Writers: Lissa Levin
Director: Linda Day
Original Air Date: February 21, 1981

Warren Buffet is said to have coined the term "skin in the game" to
refer to a person's own personal investment in some dealing and how it
effects that person's feelings towards that dealing. Simply put, a
person is more emotionally concerned with something if they have have a
personal stake in its outcome.

Here is an example: all of the staff at WKRP supported Bailey's ERA
walk financially at the beginning of this episode, because they are
friends with her. But Bailey actually took a day and walked 20 miles in
support of the ERA. Bailey has "skin in the game."

This episode of WKRP is all about having skin in the game. It's easy to
say you are in favour or opposed to something when the outcome isn't
really going to effect your life very much. But how do you act when you
have something important to lose on the outcome? Will you fight for the
right thing to do if it means you are personally giving something up?

Bailey really doesn't have anything to lose in fighting to preserve the
Flimm building (I think this is the proper spelling. I refuse to
believe it would be spelled "Phlegm"). If anything, fighting for
architecture just adds to her reputation as the "Lost Cause Lady" who
fights for solar energy, saving the whales and the equal right
amendment. When the rest of the station thinks they are going to be
kicked out onto the street, they are all happy to join in the fight.

But then the Arthur Carlson Communications Centre comes along; Mr.
Carlson's dream radio station. He would get his "think tank" hiding
room. Les would finally get walls! Travis would get a record library
(which today might get used as a storage room, I suppose). The DJ's
would get new equipment and a lounge! Everybody would get something. So
to continue to support preserving the Flimm building, all the rest of
the staff have to put skin in the game. They all have to give up what
the new building offers for the sake of Art Deco architecture.

Here's the thing - the only one who doesn't lose anything by
maintaining the old building is Bailey! Her reputation is as the
liberal fighter for causes. She continues to be that here. If anything,
convincing everyone else to put "skin in the game" enhances her own
reputation. Somehow, she becomes the hero the moment she has the least
amount to lose.

She becomes "the intelligent man (who) always fights for the lost
cause, realizing all others are merely effects" as Johnny paraphrases
e.e. cummings to Herb. Strangely, it is Herb and Johnny together who
sound the warnings against fighting for the building, primarily because
they are the two least willing to sacrifice anything for this old
building. Herb thinks this is all a waste of time for people who should
be just running a radio station.

Johnny warns Bailey she is going up against "real estate mega bucks."
He's more concerned for her than for some building. That friendship is
really hinted at moving into something more at the end of the episode
when Johnny asks Bailey "if I got you a pair of cut-off jeans, and I
got a boat..." and she cuts him off with "Anytime." Ooooooooh!

As an aside, it's interesting that Bailey knows exactly what turns
Johnny on in both women... and boats.

For an episode written by a woman, the Big Guy comes off strangely
patriarchal at the end of this episode. The notion that he would call
her father so see how he may punish her for running his commentary tape
is weird. He would never call Andy's or Herb's fathers. He calls her
"young lady" when yelling at her, as if she were his daughter. Perhaps
this is to emphasis her maturity when she gives her Art Deco speech -
that by the end of it, he sees her as an adult, maybe even his equal.

Herb ends the episode not understanding how Bailey could have earned
Mr. Carlson's respect while acting so disrespectfully to him. He feels
he would have gotten fired for acting that way and Les delivers the
best line of the episode:

"The threshold of your termination is much lower, Herb."

Roy

Other Notes - What is the ERA? Oh boy, that's a big question. Most
simply it is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating that
civil rights may not be denied on the basis of one's sex. (Thanks
Google) It was THE hot button divisive issue between liberals and
conservatives in the late '70 and early '80's and was defeated in 1982.
There is much more to read on this topic.

The building used for the exterior shots of the Flimm building is
actually the Cincinnati Enquirer Building. It still exists (yeah
Bailey!) and currently houses two hotels. Shouldn't Andy be searching
for a new location for the station since i) there is no guarantee
Bailey's petition will work and ii) it would take years to have a new
station built? The Sir Douglas Quintet was a band that had it's biggest
hits in the early '70's but released a new album in 1981, just as
Johnny tells us. A real B-29 SuperFortress bomber had four propellors,
not two.

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Let's go Brandon!