The phrase "Oh the humanity!" was the funniest line for the absurdity of how it was used. It fit Les and his personality perfectly. Your dad knew people far better than the suits at CBS.
Shortly before he passed away I saw Gordon Jump sitting in the appliance section of our local furniture mart doing a Maytag appearance. He looked so lonely and dejected, which was totally in character, but the general shopping public was completely ignoring him. Against my wife’s wishes I marched right up to his table and proudly said “As God is my witness I thought turkeys could fly.” He got such a huge smile on his face. We talked for a good 10 minutes and he even signed a Maytag Repairman 8x10 picture for me with “Your friend Arthur ‘Big Guy’ Carlson, Gordon Jump.” That picture is still on the wall in my home office. It is one of my most cherished memories. He was such a nice, sweet, and funny man.
I also saw him doing an appearance as the Maytag Guy and spoke with him about WKRP and got a photo as well. If I recall correctly it was in Cleveland in the mid 80s. I was thrilled to discuss WKRP with him and tell him how much I enjoyed his work. Heck of a nice guy.
Yeah that one was tough to watch. I remember that happening like it was yesterday, I actually saw a documentary about it a few years ago. 11 people never made it back from that one.
It was 1980, it was the first tour they did without Keith Moon. We were getting ready to go to the show, had the TV on. It was the who episode. I stopped looked at the TV, I got a chill. We still went.
The most underrated line in the episode was when Loni Anderson told someone who called in to complain about the deaths of the turkeys "But a lot of turkeys don't make it through Thanksgiving".😂
Hearing it now is just as funny and laughable as I watched it about 46 years ago. It is now Thanksgiving, 2024. Thanks for bringing back a memory from my past.
Nessman's Hugh Wilson-written script did a great job of threading the needle, maintaining the style of WLS Chicago's reporter Herb Morrison coverage of the Hindenberg blimp crash (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Live_audio_recording_from_the_scene_of_the_Hindenburg_disaster_1937-05-06_19-25_EST.oga) and hitting the comedy timing necessary to make the episode one of the most memorable in TV history.
I was a teenager when this episode came out. I couldn’t catch my breath because I was laughing so hard. Tears running down my face. My mother was the same. The next day it was the talk of the school. Everyone loved it. It’s still one of the funniest bits I’ve seen on tv.
I heard Les Nesman as a guest on a morning radio show in Saskatoon around that time. They had him read the hog reports and crop prices instead of the guy who usually did it.
I recall the second best episode was the one in which everyone was trying to convince Herb to go to the hospital for some badly-needed tests or procedure. Nothing worked. Then Jennifer, bless her heart, challenged him to a wager - to draw the high card. If he lost, he had to go to the hospital, and if he won, he got ... anything he wanted (meaning her). She then drew a very low card, despondant that she would lose and have to honor her bet. Then Herb, who had been after her since the beginning of the series, drew a card which presumeably beat Jennifer's. Without showing anyone his card, he slipped it back in the deck pretending he lost. I still get choked up thinking about Jennifer caring enough to make that bet, and about normally sleezy Herb doing the right thing.
An absolute classic in television history! Even though she wasn't mentioned, Jan Smithers was the most beautiful woman in television at that time. I was in love with her!
To this very day, I remember Les Nessman “oh my God, ladies and gentlemen, the turkeys are hitting the ground like wet cement!” One of the funniest lines I’ve ever heard on TV in my life. I remember almost falling off the couch laughing when I was watching TV after I heard that. And same for.” as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”
My mother loved that famous line at the end. But she was in stitches when Les didn't recognize his own station's call letters on a banner behind the plane. Slowly reading them each time."W.....K.....R.,....P"
My family was watching the turkeys episode when it aired, and we were ROLLING!!!! OMG, my dad was crying he was laughing so hard. WKRP was one of my favorite shows growing up.
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” is the best line in the history of television! In fact wild turkeys can fly, but domestic ones can’t.
That episode is some of the funniest on television. My sister and I would laugh hysterically at it. Three years ago on Thanksgiving I sent her the clip of the ending and wished her Happy Thanksgiving. It was our last conversation. She died that night, way too young, so that episode will always have a special place in my heart now.
Tracy, I'm so sorry for the loss of your sister. Isn't it great to go through life sharing the same sense of humor with someone so close to you... I hope that as the pain recedes, you will be able to enjoy the many fun and funny memories you had together.
Hubby and I did too. We're from Ohio and thought it was the best. Got to meet Gary Sandy when he was in town . Very friendly and upbeat guy. We took pictures with him, sadly they got lost somehow.
I was a DJ (a real one who actually cued up ad-carts and LP cuts-yeah I'm old) in a small town station when this show premiered. The best compliment I can give it, besides EVERY episode being laugh-out-loud funny, is how accurate it is.
That's true. The majority of it was spot on. The only time I grip my teeth a little bit is when I watch Johnny cue up a record. After you do it a few thousand times you will get to the point where it's muscle memory to drop the stylus palm the LP forward catch it with your thumb as soon as you hear audio and then back it up a half turn. I did get a kick out of the issue in the first one where it cuts back to him and his first rock and roll LP is still spinning but the tone arm has jumped to where it's sitting on the label. I sign out take once that showed where he got so wound up that he pulled the mic stand out of the counter and somehow in the process of fixing that and redoing the shot they bumped the tone arm and nobody caught it
You forgot to mention the iconic Fever line, “The Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.” (Remember this is radio.)😊
I was doing a printer repair at Susquehanna Broadcasting's corporate offices in York PA in the late 90's. There was a large portrait in the room of a former president of the company. The name of the man in paint? Arthur Carlson who had retired from the comapny in 1994. I had no idea the character was named after a real person in the radio business. The secratary there told me that he and Gordon Jump had become friends.
I worked in radio as a Board Operator after college in the 1990s . It was a new oldies rock station. I first saw WKRP when I was younger in the 70s. When I saw WKRP on DVD years later, I was a little surprised by how close to actual terrestrial commercial radio station the show was. I mean I knew whoever wrote and created the show actually worked in radio. As crazy as Turkeys Away was, that episode and other episodes of WKRP worked because it was rooted in authenticity and reality.
At 14, I had no idea the "Oh the humanity" was a Hindenberg reference, but to me, that was the line of the show, it was hillarious. It was several years before I learned of its origin.
😀 Amazing, isn't it? A lot of Hollywood is like that. I had a friend like that. When I first met him, I thought for sure is was several years older. It turned out, he was 18 days younger than me.
Thus proving that nothing is more unbelievably funny than real life! And don’t forget Johnny’s great line, “ Folks, if you just tuned in the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been BOMBED with live turkeys. Film at 11 “
Richard Sanders was a customer of mine at a car service department I worked at 30 years ago. He was a gentleman, and a pleasure to work with. I asked him if people often opened imaginary doors for him, and he smiled and said, "All the time." A very humble and nice person.
I'm old enough to have seen the greats in comedy and without any reservations I can say that Turkeys Away is by far one of the funniest things I've ever seen on Television.
My father and I laughed so hard and so long the night that episode aired - super memory. I also loved Johnny Fever’s line after Les was trampled by the panicked crowd and his live transmission went dead. Johnny heard the dead air, paused and then dryly came on…”Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. For those of you just tuning in, the Pine View Mall has just been BOMBED with live turkeys!……Film at eleven.“. His deadpan delivery of that line slays me every time.
I saw this episode the night it aired and laughed myself off my chair! I’ve seen it several times since and it’s still the funniest part of a show almost ever! When Les Nessman started describing the turkeys coming down and then he slid right into the comments for to the Hindenburg disaster! Perfect! I wish I could see this who show from the start again - loved it, along with several of the other mentioned shows! MTM had great shows!!!
To this day I still use the line, "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." Now and then, someone recognizes it and we start laughing and spouting our favorite quotes from the series. Those who remember WKRP, usually remember it fondly. I look for clips from the show on UA-cam all the time. And I dream about Bailey Quarters, as I did so often in 1978.
Back in the 80's, our local grocery store had a "turkey drop" promotion for Thanksgiving. Richard Sanders (Les Nesman) was there, I got to meet him and get his autograph. He was such a nice, sweet, kind man.
The best part is Les saying "Something just came out of the back of the helicopter. It's a dark object..perhaps a skydiver plummeting to the earth from only 2,000 feet into the air. There's a second and a third. There's no parachutes yet-OH, MY GOD!!"
I enjoyed this show from the very start. The night this thanksgiving episode aired i was rollung around the couch laughing out loud .i had not ever seen something as funny on any t.v. show before
Younger people that grew up in the age of streaming dominating the industry may not realize how much a power "lead-in" show could do to make a new show into a hit show. Putting WKRP after M*A*S*H was a brilliant idea, since the shows were so similar in tone, yet so different in setting.
My friends and I still sometimes use "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" as a catchphrase when something goes pear-shaped in our plans.
My mother, to this day, will send me a text with a link to Les reporting on the turkey drop. I can still hear the boss saying "With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"
Boy, this was a classic episode! I remember my buddies and I cracking up the next morning when this one aired. Another classic WKRP was one with Herb wearing the Carp mascot outfit, fighting in the bathroom with another radio station mascot.
In 1992 Gordon Jump was in my city at an appliance store doing Maytag promotions. I went to see him and got him to sign my high school yearbook with that infamous line. Good memories.
Awesome video. I look forward to more. My Mom tries to think of and describe this episode the last few thanksgivings but starts laughing so hard we all kind of forget to look it up. It will be cool to show her this.
I miss Dad. Great video. Well researched. Pops ended up getting his Emmy for Franks Place.
Hugh was your dad? That's cool. Rest well, Pops.
Glad you enjoyed it
@@tvsbesteps Your dad gave me some great moments with my dad. thanks for that.💜
The phrase "Oh the humanity!" was the funniest line for the absurdity of how it was used. It fit Les and his personality perfectly. Your dad knew people far better than the suits at CBS.
I have used that phrase countless times over the years! 😂@@DonariaRegia
Shortly before he passed away I saw Gordon Jump sitting in the appliance section of our local furniture mart doing a Maytag appearance. He looked so lonely and dejected, which was totally in character, but the general shopping public was completely ignoring him. Against my wife’s wishes I marched right up to his table and proudly said “As God is my witness I thought turkeys could fly.” He got such a huge smile on his face. We talked for a good 10 minutes and he even signed a Maytag Repairman 8x10 picture for me with “Your friend Arthur ‘Big Guy’ Carlson, Gordon Jump.” That picture is still on the wall in my home office. It is one of my most cherished memories. He was such a nice, sweet, and funny man.
I've read/heard a few similar stories recently. Celebrities end up being isolated from the general public and can end up feeling alone/lonely.
you're a lucky person to have met him. I'm glad to see he enjoyed it too.
What a great anecdote! It sounds like it was a wonderful moment for both of you!
I also saw him doing an appearance as the Maytag Guy and spoke with him about WKRP and got a photo as well. If I recall correctly it was in Cleveland in the mid 80s. I was thrilled to discuss WKRP with him and tell him how much I enjoyed his work. Heck of a nice guy.
❤❤❤ I’m so glad you went with your instincts. I can see the interaction had a big impact on you too.
The twist: wild turkeys can fly. Domesticated turkeys can't
RIP Gordon Jump, Frank Bonner, and Howard Hesseman
I'm still mad WKRP got cancelled after just four seasons. That's how great the show was. It's a true classic.
And the reboot kinda sucked. A Big Kinda.
Wish they would show it again.
I remember this show. I was 16 years old. I laughed 🤣 my self sick and so did my parents brother and 3 sisters. We were rolling on the floor.
The more iconic line I think is "For those of you who just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys!"
Film at eleven!
Growing up in the Cincinnati area, WKRP was 'our' show. 'The Who' concert episode has always stayed with me. WKRP was a great show with lots of heart.
Yeah that one was tough to watch. I remember that happening like it was yesterday, I actually saw a documentary about it a few years ago.
11 people never made it back from that one.
My older brother was at that concert and for hours we didn't know if he was ok or not. Scary!
Right after that concert, for the rest of the tour, Roger Daltery reportedly kept forgetting lyrics on stage. He said he couldn't get over the shock.
It was 1980, it was the first tour they did without Keith Moon. We were getting ready to go to the show, had the TV on. It was the who episode. I stopped looked at the TV, I got a chill. We still went.
The most underrated line in the episode was when Loni Anderson told someone who called in to complain about the deaths of the turkeys "But a lot of turkeys don't make it through Thanksgiving".😂
You have me cracking up, as I had forgotten that scene. Thanks.
Ms. Anderson is so beautiful that people forget she's a great comedic actor!
WKRP is one of the most classic sitcoms ever and Turkey’s Away is the cherry on top.
Loved the episode with Johnny and Venus drinking on air with the cop testing them.
I will always be a Mary Ann guy on Gilligan's island and a Bailey guy on WKRP!
Hearing it now is just as funny and laughable as I watched it about 46 years ago. It is now Thanksgiving, 2024. Thanks for bringing back a memory from my past.
One of the best episodes of TV ever written. Johnny Fevers facial expressions as Les Nessman narrates the event are priceless.
Les Nessman's live commentary was priceless. "They're hitting the ground like bags of wet cement!"😂😂😂
My husband quoted that one forever.
The entire cast were great, but Les Nesman's reporting that day was hilarious. What a great show.
Nessman's Hugh Wilson-written script did a great job of threading the needle, maintaining the style of WLS Chicago's reporter Herb Morrison coverage of the Hindenberg blimp crash (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Live_audio_recording_from_the_scene_of_the_Hindenburg_disaster_1937-05-06_19-25_EST.oga) and hitting the comedy timing necessary to make the episode one of the most memorable in TV history.
I coud not imagine growing up in the 80s without WKRP in Cincinnati. It's a pillar of 80s pop culture.
Turkeys Away is one of the best episodes of TV sitcoms ever.
I was a teenager when this episode came out. I couldn’t catch my breath because I was laughing so hard. Tears running down my face. My mother was the same. The next day it was the talk of the school. Everyone loved it. It’s still one of the funniest bits I’ve seen on tv.
I belive that this one of the funniest scenes ever put on TV
I remember when that episode aired. It was instantly a memorable episode that people have talked about in the years since.
You can even buy t-shirts that say "I Survived the WKRP turkey giveaway at Pinedale Shopping Mall" to this day.
As a 'young person' back then, who remembers the episode; I was rolling on the floor laughing. What an awesome episode - I really loved WKRP.
Funny and at times very serious, The Venus Flytrap vietnam war story episode is beyond top notch.
My husband worked in radio for years. Wkrp was spot on with its portrayal of radio DJ's and office personalities.
I heard Les Nesman as a guest on a morning radio show in Saskatoon around that time. They had him read the hog reports and crop prices instead of the guy who usually did it.
I recall the second best episode was the one in which everyone was trying to convince Herb to go to the hospital for some badly-needed tests or procedure. Nothing worked. Then Jennifer, bless her heart, challenged him to a wager - to draw the high card. If he lost, he had to go to the hospital, and if he won, he got ... anything he wanted (meaning her).
She then drew a very low card, despondant that she would lose and have to honor her bet. Then Herb, who had been after her since the beginning of the series, drew a card which presumeably beat Jennifer's. Without showing anyone his card, he slipped it back in the deck pretending he lost. I still get choked up thinking about Jennifer caring enough to make that bet, and about normally sleezy Herb doing the right thing.
It was good but the 2nd best episode was the bomb one and Johnny Fever running from the "Phone Police" he thought was coming after him.
Richards Sanders' performance MADE that episode the classic it became.
WKRP was a great show! I also remember the Turkey Drop episode. I laughed and laughed LOL
An absolute classic in television history! Even though she wasn't mentioned, Jan Smithers was the most beautiful woman in television at that time. I was in love with her!
To this very day, I remember Les Nessman “oh my God, ladies and gentlemen, the turkeys are hitting the ground like wet cement!” One of the funniest lines I’ve ever heard on TV in my life. I remember almost falling off the couch laughing when I was watching TV after I heard that. And same for.” as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly”
As they themselves are covered in turkey feathers!
My mother loved that famous line at the end. But she was in stitches when Les didn't recognize his own station's call letters on a banner behind the plane. Slowly reading them each time."W.....K.....R.,....P"
Not taking anything away from The Reds, or The Bengals, but WKRP really put Cincinnati on the map.
@49gagah prior to WKRP, Nobody outside of Cincinnati, couldn't even SPELL it, let alone tell you where Cincinnati is located.
The two funniest sit com episodes of the 70's: WKRP Turkey Drop and Barney Miller Hash Brownies.
can't forget Taxi - Jim's driving test "what.....does......a.....yellow.....light......mean"
And don't forget Chuckles the Clown from the Mary Tyler Moore show 😂
I had just graduated from college, I saw this on a little 13 inch RCA color TV. I loved WKRP from the first episode.
My family was watching the turkeys episode when it aired, and we were ROLLING!!!! OMG, my dad was crying he was laughing so hard. WKRP was one of my favorite shows growing up.
To his day, I still find this episode hysterical
Me, too!
You are not alone. I share it every year on FB and the world agrees.
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” is the best line in the history of television! In fact wild turkeys can fly, but domestic ones can’t.
That one line made Gordon Jump immortal.
That episode is some of the funniest on television. My sister and I would laugh hysterically at it. Three years ago on Thanksgiving I sent her the clip of the ending and wished her Happy Thanksgiving. It was our last conversation. She died that night, way too young, so that episode will always have a special place in my heart now.
Tracy,
I'm so sorry for the loss of your sister. Isn't it great to go through life sharing the same sense of humor with someone so close to you...
I hope that as the pain recedes, you will be able to enjoy the many fun and funny memories you had together.
@@mousetreehouse6833 thank you ☺
My brothers and I loved the show from day one. To this day I still laugh hysterically at this episode. I’m laughing at this.
“Booger!” 😂
Hubby and I did too. We're from Ohio and thought it was the best. Got to meet Gary Sandy when he was in town . Very friendly and upbeat guy. We took pictures with him, sadly they got lost somehow.
I was a DJ (a real one who actually cued up ad-carts and LP cuts-yeah I'm old) in a small town station when this show premiered. The best compliment I can give it, besides EVERY episode being laugh-out-loud funny, is how accurate it is.
Thanks for sharing!
That's true. The majority of it was spot on. The only time I grip my teeth a little bit is when I watch Johnny cue up a record. After you do it a few thousand times you will get to the point where it's muscle memory to drop the stylus palm the LP forward catch it with your thumb as soon as you hear audio and then back it up a half turn. I did get a kick out of the issue in the first one where it cuts back to him and his first rock and roll LP is still spinning but the tone arm has jumped to where it's sitting on the label. I sign out take once that showed where he got so wound up that he pulled the mic stand out of the counter and somehow in the process of fixing that and redoing the shot they bumped the tone arm and nobody caught it
@@JimDean002 THAT brought back some memories....THANKS!
You forgot to mention the iconic Fever line, “The Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.” (Remember this is radio.)😊
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
This is the only episode that I actually remember. It was hilarious. Never before and never since have I ever laughed so hard at an American sitcom .
Loved WKRP from the first time it aired.
I worked at a radio station in a very small market and WKRP showed it as it was/is.
This is the funniest sitcom episode in the entire history of sitcoms. It is perfect comedy.
I was doing a printer repair at Susquehanna Broadcasting's corporate offices in York PA in the late 90's. There was a large portrait in the room of a former president of the company. The name of the man in paint? Arthur Carlson who had retired from the comapny in 1994. I had no idea the character was named after a real person in the radio business. The secratary there told me that he and Gordon Jump had become friends.
My favorite part of this now is watching the cast trying not to crack up and just giving up. Reminds me of watching the carol Burnett show.
I was an 18 year old college student when this first aired. I watched my father fall off the couch laughing.
I worked in radio as a Board Operator after college in the 1990s . It was a new oldies rock station.
I first saw WKRP when I was younger in the 70s.
When I saw WKRP on DVD years later, I was a little surprised by how close to actual terrestrial commercial radio station the show was. I mean I knew whoever wrote and created the show actually worked in radio.
As crazy as Turkeys Away was, that episode and other episodes of WKRP worked because it was rooted in authenticity and reality.
I remember “Turkeys Away” from childhood. I think it was a re-broadcast because I was 5 in 1978. I saw it with my Dad. Could NOT Stop Laughing
same here with my dad. we were in tears. a great memory ever since
At 14, I had no idea the "Oh the humanity" was a Hindenberg reference, but to me, that was the line of the show, it was hillarious. It was several years before I learned of its origin.
I just learned of it now (that episode aired 1 week after my ninth bday). 😮
It’s amazing to think that Richard Sanders (Les Nessman) was only 38 years old. I always thought of him as the old man of the station.
😀 Amazing, isn't it? A lot of Hollywood is like that. I had a friend like that. When I first met him, I thought for sure is was several years older. It turned out, he was 18 days younger than me.
Sanders really projected such a repressive attitude that made Nessman so much an older character.
I think the bow tie did it for me. 😅
"As God is my witness...I thought turkeys could fly."
Thus proving that nothing is more unbelievably funny than real life! And don’t forget Johnny’s great line, “ Folks, if you just tuned in the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been BOMBED with live turkeys. Film at 11 “
This is my favorite episode! I worked in a middle of the road radio station..and we actually had a news reporter very similar to Les Nesman..
Did he have his own door?
I worked at a small newspaper and our advertising man was exactly Herb Tarlek (minus the suits.)
I remember this when it happened. I was laughing so hard my parents thought something was wrong with me, lol.
WKRP was one of the greatest shows ever created. When I had a radio show a couple years ago I based my dj’ing on dr Johnny Fever
Booger!🤣
Okay, fellow babies!
Richard Sanders was a customer of mine at a car service department I worked at 30 years ago. He was a gentleman, and a pleasure to work with. I asked him if people often opened imaginary doors for him, and he smiled and said, "All the time." A very humble and nice person.
The Carol Burnett Show/ "Gone With the Wind"/Curtain dress😂😂😂
"Went With The Wind"
"WENT with the Wind" was the title on Carol Burnett, the curtain rod was a stroke of genius..
This episode of WKRP is easily a top 5 or 10 sitcom episode of all time. Right up there with Chuckles the Clown, and Lucy & Ethel with the chocolates.
Stay tuned for videos on those as well!
As god as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly… funniest line ever…
"As god *IS my witness..."
As
I would love to see this whole episode on youtube.
It’s out there
I agree
AMEN MAN ! BOMBS AWAY !
It's soooo funny. I have all 5 seasons. A great show.
It's A 2 Part Episode
Growing up in the 80's, I practically lived on reruns of this show! WKRP, Night Court, News Radio, etc.
In my opinion, WKRP was (and is) one f the best sit-coms - period. Thanks for this vid. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I watched this episode when it aired, laughed for weeks as thanksgiving approached
I'm old enough to have seen the greats in comedy and without any reservations I can say that Turkeys Away is by far one of the funniest things I've ever seen on Television.
This is one of the moments from my childhood that I can remember very clearly...
Somethings are truly unforgettable!
My father and I laughed so hard and so long the night that episode aired - super memory. I also loved Johnny Fever’s line after Les was trampled by the panicked crowd and his live transmission went dead. Johnny heard the dead air, paused and then dryly came on…”Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. For those of you just tuning in, the Pine View Mall has just been BOMBED with live turkeys!……Film at eleven.“. His deadpan delivery of that line slays me every time.
The “film at eleven” part had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt!
One of my favorite episodes from one of my favorite TV shows of all time! Awesome! They just don't make shows like this anymore.
This one, Barney Miller, and Benson!
I remember my parents and I all cry laughing as we watched this episode when it first aired.
I saw this episode the night it aired and laughed myself off my chair! I’ve seen it several times since and it’s still the funniest part of a show almost ever! When Les Nessman started describing the turkeys coming down and then he slid right into the comments for to the Hindenburg disaster! Perfect! I wish I could see this who show from the start again - loved it, along with several of the other mentioned shows! MTM had great shows!!!
To this day I still use the line, "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." Now and then, someone recognizes it and we start laughing and spouting our favorite quotes from the series. Those who remember WKRP, usually remember it fondly. I look for clips from the show on UA-cam all the time. And I dream about Bailey Quarters, as I did so often in 1978.
The WKRP Phone Cops episode was also one of my favorites too.
Funnest episode of all tv shows.
In competition with the series finale of Newhart.
I'll never forget when Les was talking about golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez and pronounced his name Chai Chai Rod-je-gueeze.
Don't forget "Apple-a-CHEE-a"!!
Or calling Chihuahuas “ chee huah huahs”
Gordon was a devout Mormon and friend Very serious about his faith but with a gentle sence of humor We miss him
Was it really in 1978????? I can still laugh when thinking about this episode (and many others)! 45 years!!!
My absolute favorite thanksgiving tradition I still crack up each time I watch it ❤
Definately one of my favorite episodes.
As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly. LOL
WKRP is a smartly written, smartly played series. Sadly we seldom see it’s like these days.
Back in the 80's, our local grocery store had a "turkey drop" promotion for Thanksgiving. Richard Sanders (Les Nesman) was there, I got to meet him and get his autograph. He was such a nice, sweet, kind man.
The best part is Les saying "Something just came out of the back of the helicopter. It's a dark object..perhaps a skydiver plummeting to the earth from only 2,000 feet into the air. There's a second and a third. There's no parachutes yet-OH, MY GOD!!"
I enjoyed this show from the very start. The night this thanksgiving episode aired i was rollung around the couch laughing out loud .i had not ever seen something as funny on any t.v. show before
One of the funniest episodes in sitcom history. My side hurt I laughed so hard!
Younger people that grew up in the age of streaming dominating the industry may not realize how much a power "lead-in" show could do to make a new show into a hit show. Putting WKRP after M*A*S*H was a brilliant idea, since the shows were so similar in tone, yet so different in setting.
Lead-ins were everything in the years before home video recording allowed viewers to time-shift everything they watch.
I saw this episode back when it aired in reruns in syndication back in the 80’s, and it’s funny😆😂🤣👏🏻💯💁🏻♂.
I rolled in the floor first time I saw it 😅
My friends and I still sometimes use "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" as a catchphrase when something goes pear-shaped in our plans.
My mother, to this day, will send me a text with a link to Les reporting on the turkey drop. I can still hear the boss saying "With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"
I saw this episode the night it aired, I laughed so hard it's a wonder I didn't break a rib.
Certainly one of the best episodes of the golden age of TV
Boy, this was a classic episode! I remember my buddies and I cracking up the next morning when this one aired. Another classic WKRP was one with Herb wearing the Carp mascot outfit, fighting in the bathroom with another radio station mascot.
WPIG🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️
Yep. That's another fav of mine also
I watched this with my dad. I remember him laughing like it was yesterday.
I can still remember my father laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face while watching this episode.
WKRP is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, hugely underrated. It’s a shame it didn’t last
In 1992 Gordon Jump was in my city at an appliance store doing Maytag promotions. I went to see him and got him to sign my high school yearbook with that infamous line.
Good memories.
I saw the original airing in junior high on my black and white t.v.. I remember laughing so hard!
Thank you for this video. I'm 56 years and I remember watching WKRP growing up and this was my favorite show
I absolutely loved WKRP and Turkeys Away was genius.
Awesome video. I look forward to more. My Mom tries to think of and describe this episode the last few thanksgivings but starts laughing so hard we all kind of forget to look it up. It will be cool to show her this.
My absolute favorite show of all time.
One of my favorite episodes of television EVER.