Like many a California blonde before her, willowy but well-rounded beauty Jan Smithers was a magazine covergirl prior to gracing moving-picture screens. But unlike the typical sullen-faced, unattainable, prematurely cosmopolitan waif model, an image of Jan riding carefree and smiling upon the back of a friend’s motorcycle appeared on the front page of Newsweek’s March 21, 1966, issue specifically because Jan embodied the qualities of the quintessential teenage sweetie next door. The exposure led to work in commercials and on television and ultimately to the role of demure, four-eyed "Bailey Quarters" on WKRP in Cincinnati. One of four sisters, Jan learned to share while growing up, and she split the limelight in a lovely way with cleavage-charged Loni Anderson. We have to thank WKRP in Cincinnati for Jan's only on-screen skin reveal. It didn't occur on the sitcom, but on Battle of the Network Stars, a series of sporting competitions between television stars from the big three networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS. WKRP was a CBS show, so Jan represented that network on this 1979 episode, and, since the events included swimming relay and kayak relay, Jan donned a one-piece bathing suit that gave viewers their best opportunity to see her Bs. Ultimately there were no nip slips, but sexy Ms. Smithers showed off her withers. This wasn't enough for her team to win; NBC took the top prize. After WKRP, Jan appeared in several TV shows, usually for only one episode, and married actor Jame Brolin. She divorced from acting in 1987 and divorced from Brolin in 1995.
