Ep. 55 - Daydreams

September 30, 2017

Writers: Peter Torokvei
Director: Rod Daniel
Original Air Date: January 17, 1981

As much as every episode of WKRP in Cincinnati is a strange episode, this one is stranger than most, in its structure and tone. This really feels like an episode written by committee, with each member of the staff perhaps being given one "daydream"to write and that Peter Torokvei gets the writing credit because he put the pieces together. I have no evidence of that other than the feeling I get from watching the show.

However, if I can still assume the entire episode was directed by one person, regular director Rod Daniel, then kudos to him, because each daydream looks and feels very different from the others which in turn feel very different from the "real life" of the big guy's speech. Some of the daydreams are very elaborate while others are not much more than a one joke set-up.

Here's a very geeky blogger's theory: I think the characters with the most elaborate daydreams (Herb, Les and Andy) are the characters who feel the trapped in their own lives and do the most daydreaming - they are really good daydreamers. Those characters who are most satisfied with their lives (Jennifer and Venus) have the simplest daydreams - they are only daydreaming because they are bored. Again I have no evidence the writers were putting that much thought into it, other than from watching the show.

In his book "Here on Gilligan's Island," Russell Johnson, who played the Professor, said his favourite episodes were the dream sequence ones ("Gilligan's Island" seemed to have a dream sequence every fifth episode) because all the actors got to play different roles than their usual characters. I would have to imagine the same is true for the actors in this episode. Everybody gets to play dress up! (except for Gordon Jump, who got to play a lot of dress up back at Christmas time, so we can't feel too bad for him). The best example of this is in Johnny's daydream of rock stardom, in which everyone gets in on the decedent rockstar lifestyle: Jennifer is the sexy limo driver; Andy is the sleazy promoter, Herb is a leather clad fan while Bailey is a wide-eyed groupie; Les is a... bowtied rock reporter? and Venus is the corn-rowed "Jamaican Doctor" to the rockstar.

But I'm starting at the end. Let's go back to the beginning. Mr. Carlson is nervous about giving the keynote address at the Annual Ohio Broadcasters Dinner. Let's not worry ourselves too much about how many people had to turn down this "honour" before it was bestowed to the General Manager of a mid-ranked AM rock radio station in Cincinnati. Or that Mr. Carlson is delivering a speech outlining the history of radio to an audience that would already have in depth knowledge of the history of radio. Carlson is nervous so Andy (with Jennifer's help) convinces him to test the speech out on the staff.

Note the knowing little wink Jennifer gives Mr. Carlson when she advises him to "imagine your audience is naked" to help him relax. It's as if she's giving him permission to do something naughty that she knows he'll like. In fact, she mentions it twice, and each time Carlson gets a good chuckle... at Andy's and Les's expense.

Johnny guesses at what Andy already knows when he moans "Oh God." It a fifth grade level speech, running through the historic highlights of the 20th century and the role radio played in them. It's starts by stating the obvious, radio is for speaking to the people, and this prompts the first daydream.

Herb is now "Franco" the dictator/monarch of a small South American country besieged by rebels (Franco must be a take-off on Frank Bonner's name). It's surprising to see that Herb's fantasy is all about romancing the most beautiful woman in his country - Jennifer - and not something more graphic. The fantasy is about being sauve, romantic, powerful - all the things the real Herb is not. Jennifer is just the conclusion of that. The best line of the episode is Franco's timing on "I too am in love with someone. The pope... has again refused my request for a divorce."

This then floats to a very simple daydream of Jennifer imagining herself being romanced by Cary Grant. It completely fits Jennifer's personality that she wouldn't imagine a more comtemporary heartthrob, say like Robert Redford, but a classic leading man, like... Les? who gives the wonderful reading on "I was wondering if you could pour something sticky all over me?" I don't know how you daydream, but I usually don't have random people popping up in my imagination to ruin the daydream. That's is just the connective tissue to the next dream.

Les is an interesting case because he lives in his daydream all the time. He has always seen himself as a modern day Edward R. Murrow, the legendary CBS newsman who made a name himself reporting on the European front of World War II. Being radio, Murrow needed to describe in florid detail what he was seeing and hearing around him. It was exciting for the time, but to modern ears, it sounds excessive and showy, like watching an opera on TV. But it's a style Nesman has always emulated. So to see him daydreaming of standing on a rooftop in mid-Blitz London, with an enamored "dame" at his side, waiting to have a few drinks with the boys,  is simply the lifestyle he has actually aspired to.

When you watch the end of this episode, you will notice the credits begin before the action ends and there is no epilogue scene. This is actually the longest single episode of WKRP as it runs about two minutes longer than the average. The "linking" device makes it difficult to cut anything out. I have read stories that Bailey's daydream sequence often got cut from syndication, however I clearly remember it airing. Having said all of that, it's easy to see why it would have been cut. It's boring. There are two jokes: one is that we are to figure out Bailey has become President of the United States. The other is that Johnny is her neglected First Spouse who is worried about "the social calendar" and longing for affection. Another way to say that is this: can you imagine a world in which a woman is the President of the United States and a man had to do all of the First Lady stuff? Har-de har har!!

Let's get past that very dated idea and look at some other stuff. Whereas Herb dreams of romancing Jennifer, Bailey actually daydreams about ignoring her spouse? Who daydreams about being a jerk? Also, this dream isn't either elaborate like Herb's or Les's, or simple like Jennifer's. It's just boring. More importantly, if we are to keep up the "linking device," shouldn't ANDY be the First Husband? I understand we have seen the flirtations between Bailey and Johnny in the past, but if the writers really wanted to show a shift in the power balance, having her boss in bed would be much more effective.

Andy's daydream is all about power, but it is interesting to note he is the only one daydreaming about being at the radio station. Andy's dream is all about getting respect from the actual staff and results for the actual station. Helping Herb land a big client and getting Johnny to play the playlist, all as an unquestionable mafia boss is what Andy desires. What's funny is that in this daydream, Johnny not playing the playlist is Don Travis's greatest problem - one that earns a Kiss of Death. Not Herb or Les or even Mama Carlson.

Venus's daydream simply doesn't make sense given what we know of the character. Even if we think he would want to be a standup comedian (Tim Reid is the only WKRP cast member who actually was a stand up comedian), why would he want to be a cheesy Vegas standup playing to "Sammy and Frankie"? Wouldn't he have wanted to be Richard Pryor? Also, like Jennifer, who gets their daydreams interrupted by outside characters? Neither Jennifer of Venus know how to daydream well. It really seems tacked on and, although I'm not a fan of Bailey's dream, I would much rather have cut this one for time in syndication.

At the end, Carlson's speech is a success, in that it is over. Carlson's daydream of delivering a successful speech has come true. "Frankly Andy, I think I stunned 'em!"

Roy

Other Notes: Is this my longest episode of the blog? Which two minutes need to be trimmed for syndication?