Ep. 52 - Bah, Humbug

August 23, 2017

Writers: Lissa Levin
Director: Rod Daniel
Original Air Date: December 20, 1980

"This isn't going to be one of those Charles Dickens "Christmas Carol" things, is it?"
"Uh-huh."
"Oh boy!

There are 80 episodes of "WKRP in Cincinnati" which when shown once a day, five days a week, makes for an tidy 16 weeks of programming. However, when going into syndication, the hour long episode "Filthy Pictures" gets split up into two shows. That makes for 81 episodes, which is just cumbersome to program. So most stations dropped one particular episode and would only play it once a year, or roughly once every three programming rotations. This is that odd episode and for some fans, the box set may be the first time they have ever seen it.

It's not hard to see why "Bah, Humbug" became the "lost episode." First and most obviously, it is a Christmas themed show. But there are other Christmas themed WKRPs, so why this one? Because it's so weird, that's why. Here are all the ways it's weird.

The story is told as a dream sequence (and not as a drug-fueled fantasy if Johnny is to be believed). It follows the plot of Dickens' "Christmas Carol" in which three ghosts haunt Mr. Carlson to show him the error of his greedy ways. After the opening credit sequence, Jennifer peeks into his office to see Mr. Carlson asleep at his desk, so we know it's all a dream.

A dream is not part of reality which might explain Mr. Carlson's behaviour. For a show that prides itself on, in fact was an innovator of character continuity, at the beginning of the episode, Mr. Carlson comes off as a greedy jerk, not the befuddled father figure we have come to know and love. It's almost as if he has reverted to the Carlson of the pilot episode. The Carlson we know would love to get the team together to hand out bonuses. This Carlson is sneaky and deceitful.

This episode, hands down, utilizes the most special effects the show ever has, beating out the exploding window from "Tornando." Because of this, the set seems "off." The lighting isn't right; there are strange shadows even in the "awake" scenes. Even Carlson himself remarks upon his return from the past "I'm alone. And in bad lighting again."

But mostly, the audience seems out of sync with what is on our scenes. My best guess is that some of the scenes were filmed in front of a studio audience, as usual, but that the special effects, such has Carlson speaking with his deceased "Marley-like" grandfather (both played by Gordon Jump) just couldn't be filmed live. Some audience "sweetening" was needed and it is noticeable.

Something else that makes this episode stand out is how self-referential it is. The characters, especially Carlson himself, talk openly about how they are in a telling of "Christmas Carol." Carlson mocks "The Ghost of Christmas Present" for not being too good with his magic. "The Ghost of Christmas Past" goes on and on in his defense of "poor, misunderstood Johnny." It's almost as if the cast and crew are getting to put on a community theatre production of "Christmas Carol" rather than a network sit-com.

We start with an audience "Oooooo!" when Arthur is confronted with the ghost of his grandfather, warning that he will be visited by three ghosts that night. The effect of Jump conversing with himself is pretty well done, especially for 1980 television. But this ghost doesn't speak like either a ghost or like Arthur's grandfather would have. He speaks like Arthur using terms like "suckers" and buster" giving a very modern (for 1980) and irreverent twist to the telling.

Jennifer visits as the beautiful, white clad Ghost of Christmas Past and brings Arthur back to December 24, 1954 - 26 years before. This scene is a Christmas present for the audience in the form of a heaping helping of fan service. See squeaky-voiced Artie Carlson land his first big account as WKRP sales manager, sitting at the same desk Herb sits at now. See the staff of WKRP from a quarter century ago, including GM Mr. Armour who may be having an affair with sweet old Mrs. Butterworth, the receptionist. But mostly, see scrappy young office boy Les Nesman with a full head of hair be named a "full blown" cub reporter. And, touchingly, receive his first bow tie.

This scene sweetly emphazies how important WKRP is to Arthur. It is where he has spent his entire adult life and it's a place he is going to remain long after all these kids in their dungarees leave Cincinnati.

It is a good choice to make Venus the jovial, if not quite magical Ghost of Christmas Present. He is a natural Master of Ceremonies.  Carlson gets to see what his employees really think of him. I'm not sure who is playing the Bob Cratcrit role here though. Is it Herb, who calls himself Carlson's "number one Yes Man," just to be screwed out of a Christmas bonus again? (Does this mean his snaggletoothed daughter will have to live out her days in a convent?) Or is it Andy, who has to be the one to break the bad news to the staff and explain the bonuses aren't coming? For all the times Carlson and Andy have spent together, does Andy really think of him as "Cheap. A skinflint. A tightwad."?

What Carlson really sees is the camaraderie of the staff, excluding himself. They are the ones organizing their own Christmas party and bringing their own potluck treats. Johnny brings brownies that, for some reason, nobody wants to try. Bailey brings her Grandmother's cookies, even if they taste terrible. But Bailey also lies so she will work the Christmas Day shift and Les can visit with his Mother in Dayton.

All of this is enough for Carlson to agree to give out the bonuses, even out of his own pocket. But just as in the original story, these visits aren't to just earn a one time donation. As Carlson is told by the Ghost of Christmas Future "This trip is for you to understand the true spirit of giving. It's to teach you Good Will Among Men. Peace on Earth. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and so on.

No other cast member could ever be the sombre, Reaper-like Ghost of Christmas Future than Johnny Fever. Clad in black with red-rimmed eyes, he's always been only a couple of cups of coffee away from death at the best of times. But it is a chilling glimpse into the future of WKRP and radio itself that pays off here. If Christmas past was 26 years ago, we can assume Christmas Future is 26 years ahead, which takes us to the dystopian year of... 2006! While others were Bringing Sexy Back, Herb Tarlek is alone in a THX1137 - inspired futuristic radio office, free to read actual girlie magazines at his desk because no one else is around. The station is fully automated (gasp!). Only the least effective employee has survived (gasp again!).

In an act of fan service like the Past gives us, the Future tells us what will become of our beloved 'KRP family, and each of the answers feels like it could possible happen - except for Les. Bailey runs a TV station in Chicago. Andy breeds guard dogs in New Mexico. Venus owns a clothing line called "Upwardly Mobile." Jennifer married and bought an island of the coast of Sardinia (which itself is off the coast of Italy). Christmas Past says that Les Nesman has become the Republican Whip of the U.S. Senate, but I think it would have to be another ten years or so before the Republican party would give someone like Les that kind of authority. Fever "just sort of... disappeared. There were rumours, of course..." also seems to be right on the money for his character.

Of course, true to Dickens' story, Arthur wakes up from his dream and is giddy about being generous to the staff. The ending of the show is the only time we don't hear the rockin' "knock 'em all dead, uh-huh" outro music, but instead we watch the staff enjoying their Christmas party together. They are all laughing and dancing together, and mixing outside of their usual office cliques until finally, Arthur Carlson throws kisses us all.

God Bless Us, Every One!

Roy

Other Notes: This is the one episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati" that won an Emmy. Andy Ackerman won for "Outstanding Videotape Editing for a Series." He would later win Emmys for "Cheers" and be nominated for "Seinfeld."  The Republican Whip of the U.S. Senate in 2006 was William Frist. Don Diamond, who played Past news director Don Bassett on this episode, had one other WKRP espisode... in the other Christmas episode "Jennifer's Home for Christmas!