MOST IMPROVED STATION episode disscussion - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

APPLEI · 10-13-2002, 04:06 AM

this episode was written by micheal fairman and RICHARD SANDERS.
very well written and acted! and most entertaining!
i must note that richard sanders who co-wrote "most improved station" character less nessman was a minor character in this episode!
after dr. johnny fever wins the award for most improved dj and wkrp loses the award for"MOST IMPROVED STATION" theres alot of tension among the staff of wkrp in cincinnati and the cast of actors who protrayed them!(maybe resenting the way the show was treated by cbs and being ignored by the emmys)
the tensions among the actors and the characters they played are presented!
herb and les(frank bonner and richard sanders)
mr. carlson and andy travis(gordon jump and gary sandy)
dr. johnny fever and venus flytrap(howard hesseman and tim reid)
jennifer and bailey(loni anderson and jan smithers)
and especially dr. johnny fever and bailey quarters.
one of the things i love about wkrp in cincinnati
is that the characters are not caricatures they are real human beings!
one of my favorite scenes is when les is demanding
walls around his office.
andy replys we don't need more walls we need more
communication or something to that effect!

this is a entertaining and revealing episode.

Fan of old shows · 10-13-2002, 11:42 AM

thanks for the info

karma · 10-13-2002, 09:01 PM

I didn't realize that, but you're right, Richard Sanders directed it but he doesn't appear in it too much.. interesting.

In any case, I *LOVE* this episode; it's one of my favourites. The tension between the characters is so reminiscent of any workplace I've ever known - even though you may like/love all the people you work with, they can annoy the sh*t outta you sometimes.

And "get used to each other's bodies!" is probably one of the greatest lines of the series, IMO.

jaime_weinman · 10-13-2002, 11:21 PM

Sanders also co-wrote "A Commercial Break," which is not a Les episode either.

This is definitely one of my favourite episodes, a great example of WKRP's ability to get huge laughs with lines that don't sound like "jokes." My favourite bit is Mr. Carlson going instantly into his self-pitying complaints when he's woken up. Great timing by Gordon Jump throughout this whole episode.

However, notice that Jump flubs a line near the end of act 1, calling the meeting for 2, and then going back and changing it to "2:30." Notice also that that shot, the last shot of act 1, is one continuous shot lasting almost a minute. WKRP director Rod Daniel liked long, uninterrupted shots and working as much as possible from the first take in front of an audience, even if it meant leaving in mistakes now and then.

Jennifer's speech about WKRP being a family may be kind of an example of how the last episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show influenced future ensemble shows. In the MTMS finale, Mary thanks her co-workers for being her family, and since then almost every ensemble show has had a moment like this, from WKRP to NewsRadio (Jimmy: "The people at this station mean the world to me. They're more than employees, they're family") and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I guess in a way every ensemble show, and particularly workplace show, is about disparate people who, thrown together for some reason, become a family.

dlemond · 10-18-2002, 10:35 AM

Watching this episode again has made me realize that this is one of the show's best.

Things I noted:

Funny to see Johnny in a tux and not complaining.

WKRP jumped from 16- 14 - that is not such an enormous feat, why did they expect to win?

Bailey continues to show interest in Johnny - I failed to take notice of this when I was kid, or for some reason it never took that Bailey like Johnny.

Bailey's perfect throw of the donut at Herb.

Good Quotes:

"and Herb is Herb"
-Andy, on everyone's problems

"What do you think I do around here, sleep?"
"Yes, I do"
"Darn right I sleep"
-Mr. Carlson and Andy

"I could have been a forest ranger" - Andy

Bailey to Herb
"Try and be nice"
Herb:
"I'm nice"
Herb to Les:
"Recovered from your crushing defeat yet?"

"He's got nice hair"
Mr. Carlson on Andy

"Wait a minute, this meeting is starting to lose some of its bitterness" - Les getting mad.

All around great jokes and story line.
Makes the viewer feel a part of the WKRP family.
After only 2 seasons you felt like you knew these people.

10-13-2002, 04:06 AM	#1
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	MOST IMPROVED STATION episode disscussion this episode was written by micheal fairman and RICHARD SANDERS. very well written and acted! and most entertaining! i must note that richard sanders who co-wrote "most improved station" character less nessman was a minor character in this episode! after dr. johnny fever wins the award for most improved dj and wkrp loses the award for"MOST IMPROVED STATION" theres alot of tension among the staff of wkrp in cincinnati and the cast of actors who protrayed them!(maybe resenting the way the show was treated by cbs and being ignored by the emmys) the tensions among the actors and the characters they played are presented! herb and les(frank bonner and richard sanders) mr. carlson and andy travis(gordon jump and gary sandy) dr. johnny fever and venus flytrap(howard hesseman and tim reid) jennifer and bailey(loni anderson and jan smithers) and especially dr. johnny fever and bailey quarters. one of the things i love about wkrp in cincinnati is that the characters are not caricatures they are real human beings! one of my favorite scenes is when les is demanding walls around his office. andy replys we don't need more walls we need more communication or something to that effect! this is a entertaining and revealing episode.
	Last edited by APPLEI; 10-13-2002 at 04:27 AM.

10-13-2002, 09:01 PM	#3
karma Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 04, 2002 Location: edmonton Posts: 41	I didn't realize that, but you're right, Richard Sanders directed it but he doesn't appear in it too much.. interesting. In any case, I LOVE this episode; it's one of my favourites. The tension between the characters is so reminiscent of any workplace I've ever known - even though you may like/love all the people you work with, they can annoy the sh*t outta you sometimes. And "get used to each other's bodies!" is probably one of the greatest lines of the series, IMO.
	Last edited by karma; 10-13-2002 at 09:02 PM.

10-18-2002, 10:35 AM	#5
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	Watching this episode again has made me realize that this is one of the show's best. Things I noted: Funny to see Johnny in a tux and not complaining. WKRP jumped from 16- 14 - that is not such an enormous feat, why did they expect to win? Bailey continues to show interest in Johnny - I failed to take notice of this when I was kid, or for some reason it never took that Bailey like Johnny. Bailey's perfect throw of the donut at Herb. Good Quotes: "and Herb is Herb" -Andy, on everyone's problems "What do you think I do around here, sleep?" "Yes, I do" "Darn right I sleep" -Mr. Carlson and Andy "I could have been a forest ranger" - Andy Bailey to Herb "Try and be nice" Herb: "I'm nice" Herb to Les: "Recovered from your crushing defeat yet?" "He's got nice hair" Mr. Carlson on Andy "Wait a minute, this meeting is starting to lose some of its bitterness" - Les getting mad. All around great jokes and story line. Makes the viewer feel a part of the WKRP family. After only 2 seasons you felt like you knew these people.
	Last edited by dlemond; 10-18-2002 at 10:37 AM.

10-13-2002, 11:42 AM	#2
Fan of old shows Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 417	thanks for the info

10-13-2002, 11:21 PM	#4
jaime_weinman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 22, 2000 Posts: 122	Sanders also co-wrote "A Commercial Break," which is not a Les episode either. This is definitely one of my favourite episodes, a great example of WKRP's ability to get huge laughs with lines that don't sound like "jokes." My favourite bit is Mr. Carlson going instantly into his self-pitying complaints when he's woken up. Great timing by Gordon Jump throughout this whole episode. However, notice that Jump flubs a line near the end of act 1, calling the meeting for 2, and then going back and changing it to "2:30." Notice also that that shot, the last shot of act 1, is one continuous shot lasting almost a minute. WKRP director Rod Daniel liked long, uninterrupted shots and working as much as possible from the first take in front of an audience, even if it meant leaving in mistakes now and then. Jennifer's speech about WKRP being a family may be kind of an example of how the last episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show influenced future ensemble shows. In the MTMS finale, Mary thanks her co-workers for being her family, and since then almost every ensemble show has had a moment like this, from WKRP to NewsRadio (Jimmy: "The people at this station mean the world to me. They're more than employees, they're family") and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I guess in a way every ensemble show, and particularly workplace show, is about disparate people who, thrown together for some reason, become a family.