April 5, 2017
Story: Hugh Wilson
Teleplay: Dan Guntzelman and Steve Marshall
Director: Rod Daniel
Original Air Date: March 3, 1980
Pin-up pictures of sexy women have been a thing since World War II. But the late 1970's ushered in a short-lived but extremely popular subgenre - the sexy poster. Queen of this phenomena was Farrah Fawcett-Majors, whose poster is still the most popular ever produced. But right behind her, the two actresses with the best selling sexy posters were Heather Locklear and Loni Anderson. Indeed, the success of the show fueled Anderson's sexy symbol status and her sexy symbol status brought success for the show.
WKRP in Cincinnati suffered throughout its entire run from being bounced around the schedule. At the beginning of this, its second season, it aired at 9:30pm, follow mega-hit M*A*S*H, to the best ratings it would ever have. But by March 1980, it had been moved to the 8 pm lead-off spot. Renewal was no longer certain when CBS requested a special hour long episode. This had to be an episode that could both showcase how funny WKRP could be and be guaranteed to attract lots of viewers. What words could be printed in a TV Guide to draw those viewers in? How about "When nude pictures of Jennifer...."?
So for anyone coming to the show fresh, it plays as a showcase for each of the actors, sometimes directly against character type. Jan Smithers gets a big juicy part playing Bailey as "an aggressive, straight-forward woman who's been around" (The hell she can't!), not at all like the shy, unconfident character we first met. Likewise, Gary Sandy plays Andy as shy and easily embarrassed and not as the cock-sure leader of the station. Johnny is the mastermind of a plan and Herb plays both a sexy seducer (of men!) AND the caring person who is most honest with Jennifer. If this really were your first encounter with the show, going back to see episodes from the first season might be very confusing.
This episode is a lovely showcase for the relationship between Mr. Carlson and Jennifer. It's not father/daughter and it's definitely not romantic, but it is full of mutual affection and a very deep friendship. Jennifer is the only person who does not try to leave his meeting at the beginning and ends up willing to pose in a bathing suit to help Mr. Carlson out. Mr. Carlson threatens, begs and ultimately commits a felony to try and help Jennifer. He calls her a "good friend."
Let's discuss D. Arnold Gonzer, the photographer. The very first words we hear from him is his singing "Eat your heart out, Hugh Hefner" under his breathe. That should have been a clue right there! This isn't a chance opportunity for him. His studio change rooms are set up with the two-way glass. Later he tells Carlson "I've been doing this for years. I know all the ins and outs." He's not just sleazy, like Herb. Gonzer is a predator! Today you would expect not just a comeuppance, but an arrest and an investigation. In the late 70's, pornography was hard to obtain. A few episode earlier, the guys are upset they can't borrow Les' projector to watch a dirty film strip Herb has gotten his hands on. The only place these picture of Jennifer could be seen was a cheap girly magazine. Even the term "predator" in this context would have been a foreign idea.
There are a lot of references in this episode that would be way more familiar to a 70's audience. The fact that Johnny presents his "deeply bent idea" as "Watergate it" immediately means breaking in, even without Venus specifically explaining "breaking and entering is a felony!" Today, anything-Gate just means a scandal. Johnny, in an unusual personality trait for him, quotes several 70's movies, including Patton, The Sting, The Big Sleep and Blazing Saddles (which misquotes the "badges" line from Treasure of the Sierra Madre).
The box set shows the episode as it originally aired, in a one hour block. Most people would have seen it in it's syndication form, cut into two half hour episodes with a "To Be Continued" tag. The cut occurs after the break-in, back in the bullpen when Mr. Carlson and Andy are discussing who should tell Jennifer. The cut comes immediately after Carlson decides he will tell her by saying "It's my responsibility." It divides the episode nicely between the Crime(s), and the Sting.
The box set version restores a LOT of cuts, some small and some significant, to the episode. The largest restored scene is Herb's entire flirtation scene at the photographer's studio. Although it is funny in its ridiculousness, it certainly doesn't age well and doesn't really drive the story along, so it's was probably a good thing to be dropped. Other cuts are smaller. Breaking the door during the B&E is shortened as is the whole "I'm a Republican" exchange in the darkened studio. Herb asking Jennifer if he can get a peek at her photos is restored. Andy's "gay panic" breakdown back in the bullpen, when he thinks he was the one Gonzer wanted to see "frolic" is greatly shortened in syndication too.
Finally, it's interesting to see the staff's reactions to the pictures of Jennifer. When Carlson tells the men in the station about the pictures, each jumps up to ask if they can see them. But soon they put the person of Jennifer back into their minds and are willing to commit a crime to save her. Johnny is not being 100% committed to his sting character, "Phillipe" when he asks to see the pictures, and gags when he sees them. Mr. Carlson's reaction is strange because he is willing to peek at the photos when he doesn't know who they will be of, but is instantly enraged when he sees they are of Jennifer. The last shot is of Jennifer, taking a look before she burns them. It's one last laugh, and leaves the audience knowing all is well for our friend Jennifer again. It is, in a word, "perfect."
Roy
Other Notes: Where else have you seen the actor, George Wyner, who plays Gonzer? Frankly, everywhere! From Hill Street Blues to Spaceballs, Wyner may be one of the most prevalent character actors working. As of this writing, his IMDB page lists 187 credits. Bailey uses the alias Ginger Gregg, which sounds an awful lot like the name of long time Associate Director Ginger Grigg. During the photo shoot, Andy calls Jennifer "Annette," which is a reference to Annette Funachello of "Beach Blanket Bingo" and other beach set '50's movies. Gonzer calls Andy a "regular Troy Donahue" referencing the actor who starred in "A Summer's Place."
If you would like to donate to the Cincinnati Kawanis Club, and there various projects for children in and around Cincinnati, you can go here: http://www.cincinnati-oh.kiwanisone.org/Page/10156
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