wkrp thanksgiving turkey drop

The Infamous WKRP Turkey Drop Lives on in Thanksgiving Infamy

For many the holiday season means gathering with loved ones, eating delicious food and watching timeless classics. And when it comes to classic Thanksgiving TV, nothing beats the infamous turkey drop episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. This classic sitcom moment has lived on in pop culture infamy and still delights audiences over 40 years later.

In this article, we’ll break down everything about the unforgettable WKRP turkey drop: what led up to it, how they pulled it off, the public’s reaction, and why it remains so legendary today. Whether you’ve seen the episode or are discovering it for the first time, appreciate the absurd humor and unforgettable hilarity of this Thanksgiving tradition.

The Lead Up to the Turkey Drop

WKRP in Cincinnati was a popular sitcom in the late 1970s and early 80s. It followed the misadventures of a struggling radio station in Ohio. In the 1978 Thanksgiving episode “Turkeys Away,” the station manager Arthur Carlson hatched a dangerous publicity stunt against his staff’s wishes.

Carlson wanted to generate buzz for WKRP by dropping 20 live turkeys from a helicopter over a shopping center. He assumed the turkeys would fly once dropped. But as fans know, the stunt goes horribly and hilariously wrong.

To pull off the episode, the writers meticulously built up the turkey drop premise. Earlier scenes show Carlson adamantly defending his dangerous idea as the WKRP team tries talking him out of it.

We also meet a shady helicopter pilot willing to carry out Carlson’s scheme. These moments cleverly foreshadow the impending disaster. The episode builds the anticipation which makes the tragicomic payoff even funnier.

Behind the Scenes of the Turkey Drop

The infamous turkey drop scene only lasts one minute. But it provided one of the most memorable sight gags in sitcom history. The crew used real talent and creativity to depict the bizarre event.

The turkeys were real – the show purchased 20 live birds from a poultry provider. The crew brought the turkeys to the roof of the studio lot right before filming.

To capture the fall, the crew fastened the turkeys onto a net weighted with sandbags. A crane then hoisted the net over 100 feet above the parking lot and released it. The turkeys tumbled and scattered perfectly on camera for the epic shot.

Clever editing cut between close-ups of the panicking turkeys and wider shots of them crashing down. Off-camera effects like splats and crunching metal added comic punctuation.

After falling over 100 feet onto concrete, the turkeys of course did not survive. So the show made a charitable donation for each bird to local homeless shelters so their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. This attention to detail showed the crew’s commitment to this legendary moment.

Public Reaction to the Turkey Drop

Once the infamous episode aired in November 1978, it immediately became a pop culture sensation. For most viewers, it provided one of the funniest moments they had ever seen on TV.

The absurd premise, masterful build-up of tension, and hilarious payoff left audiences howling. For days after, people excitedly recounted the ridiculous turkey drop scene to anyone who would listen.

However, the episode did receive some criticism from viewers for showing animals getting harmed. The SPCA chastised the stunt as disrespectful of the turkeys’ lives.

The controversy soon blew over though as the public focused on the scene’s pure comedic impact. Audiences couldn’t deny how entertaining and effective the joke was, political correctness be damned.

Legacy of the WKRP Turkey Drop

While controversial, the infamous turkey drop left an undeniable cultural impact. It remains one of the most memorable moments in sitcom history.

The scene perfectly embodied the misguided chaos at the heart of the show. Whenever people discuss the greatest Thanksgiving episodes, WKRP’s turkey drop always tops the list.

Countless shows and films have paid homage by spoofing the joke in their own Turkey Day episodes. The turkey drop set the gold standard for hilariously disastrous Thanksgiving stunts.

Beyond comedy, the scene provided an enduring metaphor for any well-intentioned idea gone horribly wrong. To “drop a turkey” or “pull a WKRP turkey drop” entered the lexicon to describe botched plans.

The iconic line “As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” encapsulated Carlson’s naivete and the fiasco’s absurdity. Few TV moments provide such a succinct, quotable summation of a concept.

Where to Watch the Full Episode

If you want to see the legendary turkey drop for yourself, the full WKRP Thanksgiving episode is easy to find online.

Many services like Hulu and Apple TV offer the entire series catalog, including this classic episode. You can also purchase digital copies of the episode from online stores.

Of course, the most-watched clip on YouTube shows the isolated turkey drop scene. But try to experience the full build-up for maximum comedic effect. Appreciate how skillfully the writers set the stage for one of the most legendary screw-ups in sitcom history.

More WKRP Turkey Drop Facts and Trivia

Part of the turkey drop’s enduring appeal comes from the wealth of behind-the-scenes facts and contextual trivia:

• The turkeys cost $200 total in 1978, over $850 adjusted for today’s inflation.

• The crew tested the scene first by dropping a frozen turkey to ensure they got the right shots.

• The turkeys were too heavy to fly and only survived for a few seconds of airtime.

• Local Cincinnati stations refused to simulcast the episode fearing backlash from viewers.

• The episode aired before the popular “As God as my witness…” line entered widespread use.

• In syndication, the episode is sometimes trimmed to minimize the turkey drop scene.

• The shopping center shown is actually an office park 20 miles outside Cincinnati.

• Actor Gordon Jump who played Arthur Carlson was a staunch animal rights activist in real life.

Part of the fun is learning all the odd details and secrets that brought this insane moment to life. It adds to the legend when you realize the care and commitment that went into creating this completely ridiculous scene.

The Timelessness of Humor

In today’s PC-conscious media landscape, some argue that tasteless jokes like the turkey drop wouldn’t fly with modern audiences. Others say the scene encapsulates a bygone era of provocative 70s satire.

But the humor still lands because physical comedy and hubris never go out of style. Watching arrogant buffoons receive instant karma transcends cultural shifts.

At its core, the joke plays on our expectations. We know before the characters that the turkeys will meet a grizzly fate. The dramatic irony leaves us eagerly awaiting the inevitable train wreck.

No matter your background, seeing clueless arrogance backfire in such an over-the-top way elicits primal laughter. The turkey drop reminds us of humor’s timeless, universal nature when executed creatively.

So this Thanksgiving, appreciate the enduring cultural impact of WKRP’s infamous turkey drop. Let Arthur Carlson’s bumbling fiasco provide some comedic relief between bites of turkey and dressing. Just remember – don’t try dropping any turkeys yourself. As we’ve learned, they absolutely cannot fly.