February 10, 2016
(sorry for the delays. Thank you for your patience)
Writer: Paul Hunter
Director: Will MacKenzie
Original Air Date: October 22, 1979 (second episode of the night!)
This episode has very little to do with Jennifer falling in love and a lot more to do with Jennifer's effect on men. As well, strangely, we've never seen Jennifer acting so shallow before now - an episode in which she has to deal with her shallowness. But most of all, this is an episode you need to WATCH because so much of the comedy is visual.
I've written before about how much the show is like a radio play, where voices and readings are funnier than what you actually see. Take Les' description of the scooter crash in the last episode as an example. In this episode, so much of the comedy is visual. It is the best directed episode of WKRP so far and Will MacKenzie must be called out for spotlighting this element of the show. Watch Howard Hesseman act out all of the descriptions Jennifer tells Bailey about the new love in her life. Thinking it might be him, he flashes his smile, strikes his model pose and even tightens up his "cute little derriere" behind the women. We barely notice the exposition being delivered over the roaring laughter of the audience.
What would get Johnny to act this way, even to later (gasp!) wear a tie? The idea Jennifer might be in love with him.
The real visual heart of this episode is seeing Jennifer together with her new love, Steel Hawthorn (played by frequent 70's and 80's TV guest actor Thomas Callaway). With flowing blonde hair and sparkling white teeth, they could be twins. Even Les, later in the episode, says he'd love to get a picture of the two of them together. To the doorbell chime of "Fly Me to the Moon" the two of them sweep around Jennifer's apartment, gazing lovingly into each other's eyes when they're not gazing into a mirror. Both are confident, strong and beautiful, but this "love" is obviously as shallow as that mirror.
Contrast this to the other major arc of the episode, Les, who is insecure, weak and not as beautiful. He doesn't feel confident enough to ask Mr. Carlson for a raise after he finds out he is the lowest paid radio journalist in Cincinnati. Les believes he is still at WKRP after seven years out of loyalty; that he could have gone to the NY Times or "On the Road" with Charles Kuralt (that was the name of a news show at the time) at any time. Little does he understand that his perceived weakness has kept him where he is. Les even goes first to Jennifer, and then to Venus, for them to petition Mr. Carlson for a raise on his behalf because he is not strong enough to do it himself.
This is the backdrop to the best joke of the episode: When Les meets Steel, he says "Steel, is it? That's a nice name." Steel says "Thanks. I like to think that a person's name says a lot about the type of person he is. What was your name again?" The joke is in the expression on Les' face as he weighs his name against Steel's before answering.
This starts of something of a cockfight between these two men, each wanting to appear the most manly in front of Jennifer. Les discusses how handy he is around the house "until (he) blew out the back of the garage" when he sees Steel is a handyman. Les jumps to Jennifer's defense when he thinks Steel is getting too friendly. Les chugs a martini before leaving. Of course, he is horribly outmatched by Steel, but he feels he needs to strut what manliness he has in front of Jennifer.
The final sequence plays out in Mr. Carlson's office, where Jennifer and Steel have their fight about his asking her for money, now that he knows she has money. Mr. Carlson comes to her defense, first against Steel and then more importantly against herself, when she starts to feel ashamed about how she has acted in the past. Jennifer starts to think of herself as a "gold digger" which is really what most people think of her. Earlier, even Bailey questioned her about this. Jennifer thinks she feels as bad as she does in breaking up with Steel because she "gotten a taste of her own medicine." Mr. Carlson assures her she is nothing like Steel, and Jennifer runs into his big, strong, comforting arms.
The joke again is entirely visual because we now see Carlson is a little aroused and thinks this might be HIS chance with Jennifer. When she describes him with "you are sooooooo.... decent!" we SEE Carlson literally deflate. Jennifer continues to lay the "compliments", talking about his family and his church and we see Carlson's expression being more and more ashamed. It is all done with gestures and expressions.
Other notes: The other big visual gag comes from Venus is wearing a keffiyeh and calling himself a sheik (pronounced "shake" don't you know), leading to a lot of dramatic scarf tossing. The scene between he and Les (and Venus getting Les' raise) was a small nod to the issue of Affirmative Action. I wonder if in earlier drafts, it was going to play a larger role than it did. When Andy says to himself "I've gotta get outta here" at the end of the episode, he closes Les' "office door" although no one else is around to see him. It shows the insanity he's "gotta" get away from even more. Bailey like derrieres! Who know?
Roy
I've written before about how much the show is like a radio play, where voices and readings are funnier than what you actually see. Take Les' description of the scooter crash in the last episode as an example. In this episode, so much of the comedy is visual. It is the best directed episode of WKRP so far and Will MacKenzie must be called out for spotlighting this element of the show. Watch Howard Hesseman act out all of the descriptions Jennifer tells Bailey about the new love in her life. Thinking it might be him, he flashes his smile, strikes his model pose and even tightens up his "cute little derriere" behind the women. We barely notice the exposition being delivered over the roaring laughter of the audience.
What would get Johnny to act this way, even to later (gasp!) wear a tie? The idea Jennifer might be in love with him.
The real visual heart of this episode is seeing Jennifer together with her new love, Steel Hawthorn (played by frequent 70's and 80's TV guest actor Thomas Callaway). With flowing blonde hair and sparkling white teeth, they could be twins. Even Les, later in the episode, says he'd love to get a picture of the two of them together. To the doorbell chime of "Fly Me to the Moon" the two of them sweep around Jennifer's apartment, gazing lovingly into each other's eyes when they're not gazing into a mirror. Both are confident, strong and beautiful, but this "love" is obviously as shallow as that mirror.
Here's your picture, Les
Contrast this to the other major arc of the episode, Les, who is insecure, weak and not as beautiful. He doesn't feel confident enough to ask Mr. Carlson for a raise after he finds out he is the lowest paid radio journalist in Cincinnati. Les believes he is still at WKRP after seven years out of loyalty; that he could have gone to the NY Times or "On the Road" with Charles Kuralt (that was the name of a news show at the time) at any time. Little does he understand that his perceived weakness has kept him where he is. Les even goes first to Jennifer, and then to Venus, for them to petition Mr. Carlson for a raise on his behalf because he is not strong enough to do it himself.
This is the backdrop to the best joke of the episode: When Les meets Steel, he says "Steel, is it? That's a nice name." Steel says "Thanks. I like to think that a person's name says a lot about the type of person he is. What was your name again?" The joke is in the expression on Les' face as he weighs his name against Steel's before answering.
This starts of something of a cockfight between these two men, each wanting to appear the most manly in front of Jennifer. Les discusses how handy he is around the house "until (he) blew out the back of the garage" when he sees Steel is a handyman. Les jumps to Jennifer's defense when he thinks Steel is getting too friendly. Les chugs a martini before leaving. Of course, he is horribly outmatched by Steel, but he feels he needs to strut what manliness he has in front of Jennifer.
The final sequence plays out in Mr. Carlson's office, where Jennifer and Steel have their fight about his asking her for money, now that he knows she has money. Mr. Carlson comes to her defense, first against Steel and then more importantly against herself, when she starts to feel ashamed about how she has acted in the past. Jennifer starts to think of herself as a "gold digger" which is really what most people think of her. Earlier, even Bailey questioned her about this. Jennifer thinks she feels as bad as she does in breaking up with Steel because she "gotten a taste of her own medicine." Mr. Carlson assures her she is nothing like Steel, and Jennifer runs into his big, strong, comforting arms.
The joke again is entirely visual because we now see Carlson is a little aroused and thinks this might be HIS chance with Jennifer. When she describes him with "you are sooooooo.... decent!" we SEE Carlson literally deflate. Jennifer continues to lay the "compliments", talking about his family and his church and we see Carlson's expression being more and more ashamed. It is all done with gestures and expressions.
You are sooooo...
Other notes: The other big visual gag comes from Venus is wearing a keffiyeh and calling himself a sheik (pronounced "shake" don't you know), leading to a lot of dramatic scarf tossing. The scene between he and Les (and Venus getting Les' raise) was a small nod to the issue of Affirmative Action. I wonder if in earlier drafts, it was going to play a larger role than it did. When Andy says to himself "I've gotta get outta here" at the end of the episode, he closes Les' "office door" although no one else is around to see him. It shows the insanity he's "gotta" get away from even more. Bailey like derrieres! Who know?
Roy
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