On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show. This year, I will be splitting full seasons into two posts. Today I am looking at the short first season of Perfect Strangers!
PERFECT STRANGERS: SEASON ONE
1986
6 episodes
1986
6 episodes
Perfect Strangers was rushed to the air for a midseason premiere and has a short, six episode run to kick things off. The series gets into its groove pretty quickly with many of the catchphrases and dynamics in place during this early run of episodes. The most notable thing missing is Jennifer and Mary Anne as the series thought Ernie Sabella and Lise Cutter would round out their main cast and neither one lasted long. It's worth noting here that Perfect Strangers is a show I had not watched prior to this episode guide, unlike many other shows I have done on this blog.
Starring
Bronson Pinchot as Balki Bartokomous (6 episodes)
Mark Linn-Baker as Larry Appleton (6 episodes)
Ernie Sabella as Donald Twinkacetti (6 episodes)
Lise Cutter as Susan Campbell (6 episodes)
Belita Moreno as Edwina Twinkacetti (1 episode)
1. Knock Knock, Who's There? (3/25/86)
Balki, a foreign cousin, shows up at Larry's apartment in Chicago looking for someone to stay with and tries to help out at Larry's workplace.
Nowadays, a TV pilot so often has to be a premise pilot where we spend a ton of time understanding the world of the show. One of the benefits Perfect Strangers had was being in an era of long theme songs and we get the sense of the set up before the episode even really starts. That being said, the pilot still plays a little awkward and I think its primarily because Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker don't have a lot of chemistry yet. Everything feels a little forced and the comedic timing just isn't there. The set-up is good for a pilot, the execution is so-so. Also, Miller-Boyett loves their catchphrases so Balki says "don't be ridiculous" five times in the pilot.
RATING: 5.5/10
2. Picture This (4/1/86)
Larry tries to teach Balki how to say no to things but it backfires when he needs help from Balki in a critical moment for a key career opportunity.
In episode two, the show has settled into its groove already and the dynamics between Balki and Larry are better than they were in the pilot. Of course the show is milking Balki's limited understanding of American culture about as far as they can milk it in these early episodes. The other issue with this episode is Mark Linn-Baker is not convincing at all as someone who is upset. He does not play angry well and it comes across very fake, which hurts the plot since it's a key part of it. Bronson Pinchot certainly seems more adept at playing different levels.
RATING: 6/10
3. First Date (4/8/86)
Balki seeks advice from Larry on how to talk to American women and they go to a singles bar together.
There are definitely some similarities between Balki and Fez on That 70s Show, especially when they are dealing with women. The accents are similar so some of the lines in this episode feel like they are coming straight from Fez's mouth. I know this show came first, but I knew Fez first. Early on, it seems like the show (or maybe it's Mark Linn-Baker) has a hard time making Larry a likable character. Balki is instantly likable even if it's as a caricature, but he seems to settle in very quickly to a Felix Unger type role as the wet blanket, though it makes some effort at the end of this episode to fix that.
RATING: 6.5/10
4. Baby, You Can Drive My Car (4/15/86)
Larry helps Balki learn to drive and get a driver's license.
This is a pretty standard sitcom plot - zany character learns to drive! We had Lucy, Jeannie and many more do this. One thing that is a little refreshing about this episode is it doesn't include a scene with Balki and Larry in the car, which makes it a little less formulaic. This might be the time to talk about what an unnecessary and worthless character Ernie Sabella is playing. He comes in to play this super annoying character who is not funny or redeeming. No wonder they got rid of him pretty early in the run.
RATING: 6/10
5. Check This (4/22/86)
Larry helps Balki set up a bank account and Balki gets very excited when he gets a checkbook.
The story of setting up a bank account and getting super excited about writing checks is certainly one that dates the show. I will admit that going into this show and having never really watched it, I assumed Bronson Pinchot would be annoying as Balki, but he has some really funny and sweet moments and early on at least, appears to be the best actor in the show. This episode also has a nice moment from Belita Moreno as Mr. Twinkacetti's wife. Despite the dated storyline now, it's the most complete episode Perfect Strangers has had to date. This episode features Sam Anderson in a different role before he joins the cast as Mr. Gorpley later in the run.
RATING: 8/10
6. Happy Birthday, Baby (4/29/86)
Balki and friends set up a surprise birthday party for Larry but Larry is upset about where his career is going.
Perfect Strangers certainly doesn't shy away from conventional sitcom plots and this one has the "surprise birthday" cliche as well as the "no one likes me on my birthday" cliche. I guess putting them together in one story is at least a little clever. There are some really strong moments from Bronson Pinchot in this episode but this one suffers from Mark Linn-Baker playing the "woe is me" card. I know it's what is called for from the character, but boy it's annoying to watch. While not the strongest episode, it is impressive to see how much better Pinchot and Baker have gotten as a pair in just six episodes.
RATING: 6.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON ONE:
6.4/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Check This" (#5) - 8/10
2. "First Date" (#3) - 6.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Knock, Knock, Who's There?" (#1) - 5.5/10
2. "Picture This" (#2) - 6/10
Starring
Bronson Pinchot as Balki Bartokomous (6 episodes)
Mark Linn-Baker as Larry Appleton (6 episodes)
Ernie Sabella as Donald Twinkacetti (6 episodes)
Lise Cutter as Susan Campbell (6 episodes)
Belita Moreno as Edwina Twinkacetti (1 episode)
Balki, a foreign cousin, shows up at Larry's apartment in Chicago looking for someone to stay with and tries to help out at Larry's workplace.
Nowadays, a TV pilot so often has to be a premise pilot where we spend a ton of time understanding the world of the show. One of the benefits Perfect Strangers had was being in an era of long theme songs and we get the sense of the set up before the episode even really starts. That being said, the pilot still plays a little awkward and I think its primarily because Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker don't have a lot of chemistry yet. Everything feels a little forced and the comedic timing just isn't there. The set-up is good for a pilot, the execution is so-so. Also, Miller-Boyett loves their catchphrases so Balki says "don't be ridiculous" five times in the pilot.
RATING: 5.5/10
2. Picture This (4/1/86)
Larry tries to teach Balki how to say no to things but it backfires when he needs help from Balki in a critical moment for a key career opportunity.
In episode two, the show has settled into its groove already and the dynamics between Balki and Larry are better than they were in the pilot. Of course the show is milking Balki's limited understanding of American culture about as far as they can milk it in these early episodes. The other issue with this episode is Mark Linn-Baker is not convincing at all as someone who is upset. He does not play angry well and it comes across very fake, which hurts the plot since it's a key part of it. Bronson Pinchot certainly seems more adept at playing different levels.
RATING: 6/10
3. First Date (4/8/86)
Balki seeks advice from Larry on how to talk to American women and they go to a singles bar together.
There are definitely some similarities between Balki and Fez on That 70s Show, especially when they are dealing with women. The accents are similar so some of the lines in this episode feel like they are coming straight from Fez's mouth. I know this show came first, but I knew Fez first. Early on, it seems like the show (or maybe it's Mark Linn-Baker) has a hard time making Larry a likable character. Balki is instantly likable even if it's as a caricature, but he seems to settle in very quickly to a Felix Unger type role as the wet blanket, though it makes some effort at the end of this episode to fix that.
RATING: 6.5/10
Larry helps Balki learn to drive and get a driver's license.
This is a pretty standard sitcom plot - zany character learns to drive! We had Lucy, Jeannie and many more do this. One thing that is a little refreshing about this episode is it doesn't include a scene with Balki and Larry in the car, which makes it a little less formulaic. This might be the time to talk about what an unnecessary and worthless character Ernie Sabella is playing. He comes in to play this super annoying character who is not funny or redeeming. No wonder they got rid of him pretty early in the run.
RATING: 6/10
5. Check This (4/22/86)
Larry helps Balki set up a bank account and Balki gets very excited when he gets a checkbook.
The story of setting up a bank account and getting super excited about writing checks is certainly one that dates the show. I will admit that going into this show and having never really watched it, I assumed Bronson Pinchot would be annoying as Balki, but he has some really funny and sweet moments and early on at least, appears to be the best actor in the show. This episode also has a nice moment from Belita Moreno as Mr. Twinkacetti's wife. Despite the dated storyline now, it's the most complete episode Perfect Strangers has had to date. This episode features Sam Anderson in a different role before he joins the cast as Mr. Gorpley later in the run.
RATING: 8/10
6. Happy Birthday, Baby (4/29/86)
Balki and friends set up a surprise birthday party for Larry but Larry is upset about where his career is going.
Perfect Strangers certainly doesn't shy away from conventional sitcom plots and this one has the "surprise birthday" cliche as well as the "no one likes me on my birthday" cliche. I guess putting them together in one story is at least a little clever. There are some really strong moments from Bronson Pinchot in this episode but this one suffers from Mark Linn-Baker playing the "woe is me" card. I know it's what is called for from the character, but boy it's annoying to watch. While not the strongest episode, it is impressive to see how much better Pinchot and Baker have gotten as a pair in just six episodes.
RATING: 6.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON ONE:
6.4/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Check This" (#5) - 8/10
2. "First Date" (#3) - 6.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Knock, Knock, Who's There?" (#1) - 5.5/10
2. "Picture This" (#2) - 6/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season 2 (Part 1) of Perfect Strangers!
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