Pilot Episode

The first episode of the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati finds troubleshooter Andy Travis (Gary Sandy) blowing in from Santa Fe to pump new life in WKRP, an all-but-moribund "beautiful music" radio station in Cincinnati. Almost immediately Andy junks the station's format in favor of Top 40 rock and roll, transforms mercurial daytime deejay Johnny Caravella (Howard Hesseman) into "Doctor Johnny Fever", and installs his own mellow overnight host, "Venus Flytrap" (Tim Reid). Andy's methods result in wide-eyed astonishment from WKRP's ineffectual station manager Carlson (Gordon Jump) and resentment from the station's uptight news reporter Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) and boorish sales manager Herb Tarlek (Frank Bonner), but the ratings are undeniably on the upsurge. Alas, Mr. Carlson's imperious mother (played in the pilot by Sylvia Sidney) and thereafter by Carol Bruce), who owns WKRP, despises the new format--and demands that Andy be fired almost as soon as he is hired!, Andy tries to convince WKRP's owner (Sylvia Sidney) that rock and roll will cure the station's ailing ratings. Arthur: Gordon Jump. Venus Flytrap: Tim Reid. Johnny: Howard Hesseman. Les: Richard Sanders. Jennifer: Loni Anderson. Herb: Frank Bonner. Bailey: Jan Smithers.