WKRP in Cincinnati: Season 1

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Wkrp In Cincinnati

Now Playing: Wkrp In Cincinnati

Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: September 18, 1978

Starring: Gordon Jump, Frank Bonner, Tim Reid

Summary: WKRP in Cincinnati, an MTM production, was created by Hugh Wilson, who had previously written scripts for MTM's The Bob Newhart Show and served as a producer on the short-lived MTM production The Tony Randall Show. MTM, which had not had a big comedy hit since Rhoda several years earlier, was counting on WKRP to revive the company'sWKRP in Cincinnati, an MTM production, was created by Hugh Wilson, who had previously written scripts for MTM's The Bob Newhart Show and served as a producer on the short-lived MTM production The Tony Randall Show. MTM, which had not had a big comedy hit since Rhoda several years earlier, was counting on WKRP to revive the company's reputation as the best producer of situation comedies.

WKRP debuted in a tough slot, 8:00 on Monday nights, followed by a forgettable and short-lived show called People. Despite strong reviews for the pilot episode, and some positive buzz for an episode called "Turkeys Away," WKRP did poorly in the ratings and was put on hiatus by CBS with five episodes still unaired. Most reports at the time suggested that this "hiatus" was likely to be permanent, but CBS surprised many by bringing the show back in January of 1979, again on Monday nights but this time following the long-running hit M*A*S*H. Though CBS claimed that the series had been "retooled" in the interim, not much had changed except the construction of a new set (the "bullpen" with desks for Les, Bailey, Herb and the DJs) and a slight shift in emphasis: Whereas earlier episodes had focused mostly on Andy Travis, Mr. Carlson and Johnny Fever, WKRP re-emerged as a true ensemble series in which all eight regular characters were of roughly equal importance.
In this new time slot, WKRP was a hit, part of a high-quality CBS Monday night lineup of M*A*S*H followed by three series from MTM: WKRP In Cincinnati, The White Shadow, and Lou Grant. Loni Anderson, as Jennifer, became a national sex symbol, while Howard Hesseman as Johnny Fever almost matched her in popularity. Early in 1980, however, CBS moved WKRP away from Monday nights, trying to find a night where it could anchor an uneven lineup. Unfortunately some CBS executives apparently did not care for WKRP, and other executives mistook it for a kids' show based on the rock n' roll music and loud clothes. Thus they had a habit of preceding and following it with shows that were much more lowbrow than the MTM-style humor of WKRP -- for example, on one night WKRP was followed by the Alice spin-off, Flo. In time slots like these, WKRP's ratings dropped badly.

The time-slot changes eventually became more frequent and more ill-considered as CBS looked for a spot where WKRP would finally fit in. The show also seems to have received only limited support from MTM (particularly after the departure of MTM founder Grant Tinker, who left to run NBC), which was busy conquering the world of hour long drama with shows like Hill Street Blues. In the summer of 1982, CBS announced that WKRP had been canceled.

To the surprise of almost everyone, WKRP finally became a breakout hit when its 90 episodes were released to syndication; its long life in syndication eventually made it, according to Grant Tinker, the biggest moneymaker in the history of MTM. Some cast members remarked that WKRP was a hit in reruns because viewers finally new where to find it.… Expand

Creator: Hugh Wilson

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E22. Preacher
Air Date: June 4, 1979
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S1:E21. Fish Story
Air Date: May 28, 1979
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S1:E20. Young Master Carlson
Air Date: April 30, 1979

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Seasons & Episodes

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Series Overview
Season 4

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- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: October 7, 1981
Season 3

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- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: November 1, 1980
Season 2

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- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 17, 1979
Season 1

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- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 1978
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  S1:E22. Preacher
  Air Date: June 4, 1979
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  S1:E21. Fish Story
  Air Date: May 28, 1979
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  S1:E20. Young Master Carlson
  Air Date: April 30, 1979
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  S1:E19. I Do, I Do... For Now
  Air Date: April 23, 1979
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  S1:E18. Who is Gordon Sims?
  Air Date: April 2, 1979
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  S1:E17. A Commercial Break
  Air Date: March 26, 1979
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  S1:E16. I Want to Keep My Baby
  Air Date: March 19, 1979
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  S1:E15. Never Leave Me, Lucille
  Air Date: March 5, 1979
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  S1:E14. Johnny Comes Back (2)
  Air Date: February 26, 1979
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  S1:E13. Goodbye, Johnny (1)
  Air Date: February 19, 1979
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  S1:E12. Tornado
  Air Date: February 5, 1979
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  S1:E11. The Contest Nobody Could Win
  Air Date: January 29, 1979
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  S1:E10. A Date With Jennifer
  Air Date: January 22, 1979
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  S1:E9. Mama's Review
  Air Date: January 15, 1979
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  S1:E8. Love Returns
  Air Date: November 6, 1978
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  S1:E7. Turkeys Away
  Air Date: October 30, 1978
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  S1:E6. Bailey's Show
  Air Date: October 23, 1978
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  S1:E5. Hold-Up
  Air Date: October 16, 1978
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  S1:E4. Hoodlum Rock
  Air Date: October 9, 1978
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  S1:E3. Les On a Ledge
  Air Date: October 2, 1978
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  S1:E2. Pilot (2)
  Air Date: September 25, 1978
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  S1:E1. Pilot (1)
  Air Date: September 18, 1978