WKRP in Cincinnati

Many sitcoms start out with great promise, but over successive seasons settle and turn dimensionally less realistic. Take for example Tony Danza's spiral down in "Taxi" into the "dumb guy." In WKRP in Cincinnati, the complete opposite was true. Two dimensional stereotypes at the beginning (cowboy programmer, dim-witted receptionist, lazy mama's boy manager, city-wise black DJ, etc.) were allowed over the show's course to become psychologically real. The on-going harassment by married salesman Herb Tarlek towards Jennifer the receptionist was finally confronted, and in subsequent episodes he was never quite the pig towards her as before. Alcoholism and drug abuse were addressed, but never in the "hit you over the head" PC style of today. The show could be simultaneously hilarious and of dire seriousness. If you can, catch the episodes in rerun in order. The final season is amazing, especially when the previous years have set you up for it. Carol Bruce (Mama Carlson) episodes are especially stunning. And always look for Les Nessman's roaming band-aid.

This was simply one of the best sitcoms ever made (along with Barney Miller). Even when the episodes were centered around characters that I did not particularly find appealing, the show always had heart. Never in WKRP did the show become formulaic or repetitive. The stories were written with feeling and a depth that is long since vanished in any sitcoms since. I believe that the best episode (not the funniest) was "In Concert". It is the one that centers around the tragedy at the 1979 Who concert, where 11 people were trampled to death outside the stadium trying to get the best seats. This show was a far cry from the current trend of having character-A insult character-B to the sound of the laugh track!!

At the age of 40 with a leaky heart valve and car payments and rent to pay, there is a twelve-year-old boy that wants to hear Johnny Fever drag a needle across vinyl and drag a floundering Ohio radio station into the rock era. I have driven across Cincinnati at least a hundred times, but I still long to catch a glimpse of the Flimm building, and let the news tell me that "...while the Senator admitted to being intoxicated, he could note explain his nudity." (Best Ted Kennedy Joke Ever!) WKRP was based on creator Hugh Wilson's experiences at Atlanta radio station WQXI. The Turkeys really happened at Lenox Square in Atlanta, and Fever was rumored to have been modeled on longtime Atlanta radio personality (the late) "Skinny" Bobby Harper.

As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!

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!"

Two TV programs are burned into my humor memory banks...the first from youth...Ernie Kovacs and his cigar MC-ing the Blackstone Magicians Convention TV Special in the 50's (before his ridiculous death in that ridiculous subcompact car). The image of Kovacs (and the cigar) inserting swords into a cabinet with a studio volunteer inside...the last thrust...just before a commercial break...accompanied by a gasp and moan. Kovacs watches as the handle of the sword rises, turns full face to the camera with a shrug and a complex of wicked humor, confusion, and phlegmatic acceptance on his face as the screen fades to black. The second from adulthood...WKRP's Thanksgiving show...Les Nessman's breathless redux of Pittsburgh broadcaster Herb (damn, sorry Herb I've forgotten the last name!) report on the Hindenberg disaster...as he described hapless, live turkeys hurled from a helicopter hovering above a shopping center parking lot. Herb Tarlek's anguished, "I swear to God Big Guy, I thought turkeys could fly!" as the denemois (so much for my recollection of high school French)to the "horror" and the "audience" response to his promotional gimmick.

I'd just had abdominal surgery 2 days before the Kovac's show so you can imagine my truly experiencing "laugh till you cry." I was preparing a turkey for my annual "y'all come" TG potluck, when the WKRP program aired...the turkey and dressing were everywhere as I thrashed about with unrestrained rib cracking laughter. I've told literally thousands of people about these two shows and would sure like to show them.

Bottomline: Are there DVD's or VCR's of the original shows available?