America's Favorite Radio Station : WKRP in Cincinnati

Although it became one of the most successful programs in syndicated television history, WKRP in Cincinnati faced an uphill struggle trying to obtain prime-time success. Kassel chronicles the decisions and problems that affected WKRP's primetime success, and explores the reasons why it went on to become a classic. Although it has become one of the most successful programs in syndicated television history, WKRP in Cincinnati faced an uphill struggle trying to obtain prime-time success. America's Favorite Radio Station chronicles the decisions and problems that affected WKRP's prime-time success, and explores the reasons why WKRP went on to become a classic TV sitcom. By combining oral history with literary analysis, author Michael Kassel weaves a narrative of the behind-the-scenes actions and on-camera hilarity that resulted in WKRP. Based on extensive interviews with key WKRP personnel, America's Favorite Radio Station leaves most of the explanations for WKRP's triumphs and problems in the hands of the series' writers, producers and stars, whose quotes make up the bulk of this work. In addition to addressing the particular history and significance of WKRP, this work provides students of the media and popular culture with insights regarding four important questions: How does a series make it to and survive (or fail) in prime time? What are the factors that combine to create a classic, and can those factors be repeated successfully with other programs? How does misleading information by media critics affect our popular culture artifacts? And, finally, how do network decisions affect the success or failure of a TV sitcom? The story of WKRP is one of struggle, innovation, success, failure, and lasting impressions. Ultimately, this work provides the long-overdue recognition of the collective genius that created what truly has become America's favorite radio station. Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 WKRP Creative Alumni 12 Preface 16 Introduction 18 Chapter One: The Concept 22 Chapter Two: Casting 29 Chapter Three: The Pilot 52 Chapter Four: The First Season 66 Chapter Five: The Second Season 86 Chapter Six: The Third Season 102 Chapter Seven: The Fourth Season 115 Chapter Eight: Epilogue 130 Photographs 140 The Episode Guide 153 Credits 153 The First Season Episodes 154 The Second Season Episodes 167 The Third Season Episodes 183 The Fourth Season Episodes 198 Notes 213 Works Cited 214 Appendix A 217 Appendix B 220 Author believes that traditional definitions of literacy are out of date, as they refer only to reading skills, but overlook the fact that people may be literate in understanding other media such as television, as well as sports or leisure Discusses the creation, production, characters, and the 90 episodes of the comedy program