Perfect Strangers
Knock Knock, Who's There?
TV Flash files “Knock Knock, Who's There?” as a desk essential hour — Perfect Strangers (1986–1993) on ABC, season 1, episode 1, aired 1986-03-25, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 150 in the Perfect Strangers guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 1986-03-25 (30 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “Picture This” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “Knock Knock, Who's There?”. Knock Knock, Who's There? is Mypos at the door: Pinchot's accent as the instrument, Linn-Baker the straight man who never quite recovers.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
After moving to Chicago, Larry Appleton gets an unexpected new roommate in his distant cousin, Balki Bartokomous, who comes from the small Mediterranean island of Mypos.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Knock Knock, Who's There? sit in the Perfect Strangers guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 150 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did Perfect Strangers S01E01 air?
Knock Knock, Who's There? aired 1986-03-25 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Do I need Family Matters first?
Reverse that. Perfect Strangers is the TGIF engine that spun off Family Matters. Balki and Larry are the cousins; the Winslows are the later building.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Balki Bartokomous arrives from Mypos, does the Dance of Joy, and ABC's TGIF finds its fish-out-of-water engine. Bronson Pinchot's accent is the instrument; Mark Linn-Baker is the straight man who never quite recovers. Chicago cousin-comedy that spun off Family Matters and taught a generation not to be ridiculous.
The Dance of Joy is the silhouette. ABC, 1986–1993: Balki Bartokomous arrives from Mypos, Midwestern Larry shares the apartment, and TGIF finds its fish-out-of-water engine. Perfect Strangers is Dale McRaven's Chicago cousin-comedy — Bronson Pinchot's accent as the instrument, Mark Linn-Baker the straight man who never quite recovers. *Physical trademark as choreography, mimic fodder as a look, a greeting that photographs as religion.* Style is the plot. If you only listen to the cousin premise, you are watching…
Filed against
- Bronson Pinchot as Balki Bartokomous
Bronson Pinchot's Balki Bartokomous arrived from Mypos, did the Dance of Joy, and gave ABC's TGIF its fish-out-of-water engine on Perfect Strangers. The accent was the instrument; Mark Linn-Baker was the straight man who never quite…
- Mark Linn-Baker as Larry Appleton
Mark Linn-Baker never quite recovered as Larry Appleton on Perfect Strangers — Balki Bartokomous from Mypos, the Dance of Joy, ABC’s TGIF fish-out-of-water engine. Bronson Pinchot’s accent is the instrument; Linn-Baker is the Chicago…