MovieChat Forums > WKRP in Cincinnati (1978) Discussion > Question : Why is "Turkey's Away" ,out o...

Question : Why is "Turkey's Away" ,out of all the episodes, liked most?

posted 9 years ago by happipuppi13
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Question : Why is "Turkey's Away" ,out of all the episodes, liked most? :

I like the episode and have always like all of WKRP since it's CBS debut in '78 ....
but I seriously don't get why out of all 90+ episodes, this one's the favorite. [gvieup]

It's funny, yes and it was well written but
in my own view, I think there's far more funnier episodes.

Of course, I also tend to like the
'more serious' but still funny episodes too, like "Who Is Gordon Sims?"

So, in your own words, why does this show stand out more than the others?

Thanks in advance. 

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] justanicknamed 9 years ago

When we used to have vaudeville entertainers, they would often be asked what makes "great comedy". They would all answer the same way, "Two guys, sitting at a table, talking."

Not all vaudeville was slap-stick. Burns and Allen would just get up there and gab away. many other comic duo's were the same way. Think of how hilarious, "Who's On First" is, and that is just two guys talking.

Les Nessman's describing of it all is what makes it so awesome. First his cluelessness while reading the banner and them showing Johnny Fever back in the studio mouthing the words and letters without even seeing the banner.

And then Les's reaction to the turkey drop. We don't see a single feather floating around, but they way he reacts and describes it is priceless.

Finally, when The Big Guy comes back in and innocently and honestly declares, "With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

That is classic, comedy genius.

[–] happipuppi13 9 years ago

Thanks for the reply. 

I'll have to take your word for it. 

I've seen it so much and I think it's been talked about, so much,
over the last 37 years, maybe it's gotten to be old hat for me? I don't know.

I found Les and his getting ready for a date with Jennifer far funnier. Not just the
wig & him dressing to Foreginer's "Hot Blooded"... but when Venus tells him, "Get down Les!" and he starts to sink to the floor. 

or after that date, Jennifer tells the guys she had invited
Les up to her place but 'his legs gave out'. (He weas too scared to go in.  )

Ah well, different tastes I guess.

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] s_bigcity 9 years ago

The episodes were great but my whole family all LOVED the Turkeys Away episode. One of the other comments says that it was Les' retelling of it that killed and they are right. I'm gonna be 50yrs old next January and I remember that episode as the funniest bit I have ever seen. Loved that show.

[–] eyeonyouproductions 8 years ago

Partially because nobody has still done a show with such a random 'WTF?' gag... Think about it. If you had sat down and written all of the possible Thanksgiving comedic bits down that you could come up with, would any of them be a radio station dropping live turkeys from a helicopter while the station's news man does his best frontline reporting ever?

And nothing has had a line that matches "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.", either.

[–] snelling 8 years ago

Not to put this episode down, but it is one of the more overall accessible episodes of the whole series. Even if it's the only episode you see out of all of them, you don't need to be a fan of the show to "get it," as they say.

Other episodes don't make sense if you don't know the premise/characters well.

"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Simps--" - Frank Grimes

[–] Bernnard_Black 8 years ago

There are a couple of things about that make it stand out for me.

First, as someone else said, Les's narration of events and his explanation to the staff after it happened were comedy gold. His delivery was just perfect.

Second, Carlson's line at the end, which last I checked is still one of the top 10 most famous lines in sitcom history. Perfect line, perfectly delivered.

Lastly, it's funny because while it's totally bizarre, it has the ring of truth to it, which isn't surprising...because it really did happen. The guy who came up with the concept for the show said that event really did happen at a shopping center in Atlanta, though without all the commentary. He even said that the station manager did say that he thought turkeys could fly.

Whores will have their trinkets.

[–] 8 years ago

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