November 27, 2014
Writers: Joyce Armor and Judie Neer
Director: Asaad Kelada
Original Air Date: October 23, 1978
Let's start discussing this episode without talking about gender.
This is the story of a young, wannabe executive who embraces an opportunity that no one else even cares about. This person soon discovers the job is much more difficult then they imagined, filled with difficult people, so this person has a breakdown. Bullies tell them they are no good at this job, so there is another breakdown. But the young wannabe moves forward, and... it turns into a terrible disaster! The wannabe has another breakdown! Finally this person summons up the courage to fight for another chance, shouting down the bullies in the process. Courage wins the day and new respect is found.
That's a pretty standard story as it stands. What makes this episode funny is the specific stuff that happens within this episode. In this way, it is very different from the episodes we've already seen, wherein the premise itself is ridiculous, and the show just piles more funny stuff on to that (ie elderly protesters invading the station or a remote show getting hijacked)
Also, count all of those breakdowns! Three in 22 minutes. That just comes off as manipulative by the writers. Wouldn't this character have our support with even just one crying jag?
But then my opinion flips again. There is some very funny stuff in here. Mrs. Woodruff's story about her alien abduction is straightforwardly crazy, but Venus' reactions are fantastic. His "Did this place have heavy metal screens on the windows" line puts the whole rest of her story in context and makes Bailey's squirming even funnier. In fact, this is Venus' best show so far. As well, the sight of Johnny digging through the trash, finding the remnants from Venus' late night date, is also good.
Of course, Johnny's interview with Dr. Hyman Monroe is the gonzo highlight of the show. If you have ever listened to talk radio, you know that opening up the phone lines is almost always a clarion call for crackpot opinion. I don't know what makes him so crazy though... I have children and their eating habits ARE disgusting.
The show all builds to that one very funny scene. Which is good, but I don't think this is a particularly interesting episode... until you add back in the gender factor.
Because this isn't just any "young wannabe executive" - this is Bailey. It's a young WOMAN who cries three times, once in front of her boss. How much of Herb's bullying is because he feels a woman shouldn't be producing this show? How much would Jennifer be backing Bailey up if she were a man? Having said this, how would you as an audience member react to what Bailey goes through if she were a man?
Look who the writers of this show are. It's two women, for the first time ever on this show. Remember this is 1978. You would have to think this is some reflection of experiences this writers have had to face in reality.
In the end, I wish the writers had given Bailey even more craziness to deal with with less manipulation of me. Six episodes in, I already like Bailey because she's been a likable PERSON. I already want to see her succeed. Show me how much she really can handle.
Roy
This is a funny episode with some great jokes in there, as well as sight gags - the scene with Hyman Munroe almost swatting Johnny with the info graphic card is great.
ReplyDeleteAgain, the guest casting is part of what makes this episode so good. Both Mrs Woodruff and Mr Munroe are excellently cast, and give funny performances. The scene with Bailey, Venus, and Mrs Woodruff is very funny, and played purely for laughs. The scene where Mr Munroe walks in and finds Bailey crying and comforts her works well against the later scene with him and Johnny (and the line "innovative theories in child psychology" is just brilliant considering what comes after!)
Everything works well here, everyone's character comes through probably better here than in the previous episodes. And to have Jennifer be the one who talks to Bailey and helps her turn things around and stand up to Herb and Les is a nice touch, foreshadowing how she will be in future episodes.
The gag with the fishing rod and lure in Carlson's office is another great piece of visual comedy from WKRP.
And at the end, when Bailey asks Carlson if everything he has ever done at WKRP has worked is a neat switching of things - now Bailey begins to take control of the situation and turn it to her advantage.
It's too bad that they didn't play it straight. Art Bell became a legend interviewing people like these.
ReplyDeleteEver read the 'America's Favorite Radio Station' book? I've read the chunk of it that's online to preview, and will probably own a copy soon. I'll casually keep up with this where I can: as the book mentions, many of these great guest actors knew Hesseman from his San Fransisco improv troupe.
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