The staff find themselves consumed with guilt for promoting a Who concert at Riverfront Coliseum when its general admission policy causes a terrible tragedy.The staff find themselves consumed with guilt for promoting a Who concert at Riverfront Coliseum when its general admission policy causes a terrible tragedy.The staff find themselves consumed with guilt for promoting a Who concert at Riverfront Coliseum when its general admission policy causes a terrible tragedy.
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- TriviaDeals with a real-life tragedy in which several concertgoers were either injured or killed during a stampede while attending a concert in Cincinnati by The Who. As the camera is focused on one of the station windows at the end, the story of the real-life concert is given in brief, as well as what came of it.
- GoofsThe seemingly ever-lonely Les Nessman's wedding ring is obvious in the scene where he hugs Bailey.
- Quotes
[last lines]
[Mr. Carlson and Venus are in the control booth the night after the tragedy]
Venus Flytrap: One question. You gonna change us back to elevator music?
Arthur Carlson: We're a rock and roll station, Venus. We're going to stay that way.
Venus Flytrap: Good. I'm glad to hear that.
Arthur Carlson: Yeah, so was Andy.
Arthur Carlson: [as he turns to leave to head to meet the staff to go to the candlelight vigil] Well, I guess I better get over there, everyone's probably waiting on me.
Venus Flytrap: [handing Mr. Carlson a candle] Do me a favor? Take this over for me, will you?
Arthur Carlson: Yeah, you got it.
Arthur Carlson: [looking at the map of Cincinnati on the control booth wall] You know, Venus, there's been a lot of talk about setting up a commission to look into what happened. It's not going to be just talk, this town's gonna do it. Ah, it's a good town, Venus. We're responsible people.
Venus Flytrap: Yeah.
Arthur Carlson: [softly] Good night.
Venus Flytrap: [after Mr. Carlson exits the control booth and Venus returns to listening to his on-air music] Good night.
[cut to epilogue denoting tragedy over camera shot of window overlooking outside downtown area]
- Alternate versionsIn some versions, "The Wait" by the Pretenders has either been shortened or eliminated right before Johnny announces it. The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil", which also plays in the teaser, has been replaced in all versions since the 80's syndication package with generic music. Bailey's dialogue remains intact (though you can still hear some of Mick Jagger's voice on top of hers). The Bill Evans piece which Venus plays at the end is still there.
- ConnectionsReferences The Lone Ranger (1949)
- SoundtracksThe Wait
(uncredited)
Written by Chrissie Hynde and Pete Farndon
Performed by The Pretenders
[Johnny plays the song in the episode's opening scene]
The first part of the show is all right -- Johnny tries to get someone to go with him to the concert and is rejected, by Jennifer, then Bailey, and finally Les; Mr. Carlson wears an herbal mask to get rid of a cold -- if a little forced in the humor department.
The second half begins abruptly, after the concert deaths occur (and yes, I believe they DO mention that the kids were stampeded to death, despite what the other poster says), with no component really tying the sudden tragedy to what came before.
Dramatically flat (the only slight question being whether Mr. Carlson will change the station's format because what happened), the rest of the episode is filled with maudlin dialogue and sentiment, as if not sure about how to present tragedy in the middle of a sitcom.
There's also some sloppy and/or confusing writing. For instance, in the episode's beginning, Johnny is promoting a show by The Pretenders. This is rather incongruous, as it is The Who who play the tragic concert (with all the staff in attendance, not knowing what has happened).
Like the other poster I agree it's not a very good episode. But, unlike him, I don't nitpick by judging it by a single phrase, that the fans, "lost their lives." Over all, it lacks the fun tone of other episodes, and the whole subject should've probably been avoided in the first place.
- kep315
- Oct 26, 2008