Never realized this factoid about WKRP, but if it is 100% true, then the title of this thread stands pat!

Soon after WKRP was cancelled in June of 1982, summer reruns of the series shot into the top ten and stayed there throughout the summer. The reason, most likely, was that after CBS executives cancelled the show, they stopped moving it around the schedule; they left it in one time slot for the whole summer, and viewers finally knew where to find it. The last CBS broadcast of WKRP was # 1 in its timeslot, and # 7 in the ratings for the week.

- According to one book (whose title I currently forget but which I'll locate as soon as possible), CBS executives attempted to bring back WKRP after the summer reruns took off, but by that time it was too late; Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson and Gary Sandy had all become involved with other projects.

Yes, it did so well that it lifted Private Benjamin into the top ten too. When WKRP went off the air that boost evaportated and PB fell from the upper ten to the low forties within the month.

The real question is why CBS wouldn't just leave it on Monday. Except for the fall of '78 it always did well in that Monday slot. Every time CBS f'd up and moved it to another night, the audience always found it when it was moved back to Monday.

I agree with you both, but at least the show went out at the top of its game with all the original regulars still intact. Had it gone on longer, the network would've found a way to stick its nose into things, cast members would've started to leave, and the show's quality would've suffered. Just my two cents!!!

KRP had a couple more seasons going for it.

I do wish WKRP was revived in syndication between the cancellation by CBS in 1982 and the NEW WKRP. Someone actually approached MTM twice and inquired sbout reviving WKRP but MTM turned him down.

- According to one book (whose title I currently forget but which I'll locate as soon as possible), CBS executives attempted to bring back WKRP after the summer reruns took off, but by that time it was too late; Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson and Gary Sandy had all become involved with other projects. [/b]

This book?

207528

WKRP should have ran for a fifth season. It had a long life ahead of it

WKRP should have ran for a fifth season. It had a long life ahead of it

Agreed it had a couple more seasons going for it. I think Grant Tinker should have snatched it up for a couple more seasons on NBC and it would have been perfect for Must See TV! Perfect Slot too! Between Gimme a Break and Cheers!

Better yet after it too kind off in syndication I think it should have been revived in the 80s with Hugh Wilson as showrunner.

Never realized this factoid about WKRP, but if it is 100% true, then the title of this thread stands pat!

Soon after WKRP was cancelled in June of 1982, summer reruns of the series shot into the top ten and stayed there throughout the summer. The reason, most likely, was that after CBS executives cancelled the show, they stopped moving it around the schedule; they left it in one time slot for the whole summer, and viewers finally knew where to find it. The last CBS broadcast of WKRP was # 1 in its timeslot, and # 7 in the ratings for the week.

- According to one book (whose title I currently forget but which I'll locate as soon as possible), CBS executives attempted to bring back WKRP after the summer reruns took off, but by that time it was too late; Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson and Gary Sandy had all become involved with other projects.

You know something, that probably also explains why it didn't move to NBC after CBS cancelled it.

Agreed it had a couple more seasons going for it. I think Grant Tinker should have snatched it up for a couple more seasons on NBC and it would have been perfect for Must See TV! Perfect Slot too! Between Gimme a Break and Cheers!

Well, as mentioned above, Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson, and Gary Sandy were already involved with other projects. At that rate, Grant Tinker probably had too much respect for the program to just offer up replacements for them.

I agree with you both, but at least the show went out at the top of its game with all the original regulars still intact. Had it gone on longer, the network would've found a way to stick its nose into things, cast members would've started to leave, and the show's quality would've suffered. Just my two cents!!!

Not only that, but the potential fifth season scripts were now dealing with the problems of trying to run a "successful" station, rather than the "unsuccessful" station that WKRP was always supposed to be. To me, that would have just ultimately ruined the dynamic of the show.

Times like this when I wish the internet was around in 1982 and we could have written CBS or wrote ABC or NBC to pick up the show.

From what I have read, the brass of CBS didn't like WKRP for whatever reason and moved it around the schedule to try to kill it, but being that it was an MTM Enterprises series, didn't want to cancel it outright to ruin CBS' relationship with MTM. So they moved it around the schedule to confuse the viewers so in the end they could go to MTM and state that ratings were the issue, even though it was them who sabotaged the show.

I think the show had one more year to it. Actually the "New WKRP" syndicated show wasn't bad and Howard Hesseman was actually a semi-regular on that show, and the new supporting characters were not that bad.

Actually I think it had a couple more seasons going for it

I suspect that someone high up at the network didn't like WKRP and kept changing the time slot to sabotage it.

Funnily enough, when the show was left alone to languish in the summer reruns, it became a hit again.

I have to say that I disagree with the OP on this thread. Having just finished the original 4 seasons over the last few months, I felt like the show really fell off in the final season. It was like a completely different show. Too much drama involved in almost every episode and not enough laughs.

I have to say that I disagree with the OP on this thread. Having just finished the original 4 seasons over the last few months, I felt like the show really fell off in the final season. It was like a completely different show. Too much drama involved in almost every episode and not enough laughs.

While the 4th season may not have been it's best, it was very strong.
There were a few episodes that had some serious overtones - "Pills" and "Changes," for example- they were never all serious and humor was always a part of it. Even these were well done and not overly preachy.

And there are some excellent episodes here - "Who's On First," "The Consultant," "An Explosive Affair," "Up and Down the Dial" - very funny quality episodes. And I don't think it dropped off, or was completely different. If anything the character became stronger and more defined.

The show still had a lot more to give.

While the 4th season may not have been it's best, it was very strong.
There were a few episodes that had some serious overtones - "Pills" and "Changes," for example- they were never all serious and humor was always a part of it. Even these were well done and not overly preachy.

And there are some excellent episodes here - "Who's On First," "The Consultant," "An Explosive Affair," "Up and Down the Dial" - very funny quality episodes. And I don't think it dropped off, or was completely different. If anything the character became stronger and more defined.

The show still had a lot more to give.

I thought "The Consultant" was one of the best episodes of the series. Pure farce. Loni Anderson was a standout perfomer, portraying Jennifer as a bubble headed blonde. I loved when Venus was "holding up" Johnny in the hall. Pure genius.

Gilligan's Island is up there too but I agree this is a pretty awful basis for cancellation.

What did Loni Anderson go on to do?? WKRP is the only thing she's really known for.

While the 4th season may not have been it's best, it was very strong.
There were a few episodes that had some serious overtones - "Pills" and "Changes," for example- they were never all serious and humor was always a part of it. Even these were well done and not overly preachy.

And there are some excellent episodes here - "Who's On First," "The Consultant," "An Explosive Affair," "Up and Down the Dial" - very funny quality episodes. And I don't think it dropped off, or was completely different. If anything the character became stronger and more defined.

The show still had a lot more to give.


Yes it did and basically the show was hitting its stride then.

WKRP should have came back in syndication with new episodes in the mid-80s. Kevin Tannehill tried to bring it back twice before launching the New WKRP. When he was with MTM. He was working with two different syndication companies at the time and both times MTM said no.

I have to say that I disagree with the OP on this thread. Having just finished the original 4 seasons over the last few months, I felt like the show really fell off in the final season. It was like a completely different show. Too much drama involved in almost every episode and not enough laughs.

Not enough laughs is a problem for LOTS of sitcoms. :lol:

Anyone else think if All in the Family had ended after season 8, it would have been easier for WKRP in Cincinnati to be given a consistent timeslot on the CBS schedule? Under that scenario, Archie Bunker's Place would not exist, and it'd be WKRP in Cincinnati on Sundays at 8pm instead.

Well, as mentioned above, Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson, and Gary Sandy were already involved with other projects. At that rate, Grant Tinker probably had too much respect for the program to just offer up replacements for them.

They should've stayed with WKRP because obviously those other projects bombed in comparison!

Anyone else think if All in the Family had ended after season 8, it would have been easier for WKRP in Cincinnati to be given a consistent timeslot on the CBS schedule? Under that scenario, Archie Bunker's Place would not exist, and it'd be WKRP in Cincinnati on Sundays at 8pm instead.

Yes! Would be great for young people to find it! Especially with 60 minutes as a lead in!

They should've stayed with WKRP because obviously those other projects bombed in comparison!

They left because the show was cancelled and they were released from their contracts.

As an actor, once a job ends, you have to look for the next one and CBS realized too late that they made a mistake, so you should really be blaming CBS for sabotaging the show in the first place by constantly moving it around their prime-time schedule.

WKRP could have had a good seven or eight year run if the network let it have a permanent slot on the schedule.

Never realized this factoid about WKRP, but if it is 100% true, then the title of this thread stands pat!

[b]Soon after WKRP was cancelled in June of 1982, summer reruns of the series shot into the top ten and stayed there throughout the summer. The reason, most likely, was that after CBS executives cancelled the show, they stopped moving it around the schedule; they left it in one time slot for the whole summer, and viewers finally knew where to find it. The last CBS broadcast of WKRP was # 1 in its timeslot, and # 7 in the ratings for the week.

This could just have been a rumor/urban legend, but I remember hearing that creator/executive producer Hugh Wilson was asked about bringing it back when the summertime ratings spiked, but he was so disgusted with the network's treatment over it that he turned them down.

Never realized this factoid about WKRP, but if it is 100% true, then the title of this thread stands pat!

Soon after WKRP was cancelled in June of 1982, summer reruns of the series shot into the top ten and stayed there throughout the summer. The reason, most likely, was that after CBS executives cancelled the show, they stopped moving it around the schedule; they left it in one time slot for the whole summer, and viewers finally knew where to find it. The last CBS broadcast of WKRP was # 1 in its timeslot, and # 7 in the ratings for the week.

- According to one book (whose title I currently forget but which I'll locate as soon as possible), CBS executives attempted to bring back WKRP after the summer reruns took off, but by that time it was too late; Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson and Gary Sandy had all become involved with other projects.


The show ran 4 years so I don't see what the big fuss is.

From what I have read, the brass of CBS didn't like WKRP for whatever reason and moved it around the schedule to try to kill it, but being that it was an MTM Enterprises series, didn't want to cancel it outright to ruin CBS' relationship with MTM. So they moved it around the schedule to confuse the viewers so in the end they could go to MTM and state that ratings were the issue, even though it was them who sabotaged the show.

I think the show had one more year to it. Actually the "New WKRP" syndicated show wasn't bad and Howard Hesseman was actually a semi-regular on that show, and the new supporting characters were not that bad.


Why did they even pick up the show in the first place?

The show ran 4 years so I don't see what the big fuss is.

Because when the network stopped moving the time slot around, the ratings went up and it was a top 10 show. And it still had some creative juice.

I don't even think I watched much WKRP during the regular tv season. I usually waited for summer.

I agree. Gone before it's time. I became a fan in its early syndication run and couldn't believe they cancelled it after 4 seasons. I was really disappointed. They didn't even get a goodbye show. I loved everything about it.

Amazing how some people can't accept the way things are or how they were.


The show could have been canceled after 1 season.

Amazing how some people can't accept the way things are or how they were.


The show could have been canceled after 1 season.

Well, it should be noted that during this time, CBS needed to build new shows. They lost three veterans (Maude, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show) after the previous season because their stars decided to leave them, and their ratings got worse and worse. All in the Family and M*A*S*H were aging, and Alice was seen as the flagship around this time.

According to page 56 of the June 18, 1979 issue of Broadcasting magazine (https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/79-OCR/BC-1979-06-18-OCR-Page-0056.pdf), WKRP in Cincinnati during its first season averaged a 19.5 rating and 29 share, and ranked 35th for the 1978-79 season. Two other freshman shows on CBS (both being midseason replacements) ranked higher than WKRP: The Dukes of Hazzard (#20, 21.1 rating/35 share), and Stockard Channing in Just Friends (#25; 20.7 rating/32 share); Dukes of Hazzard was renewed while Just Friends (for some unknown reason) was cancelled. You (MIKEPR) would probably have a good point if WKRP had aired on ABC. CBS was in second place behind ABC during 1978-79, so they can't cancel everything.

The ratings for WKRP in Cincinnati improved the following season; it wound-up ranking 22nd for the 1979-80 season with a 20.7 rating, and that was its only season in the Top 30. As I stated earlier, if Archie Bunker's Place never existed, WKRP in Cincinnati should have aired after 60 Minutes instead and probably gotten itself into the Top-10.

I really like the show. And my favorite ep is the one (I think is) called Format Vhane where Fever outwits Mother Carlson. And Hirsch was a riot in that ep!

But most unjustified cancellation? No, sorry, that would likely have to go to Bridget Loves Bernie. A sweet charming comedy but got nixxed to a small but vocal, and potentially violent, group of “hate mailers”—apparently the concept of an interfaith marriage for too much for them. Sorry this show didn’t make it; I thought All In The Family was more controversial but guess AITF got away with it because much of the underlying tone was satirical and portrayed Archie as more of a charicature than a real person.

But most unjustified cancellation? No, sorry, that would likely have to go to Bridget Loves Bernie. A sweet charming comedy but got nixxed to a small but vocal, and potentially violent, group of “hate mailers”—apparently the concept of an interfaith marriage for too much for them. Sorry this show didn’t make it; I thought All In The Family was more controversial but guess AITF got away with it because much of the underlying tone was satirical and portrayed Archie as more of a charicature than a real person.

Hey, I posted (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=5746981&postcount=92) about Bridget Loves Bernie near the end of last May!:wave: I asked what would have happened if BLB had been a long-running series if not for those hate-mailers. I also said that I was afraid this would have meant M*A*S*H either being cancelled after one season and/or moved to another network.

Why did they even pick up the show in the first place?

CBS wanted a broad comedy while Hugh Wilson wanted it to be a quirky workplace comedy. You could kind of see the struggle on screen…some episodes would be very quirky/funny, others very broad comedy (Andy getting beat up in a bar was one where the visual gags were very broad).

What could have been....

We never got season five, but 9 years later we got The New WKRP In Cincinatti, which was, let's face it, kinda like After-MASH: A show built around three supporting characters that lasted two seasons...except this time it was in first-run syndication.

I suspect that someone high up at the network didn't like WKRP and kept changing the time slot to sabotage it.

Funnily enough, when the show was left alone to languish in the summer reruns, it became a hit again.

In hindsight, I wonder if WKRP would've been better received by the higher ups had it aired on NBC (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/what_classic_sitcoms_seem_like_they_aired_on_the/) instead of CBS (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1g19spu/comment/lrfl03b/)? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/comment/llysl2a/) (i.e. the Fred Silverman years (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6153830), when the network was on the verge of bankruptcy), it probably wasn't the right time for them to air a show like that.

In hindsight, I wonder if WKRP would've been better received by the higher ups had it aired on NBC (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/what_classic_sitcoms_seem_like_they_aired_on_the/) instead of CBS (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1g19spu/comment/lrfl03b/)? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/comment/llysl2a/) (i.e. the Fred Silverman years (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6153830), when the network was on the verge of bankruptcy), it probably wasn't the right time for them to air a show like that.


I wish NBC picked it up after CBS cancelled it and put it on Must See TV Thursday nights at 8:30 before Cheers. WKRP would have been a good lead in to [Cheers

I suspect that someone high up at the network didn't like WKRP and kept changing the time slot to sabotage it.

Funnily enough, when the show was left alone to languish in the summer reruns, it became a hit again.


I heard MTM was not too fond of the show either. Mary Tyler Moore herself did not have some kind words to say about it.

Not enough laughs is a problem for LOTS of sitcoms. :lol:

Especially the final seasons of MASH. The show became too dramatic and preachy

I wish NBC picked it up after CBS cancelled it and put it on Must See TV Thursday nights at 8:30 before Cheers. WKRP would have been a good lead in to [Cheers

After WKRP was cancelled, CBS put it in a regular time slot for the remainder of the summer rerun season. As a result, the show was top 10 in the ratings.

This could very well be a rumor, but supposedly CBS contacted Hugh Wilson about bringing it back for a fifth season. The response they got was that the actors had moved on to other projects, or that Hugh Wilson was so disgusted with the network, he told them what they could do with their offer. Probably a little of both, really.

Again, could be just a rumor or speculation, but we'll never know what a fifth season of WKRP would have brought.

In hindsight, I wonder if WKRP would've been better received by the higher ups had it aired on NBC (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/what_classic_sitcoms_seem_like_they_aired_on_the/) instead of CBS (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1g19spu/comment/lrfl03b/)? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (https://www.reddit.com/r/sitcoms/comments/1fb8oxp/comment/llysl2a/) (i.e. the Fred Silverman years (https://sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6153830), when the network was on the verge of bankruptcy), it probably wasn't the right time for them to air a show like that.

NBC would have cancelled it after one season if the ratings were bad.

Silverman was desperate and wanted instant success.

This could very well be a rumor, but supposedly CBS contacted Hugh Wilson about bringing it back for a fifth season. The response they got was that the actors had moved on to other projects, or that Hugh Wilson was so disgusted with the network, he told them what they could do with their offer. Probably a little of both, really.

Again, could be just a rumor or speculation, but we'll never know what a fifth season of WKRP would have brought.

Here's Hugh Wilson talking about the cancellation. He doesn't bring that up:


https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/hugh-wilson?clip=28563#interview-clips

Here's Hugh Wilson talking about the cancellation. He doesn't bring that up:


https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/hugh-wilson?clip=28563#interview-clips

I saw that clip a few days ago.

Like I said, I remember reading it somewhere. And memories can be faulty. But CBS had to be burned, knowing they ruined what could have been a longer run.