Ep 3. Real Families

In the third season of WKRP in Cincinnati, the third episode named "Real Families" continues the story of the inner workings of a struggling radio station in Cincinnati. This episode brings an interesting twist where the story revolves around the creation of a new radio program called "Real Families". Created to reflect the modern day American families, the show could win the ratings and help the station to get more listeners. But the deeper the station delves into the complicated lives of the families, the more it realizes their own lives are no less complicated.

The show starts with Mr. Carlson, the station's General Manager, announcing the plans to launch a new radio program showcasing modern-day families, their lives, and their struggles. Each of the radio staff is assigned a family to cover and bring their stories on air. Jennifer is given the task of covering the lives of a well-to-do businessman and his family. Venus is assigned to cover a large family with multiple children, while Herb is given the task of covering a newly married couple with their first child.

As the radio crew starts to immerse themselves into the families they are assigned to, they begin to realize that the modern American family is far more complicated than they initially thought. Jennifer discovers that the businessman she is covering is having an affair with his secretary. Meanwhile, Venus's family is dealing with a rebellious teenage daughter who is sneaking out of the house and hanging out with a bad crowd. Herb's family is anything but perfect as the newly married couple is constantly bickering and arguing over petty things.

As the radio crew faces the challenge of bringing the complicated stories of the families to air, they are also dealing with their own issues. Johnny, the station's DJ, is struggling with the fact that his girlfriend is pregnant with another man's child. Bailey, the station's receptionist, is having relationship issues with her boyfriend, and Andy, the station's program director, is fighting a losing battle to keep the station afloat.

The episode takes a captivating turn as the station staff members help the families they are covering to navigate through their problems while struggling with their own demons. Johnny finds solace in helping Venus's family deal with their teenage daughter, while Bailey helps Jennifer confront the businessman about his affair. Andy is shown to be the anchor of the staff, always trying to keep things together while dealing with the falling ratings and a station that is struggling financially.

The episode demonstrates some of the harsh realities of modern-day American families, from infidelity to rebellious teenagers. The characters of the show are depicted as well-rounded individuals, each dealing with their own real-life issues. This makes the show quite different from other sitcoms of its time, which were themed around only one character or one specific genre of comedy.

"Real Families" is a well-crafted episode, full of witty humor, but with an undercurrent of seriousness that sets it apart from other comedy shows of its time. The show's creators have managed to highlight the challenges of modern-day American families without resorting to cheap jokes. Instead, they have satirized the complexities of our society in a way that is both hilarious and relatable.

Overall, the "Real Families" is an excellent example of the fantastic writing, acting, and production values that were at play in WKRP in Cincinnati, making it one of the best sitcoms of its era. With its realistic portrayal of modern families and the challenges they face, the episode has become a classic in its own right, admired by people who have grown up watching it and younger generations discovering it for the first time.