Alex Carson
Attention all fans of classic TV sitcoms! Are you ready for a blast from the past that will make you laugh out loud? Today, we’ve got something special for you: a compilation of bloopers from one of the most beloved shows of the late 70s and early 80s, WKRP in Cincinnati!
If you’ve never seen this gem of a show, you’re in for a treat. Set in a struggling radio station in Ohio, WKRP follows the misadventures of its quirky staff. They try to boost ratings and navigate the many ups and downs of their personal and professional lives. The show’s unique blend of humor, heart, and rock-and-roll spirit makes it an instant hit with viewers. It remains a cult favorite to this day.
We love WKRP for its clever writing, memorable characters, and catchy theme song. We also have to admit that it wasn’t always smooth sailing behind the scenes. Like any long-running show, WKRP, shares bloopers, flubs, and outtakes that didn’t make it to the final cut. And lucky for us, some of those hilarious moments have been preserved for posterity.
So without further ado, get ready to chuckle as we present some of the funniest WKRP bloopers you’ve never seen. From botched lines to unexpected prop malfunctions, these will remind you why WKRP was one of the most charming and offbeat sitcoms of its era. And who knows, maybe you’ll discover a new favorite character or catchphrase along the way.
Factsverse Presents: This Photo is Not Edited, Look Closer at the WKRP in Cincinnati Blooper
Selling Himself Short
Les Nessman, the diligent newsman of WKRP, is famous for his achievement of winning the “Buckeye Newshawk Award” five times. There’s a memorable bathroom scene from the first season’s “Fish Story” episode. Les appears to have a lapse in memory regarding his proudest claim. Instead of confidently stating that he’s a five-time winner, he stumbles and says he’s only won the award twice. It’s a hilarious moment that showcases Les’s endearing quirks and reminds us. Even the most accomplished individuals can have an off day.
Marital Issues
The ever-bumbling Les Nessman is notorious for his lack of social graces and dating woes. It plays for laughs on the show. However, in a surprising twist, the actor who portrayed Les, Richard Sanders, was actually a married man in real life. In a scene from “In Concert”, sharp viewers notice that Sanders forgets to remove his wedding ring.
Pew Pew!
One of the most unforgettable moments from the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati sees our favorite radio DJ. Johnny Fever takes hostage by an aspiring disc jockey who robs a stereo store. In a bid to prove that the gun is empty, the delusional thief fires a shot at a nearby speaker. The bullet hole is clearly visible on the speaker, which then topples over. However, there’s a small hitch – when the speaker falls, the “bullet hole” falls off with it! The store owner panics during the incident, at least he can breathe a sigh of relief. He knows the damage to his equipment isn’t as bad as he thinks.
Drop The Needle
Die-hard WKRP enthusiasts pick up on a peculiar detail while watching their favorite radio DJs spin vinyl live on air. If you have a perceptive eye, you’ll notice that the records on the turntables occasionally experience some minor hiccups. Perhaps the record is spinning at the wrong speed or even completely backward! There’s one moment from the episode that will make you cringe harder than a deep scratch on a precious LP. Dr. Johnny Fever is playing a record, but the needle is resting on the label instead of the groove.
Another Audio Mishap
One of the most blatant blunders made by the WKRP DJs is when the record playing switches in between shots. In the classic episode “Turkeys Away,” there’s a prime example of this mistake. As the camera pans over to Venus Flytrap and then back to Johnny, you can see the label on the record abruptly changing from yellow to black. It’s a noticeable slip-up that can take you out of the moment, but hey, nobody’s perfect!
Real-World Momentos
Back in the late ’70s, when WKRP in Cincinnati first hit the small screen, radio DJs across the country thrills to see a show that depicts their industry in a way that never before. The series was so popular among actual radio DJs that they started sending in bumper stickers, posters, and other swag to decorate the walls of the TV radio station studio. This led to a fantastic display of music memorabilia and helped create an even more authentic atmosphere for the show. From rock to jazz, the walls were adorned with stickers and posters of different genres, making it a haven for music lovers. Needless to say, the show was a hit with radio DJs and music enthusiasts alike.
Going Up?
In one of the early, wackier episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati, appropriately titled “Hoodlum Rock,” Johnny Fever finds himself tasked with babysitting a group of rowdy rockers in a hotel room. Things quickly spiral out of control, culminating in the rockers tossing the hapless bellhop out of the window. As they survey the aftermath of their shenanigans, the rockers turn to Johnny and ask, “What floor are we on?” With a sly grin, Johnny deadpans, “First.” Unfortunately for him, sharp-eyed fans have pointed out that the level of the antique store sign outside the window suggests they’re actually on a higher floor. Poor bellhop indeed – at least he wasn’t the one caught in Johnny’s fib!
The Great Midwest Palm Trees?
In an amusing turn of events, Herb Tarlek’s family is chosen to appear on the reality show “Real Families” during WKRP in Cincinnati’s third season. As part of the documentary’s filming, footage is shot outside of Herb’s house and during his daily commute. Astute viewers might spot a curious detail in the background of these scenes – palm trees lining the roadside! Of course, this is because the show was filmed in Hollywood, a location far removed from the Ohio setting of WKRP. It’s a sly nod to the artifice of television production and a reminder that sometimes, reality TV isn’t always as “real” as it seems.
This One Goes to 71
The second season of WKRP in Cincinnati saw Venus Flytrap, the smooth-talking DJ, offered a coveted job as a program director at another radio station. While that’s not the source of any goofs, the real hilarity ensues when Herb Tarlek, WKRP’s own bumbling sales manager, tries to ride Venus’s coattails out of the station by claiming he’s been hired by “channel 71.” Viewers in the know might spot the problem with this statement – UHF channels only go up to 69! While it’s likely that the writers deliberately chose this number to highlight Herb’s ignorance and desire to piggyback on Venus’s success, it’s a fun detail that nitpicky fans can relish in.
Number Games
WKRP in Cincinnati was known for its comedic moments, but it also had its share of serious episodes, such as “Straight from the Heart.” In this episode, Herb is facing potential heart problems, and the rest of the crew does their best to persuade him to get medical tests. This leads to a tense bet between Bailey and Herb, where the outcome will determine whether or not he seeks medical attention. Bailey draws a card and declares it to be a “4,” but viewers later noticed that when the card is shown onscreen, it’s actually a 2. Perhaps Bailey was simply caught up in the moment and misread the card, or maybe she was trying to give Herb a bit of false hope. Either way, the scene adds to the tension and drama of an already gripping episode.
Cincinnato
As seen in this screengrab, Venus Flytrap liked to occasionally rock a jacket emblazoned with the word “Cincinnato”. We’re not sure where that is, but Cincinnati is spelled with an I, my guy. But, who knows, maybe Cincinnato was an endearing nickname that ol’ Flytrap had for the ‘nasty natty’.
Bandaged Up For Good
During the filming of the two-part pilot, actor Richard Sanders, who played Les Nessman, accidentally cut his finger and had to wear a bandage on air. However, instead of hiding the bandage, Sanders decided to incorporate it into his character’s persona, making it a recurring feature in every episode.
Les Nessman was known for being a bit of a hypochondriac and constantly worrying about his health and safety, so the bandage only added to his quirks. Fans of the show began to eagerly anticipate how Les would injure himself or what ailment he would come down with next, all while wearing his signature bandage.
Despite the accidental nature of its inception, the bandage became an integral part of Les Nessman’s character and remains a beloved and memorable aspect of WKRP in Cincinnati to this day.
Wait Till You See The Interior!
In the second season episode “Put Up or Shut Up” of WKRP in Cincinnati, Venus Flytrap delivers a memorable line to Herb Tarlek, who was known for his tasteless fashion sense. He quips, “Somewhere out there, there’s a Volkswagen with no seats.” It’s interesting to note that Herb actually wore a suit made from Volkswagen seat covers on the show, which adds a new layer of humor to the reference. Perhaps Venus Flytrap himself has spent a little too much time in the backseat of a Volkswagen?
What’s In A Name?
In a revealing interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Hugh Wilson, the creative mastermind behind WKRP in Cincinnati, shared an interesting tidbit about the show’s name. Wilson disclosed that the acronym WKRP actually stands for something quite unexpected – “crap”. As for why he chose Cincinnati as the show’s setting, it was a strategic decision that perfectly complemented the call sign. It just goes to show that sometimes, even the most innocent-sounding names can have a hidden meaning.
We’re just about out of time, but before we wrap things up, we’d love to hear from you. Which of these bloopers did you catch the first time watching WKRP in Cincinnati, and do you know of any others that we failed to mention? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thanks for watching!
