Derek got me the entire WKRP in Cincinnati DVD collection for my birthday and we’ve been watching a couple of episodes at a time, when we can.
Nothing in the entertainment world comes as close to the reality of working in radio, as this show that ran from 1978-1982. The production values are dated, of course, but the laughs are still there. They didn’t shy away from touchy topics. For goodness sake, in their third ever episode they tackled homosexuality and sex change operations!
From Les Nessman’s over-the-top newscast introduction and Silver Sow awards to the intervening owner (Carlson’s Mom) to the ridiculousness of some of the ads (Red Wigglers – the cadillac of worms!) to the contests gone wrong – the infamous turkey drop – I have experienced every one of those personalities and similar situations in my broadcasting career. I even got to help launch a rock station out of a former music-of-your-nursing-home FM station, and suffered a backlash from the elderly first-hand, just like they did on ‘KRP.
As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!
It takes me back to appointment television, before we could record it and watch it later. When a hit show meant one-third of the population was watching it. When you could say Loni Anderson to someone and they knew who you meant, you didn’t have to explain which cable network aired her show. It wasn’t necessarily a better time, but it was simpler. We’re getting a huge kick out of revisiting the show. “Maybe think of me once in a while.”
And didn’t we all know a Herb Tarlek? My cousin’s even married to a Bailey – and you can be pretty sure that’s where she got her name. What a far-reaching show it was, in so many ways. Enjoy!