How would a remake/reboot of "WKRP" work - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 10-07-2021, 07:10 PM

One idea that I read on Reddit would be that it could be about an washed-up ex-addict DJ (I presume, the Johnny Fever character) getting sent to a rock station in Cincinnati after he alienates all the larger markets/the larger markets get bought out by giant conglomerates. You could do commentary on rock music, music in general, Gen X versus Millennials and Zoomers (his coworkers), Gen X versus Boomers (station overlords), corporate consolidating, etc.

icecream · 10-07-2021, 07:26 PM

Remake of WKRP is a horrible idea.

Chocolate Moose · 10-08-2021, 11:30 AM

Is a network considering making this reboot?

Alan the TV nut · 02-06-2024, 01:29 AM

I see only one way to remake this show and do it any justice:
Back in 2019 there were a series of specials that presented live, recasted re-enactments of certain episodes of sitcoms such as All in the Family and Diff'rent Strokes. It was called Live in Front of a Studio Audience, and I think it was strictly Norman Lear shows, as he co-introduced each segment. I think it would be cool if they arranged a similar treatment for WKRP. They could even do the Turkeys Away episode as a Thanksgiving special. The hard part might be recasting these classic characters. I sort of think it would be interesting to see Hugh Jackman playing Dr. Johnny Fever.

Alan the TV nut · 02-06-2024, 01:35 AM

Oh, and if they do this, it would be HILARIOUS if they gave a surprise uncredited cameo to Ed O'Neill as the shoe store owner. can't you just hear Al Bundy saying "Get away from my store! Creep!"

Duster76 · 02-06-2024, 11:31 PM

This thread started in October of 2021 so the idea if it was ever real may have already died. There's no way to do this and set it in contemporary times, radio stations outside of maybe the morning show are voice tracked. It could be done as a period piece set in the 1960's (Mad Men style). A few years back an option was taken on Chris Ingram's book Hey Kemosabe!, a fictionalized version of his father's career at top 40 powerhouse WABC during the 60's and 70's, so at some point in the recent past some party was interested in doing something about radio of that era. There would also be music rights issues that might make the whole process not worth the effort. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but a period piece set in the 60's or early 70's would be the only way it might work.

Doug-oh · 02-19-2024, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

This thread started in October of 2021 so the idea if it was ever real may have already died. There's no way to do this and set it in contemporary times, radio stations outside of maybe the morning show are voice tracked. It could be done as a period piece set in the 1960's (Mad Men style).

Yeah, would be very hard to do today, considering radio isn't "fun" anymore, and most don't look to it as any great medium.

Most stations are ghost towns, with few workers in the offices. Rooms which once had reporters writing news, salesmen writing ad copy or jocks preparing for their shifts, are now mostly empty.

Night times are mostly "no man's land." When a tornado hits or a railroad tanker derails, pouring hazardous chemicals in the rivers and threatening communities, no one's there to warn people of the danger.

The medium is run mostly by bean counters who hate most on-air talent and think their audiences are satisfied by computerized music or satellite-fed programming. "Live and local" is a foreign idea to most of radio's brain trust, which only wants to make the most $ by spending the least $s.

So, Johnny Fever, you can't work here and neither can most others, except if you're in sales, but what would the Herb Tarlecks have to sell? Radio's programming isn't starkly different from Ipods, Spotify or most music programs.

It's not like the internet destroyed radio. The wholesale slashing of staff began in the 1990s. Google "Iheart or Clear Channel Christmas layoffs," where thousands lost their jobs to the computer.

Radio today is so dull and uninteresting. Whether it's 18 hours a day of mostly satellite-fed one-sided narrow talk radio (Republicans are only 27% of the population, Dems about 28%), or repetitive music from a computer, there's little of interest to many once loyal listeners.

Look at radio's stock prices.
Iheart Media: $2.65
Audacy: $0.94

The industry is in the dumpers. Truth be told, it was self-inflicted.

10-07-2021, 07:10 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,452	How would a remake/reboot of "WKRP" work One idea that I read on Reddit would be that it could be about an washed-up ex-addict DJ (I presume, the Johnny Fever character) getting sent to a rock station in Cincinnati after he alienates all the larger markets/the larger markets get bought out by giant conglomerates. You could do commentary on rock music, music in general, Gen X versus Millennials and Zoomers (his coworkers), Gen X versus Boomers (station overlords), corporate consolidating, etc.

10-07-2021, 07:26 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,608	Remake of WKRP is a horrible idea.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

10-08-2021, 11:30 AM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	Is a network considering making this reboot?
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

02-06-2024, 01:29 AM	#4
Alan the TV nut Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 06, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 16	I see only one way to remake this show and do it any justice: Back in 2019 there were a series of specials that presented live, recasted re-enactments of certain episodes of sitcoms such as All in the Family and Diff'rent Strokes. It was called Live in Front of a Studio Audience, and I think it was strictly Norman Lear shows, as he co-introduced each segment. I think it would be cool if they arranged a similar treatment for WKRP. They could even do the Turkeys Away episode as a Thanksgiving special. The hard part might be recasting these classic characters. I sort of think it would be interesting to see Hugh Jackman playing Dr. Johnny Fever.
	__________________ MARGE: "This isn't like the time you pretended to be Tom Bosley!" HOMER: "Sure, bring that up! But I didn't hear you complain when I got you THIS close to Chachi!" BART: "What's a Chachi?"

02-06-2024, 01:35 AM	#5
Alan the TV nut Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 06, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 16	Oh, and if they do this, it would be HILARIOUS if they gave a surprise uncredited cameo to Ed O'Neill as the shoe store owner. can't you just hear Al Bundy saying "Get away from my store! Creep!"

02-06-2024, 11:31 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	This thread started in October of 2021 so the idea if it was ever real may have already died. There's no way to do this and set it in contemporary times, radio stations outside of maybe the morning show are voice tracked. It could be done as a period piece set in the 1960's (Mad Men style). A few years back an option was taken on Chris Ingram's book Hey Kemosabe!, a fictionalized version of his father's career at top 40 powerhouse WABC during the 60's and 70's, so at some point in the recent past some party was interested in doing something about radio of that era. There would also be music rights issues that might make the whole process not worth the effort. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but a period piece set in the 60's or early 70's would be the only way it might work.