Did the producers try to hire more original cast members for The New WKRP? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 12-27-2014, 02:32 PM

I was wondering if the producers of the WKRP revival in the early '90s tried to get any or all of the other original cast members to be on the show.

I think The New WKRP suffers from After-M*A*S*H syndrome in that it was a revival/continuation built on three supporting characters. They really needed one of the lead characters like Andy, Venus or Johnny to give the series more credibility.

Marvo301 · 12-27-2014, 04:35 PM

I would have liked to see Baily Quarters (Jan Smithers) on the new WKRP. I think it would have made sense that she would have replaced Andy Travis as Program Director of WKRP by that time. Perhaps Andy would have become General Manager of the station and Mr. Carlson would be owner having inherited the station from his Mother who would have passed away by that point.

Yong Fang · 03-11-2022, 09:44 AM

Howard Hessman did some multiple episodes on the New WKRP but they made him a complete stoner idiot. He wasnt really that funny and a waste. I consider Hessman's role as the central character but he was wasted there.

I did sort of like that the new receptionist, a young blonde girl, actually liked/loved Herb Tarlek and pursued him, in an episode, the girl's father was a slimy polyesther dressed salesman so she liked Herb as a father figure, with Herb avoiding her, which is sort of turn about is fair play. Unlike Jennifer, she was very young, a lot dummer and Herb more loyal to his wife (which is sort of why I disliked Herb in the original show, wanting an affair with Jennifer while married).

The New WKRP wasnt a bad show, but it wasnt the original show. It tried.

Dr. Thong · 03-21-2022, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

Howard Hessman did some multiple episodes on the New WKRP but they made him a complete stoner idiot. He wasnt really that funny and a waste. I consider Hessman's role as the central character but he was wasted there.

I did sort of like that the new receptionist, a young blonde girl, actually liked/loved Herb Tarlek and pursued him, in an episode, the girl's father was a slimy polyesther dressed salesman so she liked Herb as a father figure, with Herb avoiding her, which is sort of turn about is fair play. Unlike Jennifer, she was very young, a lot dummer and Herb more loyal to his wife (which is sort of why I disliked Herb in the original show, wanting an affair with Jennifer while married).

The New WKRP wasnt a bad show, but it wasnt the original show. It tried.

I agree.

But in the final analysis, you can't revive a show like WKRP and base it around three supporting characters (Carlson, Les, & Herb). Had they also had Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, or Howard Hesseman on board as the lead, it might have worked.

And being in first run syndication probably didn't help it either -- as those type of shows weren't seen as good enough for the networks in the eyes of some people.

12-27-2014, 02:32 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Did the producers try to hire more original cast members for The New WKRP? I was wondering if the producers of the WKRP revival in the early '90s tried to get any or all of the other original cast members to be on the show. I think The New WKRP suffers from After-MASH* syndrome in that it was a revival/continuation built on three supporting characters. They really needed one of the lead characters like Andy, Venus or Johnny to give the series more credibility.
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12-27-2014, 04:35 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	I would have liked to see Baily Quarters (Jan Smithers) on the new WKRP. I think it would have made sense that she would have replaced Andy Travis as Program Director of WKRP by that time. Perhaps Andy would have become General Manager of the station and Mr. Carlson would be owner having inherited the station from his Mother who would have passed away by that point.
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03-11-2022, 09:44 AM	#3
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Howard Hessman did some multiple episodes on the New WKRP but they made him a complete stoner idiot. He wasnt really that funny and a waste. I consider Hessman's role as the central character but he was wasted there. I did sort of like that the new receptionist, a young blonde girl, actually liked/loved Herb Tarlek and pursued him, in an episode, the girl's father was a slimy polyesther dressed salesman so she liked Herb as a father figure, with Herb avoiding her, which is sort of turn about is fair play. Unlike Jennifer, she was very young, a lot dummer and Herb more loyal to his wife (which is sort of why I disliked Herb in the original show, wanting an affair with Jennifer while married). The New WKRP wasnt a bad show, but it wasnt the original show. It tried.