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Perfect Strangers--let's discuss
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Posted by: doom1701

I know Bryan and I both had wishlists for this show (hopefully everyone knows that by now). I've been looking forward to it running again. So much so that when my wife got home yesterday, we passed up watching a new (or at least new to us) episode of Kim Possible to watch the first Perfect Strangers ep after dinner.

Groan. This show certainly isn't what I remember it being. I do seem to remember liking the second season better than the first, but all of the puns and catch phrases are quickly starting to come back to me. I thought Balki was the funniest guy on TV--turns out he's just a white Urkel.

Anybody else have any feelings, good or bad?

Posted by: Pan Chun

I think I watched about as many PS episodes as I did Family Matters (1 or 2...maybe a couple more if things were slow)...but generally speaking, the show was crap. I can't believe they replaced MH, MH with it in the TVLand KitSchen. :( <shrug>

Posted by: harvscar

After this and GI Joe I'm seriously rethinking my childhood memories. I had to delete after the fourth "Don't be ridicoolous" in the pilot episode. I think it was better when Larry started working at the paper, but I'm probably wrong. The most vivd scene I remember is Larry and Balki putting on skis, I was LMAO on that one.

Square Pegs on the other hand was wonderful to watch again, although I'd forgotten about the laugh track, too bad it's there. Seeing the Waitresses come out and perform more than made up for the Perfect Strangers trauma.

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by doom1701
I know Bryan and I both had wishlists for this show (hopefully everyone knows that by now).

Yes we did both have wishlists for this. One of the many, many things that we have on common, but let's not forget that we also have some differences that are both interesting and worth remembering.

I'm prepared to give this show some slack for a while. There weren't any big laughs from me in the first show but it was neat to see the beginning. Remember, they're trying to set up his "Don't be ridiculous" catch phrase so they shoved it down our throats a bit. I don't think he said it at all in the second show.

The second one (where Balki learns to say "no" - are they airing them in order?) was a bit better than the first. In that one I'm beginning to see the glimpses of why I loved Balki. Some of his lines and timing are great.

For example, "It's just not the same without the chicken." Very funny, IMO.

He had a few other funny lines where he mixed up some expressions but I don't remember them now.

Also the site gags get better in the show. When Larry was apologizing to Balki was a pretty good one and they get better (like the skis).

So, I'm still looking forward to watching this.

Posted by: Todd

I always liked PS, especially the girl with the big hair. Wow, she was hot back then.

Edit: After looking it up, it was Melanie Wilson who played Jennifer Lyons on the show....

Posted by: jsmeeker

"Get out of the City!"

When you guys are in Chicago, you can see some of the landmarks in that show. :)

Posted by: loopey

I used to love this show. How many episodes have been on so far? I setup an SP but didn't pay attention to whether it was recording or not -- it wasn't.

On a side note I went to a play a few months ago and saw Bronson Pinchot on the bill and thought "isn't that Balki". He's a great actor. On another side note how do you pronounce Pinchot - is the T silent?

Posted by: djbrown

quote:
Originally posted by loopey
I used to love this show. How many episodes have been on so far? I setup an SP but didn't pay attention to whether it was recording or not -- it wasn't.

On a side note I went to a play a few months ago and saw Bronson Pinchot on the bill and thought "isn't that Balki". He's a great actor. On another side note how do you pronounce Pinchot - is the T silent?

Just two episodes so far. And, yes, the "T" is silent.

Posted by: harvscar

quote:
Originally posted by loopey
I used to love this show. How many episodes have been on so far? I setup an SP but didn't pay attention to whether it was recording or not -- it wasn't.

On a side note I went to a play a few months ago and saw Bronson Pinchot on the bill and thought "isn't that Balki". He's a great actor. On another side note how do you pronounce Pinchot - is the T silent?

I'm watching Breaking News on Bravo and Bronson Pinchot did a brief stint as the guy hired as the consumer reporter (to replace John Ritter no less). Very funny scenes with him.

I will admit that I, against my will, liked Second Sight. He plays a good Stan Laurel too.

Posted by: Pan Chun

He'll always be "Serge" to me..."Would you like an espresso? I make it with a little lemon twist right there in the back...it's good, you should try it!"

Posted by: Rcrew

I only saw one or two of these the first time around.

For some reason, thinking back on the few memories I have, for some reason, I Love Lucy keeps comming to mind...

Posted by: Corey140

The show sucked. So does GI JOE. Neither of them were like I expected them to be....

Posted by: Bryanmc

All right, I guess I'm going to be a dissenter here but I just got finished watching the latest show, Balki's first date, and I LOVED IT!!!

I laughed out loud many, many times. Balki and Cousin Larry work really well together.

I love this kind of Abbott/Costello two person partner comedy. This stuff is gold.

I'm looking forward to many more!

And, FTR, I'm also really enjoying GI Joe. So I guess I'm totally alone.

Posted by: harvscar

My favorite part about last night's show was Balki telling his sheep joke. I found myself laughing at the punchline despite my better judgement.

I'm not loving GI Joe like I did when I was a kid, but I haven't cancelled my SP and I watch the eps everyday when I get home. Almost feels like my old after-school routine.

Posted by: loopey

I enjoyed the first date episode as well. I forgot how funny it was, and I forgot about the opening song.

Posted by: dphelps1

The one and only episode of this show that comes to mind as being 'classic' is the episode in which Larry & Balki believe they have won the lottery and (of course) lost the ticket. They proceed to tear apart their apartment looking for the lost ticket and the comedy ensues...

It was a very funny episode...but all in all...this show got tired pretty quickly. Typical ABC drivel in the mold of the 'Mork & Mindy' - 'fish out of water' school of comedy.

Posted by: Bryanmc

I forgot to post my favorite line from the date episode.

Balki: "Will you smother me with your beautiful American body?"

Ha!

I loved it. I really like this show. Doesn't matter if it fits some mold as long as it works and I think it does.

Balki is awesome.

Posted by: Pan Chun

quote:
Originally posted by dphelps1
...all in all...this show got tired pretty quickly. Typical ABC drivel in the mold of the 'Mork & Mindy' - 'fish out of water' school of comedy.

This seems to me to be a very astute observation

Posted by: harvscar

quote:
Originally posted by Bryanmc

Doesn't matter if it fits some mold as long as it works and I think it does.

I agree. "I don't know art, but I know what I like."

loopey: last night's show was the first time I actually listened to the theme since I saw it so many years ago and I was struck by how much I liked it, cheesiness be damned. It reminds me a lot of the Greatest American Hero theme song. The opening sequence seems pretty long by today's standards too,of course I do a lot of FF'ing :D .

Posted by: djbrown

quote:
Originally posted by dphelps1
The one and only episode of this show that comes to mind as being 'classic' is the episode in which Larry & Balki believe they have won the lottery and (of course) lost the ticket. They proceed to tear apart their apartment looking for the lost ticket and the comedy ensues...

When they go to that vaccuum cleaner bag, you just know what is going to happen. Hilarity ensues.

And Larry's antics in the prize claim line after they do find the ticket......

Posted by: doom1701

OK, finally watched the Saturday ep (the date). I think I remember why I liked this show, and why I hope it'll grow on my again (the last ep was better than the first):

Just like every other late 80's sitcom, Perfect Strangers usually had a "lesson" it was trying to teach. Shows like Cosby, Full House, Family Matters, etc. were usually pretty blunt about it. Perfect Strangers, though, always made it a joke. To paraphrase last nights lesson

Balki: "We both learned something tonight. I learned that I needed to just relax and be myself. You learned...come to think of it, you learned the same thing!"

So, the SP survives another week. I should move it to the big TiVo, though, so I could catch the Sunday ep before it gets deleted.

Posted by: Bryanmc

I've now watched a few of these and the season pass stays.

I'm loving this show. I think it's funny. I only wish it was on more than twice a week.

Posted by: doom1701

I've gotta move the SP. We record it on our bedroom DTiVo, which is still unhacked. Rarely anymore do I watch TV in the bedroom, except for the occasionaly ATeam episode. I haven't seen Perfect Strangers in weeks, mainly because it scrolls before I have a chance.

Posted by: harvscar

Funny seeing the newer one on Friday and the first season one on Saturday. There definitely seems to be a different dynamic. The scenes at the health club and after the nap/during the date are what really made me enjoy this show. These guys were really a great coupling physical comedy wise.

Posted by: harvscar

Two more good eps this weekend. Bronson Pinchot's lounge singer medley and Larry's duet were the high points of the episode. You guys still watching?

Posted by: doom1701

OK, tonight I'm moving the SP to the living room. I just don't watch TV in the bedroom anymore, so I've been missing this for the past month. With it in the living room, maybe I'll pass up a Simpsons rerun I've seen 4 times...

Posted by: TiVoJedi

Dang it! This show I first recorded when it was just being aired again in early August. I thought it was a one-time thing, so I had my Dishplayer record it rather than the Tivo with a season pass. I guess I missed the latest episodes then. :(

My most vivid memory of PS was when Larry discovered Balki's bibbi-bobka's and decided to make some and sell grosses of them to a local bake shop. Well in order to make these babka's correctly, a ritual needed to be enacted. Each bibbi-babka had to have the correct song and dance performed for it. Well by the end of the show Larry, Balki and the two girls were overwhelmed with exploding babkas covering the entire kitchen with splats of bibbi-babka everywhere! YAY! :)

Posted by: doom1701

Well, I finally caught an episode, now that the SP is on our upgraded TiVo in the family room. It got some laughs from me. Not too bad--definately better than Reba!

The ep was the one where Larry and Balki babysit and switch babies. Yeah, it's an old story idea, but it's an old show, too.

Posted by: loopey

I saw Bronson Pinchot play Craig Toomey in the Langoliers this weekend, what an excellent actor.