Perfect Strangers
Sunday, November 5th, 2000SEASON 1 – ABC
Created by Dale McRaven
Theme Song: “Nothing’s Going to Stop Me Now” composed by Jesse Frederick & Bennett Salvay, performed by David Pomeranz
- 001. Knock Knock, Who’s There? – 3/25/1986
- Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker), a Madison, Wisconsin native who has recently moved away from his large family to Chicago to pursue his dreams of becoming a photojournalist, is visited by sheepherder Balki Bartokomous, a native of the Mediterranean island of Mypos. Balki claims to be related by way of his fifth cousin thrice-removed, who is the step-uncle to Larry, and based on that relationship, plans to live with Larry. Balki is distraught when Larry initially turns him down, but then has a change of heart and tells Balki he can stay with him until he gets on his feet. Balki is intent on learning American culture and is fascinated by even the simplest things and phrases. Larry takes Balki to work with him the next day at Ritz Discount. When Larry is called away by his neighbor friend Susan Campbell (Lise Cutter), Balki tends to a customer (Stephen Vinovich), who cons Balki into selling him $200 worth of merchandise for $45. When Larry’s boss Donald Twinkacetti (Ernie Sabella) finds out, he is livid, but gives Balki a chance to repair an old radio to see if he will hire him on to repay the debt. Larry doesn’t think he can do it, so he plants a smaller radio inside the old one. However Balki finds the radio and spoils the ruse before it ever gets started. However when he turns on the radio, the noise is so loud that it shatters most of the glass in the shop. A customer (Bobby Hosea) is impressed by its power and offers $500 for it. Balki is seen as a hero to Twikacetti and tells Larry to do the manual labor so Balki doesn’t hurt his hands. As Larry is moving the radio, it is revealed that Balki had hooked the radio up to giant speakers that would have valued the package at $1000. Twinkacetti fires them both, but Balki gives him a speech about what a good man Larry is, and Twinkacetti changes his mind and re-hires them, mostly because he intends to collect all the money they owe him out of their paychecks. 11/9/20