Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson tries to run a failing Cincinnati radio station owned by his "tough as nails" mother. His own incompetence is overshadowed by the strange employees that work at the station. From wild Disc Jockeys: Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap to the geeky news director, Les Nessman and obnoxious advertising sales manager, Herb Tarlek. With the help of saner employees such as Bailey Quarters; the rather shy journalism major; Jennifer Marlowe, the beautiful receptionist who is the very opposite of a stereotypical "Dumb Blonde" and Andy Travis; the studly program director, Carlson tries gimmick after crazy gimmick to bring money into the station and make it a success.

Les can be seen wearing a bandage on some part of his body in practically every episode. We eventually find out it is because he has a very large (and never-seen) dog that he keeps at home. In real-life, the bandage idea originated when Richard Sanders suffered an injury prior to the taping of the first episode and was forced to wear a bandage on the air; he subsequently decided to make it Les' trademark.

[after an elderly couple has broken into the DJ booth]


Dr. Johnny Fever:
All right, you two, up against the wall! I don't what you want but you should know I've killed a lot of old people in my time. And I'm not above doing it again.

Factual errors: Unlike real DJs, the cast of WKRP never wore monitor headphones while broadcasting music.