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

User Rating:

8.5/10   

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

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		(20 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)
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 (9 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ted Kaye	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rod Daniel	....	producer / associate producer (3 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 Cinematography by
George La Fountaine Sr.		(1 episode, 1982)

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

Series Casting by
Sharon Himes		(6 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Art Direction by
Jacqueline Webber		(3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Ken Johnson		(2 episodes, 1978)
Ken Johnson		(2 episodes, 1978)

Series Set Decoration by
Jacque Webber		(5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Catherine Mann		(2 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Costume Design by
Warden Neil		(1 episode, 1982)

Series Makeup Department
Janis Clark	....	hair stylist (7 episodes, 1978-1982)
Ray Steele	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Nancy Garen	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Brett Crutcher	....	unit manager (4 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
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (4 episodes, 1978-1982)
Linda Day	....	associate director / assistant director (4 episodes, 1978-1980)
J.D. Lobue	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1978)
Robert J. Smawley	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Edwin McCormick	....	construction coordinator (44 episodes, 1980-1982)
Chris Circosta	....	property master (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Dick Durant	....	property master (3 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Sound Department
Ken Becker	....	audio / sound (3 episodes, 1978)
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 (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Harold Guy	....	lighting director (3 episodes, 1978)
Steve Berry	....	video operator (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Dick Browning	....	video operator (2 episodes, 1978)
George La Fountaine Sr.	....	lighting consultant (2 episodes, 1980)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Warden Neil	....	wardrobe (7 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Editorial Department
Chip Brooks	....	videotape editor / editor: video tape (3 episodes, 1978)
Rod Daniel	....	post-production consultant (3 episodes, 1978)

Series Music Department
Tom Wells	....	composer: title theme (7 episodes, 1978-1982)
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)
Merilynn Marko-Sanders	....	production assistant / script supervisor / ... (7 episodes, 1978-1982)
Blake Hunter	....	story editor / creative consultant / ... (7 episodes, 1978-1980)
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	executive in charge of talent / talent executive (7 episodes, 1978-1980)
Tim Womack	....	production associate / production assistant (7 episodes, 1978-1980)
Lissa Levin	....	production secretary / story consultant (5 episodes, 1978-1982)
Tom Chehak	....	story editor / creative consultant (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bill Dial	....	story editor / creative consultant (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Max Tash	....	production associate / production assistant (5 episodes, 1978-1979)
Mary Maguire	....	production secretary (3 episodes, 1978)
Bob Jones	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1980-1982)
Joyce Armor	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1978)
Linda Day	....	assistant to producer / associate director (2 episodes, 1978)
Ginger Grigg	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (2 episodes, 1978)
Mike Maloof	....	technical director (2 episodes, 1978)
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

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:

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, was recast with actor Richard Paul because of Paul's resemblance to Jerry Falwell, the person on whom Halyers was based. Paul would later play Falwell in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996).

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 Equinox: Cast Interview (2006) (V)

There's No Business Like Radio Business

Trivia Question: Who was the mayor of Cincinnati when WKRP was on the air? Before he was reincarnated as the Maytag guy, Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump) owned a Cincinnati radio station which recently changed format to rock & roll. WKRP was an entertaining show with wacky plots, and whose characters were characters. Disc jockeys included the wild Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) and the suave Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid), while the glib ad salesman Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner) proved to be the perfect foil for straight-laced newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders). Others included the bombshell Jennifer Marlowe (Loni Anderson), the savvy Bailey Quarters (Jan Smithers), and maybe think of Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) once in a while. Some of the stories were far fetched, but the concepts actually happened in radio. For instance, in one episode, in order to avoid paying a generous 'name that tune' reward that they couldn't afford, they changed the rules so that the winner had to name pieces of six songs. As it happened, somebody got it. WKRP in Cincinnati kept the Queen City on the map just as the Big Red Machine began to rust ("Pete Rose is gone...but why to Philadelphia?"). For the record, in real life, there is no WKRP in Cincinnati. Trivia Answer: Jerry Springer.