WKRP: Venus Explains the Atom

[@kanealson5200]

One of the finest moments on television. It actually DID teach me about the atom.

[@nospam3327]

Agreed. If all tv was like this, the world would be a better place

[@SayWhatAgain109]

40 years later, still remember this episode! Really made me enjoy chemistry!

[@joelbrown6411]

Taught alot of us. Venus was a good dude. Brilliant teacher. Even better d.j.

[@romanpk3]

This is what inspired me to become a teacher when I was a kid. Now I teach high school. Thanks Venus!

[@tejaswoman]

One of many such things that I distinctly remember inspired me to be a teacher. Hello, fellow high-school teacher!

[@tommymcweedface229]

Cool!

[@matthewbradley3395]

Good for you! I had always wanted to be a teacher but life led me a different way. This scene always made me giddy...in a good way. THAT"S what teaching should be all about.

[@mikemerkweki6949]

That's awesome to here, I guess you never know where your inspiration will come from...

[@6610stix]

This inspired me to quit teaching and become an actor. Thanks Mr Flytrap!!

[@DJ-ob8sk]

It's been over forty years, and I still remember this scene. An absolutely brilliant moment in television.

[@Mr.400lbsjourney]

What show is this

[@DJ-ob8sk]

@@Mr.400lbsjourney WKRP In Cincinnati

[@666finnegan]

In my opinion, the metaphor is the single most useful communication tool we have.

[@floydjohnson7888]

Space Ghost I must be using it wrong, as I have only confused people since about 1993 with the use of metaphor.

[@RichardLeslieWhereat]

Now, the Mets are a new york baseball gang that hate the Smilies. Now the Smilies, they like a whole bunch of shit, but the Mets, they want to BE other shit. Smilies don't amount to fuck all in life, but they're always like other shit, they smiling. Mets hate them, because people always compare the two. But the Mets, they've got ambition, they're always achieving shit, and when they succeed they drink wine from amphoras like romans, real high class shit. They like their high class celebrations so much, they named themselves after it. They became the Metaphors. The Smilies, they're so retarded, they can't even spell their own name. They call themselves the Similes.

[@shelbythomas]

i'mma let you finish but vocal chords released the best communication tool of all-time

[@666finnegan]

@@shelbythomas hahaha. Nice one

[@roguesheep3083]

Sometimes it can be difficult to include breasts in every metaphor, though.

[@gabrielledarwin9375]

My mom, who was a kid the 70s, who struggled in school because she didn't know she had a learning disability, always remembered parts of the atom because of this scene.

[@katbuffey8834]

I saw this in chemistry, it actually made me pay attention, this is how all teachers should teach

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

yeah? when was the last time you were in front of a classroom? A

[@dwightdodd3734]

Tim Reed was one of my Favorite characters....very classy witout being obnoxious........

[@adrianpeirson5771]

I was a kid whom watched this with his parents as a child and understood ,this. Still sticks with me 40 years later

[@jbjacobs9514]

This may be one of the most beautiful teaching moments in history. The best teachers do things like this to engage their students. I wish more people were like Tim Reid's character here - young men need people like him.

[@paulweston8408]

I saw this as a child about 40 years ago and STILL remember the atom because of this!!! If only every teacher was this amazing.

[@trinity1945]

Tron means Dude! He is a prophet! Jeff Bridges later went on to play both Tron and The Dude. And all that science stuff is pretty cool too ;-)

[@goff2youtube]

brilliant

[@peachesrambo4037]

He wasnt tron but the creator of clu.

[@Hibernicus1968]

Actually Tron was played by Bruce Boxleitner.

[@allyourpie4323]

@@Hibernicus1968 Well,that's just like,your opinion man.

[@612Tiberius]

This is an Emmy Award-level scene, in it's set-up, tone, subject matter and execution; one of the countless scenes that made this show the timeless classic that it remains: and one that embedded itself into my memory since the time I saw it during it's first airing. It still gives me chills... Bravo Venus, and the entire cast and production crew of "WKRP In Cincinatti"!

[@andyinpa1]

612Tiberius the “Turkey Bombing” scene from the Thanksgiving episode was also great. Agreed, this show was great.

[@gforce1930]

Spot on comment

[@MatthewPettyST1300]

To this day, when I think of WKRP and one of my all time favorite pieces of clever writing. This is it!

[@lastmiles]

I recall this. Awesome writers. They won a stack of awards for this.

[@mpd9924]

I hope that is true. You can tell they spent a lot of time on this segment.

[@Soulrider2012]

Most informative 3:50 on a sitcom in television history. If only more teachers could be as engaging and make the material relate to everyday life. If they did, kids would learn, and WANT to learn, so much more.

[@amberhenderson9098]

Soulrider2012 my science teacher used this for year 11 and we all got atom questions

[@RipperFromYT]

Soulrider it was definitely the most informative sitcom! It's where I learned turkeys can't fly!

[@MaqiKI]

🎉

[@MauiMedicineMan]

One of the best scenes of what I believe to be the best TV sitcom ever!

[@relg007]

This is so brilliant and outstanding. There is nothing on TV now days that compares to this quality of writing and the transformative two minutes that this is.

[@davidchalk8883]

I'd say the Ted Lasso "darts" scene is it's match. But you are right writing like this is rare in any era.

[@karengeyman5562]

I was 10 years old living in Cincinnati when these shows were on and it brings back so many wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing.

[@LameWolff]

One of the best show on tv in it's day.

[@JMCodd1]

Were you there when someone bombed the supermarket with turkeys?

[@nospam3327]

@@JMCodd1 Haha, fwiw, the show wasn't filmed in Cincy

[@gforce1930]

This show had a big effect on me growing up as a kid (born in 69). I loved it then and looking back at it now it still seems genius. The characters, the stories, the morals. Even the theme song.

[@jantiquefielding6661]

STILL the best science explanation I've ever seen!

[@MaqiKI]

🎉

[@salad1696]

my science teacher decided to show us this and im sure im passing. those 3min and 50sec taught me more than school has ever taught me

[@alexmanbeck]

does your school teach absolutely nothing or are you just an idiot

[@princessmocha4069]

@@alexmanbeck RUDE

[@themaleskeleton]

@@alexmanbeck 1st option, true for me as well

[@elijahrobinson2362]

~45 years after I saw this on TV it still resonates. A GOOD teacher (like my mother) finds a way to relate to a student, to teach their students in a way they can understand.

[@lamontcranston2280]

And that kid grew up to be... Neil DeGrasse Tyson

[@MrStarfishP]

ha

[@TheXxSparexX]

Hahahahahaha

[@kevinwalas619]

Nice one man!!!!

[@1234larry1]

Yep!

[@thegorn68]

DYING LAUGHING!!!

[@heathergavel6446]

My high school science teacher actually played this scene for the class as part of the lesson on atoms

[@channingthomas6697]

Scenes like this is the reason WKRP has been running through my head since the original run. Love this show & this scene is immortal.

[@jsoc1956]

They left the best part out, where Venus tells Arnold that his school OWES HIM AND EDUCATION and if they won't give him one, he needs to DEMAND they give him one!

[@mpd9924]

So true. So much better than the mindless indoctrination about man made climate change, systemic racism, etc. that students receive today in public schools. Teach the kids HOW TO LEARN.

[@nb5437]

This was one of the greatest scenes in television history.

[@snaykskin]

I was thinking about this scene the other day and doubted anyone would have posted it on youtube. Thanks!!!!

[@darkjedi447]

I remember when this first aired on TV and I was a kid and I was like 'WOW, science is awesome!' I never saw that again till now when I found it here on KZbin! What a great memory. Thanks so much for posting it here!

[@theGhoulman]

Still one of the best bits on TV ever. Carl Sagan would be proud. I remember seeing this in my youth and it's still just as brilliant today. WKRP was a smart show. Well written. All the really good shows are, after all.

[@mckenna8663]

One of the greatest days in my school years was when a teacher, without even knowing he was doing so, gave me permission to think about problem solving differently. What an incredible gift!! I now teach special ed students and always remember to start where the student is with what the student has. And never, NEVER, allow them to feel that they are hopeless.

[@lindagardenlady]

Thank God for wonderful teachers!! ♥️♥️

[@ronalwynter7621]

God bless you.

[@waynejohanson1083]

Never understood before until I saw this. This is what I call awesome teaching.

[@robertphillips3992]

I had a teacher much like this. She was the reason I stayed in school and graduated. 🙏

[@PotGooiSuiderland]

Often in study, the problem isn't the material or the student, but rather how the material is presented to the student. Such a excellent example of just that.

[@AwesomeFreakLync]

I'm just here wondering how did he make two perfect circles

[@WordUnheard]

I'm wondering why he used a black marker on a blackboard, and if it was a permanent marker.

[@brothajohn]

That was damn impressive. He just free handed two perfect circles.

[@charleslennon1]

In 'real' life before becoming a comedic performer, actor, writer (he wrote many of the episodes for WKRP), producer, and director Tim Reid worked for the DuPont Corporation for three years.

[@charleslennon1]

and if you think that's cool you should look up Gil Gerard. Before becoming a SciFi icon of the 1980s [Buck Rogers] he was a top industrial chemist and regional manager for Winthrop Rockefeller. Get this, he never graduated from college! When he was tapped to become chief exec. the company heads were shocked that he never attained a degree. They wanted him to go back to college to get his degree and head up their chemical division. He declined and decided to pursue acting instead.

[@tanya5322]

FreakLync not hard with some practice. My math teachers used to do that quite often.

[@ohfunkydrummer]

OMG! THANKS FOR POSTING!!! This morning at work I had a TV flashback daydream about this very scene! Took me less than 10 seconds to google search & here it is!!! LOL!

[@DarthVader19-77]

This is one of the most memorable and classic scenes from WKRP.

[@sauquoit13456]

On this day in 1978 {September 18th} the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" had its premier on the CBS-TV network. The show ran until April 21st, 1982, with a total of 88 episodes... During its four year run it earned ten Emmy Award nominations. In 1981 the show's theme song by Steve Carlisle entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #65. R.I.P. Gordon 'Big Guy Carlson' Jump {1932 - 2003} and Gary 'Andy Travis' Sandy celebrates his 68 birthday in three months on Christmas Day.

[@NevadaBoss]

A high water mark in TV writing history. Positively brilliant and thoroughly original. This show never got near the credit it deserved...as good as it gets in TVland.

[@echoecho3108]

Wonderful. Venus is the teacher you wish you had. Luckily, I had quite a few of these treasures along the way. Thanx so much for sharing.

[@Groome007]

I always remembered this clip ... you should have played the next few seconds where Johnny Fever wakes up after sleeping behind those boxes and says: "Wow man that Atom stuff was great!"

[@fleuria.]

.............. omg.

[@tinyfistm.2607]

Heh, "can you teach me about magnets?"

[@emo__runner]

I'm so mad I didn't see this when I was in school, it's fantastic!!

[@michalchik]

I still remeber this seen 30 years after i first saw it. I am a teacher and it reminds me that there is always a way to reach a kid if you have enough time, patience and creativity, Unfortunately the time isn't there, the patience is taxed by BS like No child left behind, and the creativity is often discouraged.

[@angelahall4402]

And I totally remember this episode. I'm 52 and I remember this. Awesome.

[@fredellenburg8475]

When I was teaching at Georgia Southern University,I used this clip- many times whenI was teaching lesson planning. Excellent 3.50minute lesson

[@Milesco]

Seems like this is more of a junior high school level explanation, though. Not college level.

[@lancer525]

@@Milesco He did say "Georgia Southern"... That should be sufficient explanation for you.

[@calvinmcbride8562]

Was struggling with 7th grade physical science class on atoms, but not after watching this episode,. Easily passed that class, thanks Venus,

[@nonyabusiness2703]

3:49 and this is the issue in education! It's not that the student can't learn the material, it's that the teachers don't put subject matter in a format they understand

[@teganhillman9816]

I saw this before I was taught about the atom in school. I actually started rembering it when the teacher brought it up. It was an awesome moment for me.

[@MadTheDJ]

Decades later I still remember this scene still know the basics of the atom. Thanks, Venus. Stay in school, kids.

[@IAmGrum]

I'm over 40 years old, and that's exactly how I learned about the atom. No other science lesson I've ever had has stuck in my head better than this one. I've learned lots of other things, but I can recite this lesson almost verbatim, and I've probably seen it only two or three times since the first time on TV.

[@IDioGenesis]

I've loved this ever since I was a kid. I just wish the poster had left the rest in as well, about how you have to fight for your education, if they won't give it to you then you have to take it.

[@unadomandaperte]

Dio Genesis that sounds like a very black attitude what you just said there. You don't take an education, you earn it!

[@shufflebug360]

This is so good, I just taught my 8 year old little sister how an atom works.

[@robovike]

I still remember this! Venus for teacher of the year!

[@McRocket]

I learned more about the atom in that 4 minutes than I EVER learned in my ENTIRE time in public school.

[@McRocket]

@@har9020 TY

[@cynthia7445]

If all teaching could be that simple! An awesome example of engaging the student in his world to make new knowledge relevant.

[@redcurrantart]

I watched this when I was still in grade school and yeah…. It didn’t just stay for weeks, it stayed a lifetime.

[@SandraNelson063]

This should be required viewing for every student teacher. I have remembered this ever since I saw it a billion yrs ago.

[@einsteinalb75]

I saw this when I was a kid. I've remembered it to this day.

[@mattomite9097]

A great episode from a fantastic series! We need more shows like this now and more people like Venus and just maybe we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in now.

[@tombrown8829]

This is a priceless explanation of the atom. It should be taught .

[@TheDhylton1]

I saw this when it aired originally. Didn’t understand at the time, but I was watching a brilliant teaching session.

[@arlggigiryfamily1286]

I had always admired teachers like this when I was in school who made it fun to learn, like it was a game.

[@thejazzman210]

Man, that was beautiful to watch.

[@turdwranglers2517]

i STILL remember this 40 years after I graduated high school ('82)

[@Trund27]

This is where I learned about the atom, too!

[@maureenchandlerreid7916]

Wow. Wish I had teachers like Venus flytrap. I would have remembered everything in school

[@twistmygame9501]

This helped soo much! Comedy and science put together! It's genius!

[@MurderousPenguin]

Couple months ago our triple science teacher showed us this video when we were re-capping the atom, gotta say it really did refresh my memory

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Definitely top shelf episode. Tim Reid is a great actor, too.

[@Pixeldog1]

It's 2024 and I'm still loving this 😍

[@fezenclop]

This and the tornado episode are probably two of the most important episodes ever made for television.

[@stoytrivia1126]

When I first saw this, it blew me away. And it's still 98 percent of what I know about the atom and I've never forgotten it. Hell, I still know the gang names.

[@locust76]

Get this guy a closet wall, a sharpie and let him teach us about the Higgs field!

[@Maxbps88]

Bring on the God Particle.

[@mikeburr3441]

And there's this new homeboy. His name "Pauli". And he all like, "Um. I think you guys have a very weak understanding of your own neighborhood."

Well at least Pauli has a strong opinion unlike that other homeboy Heisenberg, who is never certain about anything.

[@kingbeauregard]

"See, the thing about all these dudes - the Elected Ones, the Pros, and the New Guys - they're all very individualistic, so if they see anyone else who's doing the same thing they are, they go and change what they're doing. Maybe they'll start spinning in place but in the other direction. Maybe they'll keep circling the neighborhood but parkouring rather than walking on the ground. Or maybe they'll circle the neighborhood but farther away. "And that's another thing about them all, they're really good at hiding; sometimes you can catch a glimpse of them, but generally you don't know where they are, beyond saying that they're in the nucleus or they're circling the neighborhood." Oh Christ, now I'm doing it too.

[@JimSting]

Man, thankyou SOOOO much for posting this!!! I haven't seen this for over a decade! This is absolute, pure genius. You will not find a better explanation of the atom anywhere!

[@coffeefuelsme]

I showed my teacher this and she taught it to the whole class, word for word..

[@black2much]

I haven't seen dis since I was a kid. Jus remembered it now. Ty for uploading

[@diedreeggleston9073]

I wish someone explained it this way when I was in high school. I couldn't believe I finally understood it after so many years ago.

[@Lolformeh]

I have an exam tomorrow and i am going to say that this video has taught me better and clearer than my teachers, as long as i remember this gang neighbourhood tomorrow i will do fine! :)

[@ldylkr]

Brilliant way to show this. We need shows like this again.

[@Aviyaytor]

I remember watching this episode as a kid, and still remember it to this day. Venus fly trap the coolest dj there was. Behind Johnnie Fever of course!

[@theScytheofGod]

My fave as well, from the whole series. Thanks, I was looking for this for a long time.

[@joandecker850]

I understood and still remember this explanation. Excellent!!

[@JimSting]

Absolutely the ultimate explanation of the atom. Will never be bettered.

[@ayaiko]

I remember this! My teacher loved this video and showed it to us in Y7, everyone understood it so easily. Only reason why I understand atoms so easily to this day.

[@infinitymfg5397]

I actually think about this scene when I teach a lecture.

[@dragon2knight]

Pure Genius! I learned something today, thanks Venus ;-) Very underrated show for sure!

[@jamesanthony8438]

This episode definitely deserved the Emmy. =)

[@markgigiel2722]

We need more teachers like that.

[@freedapeeple4049]

Whoever wrote that was friggin' brilliant!

[@mauramcfly]

buttonlady, this is one of my favourite scenes too! i still remember it though i was really little when i saw it, and it taught me about the atom!!! now i'm a teacher and i know stuff like this works sooo well!!! :)

[@Milesco]

Oh, man, I actually remember that scene from when it was first broadcast forty-odd years ago! Even though I only saw it once! Probably because I was a nerdy kid and was into nuclear physics. :-) Technically, Venus's description is a bit inaccurate (although it's a good starting point for students to get a basic idea of the structure of the atom, albeit oversimplified). Venus is describing the Bohr model of the atom from 1913, which envisages electrons circling the nucleus like planets. But we now know that they don't really do that. Their motion is more complex and unpredictable, bouncing around randomly so fast that they are in effect everywhere at once. Yeah, I'm still a nerd. :-)

[@DarkEagle-vx9hd]

Yeah, but part of being a teacher is knowing when not to throw a student in the deep end. Everyone loves to say they can be thrown in the deep end, but I would hire an honest employee who admitted they have to build their skill. That's not nearly as humbling as jumping into the corporate deep end, then flailing around for a lifeguard... lol. But yeah, you're right..s,p,d,f orbitals, Pauli exclusion principle, quantum numbers, etc. We do need nerds, so more power to ya.

[@mindlessdroid3630]

Everyone knows the Turkey drop episode but this show was brilliant from beginning to end.

[@PhilMoskowitz]

The next day Venus described the Born statistical interpretation of the Schrodinger waveform.

[@to8ster357]

Thank you Mr Chilton for showing us this last year!

[@bovnycccoperalover3579]

Great segment on a great show. All these "professionals" work hard to make things difficult for students.

[@OtterloopB]

Common core is a blight on education. Wokeism is even worse. All drummed up by "experts."

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

That is beautiful. I teach this stuff for a living, and I'm stealing this.

[@rickcerisano3687]

I remember watching this as a kid and remembering it for years...

[@janmunce496]

I remember this when it first came on and I was just a teenager, this how I learned about the atom and it still sticks with me today. The difference between a teacher and someone who works as a teacher is when it sticks

[@pg-mtl8815]

Thank you Venus flytrap and WKRP!!

[@birdbyod9372]

I loved his character growing up.