"WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978) TV series 1978-1982

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Creator:

Hugh Wilson
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

18 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The staff of a struggling radio station have a chance at success after the new programming director changes the format to rock music

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Radio Station | Disc Jockey | Radio Reporter | Sitcom

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 26	7:00 PM	WGNAMER	Bailey's Big Break	#2.10
Sun. July 26	7:30 PM	WGNAMER	Baby, If You've Ever Wondered	#2.9

Cast

Gary Sandy	...	Andy Travis (90 episodes, 1978-1982)
Gordon Jump	...	Arthur 'Big Guy' Carlson (90 episodes, 1978-1982)
Howard Hesseman	...	Johnny 'Dr. Fever' Caravella (90 episodes, 1978-1982)
Loni Anderson	...	Jennifer Elizabeth Marlowe (89 episodes, 1978-1982)
Richard Sanders	...	Les Nessman / ... (89 episodes, 1978-1982)
Frank Bonner	...	Herbert 'Herb' Tarlek (89 episodes, 1978-1982)
Tim Reid	...	Venus Flytrap (87 episodes, 1978-1982)
Jan Smithers	...	Bailey Quarters (86 episodes, 1978-1982)

(more)

Series Directed by
Rod Daniel		(24 episodes, 1979-1981)
Will Mackenzie		(16 episodes, 1979-1982)
Asaad Kelada		(15 episodes, 1978-1982)
Linda Day		(11 episodes, 1980-1982)
Frank Bonner		(6 episodes, 1980-1982)
Michael Zinberg		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Nicholas Stamos		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Dolores Ferraro		(3 episodes, 1981)
Hugh Wilson		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dan Guntzelman		(2 episodes, 1981)
George Gaynes		(1 episode, 1982)
Howard Hesseman		(1 episode, 1982)
Gordon Jump		(1 episode, 1982)

Series Writing credits
Hugh Wilson		(18 episodes, 1978-1981)
Steve Marshall		(14 episodes, 1979-1982)
Dan Guntzelman		(13 episodes, 1979-1982)
Blake Hunter		(12 episodes, 1979-1982)
Peter Torokvei		(8 episodes, 1979-1982)
Steven Kampmann		(7 episodes, 1979-1981)
Lissa Levin		(7 episodes, 1980-1982)
Bill Dial		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Michael Fairman		(5 episodes, 1979-1982)
Richard Sanders		(5 episodes, 1979-1982)
Tom Chehak		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Tim Reid		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Joyce Armor		(2 episodes, 1978-1981)
Judie Neer		(2 episodes, 1978-1981)
Paul Robinson Hunter		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mary Maguire		(2 episodes, 1979)
Casey Piotrowski		(1 episode, 1979)
Bob Dolman		(1 episode, 1981)
Howard Hesseman		(1 episode, 1981)
Jon Smet		(1 episode, 1981)

Series Produced by
Hugh Wilson	....	executive producer / producer (5 episodes, 1978-1980)
Steven Kampmann	....	producer (1 episode, 1980-1981)
Bill Dial	....	producer (unknown episodes, 1979)
Dan Guntzelman	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Steve Marshall	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Chip Brooks		(1 episode, 1978)
Dick Browning		(1 episode, 1978)
Andy Ackerman		(1 episode, 1980)
Bob Best		(1 episode, 1980)

Series Casting by
Sharon Himes		(3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Jacklynn Briskey		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Ken Johnson		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Jacque Webber		(2 episodes, 1978)
Catherine Mann		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Janis Clark	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Ray Steele	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1978)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Brett Crutcher	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Day	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1978-1980)
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1978-1980)
Robert J. Smawley	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Edwin McCormick	....	construction coordinator (44 episodes, 1980-1982)
Chris Circosta	....	property master (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Sound Department
Ken Becker	....	audio / sound (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Stunts
Gregg Sawaya	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1981)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Larry Boelens	....	lighting consultant (2 episodes, 1978)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Warden Neil	....	wardrobe (3 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Editorial Department
Chip Brooks	....	editor: video tape (1 episode, 1978)
Rod Daniel	....	post-production consultant (1 episode, 1978)
Andy Ackerman	....	editor: video tape (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Tom Wells	....	composer: title theme (2 episodes, 1978)
Jim Ellis	....	composer: closing theme (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (3 episodes, 1979)

Series Other crew
Buzz Sapien	....	stage manager (46 episodes, 1978-1980)
Tim Womack	....	production assistant / production associate (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Blake Hunter	....	story editor / executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Lissa Levin	....	production secretary (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Merilynn Marko-Sanders	....	assistant to producer / production assistant / ... (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	executive in charge of talent / talent executive (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Tom Chehak	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1978)
Bill Dial	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1978)
Mary Maguire	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1978)
Max Tash	....	production associate (2 episodes, 1978)
Steven Kampmann	....	story editor (1 episode, 1979-1981)
Emily Marshall	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 1979)

Production Companies

• Company Four
• MTM Enterprises

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1978-1982) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (episodes 1-8)
• 20th Century Fox Television
• Jim Victory Television
• MTM Enterprises

Other Companies

• KTLA  videotaped at
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (90 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Company Four

Trivia:

Herb Tarlek had a University of Arkansas Razorbacks coffee mug on his desk. Frank Bonner, who played Herb, was born and raised in Arkansas.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the pilot episode, after the rock music change, the needle on the turntable is on the label of the record that's playing, yet the music is playing fine. Clearly, music was never playing from actual vinyl records when WKRP played their songs.

Quotes:

Jennifer Marlowe: Mr. Craven I would like to ask you a question about the phone company.
Wayne Craven: Well that's what I'm here for, fire away.
Jennifer Marlowe: You know the phone company won't give you a specific time when they'll come to install your phone. You have to wait all day long. Like most people, I work and can't take the whole day off.
Wayne Craven: Uh-Hunh.
Jennifer Marlowe: So Saturday is the only day I'll be here. But because so many other people have the same problem, you can wait up to two, three weeks or more for service.
Wayne Craven: That's correct.
Jennifer Marlowe: Could you tell me why that is?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in CBS at 75 (2003) (TV)

"Oh, I don't know. I'll think of something."

What can I add to what's already been said in the other comments? With the above quote and the unveiling of the KISS poster, WKRP IN CINCINATTI jumped in with both feet and made viewer (if not critical) history. Real people, losers who refused to be losers, teamed together to help and validate one another in great situations all in the little space of a couple of offices. Big theme and social consciousness issues without the big speech, hit you over the head approach. An ensemble cast with great writing and dialogue. Who cares whether or not it was low-budget? It was GREAT stuff. Favorite moments? Les wanting to commit suicide cuz the rumor is that he's gay. Herb painting his daughter's frog PINK. All the guys pitching in to get back the nudie shots the photographer took of Jennifer. The concert where the kids were crushed against the not yet opened gates. (I couldn't stop crying, watching that one.) Les feeding his dog, wearing the giant dog-trainer glove. The "phone police" blowing up the transmitter station. (That was my Dad's favorite.) But most of all for me, Venus teaching the cleaning lady's kid about the atom, using the analogy of gangs in the hood. The comedy capper on that one was Johnny waking up from behind some shelves and saying something like, "So that's how that works." And, yeah, folks -- Bailey was HOT and should've been showcased more. In closing, "Oh, yeah ... BOOGER!"