Preacher (Episode Discussion) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jaime_weinman · 09-28-2002, 12:04 AM

The odd thing about this episode is that while it was the third episode in production order, it was the last to air in the first season (and it ran as an "extra" episode after the season was technically over). Maybe the production team wasn't pleased with it -- the other episode held up until after the season was over was "Fish Story," which the staff was deeply ashamed of. Or maybe the attitute to religion caused CBS to hold it up.

As an early episode, this has some differences from later WKRP. Cartoonish guest stars dominate the episode (Little Ed, the inter-religious council, the Merciful Sisters of Melody). Herb and Les don't appear, which reminds us that the original intention was to have some of the characters be "semi-regulars" who wouldn't appear in every episode. Eventually they dropped this idea and had all eight characters appear in every show.

APPLEI · 09-28-2002, 03:14 AM

what the"THE PREACHER" was about is religon for profit!
i.e jim and tammy bakker and many other "preachers" in religious tv shows!
it was written by bill dial of "turkeys away" fame.
one of my favorite scenes is when bailey suggests sticking the I.R.S on rev. little ed pembrook!
mr. carlsons reference too the rev. drinkwater,father riley and rabbi fishbein as "the
three stooges" is priceless!
i do get a mental picture of the rev. pembrook and
his 3 sisters in that "little honda" and it breaks me up laughing everytime.
i put this episode into list of 24 episodes of the
ultimate season of WKRP IN CINCINNATI because its ironic BEFORE IT'S TIME and its incredibility funny!

for those of us in the united states we must campaign too get WKRP IN CINCINNATI on a cable network!
maybe mtv or v-h1
sounds like a good fit too me!

thats my opinion!

dlemond · 10-04-2002, 10:43 AM

I watched "Preacher" after I read Jamie's post last week, and I noted his points.

It was strange without Herb and Les there, not as full and rich a show. I guess their absence was filled by the cartoonish guest characters (but less successfully).

You could tell it was filmed early.

A thing I noticed too, which played into being the 3rd production episode, was that Carlson is again referred to as a "jerk" (by one of the 3 religious men). This goes with Jennifer referring to Mr. Carlson as "the jerk who runs this place" in the pilot, which would come to be unlike her character quite quickly in the show's development.

Though I thought it was fun to see Johnny, Venus and Andy in the forefront (and being quite funny), all in all, for some reason, I liked it a bit less this time.

It also made me think about if there was ever a notion to make a spinoff with Johnny, Venus, and Andy. I think it could have worked to some extent, but like the New WKRP, something would have been missing.

karma · 11-12-2002, 06:03 PM

Well the Comedy network just aired this episode today, so I'll comment on it. I hadn't seen it in a very long time, so it was nice to watch it again.

As dlemond said, you could definitely tell it was filmed early. Not least because I had to turn my TV up just to hear it at a decent level, and there was a loud buzzing sound in the background, lol. The picture was a bit fuzzy too, as compared to the newer episodes.

Anyway all that aside, the episode itself was pretty great. I love how Venus acts in this episode; I think he added a lot to the show (as everyone did - but Venus stands out in my opinion). The part about the Honda is great, as is Ed when he's talking about the "powers of darkness," to Venus - "no offence." LOL.

APPLEI · 09-14-2003, 12:38 AM

hi everybody
lets discuss this episode!
i would like to hear everybodys opinion!

09-28-2002, 12:04 AM	#1
jaime_weinman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 22, 2000 Posts: 122	Preacher (Episode Discussion) The odd thing about this episode is that while it was the third episode in production order, it was the last to air in the first season (and it ran as an "extra" episode after the season was technically over). Maybe the production team wasn't pleased with it -- the other episode held up until after the season was over was "Fish Story," which the staff was deeply ashamed of. Or maybe the attitute to religion caused CBS to hold it up. As an early episode, this has some differences from later WKRP. Cartoonish guest stars dominate the episode (Little Ed, the inter-religious council, the Merciful Sisters of Melody). Herb and Les don't appear, which reminds us that the original intention was to have some of the characters be "semi-regulars" who wouldn't appear in every episode. Eventually they dropped this idea and had all eight characters appear in every show.

09-28-2002, 03:14 AM	#2
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	what the"THE PREACHER" was about is religon for profit! i.e jim and tammy bakker and many other "preachers" in religious tv shows! it was written by bill dial of "turkeys away" fame. one of my favorite scenes is when bailey suggests sticking the I.R.S on rev. little ed pembrook! mr. carlsons reference too the rev. drinkwater,father riley and rabbi fishbein as "the three stooges" is priceless! i do get a mental picture of the rev. pembrook and his 3 sisters in that "little honda" and it breaks me up laughing everytime. i put this episode into list of 24 episodes of the ultimate season of WKRP IN CINCINNATI because its ironic BEFORE IT'S TIME and its incredibility funny! for those of us in the united states we must campaign too get WKRP IN CINCINNATI on a cable network! maybe mtv or v-h1 sounds like a good fit too me! thats my opinion!
	Last edited by APPLEI; 09-29-2002 at 02:18 AM.

11-12-2002, 06:03 PM	#4
karma Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 04, 2002 Location: edmonton Posts: 41	Well the Comedy network just aired this episode today, so I'll comment on it. I hadn't seen it in a very long time, so it was nice to watch it again. As dlemond said, you could definitely tell it was filmed early. Not least because I had to turn my TV up just to hear it at a decent level, and there was a loud buzzing sound in the background, lol. The picture was a bit fuzzy too, as compared to the newer episodes. Anyway all that aside, the episode itself was pretty great. I love how Venus acts in this episode; I think he added a lot to the show (as everyone did - but Venus stands out in my opinion). The part about the Honda is great, as is Ed when he's talking about the "powers of darkness," to Venus - "no offence." LOL.
	Last edited by karma; 11-12-2002 at 11:02 PM.

10-04-2002, 10:43 AM	#3
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I watched "Preacher" after I read Jamie's post last week, and I noted his points. It was strange without Herb and Les there, not as full and rich a show. I guess their absence was filled by the cartoonish guest characters (but less successfully). You could tell it was filmed early. A thing I noticed too, which played into being the 3rd production episode, was that Carlson is again referred to as a "jerk" (by one of the 3 religious men). This goes with Jennifer referring to Mr. Carlson as "the jerk who runs this place" in the pilot, which would come to be unlike her character quite quickly in the show's development. Though I thought it was fun to see Johnny, Venus and Andy in the forefront (and being quite funny), all in all, for some reason, I liked it a bit less this time. It also made me think about if there was ever a notion to make a spinoff with Johnny, Venus, and Andy. I think it could have worked to some extent, but like the New WKRP, something would have been missing.

09-14-2003, 12:38 AM	#5
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	hi everybody lets discuss this episode! i would like to hear everybodys opinion!