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WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete First Season (1978)

Gary Sandy , Gordon Jump , Asaad Kaleda , Will Mackenzie  |  NR |  DVD
3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (429 customer reviews)

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WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete First Season + Barney Miller - The First Season + Night Court: The Complete First Season
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Product Details

  • Actors: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid, Loni Anderson
  • Directors: Asaad Kaleda, Will Mackenzie, Rod Daniel
  • Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Subtitles: Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: 20th Century Fox
  • DVD Release Date: April 24, 2007
  • Run Time: 532 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (429 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000MXPE6U
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,375 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Special Features

  • 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!"

Watch Free Previews and Buy Episodes from Amazon Instant Video (Learn More)

WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of DVD's most requested titles, WKRP in Cincinnati is a blast from the past and an absolutely golden oldie. But this first-season set is bound to cause static with fans who have eagerly anticipated its release. Because of pesky music rights, the songs don't remain the same. "Hot Blooded" is not playing when mild-mannered newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) puts on a toupee in anticipation of an awards-dinner date with bombshell station receptionist Jennifer (Loni Anderson). It's "Beautiful Dreamer" and not "Fly Me to the Moon" that chimes when Jennifer's doorbell is sounded. Any number of generic songs have replaced the contemporary and classic rock so vital to WKRP, which is, after all, set at a radio station, albeit one that is best known for its farm reports. Enter Andy Travis (Gary Sandy), the new program director charged with turning the station around, beginning with changing the format to rock & roll. Andy, the series anchor, is something of the head guard at a nut farm. In seasons to come, he will wonder if he is one of the nuts, which include: "Big Man," Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump), who is easily flustered, especially by his formidable mother, the station owner; polyester-clad sales director, Herb Tarleck (Frank Bonner), hopelessly old school and on the make for "Jenni-poo"; and morning DJ, Johnny Caravella (Howard Hesseman), a former "boss jock" now reduced to playing "You're Having My Baby" by the Hallelujah Tabernacle Choir. Also on staff is Bailey (Jan Smithers), Mary-Ann to Jennifer's Ginger, and who lacks the confidence to assert herself at the station; and Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid), whom Andy hires to be the nighttime DJ. It's a seamless ensemble of likable characters on par with The Mary Tyler Moore Show's WJM news team. WKRP is one of those rare series that hit its irresistible groove from the get-go. Hesseman sounds all the right notes as Johnny, reborn as Dr. Johnny Fever (ranked no. 73 on the Bravo "100 Greatest TV Characters" chart).

As the season unfolds, the hits just keep on comin', including the classic "Turkeys Away," about a Thanksgiving stunt that goes hilariously awry ("As God is my witness," Mr. Carlson insists, "I thought turkeys could fly"), the "Goodbye Johnny" two-parter in which the (briefly) departed Johnny's replacement is involved in payola (resulting in Mr. Carlson mistaking cocaine for foot powder), and "Never Leave Me, Lucille," in which Jennifer desperately tries to reunite Herb with his wife. Purists may balk at the replaced songs, but the sharp writing and performances provide WKRP's real music. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Loni Anderson, Howard Hesseman, Tim Reid. WKRP may not have taken their Cincinnati radio fans by storm-but that didn't keep WKRP from becoming a TV sitcom smash with absolutely unforgettable characters like DJs Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, news man Les Nessman and the stunning Jennifer Marlowe. Includes 22 episodes on 3 DVDs. 1978-79/color/approx. 9 hrs., 30 min/NR/fullscreen.

Customer Reviews

It's a show about a radio station - OF COURSE the original music is important. 221b BakerSt  |  81 reviewers made a similar statement
Fox totally blew it on this release and I'm saving my money for DVD box sets that are done right. Eddie from Flushing  |  59 reviewers made a similar statement
It's a pity, I've been waiting a long time for WKRP to come to DVD. Jason  |  52 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
262 of 282 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of my all time favorite shows, and I would have happily paid more for the original versions of the shows, with the original music. It's a show about a radio station - OF COURSE the original music is important. I will not pay, however, for truncated versions of the shows with altered music. WKRP is one of the classic shows of TV, deeply influential and smartly written and directed and excellently acted. It's a shame Fox doesn't have the sense to treat one of its finest moments with even an ounce of care or respect. I don't buy the argument that by not buying this substandard product I'm guaranteeing I won't see a better release of WKRP in the future. Why not just release a GOOD product first, and I'll buy that right away? What happened to that business model? And if the RIAA shares blame, too, well, their business model is clearly outmoded, anyway. Instead of guaranteeing renewed revenue from these shows for the artists it represents, it now guarantees them nothing at all from this DVD release. Nice work!

This DVD is an insult to the people behind WKRP and its many devoted fans.
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197 of 211 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars What?! No ZERO STAR option?? April 16, 2007
By TranFan
Format:DVD
If it were possible, I would have rated this set 0 stars! I am saddened & dismayed that I must negatively rate this set. I loved WKRP. It was the only TV show that I would never miss when I was young.

I understand about the enormous expense with the music rights. I can even see where some editing had to be done due to music editing. In other words, I was ready to forgive a lot, just to view these episodes again.
Well, I have a friend who has got a hold of a copy of the advance DVD set. We watched it over the last few nights.

Since this was a copy of the DVD, I cannot comment on the picture quality with any authority. What I CAN comment on, was what has been done to the shows.

It is WORSE, WAY WORSE than you can imagine from reading these reviews. I had read the reviews, and I thought I was mentally prepared, but I still came away with a sick feeling in my stomach. I can imagine some first time viewers of this set actually having a hard time following the plot due to cut scenes & music changes.

PLEASE DO NOT ORDER THIS SET. It is a travesty, & Fox should NOT be rewarded for this effort!

FOX: Charge $150 per season, if you have to, but release this set intact! You should be ashamed & embarrassed over this shambles!
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467 of 519 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Pre-order cancelled March 31, 2007
By barbre
Format:DVD
After reading the news about what is actually on these DVDs, I had to cancel the pre-order. I was so excited when I heard this was coming out. The early info said that Hugh Wilson was involved, and I had hoped it would be the same quality effort as was put into the short lived Sledge Hammer! series when it came to DVD.

I can live with the music changes to get the DVD's out, but I cannot justify spending money for episodes that are just 22-minute syndication cuts. I can hardly watch them on TV-Land or wherever they show up now and then because of that the cut scenes.

Can't get Pink Floyd "dogs"? Don't cut the scene! Go get some audio of some freak'n dogs barking and dub it in!

Unbelievable.

Sorry Fox, you will have to do MUCH better for me to spend money on this.

Just to make sure there is no confusion; I *LOVE* WKRP, but not enough to spend money on crappy DVDs.
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53 of 55 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Maybe WKRP on dvd was never meant to be... July 10, 2007
Format:DVD
I don't know if there's anything left to be said about this dvd release, but having recently rented and viewed all three discs (including the extras), I thought I'd reluctantly add my voice to the disgruntled chorus. Here's the breakdown:

The show: It's hard to be completely objective about a show that one grew to love during adolescence, but I'd have to say, all in all, it's still pretty great after all these years. In an admirable inverse of what usually happens with a sitcom, where characters become caricatures as mannerisms and formulas crystallize, the characters on WKRP actually acquired dimension and depth over time. Not all of the attempts at seriousness worked -- the episode where Andy reconnects with an old flame was unintentionally laughable -- but many of them did, with special kudos going to "Never Leave Me Lucille" and the episode where one of Johnny's fans leaves him her baby. In addition to a reliable reservoir of gags, these stories were genuinely (and surprisingly) moving. As for the show's most famous episode, I found "Turkeys Away" a little lackluster... there was a lengthy and relatively unfunny buildup to the punchline, but the last five minutes or so (with Les Nessman's riotous play-by-play) pretty well make up for it. "A Date with Jennifer" would probably get my vote for best episode on this set.

The dvd: The two commentaries featuring Loni Anderson, Frank Bonner and creator Hugh Wilson were enjoyable and reflected the easy-going camaraderie that seemed to exist between the cast members and crew during the show's run. The featurettes on Loni Anderson and "The Fish Story" were entertaining, but at a total of 10 minutes, a little flimsy. As others have noted, the image is, like many shows from the era shot on video, a little soft... occasionally VERY soft.
... Read more ›
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67 of 72 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Why it matters April 20, 2007
Format:DVD
It was a tough decision but I purchased Northern Exposure. I knew the show had been altered and much of the original music had been changed. The music was important but not crucial, or at least that's what I told myself. I wanted the show. And Northern Exposure retains 30-40% of the original music. But WKRP is different. The music IS the show! It is about a radio station that plays rock. Much of the comedy flows from the songs. The mood of many scenes is determined by them. Dialog and music are often interwoven. The plot sometimes depends on a particular song. Tiny Dancer, Dogs.... Every real fan of this show knows exactly what I mean! To remove ALL the songs....ALL of them! To change dialog or to remove whole sections of the show because there's no easy way to excise dialog interwoven with music. To re-dub new dialog to cover-up this radical surgery. To utilize cut, awful syndicated prints because there is no other way to cover the damage. This is NOT the Complete WKRP as advertised. This is an Opera with the music removed. What are you watching when you see this? I am old enough to have loved this show in its original run. Part of the fun was the shock of hearing rock in a sitcom. And how it was so cleverly, even lovingly utilized! This bowdlerized DVD collection is NOT the complete WKRP. It is a travesty that should disappear quickly and without a trace. I canceled my pre-order, as painful as that was. I will not be a party to this constant lowering of standards. I strongly urge you to think carefully before purchasing this set.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Missing scenes
I understand that issues with music rights might require that some of the music has to be edited, but I don't understand why entire scenes are cut out.
Published 5 days ago by Cliff Cyphers
5.0 out of 5 stars I love the show, how it was re-recorded is a problem as
The show is great. I give it four stars for that. How it is recreated and changed remains to be a problem, money first quality second.
Published 10 days ago by Fanny
4.0 out of 5 stars I still like this show
I read the reviews and agree, the music swap was very disappointing. However, I bought the set anyway because when I talk about different episodes we all enjoy a good laugh... Read more
Published 11 days ago by B. Stranak
5.0 out of 5 stars When is season 2 coming?
Really enjoyed all of the episodes in season one but it mad me crave more. Please sir when is season 2 coming out? I'll starve...oh wait that was someone else. Read more
Published 13 days ago by S. Watt
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite sit-com series
DVD's of show are bright and clear. Show itself is extremely funny with excellent cast. I am hopeful of getting the next three seasons.
Published 14 days ago by Judy Richards
5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice.
I was reluctant to buy this after I read some of the other reviews about not having original music. I then realized that I was looking for the acting and show rather than the... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Charles F. Stulick
5.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe all the negative reviews. What's the matter with you...
I have this DVD and loved it.

My DVD cover is autographed by Loni, Howard, and Tim.

I pity unhappy critics.
Published 24 days ago by heavydude
1.0 out of 5 stars What You Want Does Exist
There are people on a certain well know list site that offer the complete series on dvd which was recorded from live TV on VHS and transfered to DVD. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Seraxia
5.0 out of 5 stars wkrp review
i loved it,was very satisfied with the movies, i've been looking for them awhile , i would definatly recommend to anyone
Published 1 month ago by barbara cottingham
3.0 out of 5 stars I'd forgotten the bad reviews
I got an offer for WKRP in Cincinnati one day in my email and the price was reasonable, so I grabbed it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nancy Docken
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Topic From this Discussion
Hope they made the right decisions on the music
I agree. Especially the episode with Les having a date with Jennifer and he gets dressed to Foreigner's "Hot Blooded". That song, with his actions, made it very funny. Another song, that's not familiar, won't get the same comic reaction.
Jan 31, 2007 by P. Wood |  See all 11 posts
Suggested solution to music clearance problems
Great solution! If only they'd do it! <sigh>
Oct 13, 2012 by R.Sharon |  See all 4 posts
Do you want to help put a stop to music clearance issues?
In answer to your first question, Spottedfeather - EVERYONE! The characters, writing, the occasional touch of drama, and the performance of the cast were of the highest caliber. SO WAS THE CHOICE IN MUSIC (Not "yelling", just emphasizing). One of the (many) great things about... Read more
Apr 10, 2007 by JWKdrums |  See all 35 posts
Are these going to be flipper discs?
They are on SINGLE-SIDED discs.
Apr 19, 2007 by Joseph K. Burkholder II |  See all 5 posts
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