WKRP Turkey Drop Video & Pics 2009: Fans Honor WKRP Episode

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WKRP Turkey Drop "As God as my witness I thought turkeys could fly"

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sourced by Jon Azpiri

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  Created by Jon Azpiri | add comment

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  Created by Jon Azpiri | add comment

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  Created by Jon Azpiri | add comment

"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys would fly." Those words capped off a classic  episode of WKRP in Cincinnati, one that has inspired turkey drops across the US. The WKRP turkey drops recreate a classic episode of the sitcom, which saw the fictional radio station take part in a failed promotion where they threw live turkeys out of an airplane.

Hot air enthusiasts in Danville, Ohio will be recreating the WKRP Turkey Drop during the Les Nessman Memorial Turkey Drop.  Students at Wayne State University took part in a WKRP turkey drop earlier this month.

Just in case you're worried that these WKRP fans go too far, rest assured that people don't make the mistake that WKRP staff did and use live turkeys. In the case of the Danville turkey drop, organizers will use drop rubber turkeys out of hot air balloons. At Wayne State, students substituted turkeys with all manner of items: a pumpkin, sofas, chairs, even a toilet.

The enduring popularity of the WKRP turkey episode must come as a pleasant surprise to WKRP creator Hugh Wilson and writer Bill Dial. The WKRP turkey episode, which was titled "Turkey's Away," has become a Thanksgiving tradition. TV Guide named "Turkeys Away" the 40th greatest episode in television history.

The first WKRP turkey drop was done by Detroit radio station WCSX back in 1988. Richard Sanders, the actor who played intrepid WKPR reporter Les Nessman, was in attendance as paper turkeys were dropped from a helicopter. A similar promotion took place in San Antonio in 1990.