While the show had its dim bulbs (Mr. Carlson, Les, Herb) it had some real smart cookies as well.

My pick is Johnny Fever. I thought the way he handled Mama Carlson, in the last ep where she wanted to change the format, was classic. Everyone else's pleas to her fell flat on their face but JF was the one who pulled it off & got Mama Carlson to keep the format.

(Some of the lines in that ep are classic - definitely my fav ep)

Who's your pick?

(Very respectable seconds are Jennifer, Andy, Venus imo)

Jennifer - she really was her boss's boss. She was savvy and sharp and not afraid to let everyone know it!!

Jennifer - she really was her boss's boss. She was savvy and sharp and not afraid to let everyone know it!!


My vote goes to Jennifer Marlowe as well...

i say Jennifer, she had everyone wrapped around her finger.

I always thought Bailey was smart. She could have been a professor instead of working at a rinky dink radio station.

Jennifer

I would say Andy, after all he did get the format changed to rock at the beginning. Following close behind would be Bailey and Jennifer. I always thought of Johnny Fever being a stoner with not alot of smarts.

Not to mention that Venus had been a teacher at one time, and after his DJ days went into radio management (we found that out when he guested on the new WKRP show).

Duh, how did I forget Venis? He did seem like a smart character as well.

I always thought of Johnny Fever being a stoner with not alot of smarts.


In the beginning when I used to watch the show I totally thought JF was burned toast. But in that last ep he was AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT. Definitely not someone to underestimate.

Well it seems Jennifer is the majority pick. She's definitely my second choice. She was sharp no doubt about it; when Mama Carlson came to visit, you could tell she liked Jennifer - she was always especially cordial to her.

Both Jennifer and Venus would get my vote. Notice that whenever anyone had a problem on the show they went to either Jennifer or Venus. Everyone else was pretty smart in their own way as well.

Overall, I pick Jennifer as being the smartest. However; I really loved it in the final episode how Dr. Johnny Fever alone was the one who figured out Mama Carlson's game!:cool:

My pick is Johnny Fever. I thought the way he handled Mama Carlson, in the last ep where she wanted to change the format, was classic. Everyone else's pleas to her fell flat on their face but JF was the one who pulled it off & got Mama Carlson to keep the format.

I think it's refreshing that it was Johnny who called her bluff. The most obvious choice would've been Andy or Jennifer, but it's the burned-out DJ who figures it out first. :cool: :D

Andy was the one who came to mind when I saw this thread. But Jennifer runs a close second, considering she basically ran things. I mean, even Carlson didn't know what was going on half the time! And you've got to be pretty tough to handle working around Herb for that long! LOL

Mister Carlson was the smartest. Hands down. While everyone else in the station were basically flying by the seat of their pants, he was safe in his office, blissfully whiling away the hours calmly playing with his plastic army men, or a new pocket fisherman fishing rod. Dude was class!

I have to go with Andy Travis because he was able to get the most out of the cast of characters he had to work with, plus he was able to acquire money from Mama Carlson, who wasn't the easiest person to part with a dime. A lot of what he did was behind the scenes and explained with a wink and a smile.
Andy was very good at manipulating Mama Carlson, but in the end it was Johnny who called her out. That was a great episode. Andy Drunk and falling down while the eternal hippie Johnny Fever saving the station. Talk about irony......

While the show had its dim bulbs (Mr. Carlson, Les, Herb) it had some real smart cookies as well.

My pick is Johnny Fever. I thought the way he handled Mama Carlson, in the last ep where she wanted to change the format, was classic. Everyone else's pleas to her fell flat on their face but JF was the one who pulled it off & got Mama Carlson to keep the format.

(Some of the lines in that ep are classic - definitely my fav ep)

Who's your pick?

(Very respectable seconds are Jennifer, Andy, Venus imo)

I think it's refreshing that it was Johnny who called her bluff. The most obvious choice would've been Andy or Jennifer, but it's the burned-out DJ who figures it out first. :cool: :D

I know. Who Woulda thunk it? That’s what made that ep such a blast and why he’s my pick. Who else, on the show ever bested Mother Carlson?

Definitely Jennifer.

Out of All Characters on WKRP, Jennifer is likely the most smartest

Jennifer, easily.

She was the receptionist, yet she was the highest paid employee at the station. She didn't type, she didn't take dictation, she didn't get coffee and when she went to lunch, she didn't even bother to get someone to take over for her, she just left the phone off the hook.

And she could put anyone in their place -- with the sole exception of Mother Carlson.

Jennifer, easily.

She was the receptionist, yet she was the highest paid employee at the station. She didn't type, she didn't take dictation, she didn't get coffee and when she went to lunch, she didn't even bother to get someone to take over for her, she just left the phone off the hook.

And she could put anyone in their place -- with the sole exception of Mother Carlson.

She’s my second choice. But besting wily barracuda Mrs. C is hard to top IMO.

She’s my second choice. But besting wily barracuda Mrs. C is hard to top IMO.

Yes, Mother Carlson was not to be trifled with.

The second (and most popularly known) Mrs. Carlson, Carol Bruce, was the better of the two.

Sylvia Sidney played her in the pilot. She was good, but Carol Bruce brought a true evil quality to the part.