Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
06-21-21 | 04:53 PM
#26
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Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Well, in terms of defending my original point, I can only point out again that there were just two credited actors in the opening credits of WKRP, and Gary Sandy was first billed.
The original premise of the structure was that he filled the Mary Richards role, but the character never had any life away from the office to build him up, and (in my opinion) the balance was so tilted on WKRP with so many other eccentric or outlandish characters that Andy was a fucking bore. Dick Loudon on Newhart was the normal guy surrounded by insanity, but Bob Newhart was never boring.
The original premise of the structure was that he filled the Mary Richards role, but the character never had any life away from the office to build him up, and (in my opinion) the balance was so tilted on WKRP with so many other eccentric or outlandish characters that Andy was a fucking bore. Dick Loudon on Newhart was the normal guy surrounded by insanity, but Bob Newhart was never boring.
But that's fine. It worked.
06-21-21 | 06:49 PM
#27
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Andy is supposed to be the only, "Normal," one working for WKRP. He's surrounded by insanity. The show wouldn't have worked if his character were more, "Interesting." He had to be the normal guy in the middle of all the craziness. And he IS a very likeable character, so that works.
(And, by the way, I'm also one of those guys who always thought Bailey was hotter than Jennifer.)
06-21-21 | 07:16 PM
#28
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
https://interviews.televisionacademy...-in-cincinnati
All I am saying is that it is pretty fucking rare to have a TV show where the first-billed actor plays one of the least memorable characters --also, (maybe) the least developed, think about how much the private lives of all the other characters were built out compared to Andy.
06-22-21 | 01:11 AM
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Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Rip
06-22-21 | 01:15 AM
#30
Thread Starter
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Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Hugh Wilson disagrees with you.
https://interviews.televisionacademy...-in-cincinnati
All I am saying is that it is pretty fucking rare to have a TV show where the first-billed actor plays one of the least memorable characters --also, (maybe) the least developed, think about how much the private lives of all the other characters were built out compared to Andy.
https://interviews.televisionacademy...-in-cincinnati
All I am saying is that it is pretty fucking rare to have a TV show where the first-billed actor plays one of the least memorable characters --also, (maybe) the least developed, think about how much the private lives of all the other characters were built out compared to Andy.
But I've always seen Andy as memorable - he's the nice guy, the competent guy, the one who kept that station from imploding. He was the hero of the series, almost always doing the right thing. Of course, there was that one time he made a backroom deal with Mama Carlson...
06-22-21 | 02:31 AM
#31
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Okay, Erik.
WKRP had eight regular characters, and if you feel that Andy Travis cracked the top half of that roster in terms of being an interesting and memorable character, then all I can say is that you and I watched two very different TV shows.
WKRP had eight regular characters, and if you feel that Andy Travis cracked the top half of that roster in terms of being an interesting and memorable character, then all I can say is that you and I watched two very different TV shows.
06-22-21 | 02:35 AM
#32
Thread Starter
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
I guess maybe I like that character so much because he reminds me of me. I can relate to him really easily.
06-22-21 | 09:50 AM
#33
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Frank Bonner - R.I.P.
Andy was the most likeable one in the cast. He always looked out for others, often willing to take the fall when things went wrong. He had their backs. He was a nice guy.
Spoiler:
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I guess maybe I like that character so much because he reminds me of me.
Spoiler:
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