Bosom Buddies

[Bobby Southworth]

So, from a very young age, I have fond memories of my mom telling me, "Hey, Bosom Buddies is about to come on". I knew I liked the theme song, and that was about it.

When I was about to start High School, I caught some episodes on the USA network, and became a fan. Always thought Tom Hanks was hilarious, and his dynamic with Peter Scolari was fantastic, and the way they would improvise lines. Holland Taylor was also a treat.

Yes, the show had just about all the touches of the corny miiler-boyett assembly line working against it, especially the 1st season. The 2nd season did away with a lot of the dressing up as girls. and the 'special message' format wasn't always included, and if it was, the moral might be a little more lighthearted and comical. I actually feel the show was improving the second season, but from what I've read, night time airing changes and times hurt the show.

Anyone else have thoughts on this short lived series that gave us Forrest Gump?

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I thought they were a great pair, and the show silly fun. It was "smarter" than most of the sitcoms of the time, despite its crass, cheapy videotaped look a la the early-'80s.

And I don't like drag.

But the show wasn't a ratings hit, and many people never discovered it until after it was cancelled and Tom Hanks had done SPLASH for Ron Howard, bolstering Hanks into bonafide star status.

In reruns, Billy Joel's song was sometimes replaced due to music rights issues. But whatever.

Hanks & Scolari had great chemistry (as they say) and played off each other quite well. But when Tom wanted to later do a big screen version of BOSOM BUDDIES (like SOME LIKE IT HOT) and had the cred to get it made, Peter Scolari just didn't want to do it (despite the fact that it would have been a career boost for him, and the duo were still friendly). So I guess ermine and pearls wasn't his bag.

I rather liked Scolari and was slightly stunned when he died a couple years ago, until I remembered how old we're all getting -- especially me -- and then it all made sense.

I've been told I gesticulate in a Scolarian fashion, and I get it. He was a good edition to NEWHART (Julia Duffy called him "no better partner!" when he passed away) although Stephanie & Michael became increasingly too-broadly drawn, as did NEWHART itself, and thus decreasingly funny.

They should have made that movie.