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WKRP in Cincinnati
RELEASED·SERIES·EN

WKRP in Cincinnati

Mon, Sep 18, 1978
  • Comedy
Series · Synopsis

Synopsis

When a Cincinnati radio station switches from sedate music to top-40 rock 'n' roll, its staff of oddball characters is forced to switch gears quickly. New programming director Andy Travis brings in a new DJ named Venus Flytrap to work with the station's burned-out veteran, Dr. Johnny Fever. Neurotic newsman Les Nessman, eager beaver Bailey Quarters, sleazy salesman Herb Tarlek, blonde bombshell Jennifer Marlowe, who serves as the station's ultra-capable receptionist, and station manager Arthur Carlson, whose domineering mother owns WKRP, round out the eccentric bunch.

Trailer

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Where to watch

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  • CBS↗
Cast

Top of the call sheet

  • Gary Sandy
    Gary Sandy
    as Andy Travis
  • Howard Hesseman
    Howard Hesseman
    as Dr. Johnny Fever
  • Tim Reid
    Tim Reid
    as Venus Flytrap
  • Loni Anderson
    Loni Anderson
    as Jennifer Marlowe
  • Frank Bonner
    Frank Bonner
    as Herb Tarlek
  • Gordon Jump
    Gordon Jump
    as Arthur Carlson
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Episodes

4 seasons · 90 episodes

Ended · 90 aired
Season 1
22 episodes · 22 aired
▾
  • E1
    Pilot (1)
    Aired · Tue, Sep 19, 1978 · 30m

    A new program director arrives at WKRP and pushes for a switch to rock 'n' roll.

  • E2
    Pilot (2)
    Aired · Tue, Sep 26, 1978 · 30m

    While Andy tries to come up with a publicity stunt to advertise the format change, a group of elderly listeners invades the station protesting the removal of their favorite music.

  • E3
    Les on a Ledge
    Aired · Tue, Oct 3, 1978 · 30m

    When an athlete accuses him of being gay, Les climbs out on the ledge of WKRP's building and threatens to jump.

  • E4
    Hoodlum Rock
    Aired · Tue, Oct 10, 1978 · 30m

    Andy takes a lot of heat for arranging to sponsor a British punk rock group's concert.

  • E5
    Hold-Up
    Aired · Tue, Oct 17, 1978 · 30m

    A stereo store is held up while Johnny is there doing a live remote broadcast.

  • E6
    Bailey's Show
    Aired · Tue, Oct 24, 1978 · 30m

    In spite of Bailey's lack of experience, Andy lets her produce a public affairs program.

  • E7
    Turkeys Away
    Aired · Tue, Oct 31, 1978 · 30m

    When Arthur feels threatened by Andy's success and useless in general, he decides to have a turkey giveaway on Thanksgiving with disastrous results.

  • E8
    Love Returns
    Aired · Tue, Nov 7, 1978 · 30m

    Andy has to choose between love and work when his ex-girlfriend offers him the chance to go on the road with her.

  • E9
    Mama's Review
    Aired · Tue, Jan 16, 1979 · 30m

    In a clip show, Andy and Mr. Carlson recount to Mama Carlson what has been happening at the station since it switched to a rock format. This episode was designed to reintroduce audiences to the show after the two-month hiatus.

  • E10
    A Date with Jennifer
    Aired · Tue, Jan 23, 1979 · 30m

    When Les wins the coveted Silver Sow Award, he asks Jennifer to be his date for the banquet, and she says yes. A jealous Herb tries to get Mr. Carlson to institute a policy against employee dating.

  • E11
    The Contest Nobody Could Win
    Aired · Tue, Jan 30, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny accidentally announces the prize in a promotional contest as $5,000 instead of the proposed $50.

  • E12
    Tornado
    Aired · Tue, Feb 6, 1979 · 30m

    A tornado hits Cincinnati and catches the staff unprepared.

  • E13
    Goodbye, Johnny (1)
    Aired · Tue, Feb 20, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny is offered a job in California at three times his present salary.

  • E14
    Johnny Comes Back (2)
    Aired · Tue, Feb 27, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny returns and finds that his old job has already been filled.

  • E15
    Never Leave Me, Lucille
    Aired · Tue, Mar 6, 1979 · 30m

    Herb anticipates a swinging bachelor life after separating from his wife.

  • E16
    I Want to Keep My Baby
    Aired · Tue, Mar 13, 1979 · 30m

    A baby is left in a basket on the doorstep of the radio station.

  • E17
    A Commercial Break
    Aired · Tue, Mar 27, 1979 · 30m

    The staff tries to create an appealing advertising campaign for a mortician.

  • E18
    Who is Gordon Sims?
    Aired · Tue, Apr 3, 1979 · 30m

    Venus mysteriously refuses to let a photo of himself appear in a newspaper ad.

  • E19
    I Do, I Do... For Now
    Aired · Tue, Apr 24, 1979 · 30m

    Jennifer's childhood sweetheart arrives to make her keep her vow to marry him.

  • E20
    Young Master Carlson
    Aired · Tue, May 1, 1979 · 30m

    When Arthur Carlson Jr. is kicked out of military school, his grandmother decides he should learn the radio business.

  • E21
    Fish Story
    Aired · Tue, May 29, 1979 · 30m

    On the day Carlson and Travis are being interviewed by a newspaper, everything around them goes wrong in the silliest way possible.

  • E22
    Preacher
    Aired · Tue, Jun 5, 1979 · 30m

    A 300-pound wrestler-turned-preacher causes problems by selling fake religious artifacts on his Sunday morning broadcast.

Season 2
24 episodes · 24 aired
▾
  • E1
    For Love or Money (1)
    Aired · Tue, Sep 18, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny's ex-girlfriend comes to town and threatens him with a palimony suit.

  • E2
    For Love or Money (2)
    Aired · Tue, Sep 25, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny learns the real reason his ex-girlfriend is suing him.

  • E3
    Baseball
    Aired · Tue, Oct 16, 1979 · 30m

    Les arranges a softball game with rival radio station WPIG.

  • E4
    Bad Risk
    Aired · Tue, Oct 23, 1979 · 30m

    Herb manages to sell Les enough insurance coverage for six men after the newsman is involved in a bizarre accident.

  • E5
    Jennifer Falls in Love
    Aired · Tue, Oct 30, 1979 · 30m

    Jennifer falls for a poor but handsome man.

  • E6
    Carlson for President
    Aired · Tue, Nov 6, 1979 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson discovers the hazards of politics when he runs for a seat on the city council.

  • E7
    Mike Fright
    Aired · Tue, Nov 13, 1979 · 30m

    Johnny loses his ability to talk on the air when a flippant remark gets him in trouble with City Hall.

  • E8
    Patter of Little Feet
    Aired · Tue, Nov 27, 1979 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson's wife announces she is pregnant.

  • E9
    Baby, If You've Ever Wondered
    Aired · Tue, Dec 4, 1979 · 30m

    Everyone at the station is happy to learn that they've gone from 16th to 14th in the market... except Andy.

  • E10
    Bailey's Big Break
    Aired · Tue, Dec 11, 1979 · 30m

    Les feels threatened by Bailey's promotion to on-air newscaster.

  • E11
    Jennifer's Home for Christmas
    Aired · Tue, Dec 18, 1979 · 30m

    Everyone, with the exception of Jennifer, is anxious to leave the staff Christmas party.

  • E12
    Sparky
    Aired · Mon, Dec 24, 1979 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson hires baseball manager Sparky Anderson as the host of a new sports show.

  • E13
    God Talks to Johnny
    Aired · Tue, Jan 1, 1980 · 30m

    Johnny thinks he is going insane when he hears God talking to him.

  • E14
    A Family Affair
    Aired · Tue, Jan 8, 1980 · 30m

    Andy's prejudices are revealed when he is angered over a date between his sister and Venus.

  • E15
    Herb's Dad
    Aired · Tue, Jan 15, 1980 · 30m

    Herb's father runs away from the rest home and shows up for an unwelcome visit.

  • E16
    Put Up or Shut Up
    Aired · Tue, Jan 22, 1980 · 30m

    Jennifer decides to call Herb's bluff by finally accepting a date with him.

  • E17
    The Americanization of Ivan
    Aired · Tue, Jan 29, 1980 · 30m

    A Soviet defector turns to Bailey for help.

  • E18
    Les' Groupie
    Aired · Tue, Feb 5, 1980 · 30m

    An overzealous fan invades Les' life.

  • E19
    In Concert
    Aired · Tue, Feb 12, 1980 · 30m

    The entire WKRP staff is overcome with feelings of guilt and anger after a major rock concert they helped to promote results in the death of eleven concertgoers. This episode directly referenced The Who concert disaster at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum on December 3, 1979.

  • E20
    The Doctor's Daughter
    Aired · Tue, Feb 19, 1980 · 30m

    Johnny's grown-up daughter shows up with her shiftless boyfriend.

  • E21
    Filthy Pictures (1)
    Aired · Tue, Mar 4, 1980 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson learns that the photographer who took promotional photos of Jennifer secretly photographed her as she was changing.

  • E22
    Filthy Pictures (2)
    Aired · Tue, Mar 4, 1980 · 30m

    After the nude photos of Jennifer and the blackmail plot is revealed, the radio staff tries to recover the photos and negatives from the unscrupulous photographer.

  • E23
    Venus Rising
    Aired · Tue, Mar 11, 1980 · 30m

    Venus is offered a higher paying job as the program director of a rival station.

  • E24
    Most Improved Station
    Aired · Tue, Apr 1, 1980 · 30m

    Johnny's co-workers become jealous when he receives a broadcasting award.

Season 3
22 episodes · 22 aired
▾
  • E1
    The Airplane Show
    Aired · Sun, Nov 2, 1980 · 30m

    Les takes it upon himself to cover the news in a World War I biplane.Flying stunts were performed by Harold Johnson, an accomplished aviator and then-serving mayor of Moraine, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati.

  • E2
    Jennifer Moves
    Aired · Sun, Nov 9, 1980 · 30m

    Jennifer is ecstatic about her new Victorian home on a quiet street until she meets her neighbors.

  • E3
    Real Families
    Aired · Sun, Nov 16, 1980 · 30m

    Herb's home is invaded by a TV crew documenting his family life for a show called "Real Families".

  • E4
    The Baby
    Aired · Sun, Nov 23, 1980 · 30m

    The Carlsons' childbirth preparations appear to be wasted when Arthur gets cold feet just before entering the delivery room.

  • E5
    Hotel Oceanview
    Aired · Sun, Nov 30, 1980 · 30m

    Andy, Herb and Mr. Carlson journey to Dayton in hopes of impressing a designer and landing her prestigious jeans account.

  • E6
    A Mile in My Shoes
    Aired · Sun, Dec 7, 1980 · 30m

    When Herb is called for jury duty, Andy takes over as salesman and Venus becomes program director.

  • E7
    Bah, Humbug
    Aired · Sun, Dec 21, 1980 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson falls asleep and is transported into a dream world populated by Christmas ghosts.

  • E8
    Baby, It's Cold Inside
    Aired · Sun, Jan 4, 1981 · 30m

    The station's furnace goes on the blink on a freezing day when Momma Carlson is visiting.

  • E9
    The Painting
    Aired · Sun, Jan 11, 1981 · 30m

    Herb purchases a painting from Mr. Carlson's church auction and tries to con Les into paying for half of it.

  • E10
    Daydreams
    Aired · Sun, Jan 18, 1981 · 30m

    A jittery Mr. Carlson tries out an important speech on the staff, with interesting results.

  • E11
    Frog Story
    Aired · Sun, Jan 25, 1981 · 30m

    Herb accidentally paints his 5-year-old daughter's pet frog pink.

  • E12
    Venus and the Man
    Aired · Sun, Feb 1, 1981 · 30m

    A station employee asks Venus to convince her 16-year-old not to drop out of school.The original broadcast of this episode featured a pre-credits sequence in which Loni Anderson, surrounded by the entire cast and crew, spoke directly to the viewing audience, breaking the Fourth Wall to welcome home those who had just returned from the Iran Hostage Crisis.

  • E13
    Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide (1)
    Aired · Sun, Feb 8, 1981 · 30m

    Johnny takes a job as a TV disco-show host.

  • E14
    Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide (2)
    Aired · Sun, Feb 8, 1981 · 30m

    Johnny's disco persona begins to spill even further into his personal life, as he goes out as Rip Tide at night and finds he enjoys the money and fame.

  • E15
    Ask Jennifer
    Aired · Sun, Feb 15, 1981 · 30m

    Andy and Herb convince Mr. Carlson to program a call-in advice show.

  • E16
    I Am Woman
    Aired · Sun, Feb 22, 1981 · 30m

    The staff unites in protest after learning that their landmark building is about to be leveled.

  • E17
    Secrets of Dayton Heights
    Aired · Sun, Mar 1, 1981 · 30m

    The Secret Service refuses to issue Les press credentials so he can attend a presidential press conference.

  • E18
    Out to Lunch
    Aired · Sun, Mar 15, 1981 · 30m

    The staff tries to help Herb find out if he has a drinking problem.

  • E19
    A Simple Little Wedding
    Aired · Sun, Mar 22, 1981 · 30m

    Twenty-five years after their elopement, Arthur and Carmen plan a "simple little wedding".

  • E20
    Nothing to Fear But...
    Aired · Sun, Mar 29, 1981 · 30m

    Everyone becomes paranoid after the station is robbed.

  • E21
    Till Debt Do Us Part
    Aired · Mon, Apr 6, 1981 · 30m

    A surprise telephone call from his ex-wife has Johnny convinced he's finally going to be free of alimony payments.

  • E22
    Clean Up Radio Everywhere
    Aired · Mon, Apr 13, 1981 · 30m

    A preacher who heads up a media task force to clean up radio makes WKRP his first Cincinnati stop.

Season 4
22 episodes · 22 aired
▾
  • E1
    An Explosive Affair (1)
    Aired · Thu, Oct 8, 1981 · 30m

    WKRP receives a bomb threat from the terrorist group "Black Monday," and Andy sends Johnny and Venus to broadcast from the transmitter while the station is being searched. Meanwhile, Mr. Carlson's former secretary visits, and he misreads her desire to meet for lunch.

  • E2
    An Explosive Affair (2)
    Aired · Thu, Oct 15, 1981 · 30m

    Andy realizes the threatened bomb is actually at the transmitter where he's sent Johnny and Venus. He tries to contact them, but Johnny has smashed the phone out of frustration over a missed bet on a horse. Luckily, with help from the police, Johnny and Venus get out before the bomb explodes.

  • E3
    The Union
    Aired · Thu, Oct 22, 1981 · 30m

    While the station's employees consider unionizing, Mr. Carlson deals with feelings of betrayal.

  • E4
    Rumors
    Aired · Thu, Oct 29, 1981 · 30m

    Johnny stays at Bailey's place while his apartment is being fumigated, leading to rumors that the two are having a sexual affair.

  • E5
    Straight from the Heart
    Aired · Thu, Nov 5, 1981 · 30m

    Herb secretly checks into a hospital for heart tests, but then sneaks out and takes Les to a 3D pornographic movie.

  • E6
    Who's on First?
    Aired · Thu, Nov 12, 1981 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson has to pretend to be Herb to make a sale while Herb is in the hospital, while Les pretends to be Mr. Carlson, and Johnny pretends to be Andy to avoid paying a gambling debt.

  • E7
    Three Days of the Condo
    Aired · Thu, Nov 19, 1981 · 30m

    Johnny receives a $24,000 legal settlement from the L.A. station that fired him. To stop Johnny from wasting the windfall, Venus advises Fever to invest in a condo at Gone With the Wind Estates.

  • E8
    Jennifer and the Will
    Aired · Thu, Dec 3, 1981 · 30m

    After Jennifer's elderly boyfriend Colonel Buchanan dies while out on a date with her, she discovers she has been named executrix of his will.

  • E9
    The Consultant
    Aired · Thu, Dec 31, 1981 · 30m

    Mama Carlson hires a professional radio consultant to evaluate WKRP, and the consultant threatens Andy with a bad report unless the station subscribes to his programming services.

  • E10
    Love, Exciting and New
    Aired · Thu, Jan 7, 1982 · 30m

    Andy goes out with Lillian to discuss getting a new transmitter for the station, but Lillian has other plans when she realizes that everyone thinks she and Andy are dating.

  • E11
    You Can't Go Out of Town Again
    Aired · Thu, Jan 14, 1982 · 30m

    Mr. Carlson learns that his wife Carmen first went out with him in college only because her sorority dared her to date someone on the "dip list."

  • E12
    Pills
    Aired · Thu, Jan 21, 1982 · 30m

    WKRP has to do commercials for a client whose "diet pills" are actually a legalized form of speed.

  • E13
    Changes
    Aired · Thu, Jan 28, 1982 · 30m

    Venus tries to act and dress more stereotypically "black" to prepare for an interview with a militant magazine, whose writer turns out to be white; meanwhile, Herb adopts a classier image with Jennifer's help.

  • E14
    Jennifer and Johnny's Charity
    Aired · Thu, Feb 4, 1982 · 30m

    Class conflict is in the air when Johnny's friends from the fire-damaged Vine Street Mission meet Jennifer's wealthy friends who are preparing to donate money to rebuild it.

  • E15
    I'll Take Romance
    Aired · Thu, Feb 18, 1982 · 30m

    Les goes out with a woman he met through a computer dating service, not realizing the service is a front for prostitution.

  • E16
    Circumstantial Evidence
    Aired · Thu, Feb 25, 1982 · 30m

    Venus's latest date gives him an expensive diamond earring as a gift and then runs out on him; it turns out that she's a thief who has used the stolen earring to frame Venus as her accomplice.

  • E17
    Fire
    Aired · Thu, Mar 18, 1982 · 30m

    Herb and Jennifer are stuck in an elevator together when a fire shuts down the Flimm Building.

  • E18
    Dear Liar
    Aired · Thu, Mar 25, 1982 · 30m

    In a take-off on the Janet Cooke scandal, Bailey writes a news story on the Northside Children's Clinic, Les steals it and reads it on the air. This turns out to be a blow to the station's integrity in more ways than one when Bailey admits that she fictionalized part of the story.

  • E19
    The Creation of Venus
    Aired · Thu, Apr 1, 1982 · 30m

    When Venus lets it slip that he was a schoolteacher before he came to WKRP, Andy has to tell Mama Carlson the truth about how he hired Gordon Sims as a DJ and how they came up with the persona of Venus Flytrap.

  • E20
    The Impossible Dream
    Aired · Thu, Apr 8, 1982 · 30m

    Egged on by his mother, Les announces that he is going to fulfil his lifelong dream by going to New York to audition for the CBS Evening News.

  • E21
    To Err is Human
    Aired · Thu, Apr 15, 1982 · 30m

    Herb screws up yet again and Mr. Carlson is finally ready to fire him, but Jennifer tries to find a way to save Herb's job by talking to the businessman Herb offended. (This was actually the last episode filmed for the series).

  • E22
    Up and Down the Dial
    Aired · Thu, Apr 22, 1982 · 30m

    The new ratings arrive, and WKRP has finally become a successful station, rising to #6 in the Cincinnati market with Johnny Fever as the #1 DJ. But when a new news director shows up and says he was hired by Mama Carlson, Andy soon finds out that she plans to change the station to a 24-hour news format.