Parents' Guide to

WKRP in Cincinnati

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Classic sitcom still entertains, raises relevant issues.

TV CBS Comedy 1978
WKRP in Cincinnati Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

age 14+

As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

WKRP in Cincinnati is one of the best sitcoms ever made. It has an excellent ensemble cast and sharp writing. The title of my review comes from the famous turkey drop Thanksgiving episode. WKRP is set at a radio station, but is much better produced than 90s knock off NewsRadio that is also set at a radio station but average at best. WKRP does not have crude language or much sex. There is drinking from time to time, and recurring mention of drug use from Johnny Fever. Almost all of the episodes are well worth watching, but I would skip the 2-parter Filthy Pictures from season 2 that is a lot trashier than usual for this show.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

This award-winning TV classic elicits laughs by putting believably imperfect characters in simple but hilarious predicaments that cast light on their flaws and showcase their strengths. These aren't millionaires, reality stars, or child phenoms; they're average Joes working hard (or, more often, hardly working) in average jobs, and that's what makes them so instantly appealing. The characters' relationships and their individual evolutions over the course of the series are things of beauty, and the fact that the show manages to entertain without excessive sex, language, and shock value can't be overstated. Well received during its heyday more than three decades ago, WKRP is even more of a testament to quality entertainment when it's held up against modern programming.

Because this "vintage" TV show is so unlike what's out there today, it might not capture teens' attention at first, but its ageless content makes it a fantastic option for parents and teens to watch together. Not only does it offer mostly clean comedy (minus a lot of flirting with the buxom blonde secretary, of course), but it also respectfully raises issues like race relations, censorship, gender equality, and immigration, all of which are explored relative to the show's time and encourage discussions about those same topics today.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate