A love of classic television brings with it the joy of nostalgic favorites. I grew up watching a lot of Nick-at-Nite, so I have so many favorites… it’s hard to pick just one.

Unfortunately though, sometimes the passage of time makes them hard to find. They disappear, lost behind paywalls and buried in studio vaults due to lost music rights. That’s the case with WKRP in Cincinnati, a series I grew up watching more than I should probably admit.

With each passing year, the comedy faded further into the pop culture ether. However, in the last year or so, I found my way back to the show for a rewatch and decided I needed to spread the word. It’s in the job description after all.

Here’s a look at the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati.

WKRP in Cincinnati follows the daily goings-on at a struggling radio station. As the series opens, Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) joins the team, bringing a fresh perspective and new ideas. This dated radio station is going to do something crazy. They’re gonna start playing rock and roll. Gordon Jump, Tim Reid, Howard Hessman, Loni Anderson, and Richard Sanders co-star in the series which was created by Hugh Wilson.  

WKRP in Cincinnati comes out of the gate strong with a memorable and confident first season. This is a feat that isn’t always easy to pull off.

The core group of characters is fully present from the beginning and each possess an easy chemistry that feels fully developed right from the start. Watching the show’s early episodes, the cast shows an ease with each other that others shows take multiple seasons to reach.

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I’ve rewatched portions of this show a few times over the years and during this most recent viewing, the relationship between Jennifer (Loni Anderson) and Bailey (Jan Smithers) jumps out with beautiful clarity. Not only are the two characters fun together, but they’re relatable. Anderson and Smithers are the lone women in the mostly male cast. Not once are they played off each other or competitive. They never fight over boys. They share a fresh, personal and supportive bond that is honestly refreshing. This doesn’t always happen. 

As Jennifer, Loni Anderson refuses to settle into the obvious stereotypes and caricatures. Sure, she’s the gorgeous blonde secretary who spends most of her time receiving gifts from her elderly, usually wealthy, male suitors. However, she’s never dumb. She’s not ditzy. And she’s certainly not a gold-digger, thank you very much. In fact, she doesn’t really even want all the gifts. At the same time though, Jennifer is smart, calculating, and isn’t above occasionally using the power she wields over men… only if they deserve it, though.

In contrast, Bailey Quarters is a young woman in the sales department. She’s freshly arrived at the station from journalism school and brings grand ideas of being a radio executive. Smithers brings her to life though with an occasionally debilitating shyness; and as an often introverted woman who struggles with being social, Bailey is my most relatable character. Throughout the first season, we see her struggle with the personal and professional challenges of being a young woman in a male-dominated world.

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This, in truth, is why Jennifer and Bailey’s relationship feels so special. We expect to see two women pitted against each other in works like this, particularly the bombshell secretary and the quiet up-and-comer. However, WKRP in Cincinnati doesn’t allow itself to fall into the easy answer. Instead, the women are friends. They support and build each other up. 

This is seen most clearly in episode six, “Bailey’s Show” when Bailey’s forced to go head-to-head with sales manager Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner) in order to defend her ideas. It’s painful to watch, but Jennifer knows just what to say to push Bailey through, despite her just wanting to give in. We all need a friend like Jennifer.

Coming in the fall of 1978, WKRP in Cincinnati is very much a product of its time. It reflects the complicated shifting social currents of the late 1970s. These shows brought more social and political weight. They were meatier. This was the Norman Lear era after all.

In episode three, newsman Les (Sanders) is mistakenly outed as gay. Later, in episode 18, we learn Venus (Reid) deserted the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War. At the same time, there’s an ongoing presence of Second Wave Feminism thanks to Bailey and Jennifer. The WKRP in Cincinnati writing staff were fearless from the start and the show was better for it.

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These episodes elevate the series to a new level thanks to the courage needed to tackle these often challenging topics. This has the added benefit of also propelling these characters into development. This isn’t always the easiest to accomplish in a half-hour sitcom. As an example, as season one comes to an end, Bailey is not the same woman as she was in the season premiere. 

At the same time though, dramedy can be a challenge. While WKRP in Cincinnati does work its dramatic muscles early in the first season, the show easily establishes itself as a comedic force to be reckoned with.

All one has to mention is “Turkey’s Away”, episode 7 of the first season. The Thanksgiving episode is legendary in the series’ cannon. The story follows the team as station owner Mr. Carlson (Jump), feeling the need to be more involved, crafts a special Thanksgiving stunt to market WKRP… with disastrous results. The episode is one that has lived on in the series’ almost four-season run and still makes best-of lists for holiday episodes today. Pretty good for the first half of season one. 

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WKRP in Cincinnati is a series that deserves a lot more love than it feels like it gets, especially the farther we get from its 1978-1982 run. I lost track of it and I’m sorry for that. This is a dynamic comedy that also brings a courageous blend deeply human drama. It’s had an uphill battle for preservation, but seems to be coming out the other side.

What shows did you lose sight of? What shows should be rescued from the pop culture ether?

WKRP in Cincinnati can be a hard series to find (stupid music rights). It can be streamed on YouTube but is also available as a rental on Amazon Prime. Shout Factory has also released a complete series set.