Did You Know The Thanksgiving 'WKRP' Episode Was Based On True Events?!? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 11-05-2010, 01:12 AM

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!"
-- Arthur Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati

The above quote is from the famous "WKRP in Cincinnati" episode where Station Manager, Arthur Carlson (played by Gordon Jump), arranged to have live turkeys dropped from a helicopter as an advertising stunt.

Oddly enough, this famous WKRP episode was loosely based on a real event! Back in 1946 (some sources say 1945), Yellville, Arkansas inaugurated the "Turkey Trot Festival" which included a wild turkey calling contest, a turkey target shoot, a Miss Drumsticks Pageant and oh yeah: a live turkey release from the roof of the courthouse. After a few years, someone thought it might be fun to actually toss the poor gobblers out of a low-flying airplane for the event. This repeated for a number of years until 1989 when a national animal-rights protest cast the event in a bad light and the "National Enquirer" splashed a photo of the event across the nation forcing promoters to abandon the turkey drop.

Sometimes, real life is funnier - or plain stranger - than anything you can make up.

http://radio.about.com/library/weekly/aa112002a.htm

Marvo301 · 11-05-2010, 01:32 AM

This was one of the funniest TV episodes I've ever seen! And the genius of the episode is that we never actually get to see the turkeys drop. We only get to listen to Les Nessman's hilariously brilliant description of the event and see the shocked reactions of the rest of the staff back at the station as they also listen to Les. Brilliant performances by the entire cast make this arrangement work like a charm. The fact that this episode was inspired by actual events just adds to its charm!

catlover79 · 11-05-2010, 04:17 PM

Yeah, I remember reading about that a few years ago.

Marvo301 · 11-25-2010, 05:15 PM

I watched this episode last night on DVD. Then I watched again with commentary. Hugh Wilson mentioned a couple of times in the commentary that this episode was based on actual events.

Miss Lisa · 03-02-2011, 10:58 PM

I actually had never heard that before. This was my favorite episode, and Idk how, but now I like it even better. I wish there was a way that I could have been there when they were actually doing all of this. It would have been strange, but it definitely would be something to see.

11-05-2010, 01:12 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Did You Know The Thanksgiving 'WKRP' Episode Was Based On True Events?!? "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!" -- Arthur Carlson, WKRP in Cincinnati The above quote is from the famous "WKRP in Cincinnati" episode where Station Manager, Arthur Carlson (played by Gordon Jump), arranged to have live turkeys dropped from a helicopter as an advertising stunt. Oddly enough, this famous WKRP episode was loosely based on a real event! Back in 1946 (some sources say 1945), Yellville, Arkansas inaugurated the "Turkey Trot Festival" which included a wild turkey calling contest, a turkey target shoot, a Miss Drumsticks Pageant and oh yeah: a live turkey release from the roof of the courthouse. After a few years, someone thought it might be fun to actually toss the poor gobblers out of a low-flying airplane for the event. This repeated for a number of years until 1989 when a national animal-rights protest cast the event in a bad light and the "National Enquirer" splashed a photo of the event across the nation forcing promoters to abandon the turkey drop. Sometimes, real life is funnier - or plain stranger - than anything you can make up. http://radio.about.com/library/weekly/aa112002a.htm
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11-05-2010, 01:32 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	This was one of the funniest TV episodes I've ever seen! And the genius of the episode is that we never actually get to see the turkeys drop. We only get to listen to Les Nessman's hilariously brilliant description of the event and see the shocked reactions of the rest of the staff back at the station as they also listen to Les. Brilliant performances by the entire cast make this arrangement work like a charm. The fact that this episode was inspired by actual events just adds to its charm!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

11-05-2010, 04:17 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Yeah, I remember reading about that a few years ago.
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03-02-2011, 10:58 PM	#5
Miss Lisa Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 08, 2005 Location: My very own Green Acres Posts: 1,113	I actually had never heard that before. This was my favorite episode, and Idk how, but now I like it even better. I wish there was a way that I could have been there when they were actually doing all of this. It would have been strange, but it definitely would be something to see.
	__________________ TEAM COCO ~♥~"No matter how big or soft or warm your bed is, you still have to get out of it."~♥~ - Grace Slick http://deviantrose112.posterous.com/

11-25-2010, 05:15 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I watched this episode last night on DVD. Then I watched again with commentary. Hugh Wilson mentioned a couple of times in the commentary that this episode was based on actual events.