EDITOR’S NOTE: This previously published story has been brought back as part of our holiday coverage.
“WKRP in Cincinnati” gave the television world one of the greatest Thanksgiving gifts imaginable when the “Turkeys Away” episode hit screens across the country on Oct. 30, 1978.
According to the IMDB synopsis for Season 1, Episode 7: “Feeling left out by all the recent changes, Mr. Carlson decides to launch his own Thanksgiving promotion. With the aid of Herb and Les, the Big Guy turns a routine turkey give-away into a comic catastrophe.”
WKRP’s Jennifer Marlowe said it best in the episode: “Well, Mr. Kalli, a lot of turkeys don’t make it through Thanksgiving.”
Here’s what you need to know about the episode and how to watch:
Was the WKRP turkey drop based on a true story?
Actually, yes. However, somewhat loosely. According to interviews from The Classic TV History Blog, the actual event took place in Texas and used a truck instead of a helicopter despite some confusion about the origins among the show’s personnel.
But yes, the live turkey drop did happen. And yes, the event was quite a mess. In fact, WKRP station manager Arthur Carlson’s character was at least partially inspired by a real-life radio station sales manager, Jerry Blum. Here’s what Blum’s son, Gary, told CBR.com about the actual live turkey drop:
Contrary to growing folklore and mythical embellishment, the actual “turkey drop” never took place in Atlanta or at WQXI. It was years earlier in the 60’s when Jerry was at a station in Dallas Texas called KBOX. No, there was no helicopter, but that embellishment made it fun for television I guess.
For a radio promotion, they did attempt to throw live turkeys out of the back of a pick-up truck in a shopping center parking lot, and yes, it was a mess. Over the years the story has grown to frozen turkeys or even live turkeys out of an airplane, but that is pushing it just a bit.
Gary Blum, son of Jerry Blum via CBR.com
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Les Nessman, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’: ‘Don’t you know who I am? … Oh, the humanity!’
Who is Les Nessman? You know, he won the Buckeye Newshawk award. The fictional radio news personality played by Richard Sanders gives the most amazing live account to radio listeners when WKRP’s station manager, Arthur Carlson, kicks off his latest Thanksgiving promotion — a live turkey drop. Did we mention there’s a helicopter involved?
Les Nessman has three words for you: ‘Oh, the humanity!’
What was the famous line from the WKRP turkey drop episode?
“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly,” is the most famous quote from the “WKRP in Cincinnati” turkey drop episode, ‘Turkeys Away’. The quote was delivered by WKRP station manager Arthur Carlson near the end of the show.
‘WRKP in Cincinnati’ turkey drop Thanksgiving episode clips are on YouTube
There are several place to score the classic clip. YouTube offers multiple options of “Turkeys Away,” including this clip:
Where to stream ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ turkey drop full episode: Season 1, Episode 7 − ‘Turkeys Away’
The full episode of WKRP in Cincinnati’s ‘Turkeys Away’ can be streamed for free thanks to the Internet Archive.
Here are some other places to find the episode:
Watch ‘WKRP’ on AppleTV+
Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Can turkeys fly? How to watch the ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ Thanksgiving episode
Reporting by Chris Sims, USA TODAY NETWORK / Journal Star
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