Lillian Carlson (Sylvia Sidney in the series pilot, Carol Bruce afterward) is Arthur Carlson's ruthless, domineering mother – often referred to as Mother Carlson (with Arthur calling her Mama) – and the owner of WKRP. An extremely successful and rich businesswoman, her only regret is that her approach to parenting (the "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" school of child-rearing) backfired as her son ended up indecisive, weak-willed, and afraid of her. As a display of her cutthroat attitude, she has a painting hanging above her fireplace in her living room of two pairs of dangling legs of people just hanged. In the series' final episode, it is revealed she had always intended WKRP to lose money (for the tax write-off), which explains why she allows the incompetent employees to continue working at the station. The only one who is regularly able to get the better of her is her sarcastic butler, Hirsch.
Appearances
WKRP in Cincinnati
Guest cast, played by Sylvia Sidney
- Episode 1x01: Pilot (1) (Sep 18, 1978)
Guest cast, played by Carol Bruce
- Episode 1x09: Mama's Review (Jan 15, 1979)
- Episode 1x20: Young Master Carlson (Apr 30, 1979)
- Episode 2x08: Patter of Little Feet (Nov 26, 1979)
- Episode 3x08: Baby, It's Cold Inside (Jan 3, 1981)
- Episode 3x19: A Simple Little Wedding (Mar 21, 1981)
- Episode 4x03: The Union (Oct 21, 1981)
- Episode 4x09: The Consultant (Dec 30, 1981)
- Episode 4x10: Love, Exciting and New (Jan 6, 1982)
- Episode 4x19: The Creation of Venus (Mar 31, 1982)
- Episode 4x22: Up and Down the Dial (Apr 21, 1982)