What real-life station was WKRP based on?
A. The primary inspiration for WKRP was WQXI, a top-rated station in Atlanta. Creator Hugh Wilson frequently dealt with the station when he worked in advertising, as well as having friends there. Q. Was “WKRP” based on the movie FM? A. No. The movie FM came out in May 1978 and dealt with the personalities at a quirky rock radio station. Some people have detected similarities between the characters in the movie and the characters of WKRP, leading to speculation that WKRP was unofficially based on FM. However, early in May 1978, exactly at the same time FM was released, CBS issued a press release which mentioned that the pilot of WKRP In Cincinnati had been picked up for their fall schedule. Thus the pilot of WKRP had already been written, cast, taped, and shown to CBS executives before FM was released. Thus, WKRP is not based on FM, and any similarities between the two are simply due to the similar settings.
