In Memory Of Howard Hessman, ‘Dr. Johnny Fever’, 2/27/40 to 1/29/22

[@johnschaefer2238]

No tv show had a better cast of characters with better chemistry and Fever was spectacular. RIP Howard Hessman will always be Dr. Johnny Fever to me.

[@charleslipsett7458]

Agreed 100%

[@cyyoung7840]

I agree too. Although he wasn't bad on Head of the Class playing Mr Moore. But he'll always be Dr Johnny Fever

[@richardvasel7382]

Taxi...welcome back kotter....barney miller....they don't make t.v. like they use to

[@johnschaefer2238]

What does a yellow light mean? Slow down! Best scene in Taxi.

[@Ed-zn4xn]

Jan Smithers was to WKRP what Maryann was to Gilligan's Island.

[@applejacks971]

Sssssmokinnn!

[@ashcarrier6606]

Jan was the one you take home to meet Mom.

[@wescarpenter2525]

100% agreed

[@brucenye6137]

AGREED😮

[@morthedgebuckle227]

Honey bears.

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

One of my favorites was when Johnny and Venus were drinking on the air so they could show how impaired you get when you drink and Venus got terribly affected while Johnny’s reactions got quicker with each drink.

[@damogranheart5521]

I thought that the other party was a state trooper with the DOCTOR?

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

@@damogranheart5521 yes, it was Johnny, Venus, and the State Trooper.

[@wescarpenter2525]

Loved him and the show..... They don't make tv like this anymore, so sad

[@pst702]

R.I.P. Howard Hessman...a talented actor in the many various roles in his career. But Dr. Johnny Fever (John Caravella) is THE character he will be fondly remembered for. A beloved ❤ character that was just a regular dude. WKRP in Cincinnati is one of the most UNDERRATED sitcoms of the 70's/early 80's (1978-1982). Thanks for uploading a great highlight.

[@jennifersman7990]

An extremely underrated sitcom, how Howard Hesseman never won an Emmy is shameful

[@lynnstervinou2530]

Totally agree

[@77barrymac]

But at least it landed him a hosting gig on SNL!

[@briankorbelik2873]

That's because it was the 1970's, I kinda, sorta, remember well?

[@cheril8891]

@@jennifersman7990 Well he was one of the hosts of Motown's 25th anniversary show where he got to play The Doctor!

[@annecarpenter1972]

Every single character was special. Favorite show back in the day.

[@tctyankee]

Rest in Peace Dr. Johnny Fever

[@houdannycomedymagic8642]

I worked with Howard on "Head of the Class" for his 4 years with it. He is and will be missed.

[@cecilDisharoon]

I was a Gifted Program kid while I watched the show. It was my favorite program at the time!

[@houdannycomedymagic8642]

@@cecilDisharoon, nice! Glad to hear.

[@arianprofit]

Nice! Did he ever say which show he liked more? Probably the first

[@HeadoftheSeniorClass]

@@arianprofit, Dan here. If you mean WKRP, then yes! He really didn't like our show.

[@gary4983]

I loved this show in its day. Dr. Johnny was hilarious--sardonic, ironic and such great comic timing.

[@leftoverporkchop9972]

Such a great show...each character with a distinct personality. I loved how Les had a bandage (somewhere) in every single episode.

[@josephcontreras8930]

I liked how he had to feed his big dog Phil and he got all dressed up in a red man training suit.

[@sdime9858]

That was my favorite tv show all four seasons , had the poster of Loni Anderson and my favorite character was Dr Johnny Fever he always reminded me of my late brother RIP Johnny

[@BeeBumper]

Bailey was the true Bae of this show

[@Yldcatz]

She was 😍

[@NihongoGuy]

I had a poster of her during the WKRP days. Sure wish I still had it.

[@richiejohnson]

Andy, too

[@madbrowniac7871]

Must mildly disagree. Miss Jan Smithers as Bailey was indeed downright adorable as was Miss Loni Anderson as Jennifer in a different way. My crush was and is still on the late great very lovely Redhead Miss Allyn Ann McLerie as Carmen Carlson. Very quiet yet very vivacious as well. And now that I think of it just from looking at her in the winter of her life the late great Miss Carol Bruce as Mama Carlson must've turned a few heads early on!😂😘👸📺B.W.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

@@madbrowniac7871 I remember Mrs Carlson (his mom) but not Carmen. Was that Arthur's wife? I'm guessing not his daughter, since I only remember him having a young son.

[@kencf0618]

I grew up with this show, and at the time I didn't know how much it took for such. Sustained. Television. Comedy. Kudos -and Rest in Laughter.

[@hollydatsopoulos7998]

RIP Mr. Hesseman...I remember the episode when you were running from the "phone cops"! One of the funniest episodes ever!

[@dannhagstrom586]

How can I remember so much about a show from so long ago!

[@DaveNarn]

Fun fact: Ian Wolfe, who played Mrs Carlson’s butler ‘Hirsch’ was also Mr. Atoz on Star Trek.

[@777sicilia]

Because it was so great!

[@kindredspirit3875]

Same how all us here today .oh today is 2024 november Still love every actor every costume everything .one of my new fun fun the laughter real. Some episodes i listen and have such fun. Not this one as much. whole first season laughter great

[@georgejones3526]

I just watched the first episode of WKRP and now I’m going to have to watch the whole thing again. I had forgotten how good it was.

[@michaelduggan1890]

Still watching 50yrs. later . Great show , love the people snd stories .

[@butchkaminsky9470]

Try watch him on The Bob Newhart Show pre 70's funny stuff for the time!

[@tbone1574]

Great show... I was in high-school in the 70s. This show was spot on with the times... Loved it...

[@jimgeminelli6308]

@Tbone157 I agree. WKRP was spot on with the '70s, just like the newspaper comic strip Bloom County was so spot with the '80s. I can't think of anything else so fitting during their time.

[@michaellazzeri9439]

I LOVED Dr Johnny Fever ! he was MY DJ, forever ! ------The 70's Ruled !

[@HappyHumanist369]

Just got enough time to pour yourself a nice steaming cup of.... CHEMICALS!

[@tomstestkitchen]

I grew up on this show in the 70's, loved Dr. Johnny Fever!

[@cecilDisharoon]

This show not only demonstrates a unique ensemble but has me looking up some rock and roll gold.

[@JMyoutube1]

One of my favorite shows growing up. Dr. Johnny Fever was always my favorite

[@flon57]

R.I.P, Dr. Johnny, I had no idea he passed away last month so sad, 💔

[@waynesanders1699]

So sad a real talent !

[@chuckbarnes9523]

Great natural..R I P my friend

[@perry92964]

i could have sworn he died years ago

[@eileenh4772]

Wonderful show. Loved this, great writing.

[@TheReal10bears]

Mr Carabella thanks for the laughs. RIP Mr Hessman

[@davideckwright820]

You played many different Characters,and made the world laugh. You shall be missed. Rest in peace.

[@darrellanderson3190]

My God what a classic show. Perfect cast.

[@garyroberts8742]

This show was classic.emjoyable..great acting .just a delight.

[@quincee3376]

RIP Howard Hesseman.

[@josephinelarosa5173]

I love this show and all the unique characters, especially Dr. Johnny Fever.

[@longrider42]

When Johnny Fever listens to Pink Floyd, yep, best bit in the whole show. He's DJing in Heaven now.

[@butchkaminsky9470]

One of the Best shows on the air! At the time! Creative and funny, but not cheap!

[@mamanora-granno]

Thank you for honoring Howard Hessman ❤ 🥀

[@matthewvoss7365]

The people at WKRP made everything sound super exciting .

[@nealb8893]

When a sitcom was actually hysterically funny!!!!

[@I_Am_Your_Problem]

Didn't laugh once.

[@briansaunders2814]

Best show of my high school years. No one on TV held a candy to Jennifer. Each character was unique yet blended into one harmonious humor.

[@SmackWaterJack001]

Bailey Quarters was far hotter than Jennifer was ...

[@77barrymac]

@@SmackWaterJack001 , yes, BIG TIME! And...no one held a "candy" to Jennifer? Hmm. I'll bet SOMEONE did.

[@SmackWaterJack001]

@@77barrymac Yeah, no doubt. Little known fact, Travis and Jennifer in real life, Gary Sandy & Loni Anderson, were sex-crazed nympho maniacs who banged each other everyday in their actors trailers, for the entire time they were shooting the series...

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Bailey > Jennifer

[@hempchimp]

Bailey shifted it even more when she was wearing Johnny's Shirt and said this to Herb "...I was Naked Herb... You know what I mean?" and then batted and opened her eyes a little wider. Sold!

[@garytorresani8846]

I was working at a legendary rock station in the SF Bay Area when this show was on the air. We used to get together as a staff to watch this show every week. It was more real than you think.our morning guy looked like Dr Johnny, and was one of the most brilliant program directors I ever worked for, I was the friendly mid day guy, our all night lady was about as wholesome as you could get like Bailey, our night guy was one of the original shock jocks, a brilliant writer of satire with a wild act nothing like he was personally, our afternoon drive guy used to have comedians on the air and rock stars who would drop by the station. It was a very creative era in radio. If you remember KOME back in the 70s and 80s , you know what I mean. It was a time when radio was entertainment, not just a juke box. Listeners developed relationships with the folks on the air. Today, with corporate control of broadcasting, there isn’t much radio that’s compelling to listen to. Classic rock stations play the same 400 songs over and over again. Hard for a new band to break through in alternative rock stations as well. I have Sirius XM, their Deep Tracks is close to old free form as you can get in rock radio these days. Performers like Jim Ladd, Earle Bailey, Dusty Street were all there in rock radio during this period. It’s great to hear them on Sirius again. At least in Sirius radio, you an find a music station to fit whatever mood or genre of music you like or talk station. Yeah, it costs money but to me it’s worth it. With Pandora and Apple Music I can hear music I haven’t thought about in years and new music as well. You tube also allows new bands to break through creating a new resurgence in symphonic metal bands like Nightwish, and especially Japanese bands like Band Maid, and other bands who incorporate traditional Japanese instruments with rock. And they look like their having fun which is what Rock is all about. Terrestrial radio, who cares, boring as boring can be. I’ve moved on, so has the audience.

[@ottolassiter2132]

Good post, Gary. The Deep Tracks is probably my fave station on XM/Sirius. Jim, Earle and Dusty have seriously expanded my rock & roll music knowledge. I have also grown fond of Greg Roberson's show too. He definitely brings a new perspective to what I am hearing. Growing up in Baltimore in the 70's and 80's, I was fortunate to have the legendary WHFS to tune in to. Even as a pre-teen, I just wasn't into what was being offered in the region. It was either C&W, top 40 or hard rock from "98 Rock". Some years later, while working in the Philadelphia area for nearly 20 years, WXPN from the University of Pennsylvania, was on nearly 24 hours a day with me. It was simply fantastic. One of the former DJ's from the old WHFS, "Weasel", has a weekly show on WTMD. Weasel does a 3 hour, themed. freeform show once a week. Last weekend, Weasel aired a 10 or 15 minute long recorded interview he had done with Hesseman some years ago. It was informative and answered a lot of questions I had about the old 'KRP show. I will try to look around and maybe contact Weasel and see if it is available to post sometime. Long live free-form radio and rest in peace, Howard Hesseman.

[@DaveNarn]

It’s really changed from the days of call-in music requests. I listened to the jocks on KFRC and KZAP in Sacramento KFRC had Diamond Dave, I think people called him Dead-Air Dave, lol! I remember KOME and KMEL in the 70s and the college station, KFPK too. There is still an independent station close by. KVMR they use volunteer DJs. Sundays are Hawaiian music all day.

[@DaveNarn]

The last station I tuned to during commutes was KLOS with Mark and Brian in the mornings. They where big.

[@maxwellspeedwell2585]

KMEL! “Say merry Christmas K-MEL” “MMMEHHH!” 🤣

[@jollyjohnthepirate3168]

Fantastic writing and a solid group of actors made this one of the greatest shows ever made. The shame of music royalties kept this wonderful show away from syndication. Unless you watched it on it's original run on CBS from 78 to 82 you probably don't know what WKRP is.

[@thepurplemaskknows9383]

That show..., that show was the Best of the 70s. Part of the background of my life. RIP WKRP.

[@joestjames8781]

Johnny fever shall never be forgotten and will live forever he's spinning records in heaven rip

[@LoganTravisDark]

Howard was a member of The Committee, a San Francisco improv troupe, sort of like L.A.' s Groundlings where a lot of SNL talent came from. I first saw him in " Billy Jack" back in the early '70's. Undeniable talent and charisma. I'll miss him, he was just one naturally funny dude.

[@judiroth7855]

RIP, Mr Hessman - we hardly new ye❤️❤️⭐️

[@Yldcatz]

Thanks for this. Loved that show.

[@markburnham7512]

An instant star-making role for journeyman Howard Hessman.

[@MarkHermann-u5p]

Great show really. Miss. It. Awesome

[@squareeyz]

Simpler times. Great show. I went and brought a copy of Blondie's Parallel Lines on the back of one of the episodes.

[@CogensFamilyTV]

Gotta love how they all respected Les’ invisible walls and door! Lol

[@bryankautz826]

I think they did it for their own safety, they knew he was just one push away of going over the edge and going postal on the whole office, those invisible walls wouldn't stop too many bullets from the 9mm Les was was hiding in his desk for the envitible commie invasion!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@kevinpayton2664]

His so-called "fiancee" didn't.😁

[@CogensFamilyTV]

@@kevinpayton2664 LOL...

[@ellasmommy9278]

Dr. Johnny Fever was my favorite character on this show. I was half in love with him.

[@Bone89]

Me 2

[@rivett40]

I forgot what a great fashion icon Herb was I’m going to start dressing like him

[@toms4442]

Right up there with Mick Jagger and Mr. Furly from 3's company.

[@daveclemens3134]

What the hell happened to us all. TV used to be good Radio used to be good This country used to be good People used to be good and had a sense of humor.. ...how we have fallen....

[@onelove1968]

"And the award goes to ... W.T. N. A". After all these years, I finally get that joke.

[@danakavanagh]

Third funniest episode ever. Turkey drop is first and Les Nessman as a Karp fighting with a a man in a pig costume is second 😂😂😂😂

[@tomschueller2912]

Loved the show

[@donzamani8455]

ITS THE PHONE COPS!!!!

[@kiddetroit8403]

I don't recognize a step but you leave beautifully😂😂

[@richiejohnson]

This is like slipping into a warm tub. So comforting.

[@nikkigriffin6430]

I loved this show and Jonny fever.❤

[@michaelpatrickhamilton3384]

We miss you Dr Johnny Fever 🤕

[@chrisrhodes5464]

Very good show wish I can find it somewhere streaming

[@roesbud53]

I didn’t know… but have to say thanks for this being my moments of (not) silence! ❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️

[@64samsky]

I loved that show! RIP Howard Hessman.

[@soldtobediers]

Dave K. This 15:49 seemed like only a mere 5 minutes. Time flees when the characters welcome their personality's into our very own. Brava!

[@matthewvoss7365]

I saw Head Of The Class but I missed this, I was born in 1979 but hey Hesseman was great period.

[@katherinehunter9526]

Rest in Peace Johnny Fever!✌❤🎧🎵🎤

[@thedarkknight1971]

Since the very first time seeing that delightful slice of angel cake goodness in the film 'Stroker Ace', I instantly fell in love with Loni Andersen. For me... The perfect 10. 😍😍😍😍 😎🇬🇧

[@davidanderson5728]

Simply the greatest tv show ever put on air. Prove me wrong...........

[@DaveNarn]

Did any other sitcom play current rock music at the time? That's what drew my in, then I found the cast to be crazy cool.

[@michaelkrolewski7406]

He was such a natural

[@dmtcb]

the best !!!! thank you!! WKRP legacy!!

[@DaveNarn]

You’re welcome! I was a kid when WKRP first aired. it’s great going over these episodes again.

[@juliansmith1951]

I wanted to be a radio disc jockey cause WKRP in Cincinnati was my inspiration plus I love watching reruns of this classic show

[@williamsantangelo]

You will always be missed!!! Rest in Peace!!!

[@vassa1972]

Loved the show RIP to Johnny fever

[@josebrown5961]

WKRP made me want to be a radio DJ- which I did. I found out as I learned, they didn’t do radio right. It didn’t matter they did comedy right! I got into radio in the late 80s. The old jocks that trained me lived in the WKRP days. When DJs had more power and freedom. By the time I got there playlists were king and you really couldn’t play what you wanted. The old guys kept me interested with tales from the 70s. Another great Hessman role was Smooth Walker from Dr. Detroit.

[@judythompson8227]

I watched this show faithfully only because of JohnnyFever. He was spot on goofy.

[@jeanetteupchurch5617]

Bought this series and loved it.

[@73honda350]

Great combination of characters. One needs to understand top 40 AM radio of the 60's and 70's to truly appreciate the show

[@PeBoVision]

As would be for any of the WKRP cast, Howard Hessman's memorial was a string of Les Nessman vignettes. (and a reminder of how much we all loved and miss this show and its endearing characters.) RIP Dr Fever.

[@keithschofield1158]

The wait by the pretenders was a great song it’s on my play list

[@youllis]

I remember him more from Head of The Class as a kid

[@larrydiggs2305]

Johnny Fever was the best. He was a big part of the show😂😂😂

[@MarkHermann-u5p]

Fantastic cast.

[@roberthickman2298]

I was hoping to see a clip of my favorite. The Drunk driving episode was one of the funniest in my opinion. Cop was so mad. Lol.

[@SmackWaterJack001]

I just bought every season of WKRP on dvd !!!!

[@sevadaj]

R.I.P. Howard Hessman.

[@stevethomas2285]

The winner is, station WTNA. I missed it the first time around.

[@anthonyreed3682]

You and me and the censors LOL.

[@juliansmith1951]

Dr Johnny Fever Jennifer Andy Les Bailey Herb Venus & Mr Carlson made WKRP in Cincinnati funny

[@carp68]

Love this! Thank you. And thanks for including the closing theme.

[@DaveNarn]

You're welcome. Go to admit that I watch the end credits on everything.

[@carp68]

@@DaveNarn Same.

[@josephinelarosa5173]

Johnny Fever - Coolest of Dudes 😎

[@fhuber7507]

He played that role like he was born to do it.

[@jerryhutchens5934]

While Loni Anderson is indeed a gorgeous woman, I always favored Jan Smithers in the "glamour" department.

[@marcusanderson933]

R.I.P Dr. Johnny Fever!

[@gilbertdare5921]

I liked the episode with the "phone cops."

[@Iwannadrive]

Am I the only one who thinks that Floyd Pepper is the Muppet version of Dr. Johnny Fever?

[@nickoshana2246]

Great Show. Good Man !

[@scubaguy14]

in memory of Howard Hessman, and most clips don't even feature him..

[@gophersmith]

Love that the second Arthur said "Kiwanis Club", Johnny was gone!

[@SuperMickey57]

We could be the Skins! Johnny had me laughing out loud again!

[@RonPiggott]

My favourite memory is when the cast and crew welcomed the Iran hostages back to the U.S. when they were free (instead of the already filmed introduction).

[@DaveNarn]

Wow, I'd like to have seen that. Maybe it's on youtube somewhere.

[@Bobrogers99]

This was one of the most memorable shows of its era. A talented cast with great chemistry.

[@cheril8891]

Travis is so desperate, when he asks Johnny to "Play part of a song", I lost it.