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****WKRP in Cincinnati** This is undoubtedly the most anticipated, most talked about, most written about, most controversial DVD release of the last decade. The reason for the controversy - music royalties for the pop songs used on the show are now too costly so substitutions had to be made.
The music cuts are massive and deep, dozens of the 1970's hits that were woven into the shows had to be excised - in many episodes all the songs were removed and replaced with mostly generic riffs.
In other instances the snipped, 22-minute syndication versions of episodes are included, largely due to music considerations. And it's not just the singles that had to be deleted; for example in one episode Les sings "Heartbreak Hotel" so that footage was cut.
In terms of the total enjoyment of this program, I'm not certain that these omissions are really that crucial unless you're a true fanatic of the show. The casual viewer (like myself) won't notice so much. Considering you get all 22 episodes of the 1978-79 season for $26.00 (with no sales tax and free shipping from Amazon), as far as I'm concerned it's a bargain. Would it have been a better deal if all the original songs were included and the set cost 5or5 or 5or10 more? Why do I ask these questions I have no answer for...
If you don't know, WKRP was a sitcom hit from the MTM production company (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show) coming after a string of failures for the creative group. WKRP looked like another misfire, the show was removed from the CBS schedule after only a couple of months but returned in January after critical and audience outcry. The show rarely cracked the top twenty at any time but remained an audience favorite for 4 seasons.
I watched the opening season of WKRP when it first aired. I was somewhat disappointed that it wasn't quite up to the standards of The Bob Newhart Show (for which WKRP producer Hugh Wilson wrote some episodes) or as funny as Phyllis or The Betty White Show, two previous MTM efforts that had short runs.
Still, WKRP was one of only three or four enjoyable comedies airing at that time and is considered one of the quintessential late-1970's sitcoms. The Thanksgiving episode included here, 'Turkeys Away,' is a bonafide holiday classic.
Look for the fabulous Sylvia Sidney as Mother Carlson in the pilot episode (she was replaced by Carol Bruce) along with Michael Des Barres, Edie McClurg, Hoyt Axton, Hamilton Camp and assorted regulars from the stable of sitcom guest stars you expected to see in the late-seventies.
For extras there are mini-documentaries and commentaries on two episodes with Hugh Wilson and cast members Loni Anderson and Frank Bonner that are easy listening, offering plenty of insight.
WKRP ON DVD MYSTERIES Hey Billy, Since you gave your review of WKRP In Cincinnati, I thought I'd let you in on my own thoughts on the release which I just got last week. First and foremost, yes, the show feels hollow without 99% of the original music. But if it's good material you're looking forward too, I think you can look beyond the missing music and just enjoy the show.
You're gonna have to because second (and here's the bubble burster), there seems to be a major change in special features on this one (unless they're hidden "Easter Eggs", they're not there).
The special features for this set DO NOT include anything about The Making of the Show, "Dr. Johnny Fever" or "Turkey's Away" (Other than a commentary track for that episode). Instead, the features include a mini-documentary of 'KRP's 'Fish Story' episode, a piece on Loni Anderson's Jennifer Marlowe character and commentary on only TWO episodes ('Turkey's Away' and the Pilot).
Sorry to be a buzzkill about this; but for the benefit of the diehard fans of 'KRP (myself included), it must be known. Maybe 20th Century Fox could put those other features on a future release, (though where will the 'Turkey's Away' feature fit on Season 2?) but for now, I guess we have to make do with it. - Justin Kaplowitz
That's interesting. I wasn't sure what Justin was referring to so I looked over at my review of WKRP and, in the sidebar under DVD features, it reads:
DVD Features: Available Subtitles: Spanish Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) Commentary by Cast Members Don't Touch That Dial - The Making of WKRP Turning A "Turkey" Into a TV Classic "Doctor Johnny Fever, and I am Burnin' Up in Here!"
Sure enough, the actual DVD release has two different mini-documentaries substituted for 'Turning A "Turkey" Into a TV Classic' and 'Doctor Johnny Fever, and I am Burnin' Up in Here!' and there's no 'Making Of' feature. Sometime between the press release and the mastering of the final DVDs these substitutions were apparently made. Probably saving them for some super-duper-deluxe DVD set in a few years. The current product listing on Amazon has those wrong features listed as well.
Which brings me to a point I wanted to make about the short documentaries found on TV DVDs. They all too often annoy me as much as anything. I love the interviews, seeing what people look like years later, the behind-the-scenes stories and hearing from experts who can put it all in context but I can't stand the heavy-handed use of clips that are interspersed with the interviews which inevitably take all the best punch lines (or dramatic moments) from that very collection and throw them back at you, sometimes more than once.
This lessens the rewatchability of the shows by burning those lines into your head and ruins that moment in the series if you watch the documentaries before the shows. It's a tricky new format that needs a new template.
Plot Outline: The staff of a struggling radio station have a chance at success after the new programming director changes the format to rock music
Plot Synopsis: Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson tries to run a failing Cincinnati radio station owned by his "tough as nails" mother. His own incompetence is overshadowed by the strange employees that work at the station. From wild Disc Jockeys: Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap to the geeky news director, Les Nessman and obnoxious advertising sales manager, Herb Tarlek. With the help of saner employees such as Bailey Quarters; the rather shy journalism major; Jennifer Marlowe, the beautiful receptionist who is the very opposite of a stereotypical "Dumb Blonde" and Andy Travis; the studly program director, Carlson tries gimmick after crazy gimmick to bring money into the station and make it a success.
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DVD Features:Available Subtitles: SpanishAvailable Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)Commentary by Cast MembersDon't Touch That Dial - The Making of WKRPTurning A "Turkey" Into a TV Classic"Doctor Johnny Fever, and I am Burnin' Up in Here!"
WKRP in Cincinnati**
**Reviews by Billy Ingram,
as seen on VH1, Trio and Bravo.
** 
