WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete Series

Hugh Wilson's colorful sitcom about a nuthouse radio station jolted out of its easy-listening coma into a new rock format lasted only four seasons but developed a loyal audience and became even more popular in syndication. Gary Sandy and Gordon Jump were the ostensible stars, as amiable program director Andy Travis and ineffectual but likeable station manager Arthur Carlson, respectively; but it was the chemistry among the ensemble players that made things click: Howard Hesseman as zoned-out deejay Dr. Johnny Fever, Frank Bonner as smarmy sales manager Herb Tarleck, Richard Sanders as humorless newsman Les Nessman, Loni Anderson as glamorous receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, Tim Reid as mellow nighttime host Venus Flytrap, and Jan Smithers as meek programming assistant Bailey Quarters. The legendary first-season Thanksgiving installment “Turkeys Away” (involving a publicity stunt with live birds dropped from a helicopter) gave the show buzz; and Wilson sometimes brought serious issues into the scripts, including Vietnam and desertion in the episode “Who Is Gordon Sims?” An earlier release of the first season by Fox Home Video enraged fans because Fox replaced almost all of the deejay cues with generic library music. For this release, Shout! Factory licensed the songs that they could (and found appropriate substitutions for others), a satisfying solution that honors the original series, which has been one of the most requested TV shows on disc. Compiling all 88 episodes from 1978–82, extras include a cast reunion, and interviews with Sandy and Anderson. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)