Fish Story

A visting reporter is told that WKRP is just your average, run-of-the-mill station--but events quickly prove otherwise. It all starts when Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump) insists that Herb promote the station by wearing the costume of the WKRP mascot, the "KRP Carp". Meanwhile, Johnny (Howard Hesseman) and Venus (Tim Reid) participate in an on-the-air experiment involving alcohol intake. And a curiously phlegmatic painter spends forever decorating the walls of the station's reception room. By the end of the day, Johnny and Venus are drunk as skunks, a strange animal is roaming the halls of the station, and several staffers--including uptight Les Nessman (Richard Sanders)--are in jail for beating up the mascot of rival station WPIG. This episode was written under protest by series creator Hugh Wilson (under the nom-de-plume of "Raoul Plager"), in response to CBS' request that WKRP in Cincinnati become less character-driven and more farce-oriented; ironically, it proved to be one of the viewers' favorite episodes!.