Perfect Strangers 1986
“Now we are so happy we do the Dance of Joy!”
What is Perfect Strangers?
Perfect Strangers is a television comedy series that premiered in 1986 and carries a TV‑PG rating. The program centers on the relationship between two main characters: Larry Appleton, a resident of the American Midwest, and his distant cousin, Balki Bartokomous, who arrives from the eastern Mediterranean region of Europe.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1986
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 150
- First aired
- Mar 25, 1986
- Last aired
- Aug 6, 1993
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- ABC
- Genres
- Comedy
- Updated
At a glance
- Rating
- ★ TMDB users: 6.7/10 from 117 votes
- Format
- 8 seasons · 150 episodes
- Status
- Ended
- Network
- ABC
Where to watch in United States
Buy
Buy
With ads
Buy
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch via TMDB. Availability changes by country and date; verify on the provider before subscribing or purchasing.
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 150 episodes and an average 45-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Perfect Strangers is a television comedy series that premiered in 1986 and carries a TV‑PG rating. The program centers on the relationship between two main characters: Larry Appleton, a resident of the American Midwest, and his distant cousin, Balki Bartokomous, who arrives from the eastern Mediterranean region of Europe. The series presents a chronicle of their rocky coexistence, highlighting the contrast between Larry’s Midwestern background and Balki’s Eastern Mediterranean origins. By focusing on the everyday interactions of these two relatives, the show explores how differing cultural perspectives shape their joint experiences. The comedic tone is emphasized throughout, reflecting the series’ classification as a comedy. The narrative structure follows the evolving dynamic between the cousins as they navigate personal and social situations together. As a product of its 1986 debut, Perfect Strangers contributes to the landscape of American sitcoms that examine interpersonal relationships across distinct cultural backgrounds, using humor to portray the challenges and misunderstandings that arise from their divergent upbringings.
Should you watch it?
“An American man and his European cousin navigate life together in this classic sitcom.”
- engaging character dynamic
- classic comedy style
- dated production values
Watch it if you enjoy sitcoms centered on the humorous friction between mismatched relatives.
The series is a lighthearted sitcom suitable for general audiences.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Perfect Strangers — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Perfect Strangers worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Knock Knock, Who's There? Mytharc Mar 25, 1986
- E2 Picture This Core Apr 1, 1986
- E3 First Date Core Apr 8, 1986
- E4 Baby, You Can Drive My Car Core Apr 15, 1986
- E5 Check This Mytharc Apr 22, 1986
- E6 Happy Birthday, Baby Mytharc Apr 29, 1986
Season 2 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hello Baby Mytharc Sep 17, 1986
- E2 Hunks Like Us Core Sep 24, 1986
- E3 The Unnatural Core Oct 1, 1986
- E4 Ladies and Germs Core Oct 15, 1986
- E5 Lifesavers Core Oct 22, 1986
- E6 Babes in Babylon Core Oct 29, 1986
- E7 Falling in Love is... Core Nov 12, 1986
- E8 Two Men and a Cradle Core Nov 19, 1986
- E9 Can I Get a Witness Core Nov 26, 1986
- E10 The Rent Strike Core Dec 10, 1986
- E11 A Christmas Story Core Dec 17, 1986
- E12 Dog Gone Blues Core Jan 7, 1987
- E13 Since I Lost My Baby Core Jan 14, 1987
- E14 Trouble in Paradise Core Jan 21, 1987
- E15 Beautiful Dreamer Core Jan 28, 1987
- E16 Tux for Two Core Feb 4, 1987
- E17 Ten Speed and a Soft Touch Core Feb 11, 1987
- E18 Snow Way to Treat a Lady (1) Core Feb 18, 1987
- E19 Snow Way to Treat a Lady (2) Core Feb 25, 1987
- E20 Up on a Roof Core Feb 27, 1987
- E21 Get a Job Mytharc Mar 5, 1987
- E22 Hello, Elaine Mytharc Apr 1, 1987
Season 3 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 All News That Fits Mytharc Sep 22, 1987
- E2 Weigh to Go Buddy Core Sep 29, 1987
- E3 Sexual Harrassment in Chicago Core Oct 7, 1987
- E4 Taking Stock Core Oct 14, 1987
- E5 Better Shop Around Core Oct 21, 1987
- E6 Your Cheatin' Heart Core Oct 28, 1987
- E7 The Horn Blows at Midnight Core Nov 4, 1987
- E8 Karate Kids Core Nov 11, 1987
- E9 Night School Confidential Core Nov 18, 1987
- E10 Future Shock Core Nov 25, 1987
- E11 Couch Potato Core Dec 2, 1987
- E12 The Break-In Core Dec 9, 1987
- E13 To Be or Not to Be Core Jan 6, 1988
- E14 My Lips Are Sealed Core Jan 13, 1988
- E15 The Pen Pal Core Jan 27, 1988
- E16 Just Desserts Core Feb 3, 1988
- E17 Pipe Dreams Core Feb 10, 1988
- E18 Bye Bye Biki Core Feb 24, 1988
- E19 The Graduate Core Mar 9, 1988
- E20 Defiant Guys Core Mar 11, 1988
- E21 My Brother, Myself Mytharc Mar 18, 1988
- E22 You Gotta Have Friends Mytharc Mar 25, 1988
Season 4 · 22 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Lottery Mytharc Oct 14, 1988
- E2 Assertive Training Core Oct 21, 1988
- E3 Aliens Core Oct 28, 1988
- E4 Piano Movers Core Nov 4, 1988
- E5 High Society Core Nov 11, 1988
- E6 Up a Lazy River (1) Core Nov 18, 1988
- E7 Up a Lazy River (2) Core Nov 25, 1988
- E8 College Bound Core Dec 9, 1988
- E9 The Gift of the Mypiot Core Dec 16, 1988
- E10 Maid to Order Core Jan 6, 1989
- E11 That Old Gang of Mine Core Jan 13, 1989
- E12 Crimebusters Core Jan 20, 1989
- E13 Games People Play Core Feb 3, 1989
- E14 Come Fly with Me Core Feb 10, 1989
- E15 Blind Alley Core Feb 17, 1989
- E16 The 'King' and I Core Feb 24, 1989
- E17 Prose and Cons Core Mar 10, 1989
- E18 Car Wars Core Mar 17, 1989
- E19 Just a Gigolo Core Mar 31, 1989
- E20 Seven Card Studs Core Apr 14, 1989
- E21 Teacher's Pest Mytharc Apr 28, 1989
- E22 Wedding Bell Blues Mytharc May 5, 1989
Season 5 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Good Skates Mytharc Sep 22, 1989
- E2 Lie-Ability Core Sep 29, 1989
- E3 The Newsletter Core Oct 6, 1989
- E4 Tooth or Consequences Core Oct 13, 1989
- E5 Dog Day Mid-Afternoon Core Oct 20, 1989
- E6 Poetry in Motion Core Nov 5, 1989
- E7 Father Knows Best (1) Core Nov 10, 1989
- E8 Father Knows Best (2) Core Nov 17, 1989
- E9 Hello Ball Core Nov 24, 1989
- E10 Almost Live from Chicago Core Dec 1, 1989
- E11 Home Movies Core Dec 8, 1989
- E12 Everybody in the Pool Core Dec 15, 1989
- E13 Because They're Cousins Core Jan 5, 1990
- E14 Disorderly Orderlies Core Jan 12, 1990
- E15 The Selling of Mypos Core Jan 26, 1990
- E16 Nightmare Vacation Core Feb 2, 1990
- E17 Three's a Crowd Core Feb 9, 1990
- E18 Blast From the Past Core Feb 16, 1990
- E19 He's the Boss Core Feb 23, 1990
- E20 Here Comes the Judge Core Mar 9, 1990
- E21 This Old House Core Mar 30, 1990
- E22 Eyewitless Reports Core Apr 11, 1990
- E23 Bye, Bye Birdie Mytharc Apr 13, 1990
- E24 Digging Up the News Mytharc Apr 27, 1990
Season 6 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Safe at Home Mytharc Sep 28, 1990
- E2 New Kid on the Block Core Oct 5, 1990
- E3 The Break Up Core Oct 12, 1990
- E4 A Horse is a Horse Core Oct 19, 1990
- E5 Family Feud Core Oct 26, 1990
- E6 Call Me Indestructible Core Nov 2, 1990
- E7 The Men Who Knew Too Much (1) Core Nov 9, 1990
- E8 The Men Who Knew Too Much (2) Core Nov 16, 1990
- E9 The Ring Core Nov 23, 1990
- E10 Black Widow Core Nov 30, 1990
- E11 Sunshine Boys Core Dec 7, 1990
- E12 Hocus Pocus Core Dec 28, 1990
- E13 Finders Keepers Core Jan 4, 1991
- E14 Grandpa Core Jan 11, 1991
- E15 Little Apartment of Horrors Core Jan 18, 1991
- E16 I Saw This on TV Core Feb 1, 1991
- E17 Speak Memory Core Feb 8, 1991
- E18 Out of Sync Core Feb 15, 1991
- E19 See How They Run Core Feb 22, 1991
- E20 Climb Every Billboard Core Mar 15, 1991
- E21 A Catered Affair Core Mar 22, 1991
- E22 Duck Soup Core Apr 5, 1991
- E23 Great Balls of Fire Mytharc Apr 26, 1991
- E24 See You in September Mytharc May 3, 1991
Season 7 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Bachelor Party Mytharc Sep 20, 1991
- E2 The Wedding Core Sep 27, 1991
- E3 This New House Core Oct 4, 1991
- E4 Door to Door Core Oct 11, 1991
- E5 Weekend at Ferdinand's Mytharc Oct 18, 1991
- E6 Fright Night Core Oct 25, 1991
- E7 The Gazebo Core Nov 1, 1991
- E8 Citizenship (1) Core Nov 8, 1991
- E9 Citizenship (2) Core Nov 15, 1991
- E10 Wild Turkey Core Nov 22, 1991
- E11 Dimitri's World Core Nov 29, 1991
- E12 Car Tunes Core Dec 6, 1991
- E13 Two Angry Men Core Jan 3, 1992
- E14 Missing Core Jan 17, 1992
- E15 Going Once, Going Twice Core Feb 1, 1992
- E16 Yes Sir, That's My Baby Core Feb 8, 1992
- E17 Wayne Man Core Feb 29, 1992
- E18 The Elevator Core Mar 14, 1992
- E19 The Play's the Thing Core Mar 21, 1992
- E20 Stress Test Core Mar 28, 1992
- E21 ...Or Get Off the Pot Core Apr 4, 1992
- E22 Chicago Suite Core Apr 11, 1992
- E23 It Had to be You Mytharc Apr 18, 1992
- E24 Get Me to the Dump on Time Mytharc Apr 18, 1992
Season 8 · 6 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Baby Shower Mytharc Jul 9, 1993
- E2 After Hours Core Jul 16, 1993
- E3 Lethal Weapon Core Jul 23, 1993
- E4 Baby Quiz Core Jul 30, 1993
- E5 Up, Up and Away (1) Mytharc Aug 6, 1993
- E6 Up, Up and Away (2) Mytharc Aug 6, 1993
Frequently asked questions
What is the premise of the show?
The show chronicles the rocky coexistence of an American man and his cousin from eastern Mediterranean Europe.
Who are the main characters?
The main characters are Larry Appleton and his cousin Balki Bartokomous.
When did the series air?
The series ran from March 25, 1986, to August 6, 1993.
How many seasons were produced?
The series consists of eight seasons.
Which network aired the show?
Perfect Strangers aired on the ABC television network.
■ Ended / Final Season Complete Renewal tracker
Explore Perfect Strangers
Where to watch Episode ratings heatmap How long to watch Facts & FAQ Similar shows Take the quiz More from ABC
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Perfect Strangers.