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The Best Episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1

Every episode of WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1!

Binge this in 9h 10m•Peaking at 9.6/10

When a Cincinnati radio station switches from sedate music to top-40 rock 'n' roll, its staff of oddball characters is forced to switch gears quickly. New programming director Andy Travis brings in a new DJ

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot (1)
    8.2/10(341 votes)

    #1 - Pilot (1)

    S1:E1

    Andy tries to convince WKRP's owner that rock and roll will cure the station's ailing ratings.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  2. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 2 - Pilot (2)
    8.0/10(297 votes)

    #2 - Pilot (2)

    S1:E2

    Andy faces a fiscal crisis: Carlson won't finance a breaking-in period for the new format.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  3. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 3 - Les On a Ledge
    8.2/10(294 votes)

    #3 - Les On a Ledge

    S1:E3

    Les is barred from locker-room interviews when his manhood is questioned.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  4. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 4 - Hoodlum Rock
    8.3/10(371 votes)

    #4 - Hoodlum Rock

    S1:E4

    Andy books a rock band whose members attack their audiences.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  5. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 5 - Hold-Up
    8.2/10(297 votes)

    #5 - Hold-Up

    S1:E5

    A broadcast from a stereo shop is disrupted by a holdup.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 6 - Bailey's Show
    7.7/10(264 votes)

    #6 - Bailey's Show

    S1:E6

    Bailey's show brings out the weirdest people in town.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 7 - Turkeys Away
    9.6/10(1251 votes)

    #7 - Turkeys Away

    S1:E7

    Carlson thinks up a wacko Thanksgiving promotional gimmick.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 8 - Love Returns
    6.8/10(263 votes)

    #8 - Love Returns

    S1:E8

    Andy may have to leave WKRP when he rekindles his love for a touring rock star.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 9 - Mama's Review
    6.5/10(235 votes)

    #9 - Mama's Review

    S1:E9

    In flashbacks, Andy and Carlson update WKRP's owner Mrs. Carlson on recent station happenings.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  10. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 10 - A Date With Jennifer
    8.2/10(242 votes)

    #10 - A Date With Jennifer

    S1:E10

    Les invites Jennifer to a banquet, then suspects she only accepted out of pity.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 11 - The Contest Nobody Could Win
    8.2/10(257 votes)

    #11 - The Contest Nobody Could Win

    S1:E11

    Johnny accidentally offers listeners $5000 instead of $50 as a contest prize.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 12 - Tornado
    8.2/10(230 votes)

    #12 - Tornado

    S1:E12

    A tornado strikes while Japanese businessmen are touring the station.

    Director:Will Mackenzie
    Writer:Blake Hunter

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  13. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 13 - Goodbye, Johnny
    7.8/10(200 votes)

    #13 - Goodbye, Johnny

    S1:E13

    Johnny is offered a job in California, so the staff devises a scheme to keep him in Cincinnati.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Blake Hunter

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  14. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 14 - Johnny Comes Back
    8.1/10(235 votes)

    #14 - Johnny Comes Back

    S1:E14

    Johnny comes back to WKRP expecting to get his job back. Instead, he is assigned to the predawn show.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Blake Hunter

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  15. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 15 - Never Leave Me, Lucille
    7.5/10(197 votes)

    #15 - Never Leave Me, Lucille

    S1:E15

    Temporarily separated from his wife, Herb envisions a fanciful bachelorhood.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 16 - I Want to Keep My Baby
    7.3/10(200 votes)

    #16 - I Want to Keep My Baby

    S1:E16

    Johnny refuses to relinquish an abandoned baby left at WKRP until he can contact the mother.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  17. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 17 - A Commercial Break
    8.2/10(237 votes)

    #17 - A Commercial Break

    S1:E17

    Andy has doubts about an upbeat ad campaign for a mortician.

    Director:Rod Daniel
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 18 - Who is Gordon Sims?
    8.3/10(235 votes)

    #18 - Who is Gordon Sims?

    S1:E18

    Venus refuses to pose for an ad because he's wanted by the law.

    Director:Rod Daniel
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 19 - I Do, I Do... For Now
    7.8/10(221 votes)

    #19 - I Do, I Do... For Now

    S1:E19

    Jennifer tries to discourage a beau by revealing she's married--to Johnny Fever.

    Director:Will Mackenzie
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 20 - Young Master Carlson
    7.1/10(205 votes)

    #20 - Young Master Carlson

    S1:E20

    Momma Carlson insists her grandson be allowed to roam around the station after he's booted out of military school.

    Director:Will Mackenzie
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  21. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 21 - Fish Story
    8.8/10(284 votes)

    #21 - Fish Story

    S1:E21

    Andy tells a journalist that WKRP is just a "run-of-the-mill" station, even though a staffer is running around in a "carp" suit.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Hugh Wilson

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  22. WKRP in Cincinnati Season 1 Episode 22 - Preacher
    7.7/10(219 votes)

    #22 - Preacher

    S1:E22

    A wrestler turned preacher uses his radio sermon to sell merchandise.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot (1)" is the best rated episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 341 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Hugh Wilson, it aired on 9/18/1978. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Pilot (2)".