"WKRP in Cincinnati", Part Two Quiz

Answer: Venus Flytrap

Venus Flytrap, AKA Gordon Sims, had been a part time DJ on a radio station in New Orleans. While in New Orleans, he was known as The Duke of Funk. He was enticed to come to WKRP by Andy Travis so he could work with the once great John Caravella, AKA Dr. Johnny Fever.

Answer: Andy Travis

Andy Travis had come to WKRP from New Mexico where he had been the program director at another radio station. The character of Andy Travis was played by Gary Sandy, a native Ohioan born in Dayton in 1945. Andy Travis was initially intended to be the anchor-character of the show. It was soon decided that the other characters were overshadowing Andy Travis.

Answer: a traffic helicopter and walls for his office

Les works from his desk which is in the large, open bull pen. He feels that, as the news director, he should have a real office with walls, so he outlines his invisible walls on the floor with tape. Les insists that anyone entering his office space should knock on his "door" and he even takes out keys to lock and unlock his invisible door. Also, in the pilot episode it is learned that Les has been doing the traffic copter reports by beating on his chest with his open hands while giving the reports, simulating the sound of a helicopter. Andy makes him promise not to do any more traffic copter reports until the station actually gets a helicopter.

Answer: WPIG

The writers began to include references to WKRP's competitor, the more highly ranked WPIG in season one, episode 21. Their rivalry rears its ugly head in the episode titled 'Fish Story'. This episode has several story lines playing out simultaneously.

Answer: A baseball player thinks he is gay so he's banned from the locker room.

In season one, episode three titled 'Les on a Ledge', Les is banned from the locker room because it is rumored he is gay. This rumor came about because one athlete hears another reporter refer to Les as "a queer little guy." Les then decides to commit suicide, so he goes out a window onto a ledge and threatens to jump, all because his masculinity is questioned.

Answer: Herb Tarlek

During the entire four years 'WKRP in Cincinnati' aired, the very married Herb Tarlek pursues Jennifer Marlowe. The funniest episode concerning Herb's interest in Jennifer is in season one, episode three where Johnny comes up with a plan to get Herb to leave Jennifer alone. This plan is the subject of another question in another quiz in this series about 'WKRP in Cincinnati'.

Answer: Black Monday

This story line is perused in episodes one and two of season four (overall episode numbering episodes 69 and 70) titled 'An Explosive Affair' parts one and two. The station received a bomb threat from a radical group called Black Monday. Andy sent Johnny and Venus to the transmitter to do their shows while the studios were being searched by the police. Andy thought it was a hoax until he learned from Les that Black Monday had blown up a TV transmitter in Dayton a month earlier.

Answer: the phone cops

While at the transmitter, Johnny saw the name of a horse on which he felt he MUST place a bet. He tried calling his bookie, who just happened to be a Chinese restaurateur. When his bookie hung up on him, and then did not answer the phone, Johnny got frustrated and smashed the phone with a tool box.

When he heard the sirens of the police cars that were racing to rescue them from the bomb, Johnny thought it was the "phone cops" who were after him for destroying the telephone.

Answer: Hirsch

The character of Hirsch, played by Ian Wolfe, first appeared in season three, episode 19 (overall episode numbering episode 65) titled 'A Simple Little Wedding'. In season four, episode nine (overall episode numbering episode 77) titled 'The Consultant', Hirsh showed his true colors when he revealed that he brewed coffee that tasted like mud when it was only he and Mrs. Carlson, but brewed delicious coffee when they had company.

Answer: the Flimm Building

The name of the building housing the offices and studios of WKRP was first mentioned in season one, episode three titled 'Les on a Ledge' when they heard that a man was on a ledge of the Flimm Building, and threatening to jump. The episode in question is season three episode 16 (overall episode numbering episode 62) when it was learned that the Flimm Building was slated to be demolished. Bailey started the "Save the Flimm" campaign.

The dilemma of this episode was this, if the Flimm Building is demolished, Mama Carlson promised to build a new WKRP building.