UM85

January 30th, 2022 at 2:08 PM ^

Oh that is sad.  WKRP had many laugh-out-loud moments and Johnny Fever was critical to the success of the show.

RIP Howard Hesseman.

Toasted Yosties

January 30th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^

Absolutely loved this guy in HotC, but knew him first as the semi-villain Dr. Faraday in my favorite kid’s movie Flight of the Navigator. Last time I saw him, he was playing a small part in the second Halloween movie from Rob Zombie. Rest In Peace

Dunder

January 30th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^

He was so terrific in that role. May he be knocking them back and gaining reflex times even now.

"Statistically speaking, anybody who's led the kind of life that I have should look completely wasted." Dr. Johnny Fever

Side note:

The licensing problems that caused reruns of WKRP to not contain the originally used music really bit. So much context lost - and such great tunes in the original. 

rob f

January 30th, 2022 at 8:17 PM ^

Funny funny show, and Howard as Johnny Fever was key to that show's success.

RIP Howard Hesseman

BTW, I'll go out on a limb here: Loni Anderson really wasn't all that hot, nor was she as vital to WKRP's comedy excellence as any of the other characters. Nice window dressing if anything.

Kolesar99

January 30th, 2022 at 4:33 PM ^

Johnny: "I'm telling you, free coffee is a constitutional right! Just look it up - Juan Valdez versus the state of California!"

Eng1980

January 30th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^

I don't recall that episode, but it fits so well.  Thank you for that line.

WKRP kicked-off my junior year at Michigan.  The rockers in the house went bananas when Johnny spun around in office chair and threw the dart into the poster of Barry Manilow.  (Apologies to BM as he is a great artist in his own right but not Johnny Fever rock/rock'n'roll.)

Gitback

January 30th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^

KRP was great, but when I think of him, my first thought goes to Spinal Tap.

“Yeah, listen, we'd love to stand around and chat, but we've gotta... sit down in the lobby and wait for the limo.”