DVD Review “WKRP In Cincinnati: The Complete Series”

Actors: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders
Number of discs: 13
Rated: Unrated
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: October 28, 2014
Run Time: 2250 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Just in time for it’s 35th anniversary “WKRP In Cincinnati” finally is available on DVD as a complete series, thanks to Shout! Factory. This show was jam-packed with some amazing tunes. I just to love watching as a kid just to hear the music. This 13-disc set includes over 90% of the show’s original music, which is a great accomplishment for Shout! I recently just went through this with “The Wonder Years: The Complete Series”, it has over 400 music clearances in it. This series had a history of music rights restrictions. If you are a fan of this show, I think you will be happy with the results here. Shout! did their best to make sure that every scene uncut and with as much original music as possible. This is a vast improvement over the past Fox DVD release for sure.

Official Premise: Pairing an impeccable ensemble cast with sharp wit and great tunes, WKRP In Cincinnati celebrated four amazing seasons, making it the quintessential sitcom for music lovers. Join everyone’s favorite radio DJs—the rockin’ Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) and the soulful Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid)—as they weave through the inner-office antics of the crazy WKRP staff; including the station’s program director Andy (Gary Sandy), indecisive manager Arthur (Gordon Jump), advertising executive Herb (Frank Bonner), quirky news man Les Nessman (Richard Sanders), young ingénue Bailey (Jan Smithers) and, of course, the station’s lovely receptionist, Jennifer (Loni Anderson).

Just to name a few, here are some of the artists included on this DVD release: AC/DC, Pat Benatar, Blondie, Booker T And The MG’s, Boston, The Cars, Chicago, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Foreigner, Marvin Gaye, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Elton John, Janis Joplin, B.B. King, Kool And the Gang, Huey Lewis & The News, Kenny Loggins, Chuck Mangione, Bob Marley, Paul McCartney and Wings, Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Olivia Newton-John, Ted Nugent, Tom Petty, The Polce, Elvis Presley, Queen, Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Styx, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, The Who and Neil Young.

“WKRP In Cincinnati: The Complete Series” includes some decent special features. There are two featurettes includes. The first is “Do My Eyes Say Yes?” features Frank Bonner, Tim Reid, Hugh Wilson, and Loni Anderson discuss the character Jennifer Marlowe. The second one is “A Fish Story” which discuss the behind the season battles over the season one episode. “WKRP In Cincinnati: A Paley Center Reunion” is panel discussion from 2014 featuring cast members Howard Hesseman, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Gary Sandy, and Jan Smithers, Executive Producer / Writer Hugh Wilson, Director Asaad Kelada, and the Director of the show’s pilot, Jay Sandrich, all moderated by rock radio legend Jim Ladd.

 

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