Les Nessman - Cultural References

Cultural References

Les's initial sexist resistance to Bailey working in the "man's world" of journalism, and his eventual acceptance of her as an equal was an important story-arc that has been repeatedly noted as a significant reflection of changing gender roles during this time.

Les Nessman has made numerous "real life" appearances around the country. During WKRP's run, these included appearances at many pork producer association events, Nessman having become the darling of the industry, where he received real life versions of the fictional "Silver Sow Award" singing rock and roll music at nightclubs., In 1985, Sanders guest-hosted the morning drive slot on Anchorage, Alaska's radio station KENI in character as Les Nessman, the first "real-life" appearance of Les since cancellation of WKRP. While Sanders simply flew into Anchorage to make the appearance, Les took the wrong bus, wound up in Texas, hitchhiked from there to North Dakota and then to Great Slave Lake, rode with a bush pilot to Whitehorse, bought a motorscooter, was sighted near Tok, was arrested for a minor traffic infraction, and then was bailed out jail by the station. Subsequent appearances by Sanders as Les included the 1997 Lexington, Kentucky Christmas parade, during which he simulated a re-enactment of the famous "Turkeys Away" episode.

A reference to Les Nessman is made by Eminem in the song "As the World Turns":

Class clown freshman
Dressed like Les Nessman
Fuck the next lesson
I'll pass that test guessin'

Another reference to Les Nessman was made in an episode of The CW series Reaper, where he was used as a fictitious employee the character 'Sock' made up in order to double his wages and receive other benefits, although WKRP in Cincinnati itself was unmentioned in the episode.