If we were to recast WKRP today, who should assume the key roles? Here are my thoughts. Venus Flytrap: We need someone who’s smooth, intelligent and articulate, and who loves music. Oh, and this person should presumably be black. I hereby nominate Wayne Brady.
Les Nessman: We need someone who’s quirky and funny, and who does “socially awkward” well. Baldness is a plus, so Colin Mochrie is my choice.
Herb Tarlek: For sleaziness and for his chemistry with Colin Mochrie, I choose ** Ryan Stiles**.
Andy Travis: Funny, good-looking, clean-cut, in good physical shape. I pick Chip Esten.
Dr. Johnny Fever: Must be capable of doing both subtle humor and wacky comedy. I figure that either Greg Proops or Brad Sherwood can fill this role.
The Big Guy: I think that Drew Carey has the right look. Jennifer Marlowe: Unfortunately, nobody suitable comes to mind. Pamela Anderson has the right combination of physical stature and plasticness, but she’s just not right for the role (and besides, I can’t stand her). We want someone who’s curvy and statuesque, but who still conveys elegance and intelligence.
Bailey Quarters: Even more difficult, as Jan Smithers is a tough act to follow. We need someone who can blend into the background, but who still oozes with subtle, smouldering beauty and sex appeal. I’m drawing a blank here.
Any ideas, people?
Wouldn’t it be better to cast it with unknowns the way the original show was? That way we could watch them develop personalities without any preconceptions.
Wayne Brady smooth??? Yer Bogarting the spliff there, dude. I think Wayne’s appeal is that he is anything but smooth - he’s the class clown type.
The perfect current Venus Flytrap, limiting ourselves to black actors, would be Laurence Fishburne.
Using JThunder’s actors- I’d have put Brad Sherwood, *before * he gained all that weight, as Andy
And Colin Mochrie would have to play Mr Carlson, who is completely missing from JT’s list
Which leaves Les Nessman to be played by Gregg Proops (either shaved or not - just because the original Nessman was thinning doesn’t mean ours has to be)
But in all honesty, if we’re talking human actors, I have to agree with Lochdale. However, check this out.
Venus Flytrap: Samuel L Jackson Les Nessman: Curtis Armstrong Herb Tarlek: William Shatner Andy Travis: Sebastian Bach Dr. Johnny Fever: Woody Harrelson The Big Guy: Hardy Rawls Jennifer Marlowe: Anna Nicole Smith Bailey Quarters: Alyson Court
I guess it doesn’t help that I know only 1-in-10 of the names mentioned in this thread. I guess I don’t watch enough TV. I’ll consider that a good thing.
Having said that:
Bailey Quarters: Alyson Hannigon
I thought about Alyson Hannigan as well – in fact, she was the first person who came to mind for playing Bailey. Honestly though, I think that Zooey Deschanel would be a better choice.
I’ve got to say it again… Brilliant selection, Robot Arm!
Oh, and I neglected to mention Diedrich Bader as another candidate for playing Johnny Fever.
