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

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 | Acronym In Title | Rock 'n' Roll

Awards:

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

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)

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		(33 episodes, 1978-1982)
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)

Series Produced by
Hugh Wilson	....	producer / executive producer (13 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ted Kaye	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rod Daniel	....	associate producer / producer (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Max Tash	....	associate producer / coordinating producer (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Blake Hunter	....	producer (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Peter Torokvei	....	producer (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Bill Dial	....	producer (1 episode, 1979-1980)
Steven Kampmann	....	producer (1 episode, 1980-1981)

Series Original Music by
Tom Wells		(90 episodes, 1978-1982)

Series Cinematography by
George La Fountaine Sr.		(1 episode, 1982)

Series Film Editing by
Chip Brooks		(8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Andy Ackerman		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Bob Best		(2 episodes, 1980)

Series Casting by
Sharon Himes		(10 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Art Direction by
Ken Johnson		(9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jacqueline Webber		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Set Decoration by
Jacque Webber		(9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Catherine Mann		(2 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Costume Design by
Warden Neil		(10 episodes, 1978-1982)

Series Makeup Department
Janis Clark	....	hair stylist (11 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ray Steele	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Nancy Garen	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Brett Crutcher	....	unit manager (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Abby Singer	....	production executive: MTM Productions, Inc. / executive in charge of production: MTM Productions, Inc. (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Carol Himes	....	production manager (2 episodes, 1980)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Linda Day	....	associate director (10 episodes, 1978-1980)
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (6 episodes, 1978-1982)
Robert J. Smawley	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Edwin McCormick	....	construction coordinator (44 episodes, 1980-1982)
Eric A. Hulett	....	set dresser (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Chris Circosta	....	property master (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Dick Durant	....	property master (3 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Sound Department
Ken Becker	....	audio (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Cam McCulloch	....	audio (2 episodes, 1980-1982)

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

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Larry Boelens	....	lighting consultant (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Dick Browning	....	video (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Harold Guy	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Joel Siebert	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1978)
George La Fountaine Sr.	....	lighting consultant (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Steve Berry	....	video operator (3 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Casting Department
Geri Windsor	....	executive in charge of talent (1 episode, 1982)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Warden Neil	....	wardrobe (2 episodes, 1980)

Series Editorial Department
Rod Daniel	....	post production consultant / post-production consultant (4 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Jim Ellis	....	composer: closing theme (90 episodes, 1978-1982)

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

Series Other crew
Buzz Sapien	....	stage manager (44 episodes, 1978-1980)
Merilynn Marko-Sanders	....	production assistant / assistant to producer / ... (12 episodes, 1978-1982)
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	executive in charge of talent / talent executive (11 episodes, 1978-1980)
Tim Womack	....	production associate / production assistant (11 episodes, 1978-1980)
Blake Hunter	....	story editor / creative consultant / ... (10 episodes, 1978-1980)
Lissa Levin	....	production secretary / story consultant (9 episodes, 1978-1982)
Max Tash	....	production associate / production assistant (9 episodes, 1978-1979)
Tom Chehak	....	story editor / creative consultant (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Dial	....	story editor / creative consultant (8 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mary Maguire	....	production secretary (7 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mike Maloof	....	technical director (6 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ginger Grigg	....	assistant to producer (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bob Jones	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Steven Kampmann	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1979-1981)
Patricia Perillo	....	assistant to producer / production secretary (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Richard Sandoval	....	production associate / stage manager (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Dan Guntzelman	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1980)
Mary Korbett	....	production secretary (2 episodes, 1980)
Steve Marshall	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1980)
Peter Torokvei	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1980)
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

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (90 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Company Four

Trivia:

Originally, it was announced that William Daniels was to be cast in the "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" (episode #3.22) segment. His part, Dr. Bob Halyers, however, was recast with actor Richard Paul because of Paul's resemblance to Jerry Falwell, the person on whom Halyers was based. Daniels, however, would eventually work for 'MTM Enterprises [us]' full time in the role of Dr. Mark Craig on the NBC medical drama, "St. Elsewhere" (1982).

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:

[Venus is showing off his flashy wardrobe]
Venus Flytrap:I only came downtown to have one of my suits serviced.
Dr. Johnny Fever:I'll bet a suit like that stays in the shop most of the time.
Venus Flytrap:I got suits I can't get parts for.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That '70s Show: Radio Daze (#3.14)" (2001)

#2 with a bullet!

WKRP is one of the best sitcoms of all time. It ranks up there with Taxi, early M*A*S*H, MTM, Seinfeld, and the often forgotten, and, IMHO, best sitcom of all time, Barney Miller (mushy, mushy, mushy!). The characters and the stories were well-rounded and believable. And the music on Johnny's morning show was the best. Too bad it can't be found up or down the dial these days. And yes, I'm a Bailey man, too!