WKRP in Cincinnati

Additional seasons were listed last week. Finished Season 1 and a couple of episodes of season 2. Now only season 1 is listed? What's up with that?

I'm not exactly bewildered by the positive reviews for this show - as I just stated, it's one of the single best situation comedies in TV history, and is personally my favorite. No, it's the rather odd comments of folks complaining about how "the music doesn't matter! just put on your iPod for the real music and enjoy the show". These folks - perhaps some of whom work for distributor Fox? - simply do not understand a crucial element of what made WKRP so significant. The show's use of classic and current rock, pop, & jazz was often essential to plot points; sometimes significant ("Tiny Dancer" in the episode where a Russian attempts to immigrate to Cincinnati), sometimes comedic ("Hot Blooded" in one of the first season's best episodes), and sometimes essential to the show as un-removable underscore to dialogue ("Dogs" from "Turkey's Away"). Perhaps the last point is the most illustrative regarding how this show has been marginalized and cheapened by recent syndication/DVD/online packaging. To those who glibly remark nonsense to the effect of, "chill out, dudes! The music doesn't matter", the scene which uses Pink Floyd is all us staunch defenders (and "real fans") need to prove the baseless defenders wrong. On the version included here (and DVD), the majority of the above scene is simply cut. Some smart, hilarious dialogue between Carlson & Fever is layered over Pink Floyd, who's music couldn't be licensed. Pay for the music, or truncate the scene? The good folks at Fox (was this decision made by Hannity?) decided to remove the scene nearly entirely. Many other examples abound. One of the funniest scenes in the Ferryman episode is cut because it uses a few lyrics from the 70's pop song "Sing A Song". Jennifer's doorbell has been changed. The theme to Patton is gone. "Layla", who's recognizable guitar riff signaled Fever's triumphant return to WKRP after briefly leaving for LA, is gone. In "A Contest Nobody Could Win", the medley of current songs has been changed to nonsense, made-up songs. There are several more examples where actors voices are overdubbed over fake music. To some, WKRP is just a TV show. For others, it's a seminal and legendary moment in sit-com history. And it's been treated as garbage by distributors for whom securing the rights and charging a higher price is far less important than making a quick sale to unsuspecting buyers online or at their local Wal Mart. Imagine "Goodfellas" without its' soundtrack. Or "Pulp Fiction". Or "Garden State". How about "Dazed and Confused"? Countless movies rely on their soundtracks, and thought "merely" a TV show, WKRP is no different. The legacy of this show - a show where current and classic rock was quite literally integral (the show is ABOUT a rock radio station) - has been compromised, diminished, and lessened for future generations who'll never quite understand the crucial element which made it so special. To the "reviewers" who contend, "hey, the music doesn't matter!", allow me to suggest that your opinion is not subjective. It is wrong. This is now a different show: with scenes eliminated, music changed, and lines overdubbed. When it comes to WKRP, the music does matter. Your reviews, however they must please your bosses at Fox, do not.