Loni Anderson’s TV persona — the bombshell with a brain — was a brilliant amalgam of old Hollywood and 1970s feminism, pitched perfectly for a pop-culture audience. As Jennifer Marlowe, the clever receptionist on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” she solved everyone’s problems while bringing the slightly doofy men in the office to their knees with just a glance.
Ms. Anderson, who died on Sunday, developed a signature look on this show: clinging jersey dresses or sweaters, nearly always in solid colors (to minimize any visual interruption of her famous curves); false eyelashes; wide lipsticked smile; and that famous blond mane: shoulder-length, bouffant on top, with low-hanging scalloped bangs undulating around her face — all immovable, firmly sprayed into place.
That hair was key. At first glance, it looked much like the So-Cal glamour styles worn by her TV contemporaries, such as Farrah Fawcett or Suzanne Somers. But those women looked tousled and touchable, their bangs feathering out as if blown by ocean breezes, while Ms. Anderson’s hair had a teased and lacquered look. Its shape said “come hither,” but its sculptural stiffness said “keep a respectful distance.” And while those other women’s variegated blond tones mimicked sun-kissed highlights, Ms. Anderson’s hair was bleached to a monochromatic platinum more doll-like than human, a color reminiscent of “blond bombshells” of earlier decades.
This makes sense, because Loni Anderson was not aiming for ’70s and ’80s “lighthearted naturalness.” (In fact, she was turned down for the role of “Chrissy” on “Three’s Company,” which went to Ms. Somers.) She was fashioning herself into a kind of exaggerated, ironic version of the classic Hollywood sex kitten, the voluptuous blonde no man can resist. Numerous stars have occupied this category (including Jean Harlow, Mae West, Lana Turner, Jayne Mansfield, Brigitte Bardot), but it was Marilyn Monroe whom Ms. Anderson conjured most clearly.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post When Blond Meets Ambition appeared first on New York Times.
