Perfect Strangers:Season 11

[RootBeerRag]

Could it have lasted longer? I say, yes.

In 1987, the show found an approach that worked, Larry wants Jennifer; Larry attempts some outrageous scheme to impress Jennifer; Balki preaches to Larry about his actions; Larry makes a fool of himself and(enter the moral of the story music)ends up telling Balki he should've listened to him..

Don't get me wrong, this was funny at first, but looking back on it, it was kind of ashame to see a show that started out with so much potential becoming so cookie-cutter and safe. Once they found a format that worked, they played it safe for the rest of the series. It just seems like the producers and writers got lazy(and I'm not sure what in the hell happened during the 7th and 8th seasons, did they just allow anyone in the general viewing audience to submit a script?)

Personally, I liked the charm of the first season and a half: They had crappy jobs; Larry was still attempting to start a career in photography; and the guys dated around some; while Jennifer and Mary Anne were more in the background. The writing was also a little more intelligent.

I'm guessing that the ratings went up once Larry began pursuing Jennifer, and it was funny at first, but eventually, the show needed to be revamped.

What if at the start of the 1990-'91(6th) season, instead of getting engaged, Larry and Jennifer had broken up? The show could have gone back to it's roots, and featured Larry and Balki dating around a little bit. They could have invented some new characters at work, or at home, and just taken some chances. True, it would have been a gamble; the show might have ended earlier than it actually did if people wouldn't have warmed to the new changes, but on the other side, it could have gone on even longer; maybe even lasting through the mid or late '90s.

[JL82]

Originally Posted by RootBeerRag

Could it have lasted longer? I say, yes.

In 1987, the show found an approach that worked, Larry wants Jennifer; Larry attempts some outrageous scheme to impress Jennifer; Balki preaches to Larry about his actions; Larry makes a fool of himself and(enter the moral of the story music)ends up telling Balki he should've listened to him..

Don't get me wrong, this was funny at first, but looking back on it, it was kind of ashame to see a show that started out with so much potential becoming so cookie-cutter and safe. Once they found a format that worked, they played it safe for the rest of the series. It just seems like the producers and writers got lazy(and I'm not sure what in the hell happened during the 7th and 8th seasons, did they just allow anyone in the general viewing audience to submit a script?)

Personally, I liked the charm of the first season and a half: They had crappy jobs; Larry was still attempting to start a career in photography; and the guys dated around some; while Jennifer and Mary Anne were more in the background. The writing was also a little more intelligent.

I'm guessing that the ratings went up once Larry began pursuing Jennifer, and it was funny at first, but eventually, the show needed to be revamped.

What if at the start of the 1990-'91(6th) season, instead of getting engaged, Larry and Jennifer had broken up? The show could have gone back to it's roots, and featured Larry and Balki dating around a little bit. They could have invented some new characters at work, or at home, and just taken some chances. True, it would have been a gamble; the show might have ended earlier than it actually did if people wouldn't have warmed to the new changes, but on the other side, it could have gone on even longer; maybe even lasting through the mid or late '90s.

And I have to confess, I don't care much for Jennifer and Mary Anne. Especially Mary Anne. I know they wanted to have Balki's girlfriend be as childlike and innocent as he is, but Balki has a wisdom behind his innocence and Mary Anne just seems...stupid.

And Balki was a really unique character with special qualities, and Larry, for all his faults, was an individual. I just don't see any special qualities in the girls.

[James]

Originally Posted by RootBeerRag

They could have invented some new characters at work, or at home, and just taken some chances. True, it would have been a gamble; the show might have ended earlier than it actually did if people wouldn't have warmed to the new changes, but on the other side, it could have gone on even longer; maybe even lasting through the mid or late '90s.

RootBeerRag, what do you mean by "just taken some chances"? What kind of chances?