Writer: Blake Hunter
Director: Asaad Kelada
Original Air Date: February 26, 1979
This is a strange episode to be the second part of "Goodbye Johnny" as it is VERY different in tone and story from the first part. WKRP goes back to "very special episode" territory with this episode about both cocaine and payola. What do either of these topics have to do with last week's topic of friendship? Not too much.
The seventies were a time of tremendous corruption in the music industry, as organized crime had gotten its claws into many corners of the industry. Lots of fast cash could be made that wasn't being closely monitored. Although payola had been illegal since the '50's, many DJs and program directors were used to receiving "gifts" of backstage passes, drugs, women or cash in return for increased airplay or promotion of certain acts. With the passing of the RICO act, organized crime was targeted by law enforcement and the payola scandals of the '70s were brought to light.
"WKRP in Cincinnati" was a show in the unique position to handle this topic directly. What other show in the seventies was about the business of rock and roll? Going back to the third episode about the stigma of homosexuality, WKRP liked to work on topics no other show even attempted to touch.
At one point, Venus says he doesn't like the new morning man because there was something about him that was "too white." Could they have found a whiter name than "Doug Winter"? Brought to Andy by Murray Glessler the sleezy promoter of fictional Onslaught Records, Doug blatantly sucks up to Les and Herb, which is a signal to the audience he is not to be trusted. It's not surprising Herb likes Doug; Herb would love to be a record company promoter and work in a world of free stuff, drugs, women and cash.
To beat the point home, Doug seems to only play one song every time he is on the air. "Nowhere Band" by the Soundtastics is a fictional song by a fictional band, which means it never had any rights issues in syndication or other releases. I actually find it kind of catchy. I don't know why Andy wouldn't want to promote it.
Johnny comes back to Cincinnati after getting fired in LA and nothing more is made of his time in California. This, to me, is another indication that the "Johnny leaving" plot of the last episode was shoehorned into this episode, perhaps to make the controversial topics in this episode more palatable. He goes back on the air as "Heavy Early" the midnight to 6 am DJ. My question is, why is Johnny just as sleep deprived as when he worked morning drive time? He's sleeping all around the station the same way he always does. What time wouldn't be so "Heavy" for Johnny?
My other question is why it takes so long for Andy to look into Doug's background? I know he was anxious to hire someone, but didn't Doug provide three references, like I have had to for every job I've ever had? Was Murray, a guy Andy doesn't even want to talk to, reference enough?
A very nice touch at the end is a joyous Dr. Fever returning to the air after Winter has been fired. He's skipping and singing along to the Red Wigglers commercial that was driving him crazy a few shifts ago. Johnny is rarely this exuberant and it's fun to see him playing along with the worm song!
Other note: Welcome Sam Anderson! Anderson might now be best known for his recurring role on "Lost" but he is legend in the WKRP universe. He will have a number of guest shots throughout the shows run and NEVER as the same character. I don't know if we were never meant to notice or if it was an intentional running joke but it will now definitely be a checklist item for this blog.
Roy
Nowhere Band was a better song than most "real" ones.
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