Turkeys Away
"Turkeys Away" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American sitcom television series WKRP in Cincinnati, which originally aired on CBS on October 30, 1978.[1] The episode centers on station manager Arthur "The Big Guy" Carlson (played by Gordon Jump), who, feeling sidelined by recent changes at the radio station, organizes a bold Thanksgiving promotion involving the aerial drop of live turkeys from a helicopter over a Cincinnati shopping plaza.[2] What begins as an ambitious publicity stunt quickly devolves into chaos when the turkeys plummet to the ground "like sacks of wet cement," causing panic, injuries, and widespread embarrassment for the WKRP staff.[2] The episode features the ensemble cast of WKRP in Cincinnati, including Gary Sandy as program director Andy Travis, Howard Hesseman as disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever, Tim Reid as news director Venus Flytrap, Frank Bonner as sales manager Herb Tarlek, Loni Anderson as receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, and Richard Sanders as awkward news reporter Les Nessman, who provides a live broadcast narration of the disaster reminiscent of the Hindenburg blimp tragedy.[1] Key plot elements include Carlson's initial enthusiasm for the idea, supported by Tarlek and Nessman, contrasted with the skepticism of Travis and the rest of the team, culminating in Nessman's iconic closing line: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."[2] No actual turkeys were harmed in production, as the episode relied on clever editing and sound effects to depict the stunt.[2] Written by Bill Dial and directed by Michael Zinberg, "Turkeys Away" was inspired by a real-life radio station anecdote shared by former WQXI general manager Jerry Blum, as recounted by series creator Hugh Wilson.[2] The episode holds an IMDb user rating of 9.6 out of 10 based on over 1,200 votes, reflecting its enduring popularity as a comedic highlight of the series.[1] Culturally, it has become a Thanksgiving television staple, frequently rebroadcast and referenced for its satirical take on misguided marketing and the pitfalls of live promotions, influencing later homages such as a 1997 toy turkey drop by radio station WKRQ in Indiana.[2]Episode Overview
Production Credits
"Turkeys Away" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, which aired as part of the 1978–1979 television season on CBS.[1][2] The episode was directed by Michael Zinberg.[1][3] It was written by Bill Dial, serving as the story editor, in collaboration with series creator Hugh Wilson, who contributed to the adaptation based on his radio industry background.[2][3] The episode originally premiered on October 30, 1978.[1][2] With a runtime of approximately 24 minutes, it fits the standard half-hour format typical of network sitcoms produced by MTM Enterprises during that era.[1][3]Cast and Characters
"Turkeys Away," the seventh episode of the first season of WKRP in Cincinnati, features the show's core ensemble cast portraying the staff of the fictional Cincinnati radio station WKRP.[4] The regular cast includes:- Gary Sandy as Andy Travis, the station's program director
- Howard Hesseman as Dr. Johnny Fever, a disc jockey
- Gordon Jump as Arthur Carlson, the station manager
- Loni Anderson as Jennifer Marlowe, the receptionist
- Richard Sanders as Les Nessman, the news reporter
- Frank Bonner as Herb Tarlek, the sales manager
- Jan Smithers as Bailey Quarters, the traffic manager
- Tim Reid as Venus Flytrap, a disc jockey