Writer: Blake Hunter
Director: Asaad Kelada
Original Air Date: February 19, 1979
As I write this blog, the weather is pretty close to what Johnny describes in the cold open (get it? COLD open? Ha!). "A blistery 14 degrees (-10 C) with winds from the north at about a thousand miles an hour." I want to move to LA right now too.
That is probably my biggest issue with this episode: there is no good reason for Johnny to stay in the 24th ranked station in Cincinnati when he has a chance to go back to the second largest market in the country, that has 12 months of beach weather, to join the competition of the station that fired him for saying "Booger" on the air. Why shouldn't he? Because he has friends? Because Jennifer may, might, possible, someday sleep with him maybe?
Perhaps part of what makes "WKRP in Cincinnati" important to anyone reading a blog about it, is that the characters considered that station and the people in it so important to their own lives, that they continuously chose WKRP over what are objectively better offers from life. I'll keep that idea in mind as I watch future episodes.
I also noticed Venus' recurring roll now, as the guy who comes to Andy's rescue. In "The Contest Nobody Could Win" Venus thinks up the idea to splice the songs together too closely to be guessed. Here, when Andy is in jeopardy of losing his top DJ, it's Venus who comes up with the plan of shaming him into staying.
This whole episode is just building up to the banquet scene; a chance to see how each character dresses and acts outside of the station environment.
Before I get into that, may I just point out that this scene would never be filmed this way today? All the characters are sitting on one side of a long table like a recreation of "The Last Supper." Today, in a single-camera universe, one steadicam would be constantly circling the table, darting in and out of conversations.
Let's go down the table. Look where Johnny is: the very end of the table with practically one foot out the door, separated from the regular cast by a character we've never met before. This is a party to show Johnny how much he is loved and he couldn't be further away from his friends
Next is Herb and his wife Lucille (played by the incredible Edie McClurg. For a certain generation, this is probably the first thing you remember seeing her in, but just go to IMDB and see how many amazing supporting roles she has had; my favourite being in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."). Herb is embarrassed to have brought his wife and that's because she's acting embarrassingly. Herb, who is so concerned about appearances, is embarrassed to have a wife who is eating like a prisoner released from solitary. The question is not why wasn't Herb's wife invited but why was Herb invited. He obviously doesn't like Johnny, Johnny doesn't like him and he couldn't care less if Johnny stayed.
Frank Bonner and the great Edie McClurg
Andy is wearing the child of a suit and a leather couch. He's the one who needs Johnny to stay the most, but he's the one who can't go two sentences without telling Johnny the banquet is a scam. For all his smooth talking ways, Andy just can't be disingenuous. The funny thing is, he's NOT going to be disingenuous in his speech - he really DOES want Johnny to stay and really DOES feel they are friends. Way to go, Cowboy!
Master of Ceremonies Venus is next wearing the opposite of the traditional tux Mr. Carlson is wearing. The aspect of his personality we see hear is his ability to smile and push forward when everything is collapsing around him.
Next is Jennifer, and I wonder if Andy and Venus came to her and asked her to literally seduce Johnny into staying or if she just naturally knows that is her role. The reveal of that dress, the speech and her arm gestures as she speaks are all calculated. I also wonder what she would have done if Johnny had stayed. If Johnny came to work the next day and said "Jennifer, I really thought about everything you said and I really want to give us a try" would she have gone for that? I don't think it's likely and I think Johnny would know that too.
The funniest character is seeing Mr. Carlson drunk, although Gordon Jump doesn't really play drunk that well. It's funny to see that when drunk, Mr. Carlson is really just a loud version of himself - talking about fishing and distracted from what's really going on around him. Also that the only person who puts up listening to him at those times is Jennifer.
Bailey is no different at all. She is wearing the sort of flowing, belted outfits she almost always wears to work. She starts out painfully shy and then builds up her courage to give the most poignant speech of the night - like she always does, Honestly, Andy could have sent Johnny and Bailey out to lunch to get the same results.
Finally, Les is at his cockiest, which is nearly as funny as his most confused. Past president of the speech-makers club, this night has nothing to do about Johnny for him, but is a chance to impress his co-workers with his speech making abilities. What does stand out is, as things don't go well for him, how quickly he his ready to blame those around him, like Bailey and the waitress.
But Johnny does leave for LA. What will happen next?
"To Be Continued"
Also a note. The insert picture of the banquet hall is the Cricket Restaurant. This is a classic old restaurant in the grand Cincinnati Hotel. It was remodeled in 1987 and renamed the Cricket Lounge.
Roy
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