"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 | 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)

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

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Company:

Company Four

Trivia:

In the pilot episode, the wattage stated on the lobby wall was 50,000, however in subsequent episodes it is reduced to 5,000.

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 Flytrap: [Fever runs into the booth and hides behind the coat rack] What are you doin', man! I'm on the air!
Dr. Johnny Fever: Herb Tarlek is selling life insurance!
Venus Flytrap: Oh, no! Close the blinds before he sees us!
Andy Travis: [Walks into the booth] What have I told you guys about goofing off when one of you is supposed to be on the air?
Dr. Johnny Fever: Herb Tarlek is selling life insurance!
Andy Travis: Oh, no!
[slams the door and hides with Fever]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Invasion of the Neptune Men (#9.19)" (1997)

A Great Show

This is one of the great sitcoms in television history. The two things that made it great were the great writing and the ensemble cast. One episode that stands out in my mind is not the infamous "Turkey" episode, but the episode where Mr. Carlson runs for city council. When he starts out he is trying to be as honest as possible and looks like a sure loser. However, when he brings out the fact that his opponent is an alcoholic, he feels guilty about bringing the issue up and decides that its better to lose the election. The funniest scene in that episode is when Les gets on the phone and calls the press and tells them that Carlson likes to lounge around in a dress. Carlson then gets upset at Les and tells him to tell the press that he doesn't lounge around in a dress, but that he wears a halter top. Now that was a funny episode and it helped to make this show a classic.