Gordon Jump Dies -- of WKRP, Maytag Ads

AP/Newsday ^ | September 22, 2003 | Lynn Elber

[lainie]

LOS ANGELES -- Gordon Jump, who played a befuddled radio station manager on the sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" and made his mark in commercials as the lonely Maytag repairman, died Monday. He was 71.

Jump suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, said his cousin, Katherine Jump Wagner. The illness causes scarring of the air sacs of the lungs, leading to heart or respiratory failure.

Wagner, of Arcanum, Ohio, said she learned of her cousin's death from her father, also named Gordon Jump. Her cousin was under hospice care at his home southeast of Los Angeles, she said.

Jump played Arthur Carlson in "WKRP in Cincinnati," which aired on CBS from 1978-82 and featured Gary Sandy, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman and Richard Sanders as the ragtag station's crew.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Jump began his career working at radio and TV stations in the Midwest. He worked behind the microphone and the camera, including jobs as a producer for Kansas and Ohio stations.

Jump portrayed the Maytag repairman "Ol' Lonely," a well-recognized advertising symbol, from 1989 until he retired from the role in July and another actor took over.

"Gordon was an incredibly talented actor and a remarkable human being," said Ralph Hake, chairman and chief executive officer of Maytag Corp.

Jump came to appreciate the attention he got for the ad campaign and the steady work it provided, Wagner said. But his heart was elsewhere professionally.

"What he loved more than anything was doing theater. He was a marvelous actor," she said, recalling a visit to Florida to watch him perform in "Norman, Is That You?"

...

Jump is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son, Maytag said in a statement. He also had a brother, Wagner said.

[eddie willers]

LOL!

I make a brilliant political observation on a thread and it's {{{ CRICKETS }}}

But mention that Bailey Quarters is hot and my "Comments To You" page is bursting at the seams.

Good to see we have our priorities straight. :o)

[carton253]

Priceless... I have never laughed so hard...

[grania]

Just about the only network tv show I miss. Where are the DVDs?

Funniest show of all time. It has a wonderful cast, and the roles were allowed to evolve. In the first one, Loni Anderson was cast as a bimbo. By the end she was running the station.

Turkeys can't fly? The fight of the mascots? LesNesmond news would be an improvement over what passes as news today.

At least, TV stations will hopefully reair the whole series now, and we can remember what real comedy is. Today all we get is PC lessons on how we should lead our lives.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Arguably the funniest line ever uttered on television.
Goodbye, Mister Carlson.

[carton253]

The other episode that made me laugh until I couldn't breath was when Venus and Johnny were doing the public service for drinking and driving. The more Johnny drank, the sharper his reflexes became. Venus was gone after a couple of drinks.

The other plot was the WKRP "karp" vs the "pig" (I don't remember the competitor's call letters)... they had the fight in the bathroom.

[Museum Twenty]

Bailey Bump!

Would that young ladies would emulate her instead of Britney, et al.

How about a DVD: The Best of Bailey?

[AVNative]

(Voiceover from "Dr." Johnny Fever. . . "Reeddd Wigglers, The Cadillac of Worms - available at finer worm stores everywhere!")

OK, so I made up the last four words. But they are representative of the humor Fever (Howard Hesseman) brought to the series. Of course, the rest of the ensemble cast, including Gordon Jump, contributed to the humor on the show as well. To list all of the memorable WKRP quotes. . . well, this thread is doing a great job of it.

I miss WKRP. One of the best television comedy series ever produced!

[freeangel]

God surely must have a special place for people who have brought smiles and laughter to so many others.

[AVNative]

WKRP (the carp) vs. WPIG (the pig)!

Don't forget Les Nessman's Silver Sow award for excellence in agricultural reporting. WPIG hated losing it to Les that year. . .

[Fresh Wind]

Carlson thought it was foot powder!

And, he put it on his feet, much to Fever's dismay!

One moment I cherish is the panic that ensued when Les ran into the studio to warn Fever and Flytrap that Herb was selling life insurance.

[carton253]

Thanks for that...

That was one funny episode...

Of course, how many of us still refer to the "Les Nessman office..."

[cincinnati65]

"I've got a monkey on my foot."

[MrConfettiMan]

Funny, I don't remember you ever making any brilliant political observations.

As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing your name on this site before this thread. :)

[eddie willers]

Funny, I don't remember you ever making any brilliant political observations.

Touche'

As a matter of fact, I can't recall ever seeing your name on this site before this thread. :)

What are you...brain damaged? ;-)

[MrConfettiMan]

LOL! How'd you know? :-D

[Sloth]

He also played a child molester in a particularly horrid "very special episode" of Diff'rent Strokes.

[Bikers4Bush]

The funniest episode of WKRP ever. Live turkeys from a news helicopter.

Sad news.

[chimera]

Would that young ladies would emulate her instead of Britney, et al.

Bailey is easy on the eyes, for sure, but is about as left-wing as you can get. Somewhere to the left of Marx, I'd guess.

Hey, at least Brit isn't a Bush-basher (give the kid a break).

[Clemenza]

Let's not forget his role as the Child Molester on the "very special episode" of Different Strokes".

[FlatLandBeer]

Funiest episode on network TV...A gut buster!