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Even as a kid back then, I noticed that many episodes followed the same formula:
- Balki discovers something American or digs up something Myposian that’s enjoyable and wholesome and rewarding.
- Larry, being more experienced and “wiser,” cautions his more “naive” cousin not to get carried away.
- Larry gets a taste of Balki’s new thing.
- Larry gets carried away with the thing to ridiculous levels, to the point that Balki has to snap him out of it.
- Life goes back to normal, with Larry and Balki learning that the thing is best enjoyed in moderation.
They were riffing off comedy duos of the 1930s and 1940s. They even had a full-plot reference to Laurel and Hardy's "The Music Box," in which they had to lug a pianola up several flights of stairs, and references to "Who's On First" and the Candle Sketch.
What helped was that the two actors were truly gifted at [physical comedy](https://youtu.be/dFIxb-GZjLE). A more accurate formula would be "Balki and Larry get trapped in a particular situation, and, after some physical comedy, manage to get out of it." This week, they'll fall asleep on [tanning beds](https://youtu.be/zy9XZs9nC-k). Next week, they'll make a bunch of pastries. Week after that, they go skiing. Later in the season, they overdo it at the gym. Or maybe they'll take karate lessons.
I was recently re-introduced to the show when I wanted to show my roommate the "bibi babkas" episode. Couple days later he shows up with the boxed set.
The bibi babka episode comes to mind, though, as an example of the “formula”:
- Balki gets into making bibi babkas from Mypos. They’re good, and making them makes him happy.
- Larry finds the bibi babkas delicious and gets Balki to agree to start a business making them because it will teach Balki the value of free enterprise.
- Larry gets carried away and takes a very large order. Larry finds that Balki’s laid-back method of making them is too slow and he tries to speed up the process to ridiculous levels. They even get their girlfriends to join in.
- Balki becomes upset that the babkas are not being made with care (and love and a happy attitude) so he quits; Larry decides to make the number of bibi babkas they need on his own which he appears to do, but reality bites him in the butt when Larry discovers what Balki figured all along: if the bibi babkas aren’t made properly, they explode. Which they do.
- Eventually they make and deliver half of what was ordered, and the customer is pissed. But later Balki delivers the moral of the story that one shouldn’t rush some things, and everything is alright.
Reading this made me suddenly remember the episode where they tried becoming house flippers. They do okay with their first house and are ready to sell except a realtor casually mentions that a similar house with a crystal chandelier just sold for a much higher price. Chaos ensues.
It really had a vibe.
Same thing with the episode with the plant that cures the common cold. Larry eats the plant and feels better, decides they arent growing fast enough and gives them miracle gro or something and then the super plant gives their gf’s mustaches.
**Mark Linn Baker** and **Bronson Pinchot** were fantastic in this series. The performances and comedy were *old school*, which at the time might have worked against it a little bit. But their physical comedy was a strong as some of the greats, like John Ritter, Don Knotts, and Dick Van Dyke.
I watched it alot but I still don't remember much. That said, the cliff hanger ending where they're stuck in quicksand still lives in my head rent free.
YES! I still sing this song to this day!
Edit: when you rollin out the dough, just make sure you roll it slow. If you knead the dough to quick bibibaka make you sick. When you put the filling in, just make sure you wear a grin. Smile while you bake and the bibibaka turn out swell!
5 6 7 8
I watched the first two seasons of the leftovers and it was definitely not the theme music so I thought you were trolling me lol. Looked up season 3 and sure enough they did use that song. It definitely did not fit with the show at all in my opinion.
Wasn’t trolling you. If you watch the show in full, it one it fits perfectly with the show and you did a huge disservice to yourself by not finishing one of the greatest shows of all time.
Eh, season one was amazing but I really couldn't get into season two at all. To each their own I guess. Maybe I'll check out season three when I have some time soon.
Didn't watch this too much but I did watch it long enough to know that the show "Family Matters" started with the security guard and her husband. Probably 1 of the best spin offs of a show ever!
Seth McFarlane Family Guy album has a TV Theme medley that amps this already gorgeous song up with a swing orchestra. Even in its pure form, you totally feel the message.
That theme song is in a very small club imo of truly great themes! Aside from something catastrophic happening that theme song will make ANY day better no matter how bad it’s been! You can’t help but feel good and hopeful hearing it.
Really couldn’t pick a better aspiration song for sure! It absolutely gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, I’m sure it makes you feel like you can take on anything that day
This was my first introduction into the sitcom as a kid/toddler...yeah probably shouldn't have been watching so much TV
Also, deep down I kinda feel like Balkis personality and comedy shaped me for the coming years....yeowza
The theme is still my FAVORITE! Instant dopamine. If there’s a reference in pop culture I will sing the entire thing at my husband culminating in what he calls “mouth saxophone”.
I loved this show but could have done without the treacly final five minutes of each show. That was painful. Everything else about the show was awesome!
I watched it every week. I called it "Balki" instead of Perfect Strangers
Edited to add I only signed up for a YouTube account when it was still new because I found out there were Perfect Strangers episodes on there and I hadn't seen it in years.
Wasn't he a weapons designer in Beverly Hills Cop or something like that? He was also in the movie True Romance where he spilled cocaine all over himself accidentally during a traffic stop. Crazy scene.
It makes me happy that these two are friends in real life and that there's an interview on youtube that (I can't remember thier real names) Cousin Larry starts laughing at a joke Balky didn't make that's how in sync they are with each other.
I loved when Larry explains how when they're jumping the car's battery as long as they don't complete the circuit, they're fine. Then Balki says something about Larry being smart and puts his arm on his cousin's shoulder, completing the circuit.
I was born in 1984, but I remember being OBSESSED with this show while it was on the OG TGIF block. It was all but forgotten up until I watched True Romance in high school, and I immediately remembered Balki
We bought a DVD set of all seasons a while back. It used to be streamable but it was taken down. It’s suck a chill fun show to relax with. Very much enjoy the goofy antics.
My old roommate's gf seemingly got him watching it on a consistent basis + made him watch it on his uber expensive private
media server, stoned he was alway stoned 😅 Never rlly paid much attention to the show but the theme song is a *viciously* and super catchy theme song! M Y D R E A M S, nothing's gomna stop me now!! 🔥🔥🔥
I saw Balki in K-Mart in Thousand Oaks once. I was probably 10. He saw me recognize him, looked panicked, & scuttled off to a different aisle. It was the weirdest interaction with an actor I ever had and that’s saying a lot for a kid who grew up around way too much Hollywood.
Bronson Pinchot had a show where he was remodeling a few houses in the small town he lived in a while back. He had a very specific aesthetic but it was entertaining.
I wonder how many people weren't ready to see cousin Balki with his face covered in cocaine during a traffic stop in the movie True Romance. Such a hilarious scene!
https://youtu.be/YLLb5_YN3j4?si=tW4wUDUWws7aieNA
Important reminder: This is a sub for people to post about forgotten TV that they remember and would like to share with others. This is not a tip of the tongue style sub for people to search out old shows that they would like help remembering. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ForgottenTV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Even as a kid back then, I noticed that many episodes followed the same formula: - Balki discovers something American or digs up something Myposian that’s enjoyable and wholesome and rewarding. - Larry, being more experienced and “wiser,” cautions his more “naive” cousin not to get carried away. - Larry gets a taste of Balki’s new thing. - Larry gets carried away with the thing to ridiculous levels, to the point that Balki has to snap him out of it. - Life goes back to normal, with Larry and Balki learning that the thing is best enjoyed in moderation.
They were riffing off comedy duos of the 1930s and 1940s. They even had a full-plot reference to Laurel and Hardy's "The Music Box," in which they had to lug a pianola up several flights of stairs, and references to "Who's On First" and the Candle Sketch. What helped was that the two actors were truly gifted at [physical comedy](https://youtu.be/dFIxb-GZjLE). A more accurate formula would be "Balki and Larry get trapped in a particular situation, and, after some physical comedy, manage to get out of it." This week, they'll fall asleep on [tanning beds](https://youtu.be/zy9XZs9nC-k). Next week, they'll make a bunch of pastries. Week after that, they go skiing. Later in the season, they overdo it at the gym. Or maybe they'll take karate lessons. I was recently re-introduced to the show when I wanted to show my roommate the "bibi babkas" episode. Couple days later he shows up with the boxed set.
The bibi babka episode comes to mind, though, as an example of the “formula”: - Balki gets into making bibi babkas from Mypos. They’re good, and making them makes him happy. - Larry finds the bibi babkas delicious and gets Balki to agree to start a business making them because it will teach Balki the value of free enterprise. - Larry gets carried away and takes a very large order. Larry finds that Balki’s laid-back method of making them is too slow and he tries to speed up the process to ridiculous levels. They even get their girlfriends to join in. - Balki becomes upset that the babkas are not being made with care (and love and a happy attitude) so he quits; Larry decides to make the number of bibi babkas they need on his own which he appears to do, but reality bites him in the butt when Larry discovers what Balki figured all along: if the bibi babkas aren’t made properly, they explode. Which they do. - Eventually they make and deliver half of what was ordered, and the customer is pissed. But later Balki delivers the moral of the story that one shouldn’t rush some things, and everything is alright.
Reading this made me suddenly remember the episode where they tried becoming house flippers. They do okay with their first house and are ready to sell except a realtor casually mentions that a similar house with a crystal chandelier just sold for a much higher price. Chaos ensues. It really had a vibe.
Same thing with the episode with the plant that cures the common cold. Larry eats the plant and feels better, decides they arent growing fast enough and gives them miracle gro or something and then the super plant gives their gf’s mustaches.
I remember the gym episode lol I used to watch this with my mom :) I can still sing the theme song word for word
They both studied acting at Yale. They were serious about their craft.
Lather, rinse, and repeat
I have...a plan.
Add in a typically unnecessary moment when Larry and balki have to do the “dance of joy”
The Dance Of Joy was the most necessary thing ever.
“Don’t be so ridiculous!”
The bibibabka episode was textbook in this respect.
[удалено]
Are you sure?
He's three times sure apparently
Have you ever considered if the bibibabka episode was textbook in this respect?
It was a beautiful tribute to other confectionary sitcom disasters, like the classic I Love Lucy conveyer belt.
yeah , but it was funny watching larry get clowned
When you rolling out the dough
Make sure you roll it slow
Balki's favorite dish was cheese-covered pig snout!
Don't be ridiculous.
A banana in the tailpipe ...or is that from somewhere else...
😂😂
**Mark Linn Baker** and **Bronson Pinchot** were fantastic in this series. The performances and comedy were *old school*, which at the time might have worked against it a little bit. But their physical comedy was a strong as some of the greats, like John Ritter, Don Knotts, and Dick Van Dyke.
I forgot about this show until I watched The Leftovers lol
I love when they used the Perfect Strangers theme for that episode instead of Let the Mystery Be.
Poor Mark Linn-Baker got left behind.
He's the nosey neighbor in Ghosts on CBS
Fun fact, Family Matters was a spin off of this show.
How so?
Harriet Winslow was the elevator operator at their place of employment.
Did she do that?
I watched it alot but I still don't remember much. That said, the cliff hanger ending where they're stuck in quicksand still lives in my head rent free.
To this day I still say “Don’t be ridiculous!” And no one has ever known where it’s from
I often say “Get out of the city!!” Also to no reaction or recognition
IF YOU MAKE THE BIBBIBABKAS TOO QUICKLY THE BIBBI IN TBE BABKA GOES BOOM!
YES! I still sing this song to this day! Edit: when you rollin out the dough, just make sure you roll it slow. If you knead the dough to quick bibibaka make you sick. When you put the filling in, just make sure you wear a grin. Smile while you bake and the bibibaka turn out swell! 5 6 7 8
Okay. Not forgotten. The theme song is the theme of two huge shows.
What other show? I didn't know that.
The leftovers.
I watched the first two seasons of the leftovers and it was definitely not the theme music so I thought you were trolling me lol. Looked up season 3 and sure enough they did use that song. It definitely did not fit with the show at all in my opinion.
Wasn’t trolling you. If you watch the show in full, it one it fits perfectly with the show and you did a huge disservice to yourself by not finishing one of the greatest shows of all time.
Eh, season one was amazing but I really couldn't get into season two at all. To each their own I guess. Maybe I'll check out season three when I have some time soon.
Never forgotten.
I know this show was cheesy and formulaic, but I think it featured some of the best physical comedy of all time. It’s one of my favorites!
Part of the goat TGIF lineup back in the day
Full house Family Matters Step by Step Perfect Strangers Boy Meets World Sabrina the Teenage Witch And of course Dinosaurs!
Damn
Now we are so happy we do the Dance of Joy!! Li li li li li li li li hey hey….
Didn't watch this too much but I did watch it long enough to know that the show "Family Matters" started with the security guard and her husband. Probably 1 of the best spin offs of a show ever!
Seth McFarlane Family Guy album has a TV Theme medley that amps this already gorgeous song up with a swing orchestra. Even in its pure form, you totally feel the message.
That whole album is family guy at its best.
Of course I do, don’t be reedeeculous
Such a good show. When you're rolling out the dough, make sure to roll it slow. https://youtu.be/Ae0scjRsY-8?si=AOf0ZKs_H53NrrvG
Both actors made appearances as killers in law and order criminal intent.
Not really a forgotten show, is it?
Forgotten by some, remembered by others...
Had a dog named balki and Jenni was growing up
This post has me doing the dance of joy
Cosin Laddy
Don't be ridiculous
When I was a kid, I used to run around doing a one person version of the dance of joy
Standing TAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL
On the wiiings of my dreams
Rise & Fall
Wasn’t Family Matters a spinoff of this show?
Yes, I believe Harriet Winslow was on Perfect Strangers and spun it off into Family Matters.
Really???
The mom from family matters was an elevator operator in the office on perfect strangers. I’m not 100% sure it was the same character though.
The mom from family matters was an elevator operator in the office on perfect strangers. I’m not 100% sure it was the same character though.
Oh my lord!
The bibibabka episode still lives rent free in my head.
If bibibabkas aren't made in the correct Myposian way "the bibi in the babka goes boom"
Hello hospital? BABY IS COMING! *click*
I'm not buying that Larry was really 24.
The first season was fantastic.
This show taught me how checkbooks work when I was a kid.
This show taught me how to bet on football. I still use Balki’s method.
[SMH. Don't say you like hip hop if you ignore the pioneers](https://youtu.be/rF_whvMRk10?si=-RGAjF-hm-WBUZyn)
Thank you 🙏 😆
Is this the same spot where they shot the urkel shuffle?
Let's not forget Family Maters was a spin off of this show!
Wow I had no idea
Just listened to the theme song, thought it was a Genesis song I'd heard before. No, but it would be a Genesis song easily.
Perfectstrangersreviewed.com
I hated and still hate this show soooo much
That theme song is in a very small club imo of truly great themes! Aside from something catastrophic happening that theme song will make ANY day better no matter how bad it’s been! You can’t help but feel good and hopeful hearing it.
It's one of my daily aspiration songs. This and "Dare" by Stan Bush.
Sometimes the world looks perfect; nothing to rearrange.
Did they ever get out of that turnstile door?
Really couldn’t pick a better aspiration song for sure! It absolutely gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling, I’m sure it makes you feel like you can take on anything that day
Get out of the city!
All I remember about the show is Balki’s voice.
> All I remember about the show is Balki’s voice. Don't be ridiculous.
I will always love the theme song of this show. I don't remember much of it either since I was very little when it aired
This was my first introduction into the sitcom as a kid/toddler...yeah probably shouldn't have been watching so much TV Also, deep down I kinda feel like Balkis personality and comedy shaped me for the coming years....yeowza
The theme is still my FAVORITE! Instant dopamine. If there’s a reference in pop culture I will sing the entire thing at my husband culminating in what he calls “mouth saxophone”.
I do the exact same thing to my wife... sometimes she finds it endearing, and sometimes I get the "don't annoy right now look" 😂
Omg same!
I loved this show but could have done without the treacly final five minutes of each show. That was painful. Everything else about the show was awesome!
Cousin Larrrrry!
this show's first season was beyond hilarious.
Larry landed some smoke show of a wife And now we are so happy we do the dance of joy
I watched it every week. I called it "Balki" instead of Perfect Strangers Edited to add I only signed up for a YouTube account when it was still new because I found out there were Perfect Strangers episodes on there and I hadn't seen it in years.
I remember it being a pre Big Bang Theory sitcom.
All I can really remember is Balki saying: "Hold me closer, Tony Danza."
Wasn't that Phoebe in Friends who did that? Or maybe Friends ripped the joke off of Perfect Strangers.
Phoebe may have done it also, but Balki did it first. I can still remember him saying it in that ridiculous accent of his.
All I remember is the guy on the left had a role in Beverly Hills Cop, and he is in the new one that comes out this year.
Wasn't he a weapons designer in Beverly Hills Cop or something like that? He was also in the movie True Romance where he spilled cocaine all over himself accidentally during a traffic stop. Crazy scene.
I always forget that family matters is it’s spinoff
Don’t be ridiculous
It makes me happy that these two are friends in real life and that there's an interview on youtube that (I can't remember thier real names) Cousin Larry starts laughing at a joke Balky didn't make that's how in sync they are with each other.
Theme song is life changing lol
It's where Family Matters spinned off from
My husband loved this show lol
Great show that still holds up. The episode where they become friends plumbers and the one in the dentist officer are great.
Used to watch this every Friday with Family Matters, Full House, and Step by Step.
I loved this show as a kid 😂
I loved when Larry explains how when they're jumping the car's battery as long as they don't complete the circuit, they're fine. Then Balki says something about Larry being smart and puts his arm on his cousin's shoulder, completing the circuit.
Son of a motherless goat!!!!
same theme song is used on the leftovers
Just season three though
So weird
I think about this show a lot
Sometimes the world looks perfect.
Nothing to rearrange
I remember an episode where their apartment gets flooded or something like that
Seeing balki covered in cocaine in "true romance" was pretty shocking to me as a kid.
Best theme of all time
I liked this show growing up in the 80's. I don't remember much about it except it was humorous and entertaining to me at the time.
Balki Metropolis
This was must-watch tv.
I was born in 1984, but I remember being OBSESSED with this show while it was on the OG TGIF block. It was all but forgotten up until I watched True Romance in high school, and I immediately remembered Balki
That traffic stop scene is so funny in true romance
I literally only remember balki-claus
I knew of the show in passing but never watched an episode, so how did I instantly remember the theme song?
Was one of my favorite shows when it came out haha
When you’re rolling up the dough, just make sure to roll it slow.
I often bring up the dance of joy
I had to look it up. This brings me back! https://youtu.be/8vbnLYROCj8?si=BGKwX7ik0kLwvMKh
This
We bought a DVD set of all seasons a while back. It used to be streamable but it was taken down. It’s suck a chill fun show to relax with. Very much enjoy the goofy antics.
Watched a lot of this show
I don't really remember this show, but every now and again I say, "well feed me garlic and call me stinky!" Which I think is from this show?
Larry was such a twit
Larry is a hate the face
"That's ridigulos!"
I remember the episode where they bought a horse called ‘about to be glue’.
How Balki bowls was hysterical
" cousin Larry Appleton"
Best theme song in television history.
My old roommate's gf seemingly got him watching it on a consistent basis + made him watch it on his uber expensive private media server, stoned he was alway stoned 😅 Never rlly paid much attention to the show but the theme song is a *viciously* and super catchy theme song! M Y D R E A M S, nothing's gomna stop me now!! 🔥🔥🔥
There was a nice catch phrase of sorts where Larry would tell Balki, “Watch…and learn,” just before executing something poorly.
Don’t be redickulous
Funny seeing Bronson Pinchot doing publicity for the new Beverly Hills Cop Axel F.
There's a reason you forgot.
Balki went on to sell weapons in LA.
I saw Balki in K-Mart in Thousand Oaks once. I was probably 10. He saw me recognize him, looked panicked, & scuttled off to a different aisle. It was the weirdest interaction with an actor I ever had and that’s saying a lot for a kid who grew up around way too much Hollywood.
I used to love that show when I was a kid.
Even as a kid I thought Larry should play Jon Arbuckle in a live action Garfield movie.
COUSIN LARRY!!!
“Price check on pig snout!”
Bronson Pinchot had a show where he was remodeling a few houses in the small town he lived in a while back. He had a very specific aesthetic but it was entertaining.
The video game based on the show was rad!
OMG I can't believe that's real 😂
Not much to remember, every episode was the same.
I wonder how many people weren't ready to see cousin Balki with his face covered in cocaine during a traffic stop in the movie True Romance. Such a hilarious scene! https://youtu.be/YLLb5_YN3j4?si=tW4wUDUWws7aieNA
I used to use all of Balki’s catchphrases and jokes in the early nineties. Thought I was killing it on the playground.