BOTNS Special Investigation: "Gordon Jump as himself" on "Caroline in the City"

Mike and I were both amused by the sheer randomness of one of Gordon Jump's appearance on a second-season episode of Caroline in the City as we considered his credits. The fact that he appears as himself somehow makes it even more random.

Of course, Jump, though best known for his role as Arthur Carlson on WKRP, made scores of guest appearances in his distinguished TV career. Still, this one is peculiar. We launched a Special Investigation to get the details. Why did Gordon Jump, of all people, make an appearance on Caroline in the City, of all shows, in 1997, of all years?

Well, we have no idea. Couldn't find anything explaining it.

But we did watch the episode!

Jump has but a small cameo in Season 2's  Caroline in the City, and he isn't even named. In fact, he's not even germane to the main plotline, that of Caroline's assistant/love interest Richard getting involved (professionally...or is it more?) with a wealthy art patron played by Ann Magnuson.

He's identified not as Gordon Jump, not as "Jumpman," not even as, "The guy from WKRP," but as the Maytag repairman! The joke is that Caroline's sassy friend Annie (Amy Pietz was not just sassy but SAUCY in this one--one of the more underrated 90s sitcom characters, for my money) lets the thrill of being recognized for a foot powder commercial go to her head.

She receives, then expects, preferential treatment. On a date, she drops the "Do you know who I am?" card and is denied, only to see Jump breeze right in and be seated.

 

"Thanks for fitting me in!"

It's an amusing gag, and while we can quibble about wasting the great Gordon Jump on a throwaway bit, that's the genius of it--that out of nowhere Gordon Jump shows up to this restaurant as the example of someone more famous than Annie.

How did this come about? Was he a big fan of the show? Was he a big fan of Amy Pietz (wouldn't blame him)? 

Sorry, we don't know. We DO know that he wasn't the only familiar face in Caroline and the Kept Man.

Comedy legend Rose Marie plays Stella, a senior Caroline is reading to as part of a volunteer program. Guess what? She's sassy, too, subbing the erotic A Tale of Two Cities for the Dickens novel Caroline thinks she is reading.

Sadly, Marie's Dick Van Dyke Show co-star Morey Amsterdam, who appeared with her in a season 1 episode of Caroline had died before this one was produced. However, another comic standout--less accomplished but with his own following--shows up as the maitre'd at the restaurant:

Yes, it's Larry Thomas, AKA the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld!

So we don't have answers about Jump's appearance, but we have several other familiar faces, making this a worthwhile journey out of the BOTNS era and into February 1996.

 

We regret to inform you we have one more unsolved mystery here: Why in the heck is he billed as playing "Himself" in quotation marks? Maybe this version is considered an alternate-universe Gordon Jump who should not be confused with "our" Earth-Prime version of Gordon Jump.

This Week on Battle of the Network Shows...

Happy Birthday, Greg Evigan!

Happy birthday to Greg Evigan, perhaps (and by perhaps we mean not really at all) best remembered for his role in BOTNS-semi-favorite A Year at the Top:

We talked about Mike's journey to track this down in a bonus episode.

Would you like more Greg Evigan again someday on the podcast? OK, OK, we hear you loud and clear. That's a 10-4.

Happy Birthday, Jack Colvin!

"Don't get me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." That's what David Banner said on The Incredible Hulk. You know who didn't care?

Crusading reporter Jack McGee, that's who.

Happy birthday to the late Jack Colvin, who played one of our favorite TV journalists. Remember, Colvin was actually next billed on the series behind Bixby and Lou Ferrigno.

Happy birthday, Adam Rich!

You know how old Adam Rich is today? He's...Well, does it matter? He's still around, and good for him.

To us he will always be best known as...DVP's partner in their classic spin on "Who's on First?"

(Those binoculars are so big that when he looks in them he can see the reunion movies.)

We need your VOTE part 1

As we prepare season 5, we'd once again like our listeners to help us choose a couple of the shows we'll discuss. In part 1, we want to know which "Rural" show y'all'd like us to pontificate on. Let us know in the comments for this post by Sunday, October 21, at our Facebook Page, Facebook Group, or through e-mail. Y'all's choices are:

1. The Dukes of Hazzard
2. Carter Country
3. Hee Haw

We'll be back with another chance to vote later in the season.

Video playlist for Fame Game #4

Remember, please listen to this week's bonus episode, our fourth installment of the Fame Game, before watching this playlist if you don't want to spoil the game.

Once you do, though, click below to enjoy a young Julia Louis-Dreyfus on stage, Ray Combs, Secret Deodorant, the trailer for Trouble Man, and more!