On Thursdays, I take a detailed and critical look at a TV show. This year, I will be splitting full seasons into two posts. Here's a look at Season 4 (Part 2) of Perfect Strangers! For Part 1, click here!
63. Games People Play (2/3/89)
Larry is asked to go on a game show for an assignment and Balki insists on being on the show with him but they argue about how to play it.
I don't think any subset of people in history have appeared on game shows as often as sitcom characters. It's a trope Perfect Strangers hasn't done yet, so here it is! This is a pretty thin premise. At first, I thought it would be an excuse to get the two stars to do every stunt imaginable, but it doesn't actually take that route (at first) and has some funny moments between Balki and Larry. However, something I just can't stand about Mark Linn-Baker's portrayal of Larry is when he is "out of control" like he is in this episode when he gets into the game show. It rings so very false and is super annoying. I do want to give a shout out to the "Cunningham Hardware" reference, one of several Happy Days references in the series.
RATING: 7/10
64. Come Fly With Me (2/10/89)
While on a flight to Hawaii, Jennifer and Mary Anne get sick from a snack that Balki brings so Balki and Larry fill in as flight attendants.
Back in the 1950s, episode titles of shows were very simple and just basically told the plot such as "Lucy Tells the Truth." I feel like Perfect Strangers could do that because the plots are so simplistic. This one could be "Balki and Larry are Flight Attendants." I'm not really criticizing simple plots, sometimes I think today's episodes are too convoluted with their zillion plots. But it's just an observation that many of the Perfect Strangers plots are as simplistic as they can possibly be. This episode is fine, nothing special. But I think it could have been funnier if it was just about the plane ride than thrusting Balki and Larry into being attendants.
RATING: 5/10
Larry is asked to go on a game show for an assignment and Balki insists on being on the show with him but they argue about how to play it.
I don't think any subset of people in history have appeared on game shows as often as sitcom characters. It's a trope Perfect Strangers hasn't done yet, so here it is! This is a pretty thin premise. At first, I thought it would be an excuse to get the two stars to do every stunt imaginable, but it doesn't actually take that route (at first) and has some funny moments between Balki and Larry. However, something I just can't stand about Mark Linn-Baker's portrayal of Larry is when he is "out of control" like he is in this episode when he gets into the game show. It rings so very false and is super annoying. I do want to give a shout out to the "Cunningham Hardware" reference, one of several Happy Days references in the series.
RATING: 7/10
While on a flight to Hawaii, Jennifer and Mary Anne get sick from a snack that Balki brings so Balki and Larry fill in as flight attendants.
Back in the 1950s, episode titles of shows were very simple and just basically told the plot such as "Lucy Tells the Truth." I feel like Perfect Strangers could do that because the plots are so simplistic. This one could be "Balki and Larry are Flight Attendants." I'm not really criticizing simple plots, sometimes I think today's episodes are too convoluted with their zillion plots. But it's just an observation that many of the Perfect Strangers plots are as simplistic as they can possibly be. This episode is fine, nothing special. But I think it could have been funnier if it was just about the plane ride than thrusting Balki and Larry into being attendants.
RATING: 5/10
65. Blind Alley (2/17/89)
Balki has to learn to bowl to fill in for the last minute on Larry's team for the championship but then he has an eye issue on the night of the match.
Even though it's pretty obvious what's going to happen by the end of this episode, it's still an enjoyable one thanks to the fun setting of a bowling alley. I realized watching this episode that Perfect Strangers has not done as many "serious" episodes this season and I'm glad to see that. It's been more pure fun and that's when the show operates best (well that and when Larry is not being terribly insufferable). There's also a funny scene at the end of the episode where Balki convinces Larry not to rub the win in Mr. Gorpley's face.
RATING: 8/10
66. The King and I (2/24/89)
Lydia brings a hypnotist friend to a 50s party that Balki and Larry throw and he accidentally hypnotizes Balki without anyone knowing.
This episode starts with a really good sight gag of Balki and Larry emerging from their apartments decked out in 50s attire followed by another funny moment with Mary Anne. After that though, the episode is a complete ripoff of The Dick Van Dyke Show's "My Husband is Not a Drunk" with the secret hypnotism. It just makes Balki Elvis instead of drunk. Also, Bronson Pinchot is a talented comedian but he does not do a great Elvis impression, which you would think would have been pretty important to know before choosing this plot. This episode just ultimately annoys me because it's such a rip-off (of a very clever plot, by the way) and I don't care for that. I was amused by the one "of course I do, don't be ridiculous" line said by "Elvis."
RATING: 3/10
67. Prose and Cons (3/10/89)
Balki and Larry are put in jail when they refuse to name a source for an article Larry wrote.
The majority of this episode takes place inside a jail cell. There is certainly comedy to be had in that premise, but the execution doesn't fully work. I think there was a missed opportunity in not showing the court scene, that probably could have provided some funny moments for Balki. I just don't think they had enough comedy for as long as they spent in the jail cell even with the arrival of the other two guys. If Perfect Strangers wanted to take advantage of Larry's career as a journalist in their plots, they could have come up with better material.
RATING: 2.5/10
Balki wants to get a car so Larry helps him with a process he learned from his father for how to find the perfect car.
This is another "Larry is always wrong" episode but at least we know where Larry gets his wrongness from as it is established that this method came from his father. I'm sure a psychologist could take a look at that and wonder why Larry has the personality he does but I digress. It's interesting to watch how so many Perfect Strangers episodes follow such a specific formula. "Balki has an idea and Larry infringes on it. Comedy ensues with Larry messing everything up. Larry apologizes and has learned from his mistakes." This show really has the sensibilities and plot structure of a 60s sitcom instead of an 80s sitcom. This episode is fine, nothing special, just the usual.
RATING: 4.5/10
69. Just a Gigolo (3/31/89)
Larry and Balki try to convince Lydia that her new boyfriend is a gigolo before she marries him.
This episode has a little bit of a Bosom Buddies element to it (or the more recent Work It) as we get the very unique look of Larry dressed as a woman. There are some funny elements to the plot and it would probably be handled a little bit differently now compared to 1989 (though Work It was not all that long ago). From a makeup perspective, it's a pretty decent job. I'm surprised the writers didn't decide to have Bronson Pinchot be the one to dress up as a woman but it actually works because Mark Linn-Baker is surprisingly game for it and has some really funny moments. For how ridiculous the premise is, this episode does work to a large degree.
RATING: 7/10
70. Seven Card Studs (4/14/89)
Larry teachers Balki how to play poker after he loses big to Mr. Gorpley in a game.
A poker game is another favorite plot of sitcoms and that really stretches as a trope from the 50s to today. It usually provides for some good comedy even if it's always predictable (did anyone really think Larry wasn't going to come out ahead at the end of the episode?) I feel like there have been more times this season where the show is making Balki to be the fool and Larry to come out on top. Maybe they realized they were too often making Larry the idiot. My favorite line in the episode is when Balki implores Larry to stop talking in metaphors.
RATING: 6/10
71. Teacher's Pest (4/28/89)
Larry is asked to teach a journalism class at Balki's night school and Balki transfers to get in the class.
This is a good "Larry gets his comeuppance" episode because his smug attitude just gets thrown down in a big way towards the end of the episode. That being said, Balki gets his turn to be annoying earlier in the episode too when he first arrives in Larry's class. As I said last time, I think the show seems to be making Balki a little more irritating sometimes so Larry doesn't always look like the schmuck. But then at the end of the episode, Larry is very clearly the schmuck so it's back to old "Classic Larry." Overall, this is a middle of the road episode.
RATING: 5.5/10
When Balki turns 25, his mother sends him a wife from Mypos and he feels like he has to go through with the marriage.
The season four finale certainly feels like an "event" season finale, more than the past couple seasons, which ended on whimpers. It veers a little bit on the sappy side, but I think that's ok for a season finale and there's nice moments between both Larry and Balki and Balki and Mary Anne. There's also a very funny sight gag when Larry escorts Balki down the aisle to "give the groom away." It has a fun and sweet ending but another Dance of Joy. Am I the only one who thinks that is such a dumb recurring joke? I feel like fans of the show really love it but it bothers me every time.
RATING: 8.5/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON FOUR:
5.8/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Crimebusters" (#62) - 9/10
2. "Maid to Order" (#60) - 9/10
3. "Wedding Belle Blues" (#72) - 8.5/10
4. "Assertive Training" (#52) - 8/10
5. "Blind Alley" (#65) - 8/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "That Old Gang of Mine" (#61) - 1.5/10
2. "Aliens" (#53) - 2/10
3. "Prose and Cons" (#67) - 2.5/10
4. "Up a Lazy River" Part 1 (#56) - 3/10
5. "The King and I" (#66) - 3/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV news stories of the week!
Next Thursday: A look at Season Five (Part 1) of Perfect Strangers!
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