#22

WKRP in Cincinnati

“I almost forgot, fellow babies…… BOOGER!”

And with that, WKRP went from an elevator-music playing radio sttion in the greater Cincinnati area to a rock ‘n roll station with some of the most eccentric characters you are ever going to find.

WKRP in Cincinnati was a CBS sitcom that aired for four seasons. Some of the funniest moments on television originated on WKRP.

The cast ensemble was tremendous. Gary Sandy, Howard Hessman, Loni Anderson, Gordon Jump, Tim Reid, Frank Bonner, Jan Smithers and Richard Sanders were amazing in their roles. Each person brought something special to the crew.

I can’t talk about WKRP in Cincinnati without talking about “Turkeys Away” which is maybe my favorite sitcom episode ever. Station Manager Arthur Carlson wanted to get involved in promotions so he came up with a Thanksgiving plan that no one ever forget. He rented a helicopter and dropped live turkeys over the parking lot of the Pinedale Shopping Mall. The turkeys crashed to the ground, as newsman Les Nesman watched on horrified. Actor Richard Sanders delivered the iconic line, “OH MY GOD THEY’RE TURKEYS!”

DJ Dr. Johnny Fever added, as Les’s connection was lost, that the “Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys… fim at 11.”

Tying the event into the crashing of the Hindenburg was brillaint. Finally, the episode was finalized with the line from Mr. Carlson that would live in infamy.

“As God is my witness I thought turkeys could fly.”

I watch this episode as my Thanksgiving tradition every year.

WKRP in Cincinnati struggled for ratings during its time on CBS, but the show’s quality was obvious to anyone who watched it.