 show Little House on the Prairie. Initially receiving poor ratings, WKRP was put on hiatus after only eight episodes, even though they included some of the most famous of the series, including "Turkeys Away." But owing to good reviews and positive fan reaction, especially from disc jockeys, who immediately hailed it as the first show that realistically portrayed the radio business, CBS brought WKRP back without any cast changes.

WKRP was given a new timeslot, one of the best on the network, following M*A*S*H. This allowed creator Hugh Wilson to move away the farcical radio-based stories that CBS wanted and to start telling stories that, while not necessarily dramatic, were more low-key and character-based. To allow the ensemble cast to mingle more, the set was expanded. A previously unseen communal office area ("the bullpen") was added to accommodate scenes with the entire cast.

Partway through the second season, the show was moved back to its original earlier time. CBS executives wanted to free up the prized post-M*A*S*H slot for House Calls (with former M*A*S*H star Wayne Rogers). They also felt that the rock and roll music and the sex appeal of Loni Anderson were better-suited to the earlier slot, which was mostly aimed at young people. The mid-season timeslot change did not affect the show's success; WKRP finished at No. 22 in the ratings for its second year. For the next two seasons, the writers and producers often fought with CBS over the show's content in the so-called family hour.

Starting with the second season, CBS moved WKRP around repeatedly, and the show lost nearly 2.5 million viewers on average for each of four timeslot changes in the 1979–80 season.[1]

After the fourth season, the network declined to renew the show. The final first-run episode of WKRP aired on April 21, 1982 and ranked No. 7 in the weekly Nielsen ratings, though the series had already been canceled.

Production

WKRP was videotaped in Hollywood before a live studio audience at KTLA's Goldenwest Videotape Division, later moving to the CBS Studio Center lot in Studio City.[2]

Fact vs. fiction

"Real" WKRP people

While Andy Travis received his name and some personality elements from a cousin of creator Hugh Wilson,[3] he was based primarily on innovative program director Mikel Herrington,[4] who also was the inspiration for the character Jeff Dugan in the 1978 film FM, written by Ezra Sacks, who had worked at KMET.[5][6] Dr. Johnny Fever was based on a DJ named "Skinny" Bobby Harper at WQXI/790 in Atlanta, Georgia in 1968.[7] WKRP writer Bill Dial worked with Harper at WQXI, which is considered Dial's inspiration for the show.[7] Coincidentally, Harper had previously worked at Cincinnati AM Top 40 powerhouse WSAI in 1964, before moving to 11 other stations, including seven in Atlanta.[7] In 1997, Bobby Harper told WSB's Condace Pressley, "He went on record as pointing out which ones, including myself, that he based the characters on. [That recognition] was a nice little thing. You know? That was nice. I appreciated that."[7] The Carlsons were a pastiche of Jerry Blum, WQXI's longtime general manager. Mrs. Carlson inherited Blum's brashness while Arthur borrowed his nickname "Big Guy," sense of style, and some of his unorthodox promotions (including the turkey drop).[8]

Transmission tower

Although the show aired on CBS, the self-supporting transmission tower seen at the beginning of WKRP in Cincinnati actually belongs to Cincinnati's NBC affiliate, WLWT.[9]

Studios and offices

In the show, WKRP's offices and studios are in the Osgood R. Flimm Building, an art deco office building. When mentioned, the exact floor varies: in Season 1's episode "Les on a Ledge", WKRP is on the 9th floor, but in Season 4's episode "Fire", it is on the 14th; the entranceway door is shown as 1412. The building shown during the show's opening credits is actually the Cincinnati Enquirer Building at 617 Vine Street in downtown Cincinnati.[10]

Real stations with similar branding

Cincinnati has two radio stations with call letters similar to WKRP. WKRC, an AM station that had a "middle of the road" music format when the series debuted, did not object to its use of WKRP, saying that it was the best publicity that they had ever had, and it was free;[11] it currently brands itself as "55KRC".[12] WKRQ is an FM station with a similar "contemporary hit radio" format; its primary branding is "Q102."[13]

Other stations have adopted similar branding in reference to the series. In 1986, a Salt Lake City FM station (now KUMT) changed its calls letters to KRPN, and branded itself as WKRP, using the similarity of the spoken letter "N" to the word "in" for a sound-alike station identification: "W KRPN Salt Lake City".[14][15][16] In 2008, Cincinnati television station WBQC-LD promoted its conversion to digital broadcasting by rebranding itself "WKRP-TV".[17] In 2015, a low-power FM station in Raleigh, North Carolina began broadcasting as WKRP-LP.[18]

Music

Musical themes

WKRP had two musical themes, one opening and the other closing the show.

The opening theme, a soft rock/pop number called "WKRP in Cincinnati Main Theme," was composed by Tom Wells, with lyrics by series creator Hugh Wilson, and was performed by Steve Carlisle.[19][20][21] An urban legend circulated at the time that Richard Sanders (who had comparable vocal characteristics to those of Carlisle) had recorded the song. Wilson stated in the commentary for the first season's DVD set that this was not true. Sanders would later "sing" the lyrics in a promo spot on VH1 for The New WKRP in Cincinnati that parodied the U2 song "Numb."

The closing theme was a different song with more of a hard rock sound performed by Atlanta musician Jim Ellis, played over scenes from the episodes followed by a still photo of the Cincinnati skyline.[22][23] Ellis recorded the song as a demonstration for Wilson, and as he had not yet written lyrics for it, Ellis mumbled nonsense words. Wilson chose to use the demo version because he found the gibberish lyrics funny and a satire on the unintelligible lyrics of many rock songs. Wilson also knew that the lyrics would not be heard clearly in any event, as a CBS announcer always talked over the closing credits of the network's shows.[24]

A longer version of the original theme song was released in 1979 on a 45-rpm vinyl single on the MCA Records label. It peaked at 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981[25] and at 29 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1982.[26]

Music licensing

The show's use of Blondie's "Heart of Glass" was widely credited with helping the song become a major U.S. hit, and the band's record label Chrysalis Records presented the producers with a gold record award for the song's album Parallel Lines. The gold record can be seen hanging on the wall in the "bullpen" set in many episodes.

The songs were often tied into episode plots, and some pieces of music were even used as running gags. For example, the doorbell at Jennifer's penthouse apartment played "Fly Me to the Moon" (which was later replaced by "Beautiful Dreamer" for copyright reasons).

Wilson has commented that WKRP was videotaped rather than filmed because at the time, music-licensing fees were lower for videotaped programs, a loophole that was intended to accommodate variety shows.[27][28] Music-licensing deals cut at the time of production covered only a limited number of years,[29] but when the show entered syndication shortly after its 1982 cancellation, most of the original music remained intact because the licensing deals were still active.[30] After the licenses had expired, later syndicated versions of the show did not feature the music as first broadcast, with stock production music inserted in place of the original songs to avoid paying additional royalties. In some cases (such as during scenes with dialogue over background music), some of the characters' lines were dubbed by soundalike actors, a practice evident in all prints of the show issued since the early 1990s, including those used for its late-1990s run on Nick at Nite.[29][30]

The expense of procuring licenses for the original music delayed release of a DVD set for years.[31] When a Season 1 set was finally released, much of the music was again replaced and the soundalike vocal dubs were present. Some scenes were shortened or cut entirely,[32] but some deleted scenes that had not been included in the original broadcast were added.[citation needed]

Home media

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the first season of WKRP on DVD in Region 1 in April 2007. However sales of the set were poor, and Fox released no further seasons.

In May 2014, Shout! Factory acquired rights to the series for DVD release.[33] Shout! had planned to include all of the copyrighted music that originally aired on the show,[34] but was only able to obtain rights for 111 of the original musical artists. A disclaimer later stated, "In a few cases, it was simply impossible to get the rights."[35] Fans of the show compiled lists documenting that the re-release featured approximately 85% of the series' original soundtrack. Almost all of the dialogue dubs done for the 1990s syndication airings were removed and the original dialogue was restored.[36][37][38][39]

The complete series became available online in October 2014.[40] In March 2015 Shout! released individual sets for Seasons 1 and 2.[41] Season 3 was released in July 2015[42] and the final season was released in November 2015.[43]

DVD Season Ep # Release date
Season 1 22 March 17, 2015
Season 2 23 March 17, 2015
Season 3 21 July 14, 2015
Season 4 22 November 10, 2015
Complete Series 88 October 28, 2014

The Shout! Factory DVD releases also present both the second-season episode "Filthy Pictures" and the third-season episode "Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide" in their original hour-long formats instead of the syndicated two-part versions, bringing the episode count from 90 episodes to 88 episodes.[44]

References

  1. Kassel 1993, pp. 75–76.
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  3. Michael B. Kassel, America's Favorite Radio Station: WKRP in Cincinnati (Popular Press, 1993):6–7.
  4. "Deaths", Billboard (December 6, 1997):64.
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  11. Hugh Wilson interview on WINA, Charlottesville, VA.
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  25. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990ISBN 0-89820-089-X
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  28. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Also published by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on May 5, 2007 as "WKRP in Cincinnati on DVD: The song doesn't remain the same."
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External links