WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series)

Bailey's Big Break (1979)

Richard Sanders: Les Nessman

Quotes 

• Les Nessman : [to Andy]  ... we are never going to find anyone who's good enough to work with me!

• Les Nessman : [about why not to hire Bailey for the new news position]  Now, wait a minute, Travis. She's young, and inexperienced, and she's a wo...

  Andy Travis : A what?

  Les Nessman : A wo...

  Andy Travis : What?

  Les Nessman : A wo...

  Andy Travis : What?

  Les Nessman : A wo...

  Andy Travis : What?

  Les Nessman : A wo...

  Andy Travis : A woman, Les?

• Andy Travis : [about Les' argument about there being good reason for no women in the on-air news business]  What about, uh, what about Barbara Walters.

  Les Nessman : I west my case!

• Les Nessman : [about Andy's decision to hire Bailey for the on-air news position]  Over my dead body!

  Andy Travis : [rolling up his sleeves and approaching Les]  All right! If that's the way you want it.

  Les Nessman : Wait a minute. What are you doing?

  Andy Travis : [grabbing Les by his shirt collar]  Stand still now and don't squirm...

• Bailey Quarters : [walking into the bullpen with Jennifer to find Les rummaging carelessly through the papers on her desk without asking]  Hey buster, what the heck is going on here?

  Les Nessman : My sports update is missing.

  Bailey Quarters : [ultimately taking the sports update from the corner of her desk and placing it deliberately in front of Les]  You don't tear around with *my* desk. It's right here. I thought maybe you wanted me to proofread it for you.

  Les Nessman : No one has to proofread my copy!

  Jennifer Marlowe : Now, come on you two. Let's all be friends.

  Les Nessman : [looking up at Jennifer after reading the copy]  She's changed this, Jennifer.

  Bailey Quarters : [dismissively]  Oh, just a little.

  Les Nessman : No, you changed the meaning completely.

  Bailey Quarters : [pointing at the copy]  It just does not make any sense. It is a "swimming meet", not a "swim meeting". Right, Jennifer?

  Jennifer Marlowe : [stumbling over her words in trying to be diplomatic]  Uh, I think it probably could go both ways.

  Bailey Quarters : [pointing at the copy]  And reporting that "the swimmers swam in water" is a bit unnecessary.

  Jennifer Marlowe : I don't know...

  Bailey Quarters : [pointing back at the copy]  And it is the breast stroke, Les, not breast stroking!

  Jennifer Marlowe : [nodding positively to Les]  That does sound wrong.

• Les Nessman : Bailey, what are you saying.

  Bailey Quarters : [about the news department job]  I'm saying that I quit, Les.

  Andy Travis : [interjecting in overhearing the conversation]  What?

  Bailey Quarters : That's right, Andy.

  Andy Travis : Oh, Bailey. I went to the wall for you on this one.

  Les Nessman : Uh, now mind your own business, Andy. Uh, she knows what she wants.

  Andy Travis : [to Bailey]  Do you know?

  Bailey Quarters : [slightly hesitant]  Sure. If what I wanted to do was be a news reporter, I'd give it my best shot. But that's not what I want to do.

  Andy Travis : [pointing at Bailey's desk]  What do you want to do? Do you want to sit at this desk and, and schedule commercials the rest of your life?

  Bailey Quarters : No! I thought I'd be in upper management.

  Andy Travis : What do you mean. You want Carlson's job?

  Bailey Quarters : No. I thought I could have yours!

  Les Nessman : [excitedly seeing the tables turned on Andy]  Ooooo. You'd be very good at it, Bailey.

  Andy Travis : Now look here, Les...

• Bailey Quarters : [eagerly]  Okay, Les, would you just tell me when I get to go on the air?

  [giggles] 

  Les Nessman : [in his recalcitrant way]  When you're ready.

  Bailey Quarters : Soon?

  Les Nessman : I'll know.

  [sly smile] 

  Les Nessman : Trust me.

  Bailey Quarters : [as he opens door to leave]  But when?

  Les Nessman : I don't know.

  [slams door shut, is gone] 

• Bailey Quarters : [complaining to Mr. Carlson]  For three days,

  [holds up three fingers] 

  Bailey Quarters : three days, I have changed ribbons, sharpened pencils, filed stories, rewritten copy and any other silly thing he had me do!

  Les Nessman : There is nothing silly in The News.

  Bailey Quarters : [exclaims]  And every time I ask him when do I get to go on the air, he says

  [mimics:] 

  Bailey Quarters : "Wait and see" or "i'll know when she's ready". I think that's enough! I just wanna know when!

• Les Nessman : News people don't like sloppy emotional scenes.

• Les Nessman : I'm sorry, Andy. This is as big as it gets.