A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Update on the radio call sign, WKRP. Last month, we told you about a Raleigh station that auctioned it off. Those letters were made famous by the sitcom "WKRP In Cincinnati," and now WKRP is officially (singing) living on the air in Cincinnati.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "WKRP IN CINCINNATI")
STEVE CARLISLE: (Singing) Cincinnati WKRP.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
The radio station known as The Oasis rebranded last week. Here's actor Gary Sandy announcing the switch on the air. He played program director, Andy Travis, on the TV series.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GARY SANDY: On the TV show, the general manager was a little incompetent. The sales manager was sleazy. The DJs were of questionable character, and the women were beautiful. This is the real WKRP radio, a tribute to the TV show. The manager is competent. The sales department has integrity and the DJs are of questionable character, and the women are beautiful. Thanks for listening...
MARTÍNEZ: Jeff Ziesmann is general manager of the new WKRP in Cincinnati.
JEFF ZIESMANN: We thought, well, you know, maybe it's high time after 45-plus years that someone actually went ahead and did this and brought these call letters to their home.
MARTÍNEZ: Like the one in the TV show, the real WKRP is also an adult hit station. It features music from the '60s to the '80s. It serves Dayton and northern Kentucky, along with Cincinnati, but beyond the location and genre, Ziesmann says the similarities end there.
ZIESMANN: Our stations can't be a parody of the television show. It's more of just sort of a nod in the form of a tribute to the history of it.
MARTIN: But for fans of the show, do not worry. Ziesmann says they will do some kind of promotion around turkeys this Thanksgiving, except live birds will not be dropped from helicopters.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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