Ep. 29 - Mike Fright

March 13, 2016

Writer: HughWilson

Director: Will MacKenzie

Original Air Date: November 12, 1979

Okay all you passionate Bailey fans, who fill up forums and Tumblr pages with your love for Jan Smithers. This is a big win episode for you!

I was going to write about how this episode is all about facing your fears, with Johnny's fear of talking on the air being centre stage. As well, you had glimpses of 1) Carlson's fear of causing any trouble 2) Andy's fears of both dealing with a panicky Carlson and a large pinball player 3) Les' fear of civil and social breakdown and 4) Venus' discomfort, if not fear, of being in a bar like Snooky's.

But this is one of those episodes that's not really about the plot so much has the plot is a frame in which to hang some visual gags and jokes. And one of the greatest lines in 'KRP history.

Back in my blog for Ep. 23 - For Love or Money, I imagined what the writers must have wanted to do in season two:

Given what we see, here is the list I think that team came up with:
1) More character development. The audience is loving these eight people. Let's see more about their lives - where they came from and how they interact with each other.
2) Love (today, we would call it "shipping") Maybe some sparks could fly between our characters
3) We can be ridiculous with these characters and still not lose their humanity. Let's do more of that! But still keep current to issues of the day.
4) We need to do more with that Bailey Quarters character. Jan Smithers is a far more confident actress than we're showing now.

Check. Check. Check aaaaaand check!

So what drives Johnny? It's obviously not the money ("Once a week, whether you need it or not, someone gives you a cheque for $38"). It's not the fame or power because when he realized people we actually listening to him, he froze up. Is it that he doesn't want to end up NOT on the radio like "Boogie Down" Towne (or worse, spinning disco?) because that seems to be what is upsetting him the most. That's some character development.

For anyone who had wondered if Bailey's crush on Johnny only went one way, all doubts were gone when Johnny, in a moment of great vulnerability, smiles at Bailey and says the fantastic line "I sure would like to take you home and kiss you all over in the dark." Shippers rejoice! Of course, he also just said that into an open microphone to the population of Cincinnati.

Quite a bit of ridiculousness in this episode, starting with Herb's client, the Merchant of Venice Pawn Brokers wanting the Star Spangled Banner played after each of their commercials. Then the startling sight of a little person, hard ball lawyer in a three piece suit gets even zanier when he speaks directly to Jennifer (at chest level) rather than to his client.

But the most ridiculous gag is in Snooky's Bar, with the pinball player wanting to bet two-bits. "I think you're old enough to know this. In this bar, two-bits is $25; four-bits is $50 and so on." It leads to two great gags. First, Venus, in a serious moment of intervention with Johnny asks, "So how good are you at pinball?" The best though is Andy being shaken like a rag doll for trying to pay the guy off with fifty cents. Gary Sandy doesn't get to do enough physical comedy and he's pretty good at it. Hey, Andy! You're safe at the station! You can throw away that ripped shirt sleeve that hangs around your wrist like a bracelet in the third act!

But where this episode shines is in showing the value of Bailey in the eyes of the other characters. In the cold opening, she's the shy character we've come to know, who can't imagine how Johnny speaks to thousands of people every day. She's also the student we know, learning from Johnny a secret to public speaking. But at the end of an episode in which no one has asked HER how to find Johnny, the student becomes the teacher. Andy, Venus, Jennifer and Les watch through the glass as she blossoms into the one person who can get through to Johnny. Bailey gives Johnny the confidence he needs, in a full reversal of roles. She also becomes an object of lust for someone for the first time on the show. No one looking through that window ever sees her quite the same way again.


Other Notes: The real life mayor of Cincinnati at the time of this episode (and for most of WKRP's run), onto whom's lawn Johnny says citizens should throw their garbage, is "talk" show host Jerry Springer.