Running only four short seasons from 1978-1982, this was one of the most perfect shows of its time, and a near dead on commentary on small media outlets.
The story is supposed to be about Andy Travis (Gary Sandy), as he leaves the Southwest to become program director of small station WKRP. When he arrives it is playing elevator music and nothing works well, which is how station owner Mama Carleson wants it - it is later revealed that WKRP is supposed to operate as a tax write-off and that's why she's put her rather incompetent son (Gordon Jump as Arthur Carleson) in charge of the station. The whole show is really about the comic conflict between "the jeans" and "the suits". Andy, Bailey, and DJs Venus Flytrap and Doctor Johnny Fever are "the jeans". "The suits" are Arthur Carleson, sales manager Herb Tarlek, and news director Les Nessman. The whole show is just a comic take on the younger characters trying to right the station in spite of the hang-ups and incompetence of the older ones. By "young" and "old" I'm really talking young at heart versus old at heart. Chronologically, Dr. Johnny Fever is probably older than Herb Tarlek, but they are definitely on different sides of the establishment/anti-establishment demarcation line. Although that doesn't mean that the younger characters are not without their comic quirks. In the middle, never really taking sides, is secretary Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson) who knows many wealthy men, lives way beyond the means of a secretary, and who is a good soul and a woman whose private life is shrouded in mystery.
Don't think that these guys are adversaries though. When they have to they can work together, and everybody honors Les' fake walls - marked by tape on the floor - regardless of what they think of his abilities.
WKRP was a refreshing little show during a time when many of the sitcoms were taking on serious tones. Its writers understood the comedy part of situation-comedy. Although I was sad when it was canceled, the fact that it was on just four seasons meant that it never really had to change its format and in retrospect probably had a perfect show life. All the actors were hilarious and they complemented each other extremely well. One of the reasons WKRP remains popular and beloved today is because it didn't wear out its welcome. Three's Company is a perfect example of a sitcom that made that mistake. It was just as hilarious, but it just hung around way too long.
The sad thing is this show in its entirety will remain only in our memories unless you had an early VHS recorder and had the foresight to record episodes. That is because the music, so integral to the show, had no legal provisions for release to home video in any form. In 1978 such an idea was just a concept not a reality. Someone who worked at CBS and should be in the know said that the masters of the film containing the music were destroyed years ago. That's one reason the only season ever released on DVD lacked the original music and was a complete failure.
The story is supposed to be about Andy Travis (Gary Sandy), as he leaves the Southwest to become program director of small station WKRP. When he arrives it is playing elevator music and nothing works well, which is how station owner Mama Carleson wants it - it is later revealed that WKRP is supposed to operate as a tax write-off and that's why she's put her rather incompetent son (Gordon Jump as Arthur Carleson) in charge of the station. The whole show is really about the comic conflict between "the jeans" and "the suits". Andy, Bailey, and DJs Venus Flytrap and Doctor Johnny Fever are "the jeans". "The suits" are Arthur Carleson, sales manager Herb Tarlek, and news director Les Nessman. The whole show is just a comic take on the younger characters trying to right the station in spite of the hang-ups and incompetence of the older ones. By "young" and "old" I'm really talking young at heart versus old at heart. Chronologically, Dr. Johnny Fever is probably older than Herb Tarlek, but they are definitely on different sides of the establishment/anti-establishment demarcation line. Although that doesn't mean that the younger characters are not without their comic quirks. In the middle, never really taking sides, is secretary Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson) who knows many wealthy men, lives way beyond the means of a secretary, and who is a good soul and a woman whose private life is shrouded in mystery.
Don't think that these guys are adversaries though. When they have to they can work together, and everybody honors Les' fake walls - marked by tape on the floor - regardless of what they think of his abilities.
WKRP was a refreshing little show during a time when many of the sitcoms were taking on serious tones. Its writers understood the comedy part of situation-comedy. Although I was sad when it was canceled, the fact that it was on just four seasons meant that it never really had to change its format and in retrospect probably had a perfect show life. All the actors were hilarious and they complemented each other extremely well. One of the reasons WKRP remains popular and beloved today is because it didn't wear out its welcome. Three's Company is a perfect example of a sitcom that made that mistake. It was just as hilarious, but it just hung around way too long.
The sad thing is this show in its entirety will remain only in our memories unless you had an early VHS recorder and had the foresight to record episodes. That is because the music, so integral to the show, had no legal provisions for release to home video in any form. In 1978 such an idea was just a concept not a reality. Someone who worked at CBS and should be in the know said that the masters of the film containing the music were destroyed years ago. That's one reason the only season ever released on DVD lacked the original music and was a complete failure.