'WKRP' Is The Most Unjustifiably Canceled Show of All Time!!!

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by MIKEPR

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.

[Mr. Television]

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

[DEH55]

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.

[MIKEPR]

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


The show could have been canceled after 1 season.

[James28]

Originally Posted by MIKEPR

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, 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.

[OH Nuts!]

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.

[James28]

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

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 about Bridget Loves Bernie near the end of last May! 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.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by MIKEPR

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).

[Dr. Thong]

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.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

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 instead of CBS? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (i.e. the Fred Silverman years, when the network was on the verge of bankruptcy), it probably wasn't the right time for them to air a show like that.

[Jamey Greek]

Originally Posted by TMC

In hindsight, I wonder if WKRP would've been better received by the higher ups had it aired on NBC instead of CBS? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (i.e. the Fred Silverman years, 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

[Jamey Greek]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

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.

[Jamey Greek]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Not enough laughs is a problem for LOTS of sitcoms.

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

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Jamey Greek

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.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TMC

In hindsight, I wonder if WKRP would've been better received by the higher ups had it aired on NBC instead of CBS? But I guess, that given the state of NBC in 1978 (i.e. the Fred Silverman years, 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.