Ep. 38 - Put Up or Shut Up

February 27, 2017

Writer: Blake Hunter, Steve Marshall and Steven Kampmann
Director: Will MacKenzie
Original Air Date: January 21, 1980

I don't understand how it took three credited writers to write the directions: "Frank Bonner acts ____." Panicky, seductively, guilt-ridden, humiliated. This is a weak script kept alive by a wonderful performance.

Let's look at the B-story first. Johnny is having "flashbacks" which is some kind of CBS corporate speak for drug-induced mental breakdown.  He hallucinates. He looks at his hand and sees a freeway map, with his thumb as an off-ramp. This is ridiculously lazy "druggy" talk. "The 60's were a crazy time, Art" is as pointless a line of dialogue as we might ever hear. But because there is nothing else in the episode for them to do, both Mr. Carlson and Andy end up a some point staring at their own hands.

The premise seems to be one the writers think the audience has been waiting for. What would happen if Herb and Jennifer went out on a date!. But last season, we saw Herb fall apart when Lucille left him. We know he can't go through with the real thing - it's all fantasy for Herb. But at least they figured out a clever way to have this date - Bailey convincing Jennifer to "call his buff" and say yes to Herb to shut him up.

It is quite a reversal for Bailey to offer Jennifer advise on anything, much less dating. It's strange Jennifer wouldn't see through Bailey's bluster of "I've done it a dozen times." But is it any weirder than Les' evil grin when he tell Herb that Yes, he can go through with the date? (Because of what he knows from his Sneaky Snooper. Really?) What does Les have to gain from seeing the date go through?

Where to start with Frank Bonner's portrayal of Herb as the proverbial dog that catches the car? What does he do now that he actually has a date with the beautiful Jennifer?

He has a really heartbreaking conversation with his wife on the phone in which he desperately wants her to know he loves her. We only see his side of the phone call, but we can imagine Lucille not understanding the importance of what he's saying. We've met her and Bonner shows his frustration with her as he's confessing his love and desperately wanting her to say SOMETHING that will pull him back from going on this date.

Venus congratulates him on having this date. It's the kind of macho recognition he's always wanted from the guys but it's odd Venus would be so anxious to see him cheat on his wife. Maybe Venus believes he won't go through with it, but it's become too important. Herb thinks he will "come back a Legend."

Amazingly, Herb confesses to Les that he can't do it, but then Les tells him about Bailey's plan. Now Herb is all sleazy bravado! A flourish of his leather coat and a look in his extendable mirror and Herb is ready to go!

All of this is in one scene in the bullpen; from heartbreak to bravado in five minutes. But is nowhere near what Bonner pulls off in the scene at Jennifer's apartment.

Standing in her doorway, the way he's seen romantic leading men do in movies for years, Herb acts the way he thinks suave men act. He brings Jennifer wine, but knows nothing about wine. He makes himself comfortable, but ends up sitting with his back to her at the dining room table. (Shout out to director Will MacKenzie for that fantastic bit of blocking). It's ridiculous and it's a credit to Loni Anderson that she doesn't break up.

I find myself just describing what you have already watched. Herb hyperventilating. Herb angry at his cowardice at the dining room table. Herb flourishing on his coat again, but now backwards. Bonner brings real pathos to such over-the-top moments, but you need to SEE Bonner doing all of this. There is so little else happening in the episode, there isn't much to write about.

Except this: WKRP is asking the "When Harry Met Sally" question nine years before the movie: can a man and woman just be friends? This is a very '80's question, with men and women just starting to work regularly together as equals. Posing the question today in a sit-com would be foolish, but WKRP answers the question as if it is some kind of revelation. Herb and Jennifer as friends? How liberal! Despite the fact that this is all they have ever been for years, and that after this episode, he goes back to being the same old Herb who make clumsy passes to Jennifer every morning.

Roy

Other Notes: It was such a specific reference that I had to look it up. Sammy Davis jr. really did win the first (and only) Disco Lifestyle Award in June 1979, according to Jet magazine.