This critical episode guide is based on the author's viewing of the broadcast syndicated versions of all 90 WKRP episodes. Additional information for this guide was obtained through the author's interviews with the cast and production crew.

This episode guide is not in any way affiliated with the cast, crew, producers, distributors, or owners of the series WKRP in Cincinnati; information is presented here for critical review purposes only.

Credits
Andy Travis...................Gary Sandy
Arthur C. Carlson.............Gordon Jump
Johnny Fever..................Howard Hesseman
Jennifer Marlowe..............Loni Anderson
Venus Flytrap.................Tim Reid
Herbert R. Tarlek.............Frank Bonner
Les Nessman...................Richard Sanders
Bailey Quarters...............Jan Smithers

Created by....................Hugh Wilson
Original Music................Tom Wells
Episode 0001
"Pilot"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Jay Sandrich
In the words of DJ Johnny Caravella, WKRP in Cincinnati is "rock bottom." Playing music that is twenty years out of date, the station is losing $100,000 a year and foundering in the Cincinnati market. Run by the somewhat scatter-brained fishing fanatic Arthur Carlson, the station is owned by Carlson's mother, a heartless, domineering woman who loves money and hates rock and roll.

Enter Andy Travis, the new program director, who promises that his proposed rock format will allow the station to break even in the first year and make $800,000 the next. Carlson reluctantly gives Travis a free hand. Although Momma is initially upset, Andy convinces her to give it a try.

Episode 0002
"Pilot Part II"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Michael Zinberg
It has been two weeks since the format change and Andy is having his share of problems; not only has he been fighting with Momma Carlson, Herb Tarlek and Les Nessman — poor Andy can't even find his laundry. WKRP has steadily been losing some of its oldest accounts, Including Shady Hills Rest Home, Rolling Thunder European Regularity Tonic, and Bo-Peep Safety Shoes. Without any money to spend on promoting the format change, Andy solicits ideas for publicity stunts.

Meanwhile, a group of older citizens have assembled in the WKRP lobby to protest the format change. They not only demand the return of their elevator music, but also they want an on-air apology to Lawrence Welk. Andy quickly realizes that these old people are the key to the publicity stunt he has been looking for.

Additional Cast:
Wayne R. Coe..................Richard Stahl
Mrs. Burstyn..................Nedra Volz
Buzzy Milker..................Delos V. Smith

Episode 0003
"Preacher"
Written by Bill Dial
Directed by Michael Zinberg
In the opinion of the Greater Cincinnati Inter-Religious Council, WKRP's Reverend Little Ed Pembrook, the 300-pound ex-wrestler who is now the leader of "The Church of the Mighty Struggle," has overstepped the bounds of "good taste, good sense, and good religion." Little Ed is selling cheap religious artifacts such as John the Baptist Shower Curtains and Dead Sea Scroll Steak Knives on his hour long, 8:00 am Sunday radio show. The question facing Andy and Carlson: How do you tell the man who once threw Haystack Calhoun out of a wrestling ring and into a soda pop machine that he is through?

Additional Cast:
Rev. Little Ed Pembrook.......Michael Keenan
Sister of Mercy #1............Mary Steel Smith
Sister of Mercy #2............Cynthia Szigeti
Sister of Mercy #3............Suzanne Kent
Rev. Drinkwater...............John Chappel
Father Riley..................Arthur Malet
Rabbi Fishbein................Jeremiah Morris

Episode 0004
"Hoodlum Rock"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Michael Zinberg
What is the difference between punk rock and hoodlum rock? According to the band Scum of the Earth, punk rockers dress deplorably and they do not physically attack their audience. Regardless of this, Andy thinks that "Scum"will make a perfect first concert for WKRP to promote. Though the band members appear to be more trouble then they are worth, the concert pays off in the end.

Additional Cast:
Steve Pievy...................Ned Wertimer
Blood.........................Peter Elbling
Dog...........................Michael Des Barres
Sir Nigel Weatherbee..........Jim Henderson
Waiter........................Chick Waters

Episode 0005
"Les on a Ledge"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Asaad Kelada
What happens when one of "journalism's most trusted voices" gets accused of being a homosexual and is banned from doing sports reports from the stadium locker room? This is the problem that faces Les Nessman, five-time winner of the Buckeye News Hawk award.

Convinced his career is over, Les steps out on the ledge of Carlson's office and, quoting from Hamlet, contemplates suicide. Although everyone tries their best to bring Les back in, it takes an apology from the baseball player who had Nessman banned.

Watch for this episode's teaser: In one of the most famous Nessman scenes, Les refers to golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez as "Chi' Chi' Rod-wa-gweeze."

Episode 0006
"Bailey's Show"
Written by Joyce Armor and Judie Neer
Directed by Asaad Kelada
The shy, yet ambitious, Bailey has been given the opportunity to produce a public affairs program called "Cincinnati Beat." After getting Johnny to agree to host the program, Bailey faces one major obstacle — finding a suitable guest that has something worthwhile to say.

Additional Cast:
Dr. Hyman Monroe..............Woodrow Parfrey
Mrs. Woodruff.................Kathryn Ish
Roxanne.......................Casey Brown
Mr. Eisenhower................Berry Kroeger

Episode 0007
"Hold Up"
Written by Tom Chehak
Directed by Asaad Kelada
Finally, Herb has found a potential advertising client that fits WKRP's new rock format. Del Murdoch, the fast-talking, ever-hyper owner of Del's Stereo and Sound is one salesman who is perhaps even less scrupulous than Herb. Del's motto: "No refunds."

Though Herb makes the sale, which includes a live remote, things rapidly fall apart. Station Engineer Bucky Rouse destroys some of Del's shoddy Japanese merchandise. When they start the remote, the power goes out. Once they get back on the air, the only customer who shows up ends up being an out of work DJ who hijacks the show.

This is the first show to mention that WKRP was the 16th station in an 18 station market; it also noted that WPIG was Cincinnati's number one station.

Additional Cast:
Del Murdoch...................Hamilton Camp
Bucky Dornster................Bill Dial
Bob Burnatt...................Gary Goodrow
Policeman #1..................Hugh Wilson
Other cop.....................Tom Chehak
Other cop.....................Blake Hunter

Episode 0008
"Turkey's Away"
Written by Bill Dial
Directed by Michael Zinberg
It is 45-degrees and cloudy in Cincinnati, and poor Arthur Carlson is feeling dejected. Even though he is the station manager, he is not "allowed" to do anything. Jennifer keeps him from all the important calls and mail, Herb and Les brush off his questions with curt responses, and all Fever can do is deliver sarcastic comments.

Making his stand, Carlson decides to take total control of the station, including promotions. Coming up with an idea that he says will make radio history, Carlson, Herb and Les prepare for their infamous turkey drop. When the turkeys end up plummeting to the ground like "sacks of wet cement," all Carlson can say is: "As God as my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly."

WKRP's most famous episode, this was one of the first to clearly define the split that existed between Les, Herb, and Carlson and the station's "more casually dressed" employees. This rift would be explored more fully in later episodes, as well.

It also features the classic scene in which Les patterns his description of the Turkey drop after the famous Hindenburg crash report.

Episode 0009
"Goodbye Johnny"
Written by Blake Hunter
Directed by Asaad Kelada
It is a 14-degree, windy, snowy day, but even the weather can not mar Dr. Fever's spirits; while Cincinnati digs out of its vicious snowstorm, Fever plays "Surfin' USA." It is not just part of his "Seasonal Cincinnati Snow Shoe Stomp." Indeed, thanks to poetic justice, Fever is L.A. Bound; he has received a job offer from the top competitor of the L.A. station that fired him.

Instead of being happy, the rest of the crew is upset at the prospect of losing Fever. Throwing him a farewell party, the gang hopes to convince Fever to stay. Touched as he is, Fever takes the L.A. job.

A number of little trivia items are presented in this episode, including Fever's original salary, which was $17,500. It was also the first episode to feature Edie McClurg as Herb's wife.

Episode 0010
"Johnny Comes Back"
Written by Blake Hunter
Directed by Asaad Kelada
With Fever gone, this continuation of "Goodbye Johnny" has Andy looking for a new replacement for the morning drive time. Against his better judgment, Andy agrees to audition Doug Winner, a DJ suggested by sleazy record promoter Murray Gressler. After Andy hires Winner, Fever returns to WKRP — he got fired from the L.A. job for swearing on the air. (When Fever recounts the story of his ouster to the gang, he repeats the obscenity that got him fired. Though it is bleeped out in the episode, Hesseman recalls that he either said "F*** You" or "Tough S***.")

Unable to place Fever in drive time, Andy gives Johnny the midnight to 6:00 am slot. However, when it is discovered that Winner is a coke addict being supplied by Gressler, Winner is fired and Fever regains his show.

Additional Cast:
Doug Winner...................Philip Charles MacKenzie
Murray Gressler...............Jeff Altman
Mason Nobel...................Sam Anderson

Episode 0011
"Love Returns"
Written by Bill Dial
Directed by Asaad Kelada
Although the series was originally going to concentrate more on the Andy Travis character, this is one of the few episodes that actually did. When Andy's ex-girlfriend Linda Taylor, now a big pop singer, stops into Cincinnati for a concert, Andy and Linda rekindle their old flame. As things heat up for the former lovers, Andy must decide whether to keep his job at WKRP or pursue a full-time relationship with Linda.

Meanwhile, Fever and Venus try their luck at picking a suitable winner for the station's "Win a Date with a DJ" contest. Venus fares okay with his date, but Fever winds up with a guy named Kim.

This episode also features the first appearance of Les's mobile News Gathering Unit (a motor scooter) and the first reference to Carlson's wife Carmen.

Additional Cast:
Linda Taylor..................Barrie Youngfellow
Howard R. Sternworthy.........Hugh Gillin
Roadie Ray....................Mickey McMeel

Episode 0012
"I Want to Keep My Baby"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Asaad Kelada
An unwed teenage mother who feels that she has no one else in the world to turn to leaves her baby with Dr. Fever. Wanting to give the mother a chance to come back for the baby, Fever and the rest of the gang take care of the little girl.

Additional Cast:
Mrs. Brown....................Mary Betten
Mr. Hudspeth..................Michael Flanagan
The Baby......................Danny Openden

Episode 0013
"Fish Story"
Written by Hugh Wilson
under the name "Raoul Plager"
Directed by Asaad Kelada
Andy picks the worse day for a reporter to visit the station. Venus and Fever are involved in an on-air drunk driving campaign that goes awry. Herb, running around in a giant Carp suit, along with Les and Bailey, wind up in jail, and the WPIG pig mascot destroys the WKRP lobby.

Hugh Wilson wrote this under an assumed name because he thought it was the silliest episode he had ever written. Ironically, it was the highest rated episode of the series.

Additional Cast:
Pig...........................Lee Bergere
Officer Plyler................Jerry Hardin
Quentin Stone.................M.G. Kelly
The Painter...................Jack O'Leary
Student #1....................Francis Sermier
Student #2....................Fred Fisher
Student #3....................Marty Halfond
Student #4....................Michael Carpita
Student #5....................Lief Bristow
Security Officer..............Steven Wright

Episode 0014
"The Contest Nobody Could Win"
Written by Casey Piotrowski
Directed by Asaad Kelada
When Fever accidentally misreads a memo and tells his listeners that they can win $5,000 in the station's "Mystery Music Contest," — the prize was supposed to be $50 — Andy and the gang must come up with a contest that would be impossible to win. Despite their stringing six short snatches of songs that would be seemingly impossible to discern, the second caller correctly names the songs.

When Herb convinces Carlson that the foul-up was because of the inherent difference between "the suits" and "the dungarees," (another reference to the old and new guard at WKRP), Carlson decides to take over all promotions, including the presentation of the $5,000. However, when "the suits" hand the money over to a con man, it is Fever to the rescue.

The songs used in the contest were: "Too Wild to Tame," by The Boys; "Tumbling Dice," by the Stones; "YMCA" by the Village People; "Dankeschoene" by Wayne Newton; "Straight On" by Heart; and "The Star Spangled Banner."

Additional Cast:
Don Pesola #1.................Vincent Schiavelli
Don Pesola #2.................Tracey Walter
Photographer #1...............Ken Hill
Photographer #2...............Gary Devaney

Episode 0015
"Mama's Review"
Written by Hugh Wilson
Directed by Asaad Kelada
Arthur Carlson, who has been manager of WKRP since 1955, is nervously awaiting the arrival of his mother. Saying he would rather face a Sumo wrestler than one of his mother's quarterly reviews, Carlson warns Andy that, before the meeting is over, Momma will either cut the budget or fire somebody.

Through a series of flashbacks, Arthur and Andy go on to justify some of the strange occurrences at WKRP. This was the first episode aired after the mid-season hiatus, and the first to feature Carol Bruce in the recurring role of Lillian Carlson.

Episode 0016
"A Date with Jennifer"
Written by Richard Sanders & Michael Fairman
Directed by Asaad Kelada
It is 57-degrees and cloudy, but the world is a bright place for Les Nessman, who has just been chosen to receive the coveted Silver Sow Award from the Peter Piper Pork Packer's Guild. One problem — Les needs a date for the award banquet.

Much to Herb's dismay, Jennifer agrees to accompany Les. However, when Herb convinces the Big Guy to institute a policy against employee dating, Les has to decide whether or not to defy the new orders.

This was the first episode to feature Les' tape-outline office, with the tape representing the walls that Les felt his newsroom should have.

Episode 0017
"Tornado"
Written by Blake Hunter
Directed by Will MacKenzie
No one takes Les seriously when he insists that the station should be more concerned with civil defense preparation. However, when a series of tornadoes strike the Cincinnati area, the staff quickly changes their opinion. When Andy is knocked unconscious from the wreckage of a broken window, it is up to Les and Carlson to lead the team. Leaving behind the group of Japanese tourist who are visiting the station, Carlson proves his mettle when he saves the life of a little girl during a live phone call.

Additional Cast
Jose Rodriguez................Rene Enriquez
1st Japanese Executive........David Chow
2nd Japanese Executive........Bill Saito

Episode 0018
"Young Master Carlson"
Written by Blake Hunter and Hugh Wilson
Directed by Will MacKenzie
The Big Guy is having a problem with his "little guy;" Arthur's 11-year-old son has run away from Prussian Valley Military School to live with Momma Carlson, who suggests that Arthur find a job at the station for Little Arthur. When the child proves to be nothing more than a sexist, bigoted terror, The Big Guy has to lay down the law — a chore that does not come easy to Carlson.

Episode 0019
"Never Leave Me, Lucille"
Written by Bill Dial
Directed by Asaad Kelada
Les gets a surprise in the bullpen as he goes through his morning exercise routine — Herb, who has spent the night at the station, has left his wife Lucille. Les desperately tries to change Herb's mind, but to no avail. Telling Andy that the break-up is permanent, Herb calls on the intercom to Jennifer and tells her that he is a free man. Jennifer, her worst fear realized, quickly hangs up in terror.

When Fever draws the short-straw and gets custody of Herb — and Herb's "Bullfighter on Velvet" painting — the rest of the unmarried boys show Herb how rotten single life is; they eventually convince Herb to go back to Lucille.

Episode 0020
"A Commercial Break"
Written by Richard Sanders and Michael Fairman
Directed by Rod Daniel
How can WKRP say no to $600 a day in advertising revenue? That is the problem facing Andy and Carlson when Ferryman's Funerals, one of the largest funeral home chains in the nation, wants to place a hip, upbeat ad campaign with the station. At first the gang is very enthusiastic, coming up with a catchy jingle to sell Ferryman's pre-need service. Carlson thinks the spot is in bad taste, and, as much as he regrets it, turns down Ferryman's $18,000 advance on the contract.

Episode 0021
"I Do, I Do...For Now"
Written by Tom Chehak
Directed by Will Mackenzie
Jennifer is surprised when T.J. Watson, her old boyfriend from her hometown of Rock Throw, West Virginia, shows up to cash in on an old debt — the lovely Jennifer Elizabeth once promised to marry T.J. Desperate to get the guitar picking, good-old-boy off her back, she claims that she is already married — to Johnny Fever.

T.J. — a man not to be toyed with — is not easily dissuaded. He decides to stay around to see that everything is fine between Fever and Jennifer. When the gang assembles for a little party at Jennifer's apartment, they discover that T.J. is actually a very talented singer. In the meantime, T.J. discovers that Jennifer has been lying about her marriage to Fever. Though he does not get the girl, T.J. does end up getting his song recorded.

Episode 0022
"Who is Gordon Sims?"
Written by Tom Chehak
Directed by Rod Daniel
When Venus refuses to let Herb and Les take a picture of him for a promotional advertisement, the whole WKRP staff begins to wonder what is wrong. Realizing that they do not even know the DJ's real name, Les and Herb begin to suspect that Venus is hiding something — and they are right: Venus, a/k/a Gordon Sims, was a Vietnam deserter.

Though Venus' first instinct is to cut and run, Carlson convinces the DJ to turn himself into the Army and take his chances. Tired of running, Venus reluctantly agrees. When it comes out that Venus actually deserted after completing his combat duty, the investigating officer finds that a general discharge is in order. Though he has to remain on the base for a couple of weeks while the paper work is processed, Venus — and Gordon Sims — are finally free.