Perfect Strangers: Season 05 (1989)

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As Season Five of Perfect Strangers gets under way, both Larry (Mark Linn-Baker) and Balki (Bronson Pinchot) receiving promotions at the "Chicago Chronicle", with Larry becoming a full-fledged investigative reporter, and Balki ending up on the executive staff. This latter upward move unfortunately turns out to be a byproduct of "affirmative action", inasmuch as Balki is an immigrant from the island of Mypos; once he finds this out, Balki is delighted to be demoted to a lesser editorial position. As in previous seasons, the two protagonists find themselves in situations that would not be out of place in a Laurel & Hardy comedy, such as a visit to the dentist and a misadventure on the golf links. And while Bronson Pinchot has emerged as the series' most popular actor--and as such the one who is handed the juiciest assignment, such as the episode wherein he plays both Balki and his wheeler-dealer cousin Bartok--the other regulars are all given their own moments to shine. Examples include the two-part episode in which Larry must endure a visit from his ultra-perfectionist father, and the "Chronicle"'s uptight advice columnist Lydia (Belita Moreno) struggles to overcome her fear of the camera in order to host her own TV show. One of the season's most memorable episodes is "This Old House", in which while trying to unload a dilapidated "fixer upper," Larry meets a yuppie couple who are dead ringers for the characters of Elliot and Hope on the popular drama series thirtysomething (though not played by the same actors!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi