The Venus centered episodes were always me favorite. But this was the best of them all. We saw who Gordon Sims really was. He was terrific. And Mr. Carlson was a great dad to him.

@cityhawk

2 жыл бұрын

And his background was the most interesting by far. He was a school teacher, Vietnam veteran, a part-time DJ in New Orleans, and a minor league baseball player. Wow to say!

@roseakarosiehweinstein3216

Жыл бұрын

Gordon Sims You were and are the man Mr Carlson AKA the Big Guy is absolutely a great Dad figure to him

Big Guy Carlson was my idol. As a kid, when I saw this episode, I told myself that I would be a boss just like him. 35 years later, one of my people, a young man, told me in private that he needed the next day off to support his brother in court. I told him that family was more important than work, and not to call in sick so he would still get paid, and I would cover for him, and no one would know. I did not know this would happen, but that young man became 100% loyal to me, said “sir” when I talked to him and said “Mr” before my name. Thank you Mr. Carlson. I know you’re just a fictional character, but you made me a good person.

@TheNedH

25 күн бұрын

I'll never forget the speech Big Guy delivered (and the way Gordon Jump delivered it) when a local community leader tried to censor what the station played.

Absolutely loved Mr. Carlson's reaction to "He's my Dad." His body language said "Damn right, I am."

I always like when Venus says this is my father Carlson suits up straight with pride

Killed me when the scene cut out right as he’s getting to his story. Which is sooo good.

@joeyboedeker7205

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that was a crazy story. People should have heard it.

@scott1564

26 күн бұрын

I liked the episode but the story itself made little sense. SPOILER ALERT. He says he came back to the US and left from the airport. If he was in the US with only weeks or month of enlistment remaining, he obviously wasn't going to see combat. Why would he desert and take that risk? Leaving from in country was one thing, but from over here quite another. I think the writers could have written that a little better.

@blockmasterscott

25 күн бұрын

@@scott1564I always was irked with that too. Not irked with the character, but with the script writers.

Easily one of the best episodes that they did! But wish you’d have uploaded the whole scene.

@robkenner5456

Жыл бұрын

Head over to the internet archive

Mr. Carlson was really like a father to the whole staff!

The 70’s was the decade of ground breaking TV. WKRP, MASH, All In the Family, Barney Miller, and more.

This was - as I said before - WKRP at it's best for me. They tackled very serious issues but included humour in it to make it easier to digest. This episode, Les's real father and on and on were examples of these types of 'serious' episodes. The sad thing - to me - about WKRP was that so many young people cannot appreciate it because once the copyright went off on the songs they used, it quickly stopped being shown as often in syndication. Also, without the original songs, the show does suffer to some extent as they had to do cheap dubbing to cover it.

@dougbrowne9890

2 жыл бұрын

This show was one of the earliest used to indoctrinate youth, so that the culture would end up with what we have today.

@cnault3244

2 жыл бұрын

@@dougbrowne9890 LOL good one. .... wait. you weren't serious, were you?

@stevethomas2285

2 жыл бұрын

@@cnault3244 I hope not.

@richardthompson6366

2 жыл бұрын

Booger!

I've managed teams of architects, engineers and contractors all over the world and some of the best management techniques I've learned come from James T. Kirk, Henry Blake, Sherman T. Potter, Andy Travis and Arthur Carlson.

@blockmasterscott

2 жыл бұрын

Same here. I ran a maintenance team in a school district, and Col. Potter was a big inspiration for running a large crew. More than once, I wondered what he would do when faced with a situation.

I remember watching this episode and at the sticking point of the story, Mr. Carlson slowly turns to look at Venus and the look on his face is, "WTF? You cannot possibly be serious." Gordon Jump was a first class actor. A real pro. Of course, Tim Reid was as well, but Jump had the harder job. Portraying a good matured naive buffoon.

This was one of krp's top 5 episodes

I never noticed that Venus (Gordon) was almost about to solute the major when he entered. Thank you for sharing.

That was just enough to make me want to see the whole episode

@gwbergstrom

4 жыл бұрын

Mike Mesloh Before I saw your comment I was thinking the exact same thing.

@xaenon

4 жыл бұрын

You DEFINITELY want to see the whole episode. WKRP was, of course, a sitcom, but it had some sobering moments. Such as kzread.info/dash/bejne/g4VmsbWoh6yflbg.html&

@michaelpope2886

3 жыл бұрын

It was a very memorable episode, I was a kid when I saw it during it's first run and it's always stayed with me.

@michaelleskauskas3645

3 жыл бұрын

One of the best episodes of the entire of the series.

@steveburtonomaha

3 жыл бұрын

That was what I was about to write. I loved wkrp

they always handled serious subjects with humor, and class

Having worked AWOL/App with the Military Police Corps twice (NCOIC, Providence, RI & NCOIC, Fort Harrison, IN) this episode struck home with me!

Love this classic episode.

@roseakarosiehweinstein3216

Жыл бұрын

No question about that my dear I couldn't say more myself

The complete scene may be some of the best television ever written!

The clip cuts off before Venus/Gordon tells the story of that last chopper ride with Weird Larry.

@charlespeakjr6337

4 жыл бұрын

That story was really bone-chilling.

@rockysquirrel4776

4 жыл бұрын

It reminds me of a story I was told about a guy that did two and a half tours before he snapped. He spent the rest of his tour in a psych hospital. At least some of him made it home, unlike the fictional Larry.

@newking70

Жыл бұрын

I KNOW WTF🤬

One of my all time favorite people, a writer and producer who does shows like "The Rookie," knows this episode. God love him.

Who is this guy? My father! I love that line!

@itsmylife842

4 жыл бұрын

Me too! LOL It's great line!

@michaelpope2886

3 жыл бұрын

I loved how the Big Guy took it in stride and went along with it!

@theccrbandakathecajuncount3747

3 жыл бұрын

I love Dad's expression. It's as if he didn't mind

@roseakarosiehweinstein3216

Жыл бұрын

Priceless line y'all

This show was one that didn’t deflect but was honest about what was happening at the time, some could say, real life television.

Was acquainted with a similar person as Venus fled the war when he was on leave and came to Canada.

We need another show like this!!

@roseakarosiehweinstein3216

Жыл бұрын

Absolutely

I alsi enjoyed when Venus explained the interior of an Atom in terms the gang kid could relate to. It all made sense.

Best episode of WKRP . cant find it in its entirety on KZread

Aww come on. You cut it there? This is one of the most emotional moments in the series. Damn it now I've gott watch the whole episode again. ;)

That was a great, dry Tim Reid line. =D

Tim Reid is a great actor.

Everyone loved this show and no one had any problems with it even when they dealt with touchy subjects like this. I just want everyone to realize that this was 1978 and when Venus says Carlson is his father Carlson's reaction is yeah why not! So much for how racist all were in those days.

@richardthompson6366

2 жыл бұрын

Vietnam was still a raw subject as well, I was nine years old watching this when it originally aired and it still draws a reaction.

this episode is the tv episode of almost all tv shows I go back to to remind me that tv can be amazing

Oh man, now I want to see the full episode...

Airdate April 2nd, 1979. The Vietnam episode.

I loved this

Gordon Sims. AKA. Venus Flytrap. Real Name

Great, is there the a second bit?

Man, I think Venus had some of the best story episodes.

I don't think there's been another TV show that handled a black male character, among a mostly white cast, better than WKRP. They didn't have to hit you over the head constantly with race the way TV and mass media do now.

@lesterross1

2 жыл бұрын

It was a much more tolerant and I believe, smarter time. Too bad the values of that time got lost along the way. JMO

Sorry, but I lost it when Venus said "My father." BAHAHAHAHA Great show though. Glad I have it on dvd.

Aww We didn't get to hear the story about Weird Larry.

Might be 30hrs of WKRP, And it's all Gold.

Cut way too short

From 2014 to 2018 an average of 24 veterans committed suicide each day.

@PhilMoskowitz

11 ай бұрын

I think a lot of people who go into the military already have issues. It's not so much that the military is the cause.

Oh I wanted to hear the monologue.

You cut it off before the good part.

@xaenon

4 жыл бұрын

Remember, this is a sitcom they're trying to sell. Isn't much to laugh about in Venus' story of his experience in the war.

@joeyboedeker7205

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, it was a pretty crazy,and somber story

@spyone4828

3 жыл бұрын

As I recall, from decades ago, it ends with him coming stateside and being accosted by protesters at the airport, and he ... just took off his uniform and never went back. About 1 week shy of finishing his term and being sent home. And apparently the Army was already disposed to show leniency, and with his turning himself in and his explanation, were willing to waive criminal charges.

@timmooney6910

2 жыл бұрын

​@@spyone4828 With all due respect, you recall incorrectly. The story that Gordon Sims tells is that with only 3 weeks left to his tour of duty, while onboard a chopper transporting him, a veteran Sargent in his unit, an Army Intelligence Officer and several prisoners. The Officer begins questioning the prisoners and when he doesn’t get answers begins tossing the out of the helicopter. After several prisoners are killed the Sargent turns to Sims, smiles broadly and while chuckling to himself leaps out of the chopper. That was it for Gordon Sims. When they land he just melts away, going AWOL for the next 15 years. The Army takes into account his mental state and allows him to finish out his enlistment at a local Army base. All this time and Tim Reid’s performance has stuck with me.

@spyone4828

2 жыл бұрын

@@timmooney6910 Now I can recall that version, too. Probably the Mandela Effect, as now I can recall both and am certain it was Tim Reid telling the story both times. I wonder what other show I got this confused with?

I love the Big Guy. 🙂

You couldn't play the whole scene?

The Big Guy!… Need I say more?..

I thought Gordon Jump was freakin hilarious in WKRP.

12 people are friends of Weird Larry.

What episode number is this?

@Im2Old4ThisShite

2 жыл бұрын

Season 1 episode 18

I think a general discharge is in order

my father!

Any one know what season and episode this is from?

@SciTrekMan

Ай бұрын

Season 1:18 “Who is Gordon Sims?”

wow... oh ... "im crazy"... wow,....

I like how Mr. Carlson doesn't object. Then again his son is a creep.

@joel8583

6 жыл бұрын

And he grew up to be a zero.

@cityhawk

4 жыл бұрын

Joe L Didn’t he work in the sales department along with Herb?

He’s peeling potatoes 🥔

I love the series, but there are some glaring errors in their version of the war.

@rangerdave1973

4 жыл бұрын

And what would those errors be?

He's not Sims. His name is Venus Flytrap. lol.

But what was his punishment (if any?) Andy made a joke about peeling potatoes...but was that real?

@rayg6497

Жыл бұрын

I believe the punishment was spending his remaining in a military jail, but who knows if he actually had to peel potatoes.

@SciTrekMan

Ай бұрын

@@rayg6497There was no punishment in view of the circumstances. He had to stay on the base for a few days while they processed his discharge paperwork.

This guy playing the Major, wasn't he the same guy who tried to beat Clint Eastwood's ass in jail at the beginning of Heartbreak Ridge?

@jeffsanders663

Жыл бұрын

Just looked it up. It's him, Nicholas Worth. RIP paratrooper.

What do you want for that blond wig?????

haha

Bullshit propaganda. Blacks were not cannon fodder. And the hypocrisy is monstrous. Bitch they didn't get a chance to fight in WWII. Bitch that they had to fight in Vietnam. Victim mentality is staple of the plantation.

@RideAcrossTheRiver

2 ай бұрын

Wow, you're just a pile of nothing.