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| Tim Reid in his iconic role as Venus Flytrap in "WKRP in Cincinnati" from 1978 to 1982. Source: https://www.listal.com/viewimage/21542949 (May be subject to copyright) |
That was the role Venus Flytrap played as a deejay for the fictional radio station on the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”. Over the course of four seasons, there was a lot more to Venus Flytrap than scarves, fedoras, and acting groovy. There were many sides to the character whose real name was Gordon Sims, including one of the reasons he changed his name.
Recently I saw Tim Reid, who played Venus, guest starring on “Grey’s Anatomy”.
It brought back a lot of memories of Venus, the roles that followed in the 1980s, and his impact on the acting profession.
Venus – Rising or Flytrap
Initially, when station program director Andy Travis planned to change the format of WKRP, he approached Gordon Sims, a disc jockey he knew. They agreed on a name change to Venus. Instantly, Sims said “Flytrap” after “Venus”, but Andy dismissed that as a plant that eats bugs. They instead, agree on the name “Venus Rising”.
Initially, when station program director Andy Travis planned to change the format of WKRP, he approached Gordon Sims, a disc jockey he knew. They agreed on a name change to Venus. Instantly, Sims said “Flytrap” after “Venus”, but Andy dismissed that as a plant that eats bugs. They instead, agree on the name “Venus Rising”.
However, when Andy gets to WKRP and introduces Venus, he instinctively says “Flytrap”. Thus, that was Venus’ name from then on.
Your mama
That same pilot episode has another hilarious moment. Venus is introduced to Mrs. Carlson, Arthur Carlson’s mother and the station owner. She is stern hard, and everyone, especially son Arthur, are afraid of her. Arthur refers to her simply as, “Mama.”
That same pilot episode has another hilarious moment. Venus is introduced to Mrs. Carlson, Arthur Carlson’s mother and the station owner. She is stern hard, and everyone, especially son Arthur, are afraid of her. Arthur refers to her simply as, “Mama.”
“Hey Mama!” Venus exclaims.
It would be a sign of disrespect to most, but she just takes it in.
Reflex action
One of the funniest episodes of “WKRP Cincinnati” follows Venus and his fellow deejay and good friend Johnny Fever participate in a don’t drink and drive campaign. With a state trooper present, Venus and Johnny are given more and more alcohol then subjected to a reflex test. The idea is to show how alcohol slows down, or impairs, reflexes.
One of the funniest episodes of “WKRP Cincinnati” follows Venus and his fellow deejay and good friend Johnny Fever participate in a don’t drink and drive campaign. With a state trooper present, Venus and Johnny are given more and more alcohol then subjected to a reflex test. The idea is to show how alcohol slows down, or impairs, reflexes.
That doesn’t happen here. Instead, Venus and Johnny get faster and faster, much to the chagrin of the state trooper.
It ends when Johnny stumbles into the lobby, where he sees a giant pig. He stumbles back into the booth and declares he must really be drunk because he just thought he saw a giant pig in he lobby. The reality is, that really was a giant pig, the mascot of rival station WPIG. It was there, fresh off a scrap with Herb Tarlek, who had been dressed as a giant carp, which was WKRP’s mascot.
AWOL
The show would get more serious, and deepened Venus Flytrap’s character, when the deejay is asked to pose for a publicity photo, but refuses. When he is challenged by Arthur Carlson, the station manager, Venus reveals his name is Gordon Sims. He was a science teacher who went off to Vietnam. He was just a few weeks from finishing his tour when he saw a fellow soldier jump from a helicopter to commit suicide. That was enough for Gordon Sims, who deserted then and there, a few weeks short of a regular discharge.
The show would get more serious, and deepened Venus Flytrap’s character, when the deejay is asked to pose for a publicity photo, but refuses. When he is challenged by Arthur Carlson, the station manager, Venus reveals his name is Gordon Sims. He was a science teacher who went off to Vietnam. He was just a few weeks from finishing his tour when he saw a fellow soldier jump from a helicopter to commit suicide. That was enough for Gordon Sims, who deserted then and there, a few weeks short of a regular discharge.
Carlson convinces Venus to turn himself in, offering to go with him. Venus does, and is given a regular discharge – once he finishes his last few weeks of service.
There still is quite a bit of comedy in this episode. Carlson does accompany Venus to turn himself in. When they ask who Carlson is, Venus responds, “He’s my father.” It is funny, but when Carlson just nods, it is a sign of how their relationship has grown.
Science class
The best episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati”, in my opionion, is called “Venus Teaches the Atom”. It involves Venus and Arnold, the son of the station’s caretaker. She is concerned her son is running around with a gang, and asks Venus to talk to him.
The best episode of “WKRP in Cincinnati”, in my opionion, is called “Venus Teaches the Atom”. It involves Venus and Arnold, the son of the station’s caretaker. She is concerned her son is running around with a gang, and asks Venus to talk to him.
Venus does, only to discover Arnold is disillusioned about school, where they study things he doesn’t get or need, like the atom. Venus bets Arnold every dollar he has on him that he can teach Arnold the atom in two minutes. He proceeds to use a marker and a blank storage room wall, using analogies to gangs and the neighbourhood, to teach Arnold the basics of the atom.
It is an amazing episode of television.
Teacher, teacher
“WKRP in Cincinnati” went off the air in 1982, but it was not long before Tim Reid was back in series television. It was a pattern that would repeat for the rest of the decade.
“WKRP in Cincinnati” went off the air in 1982, but it was not long before Tim Reid was back in series television. It was a pattern that would repeat for the rest of the decade.
He took another crack as a teacher, this time – in the sitcom “Teachers Only”. The show had debuted as a mid-season replacement at the end of the 1981-1982 season, then returned at the tail end of the 1982-1983 season. It was set in a Los Angeles high school, with Norman Fell playing the principal and Lynn Redgrave the English teacher.
The show’s cast was re-tooled after the first season, and that is where Tim Reid comes in. He joined the cast for that second season, playing in all 13 episodes before the show was cancelled.
I don’t really have a lot of memories of “Teachers Only”, largely because I never knew when it was on. I do recall it was on Channel 9 though.
Joining the force
It was in 1983 when Tim Reid joined the cast of “Simon and Simon”, a show about two brothers who were private investigators. Reid played “Downtown” Brown, the police detective the Simons were always running into. Every private eye needed someone from the police force, and that was Brown. He would appear in 79 episodes from 1983 to 1987. He also appeared in the 1995 reunion movie, “Simon and Simon: In Trouble Again.”
It was in 1983 when Tim Reid joined the cast of “Simon and Simon”, a show about two brothers who were private investigators. Reid played “Downtown” Brown, the police detective the Simons were always running into. Every private eye needed someone from the police force, and that was Brown. He would appear in 79 episodes from 1983 to 1987. He also appeared in the 1995 reunion movie, “Simon and Simon: In Trouble Again.”
"Frank’s Place" and "Snoops"
Reid continued to work, starring in “Frank’s Place” for 22 episodes in the 1987-1988 soon. He plays an African-American professor who inherits a restaurant in New Orleans. It has been ranked by “TV Guide” as the number three show that was cancelled too soon. It was a show that received critical acclaim for handling heavier topics such as race and class issues.
Reid continued to work, starring in “Frank’s Place” for 22 episodes in the 1987-1988 soon. He plays an African-American professor who inherits a restaurant in New Orleans. It has been ranked by “TV Guide” as the number three show that was cancelled too soon. It was a show that received critical acclaim for handling heavier topics such as race and class issues.
Reid was back the next season in “Snoops”, for the 1989-1990 season. He played a criminologist who, with his wife, solves various crimes. Reid co-starred with his real life wife Daphne Maxwell Reid. It only lasted 13 episodes and was cancelled.
I was off to university by 1987 so I saw maybe one or two episodes of “Frank’s Place” and “Snoops” . The outstanding memory I have is the opening credits of “Snoops” where Reid and Maxwell dance, similar to the opening of “The Cosby Show” at the time.
The years after
Tim Reid has just kept on working, appearing in 114 episodes of “Sister, Sister”, nine episodes of “That ‘70s Show”, and a lot of guest roles in TV series and movies.
Tim Reid has just kept on working, appearing in 114 episodes of “Sister, Sister”, nine episodes of “That ‘70s Show”, and a lot of guest roles in TV series and movies.
One of his latest was in “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2019.
Parting thoughts
Tim Reid will always be Venus Flytrap for me. It was an amazing role because it was so groundbreaking, especially for its time.
Tim Reid will always be Venus Flytrap for me. It was an amazing role because it was so groundbreaking, especially for its time.
When you tuned in to network TV in the 1970s and 1980s, you rarely saw any African-American characters, much less ones who tackled issues such as the Vietnam War, class, and education. There were also some cringe-worthy moments that would seem racist now, but it still paved the way for future roles.
He kept on breaking ground, playing professors and criminologists, not roles at the time thought of to be played by African-Americans.
It has been a great career and it does not look like, at 75, he is done yet.
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