America's favorite radio station
Subtitle: WKRP in Cincinnati
By: by Michael B. Kassel.
Publisher: Bowling Green State University Popular Press
Published: 1993
Place of publication: Bowling Green, OH
Language: eng
Number of pages: 206
Subjects: WKRP in Cincinnati (Television program)
Description: Although it has become one of the most successful programs in syndicated television history, WKRP in Cincinnati faced an uphill struggle trying to obtain prime-time success. America's Favorite Radio Station chronicles the decisions and problems that affected WKRP's prime-time success, and explores the reasons why WKRP went on to become a classic TV sitcom.

By combining oral history with literary analysis, author Michael Kassel weaves a narrative of the behind-the-scenes actions and on-camera hilarity that resulted in WKRP. Based on extensive interviews with key WKRP personnel, America's Favorite Radio Station leaves most of the explanations for WKRP's triumphs and problems in the hands of the series' writers, producers and stars, whose quotes make up the bulk of this work.

In addition to addressing the particular history and significance of WKRP, this work provides students of the media and popular culture with insights regarding four important questions: How does a series make it to and survive (or fail) in prime time? What are the factors that combine to create a classic, and can those factors be repeated successfully with other programs? How does misleading information by media critics affect our popular culture artifacts?

And, finally, how do network decisions affect the success or failure of a TV sitcom? The story of WKRP is one of struggle, innovation, success, failure, and lasting impressions. Ultimately, this work provides the long-overdue recognition of the collective genius that created what truly has become America's favorite radio station.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-199).