Dr. Johnny Fever of WKRP in Cincinnati died on Saturday.
For many of us who work in radio, Johnny Fever and the shows cast inspired many of us to get into the careers we have today.
In 1978 when WKRP in Cincinnati debuted on TV, I was 12 years old and hooked! In my Grade 7 Art Class I made this WKRP inspired microphone:
The bottom reads “Ian R – 78” the 78 for my class number and for the year 1978 when WKRP started.
I now have this in my home audio recording studio.
The show had 90 episodes from 1978 to 1982 including the classic BOOGER scene:
I’m wearing my WKRP t-shirt today on air in memory of Johnny Fever!
Howard Hesseman a.k.a. Johnny Fever died to complications from colon surgery and was 81.
He was also teacher Charlie Moore on “Head of the Class”. For more click here.
Thanks for the laughs and giving us “radio wanna be kids” a look at how cool it is to work in radio, Dr. Johnny Fever!
-Ian