For updated news on the first official DVD Release, visit our DVD Information Page!
The
Perfect Strangers Theme Moves to Boston!
We thought that The Baggy Pants' hilarious version of the Perfect Strangers theme song filmed in Seattle was brilliant, but who knew it could be the start of a craze? Well, now we have Perfect Strangers Boston, ingeniously compiled by The Super Secret Project. Yep, Beantown's gone Balki! Oh my Lord! And now The Baggy Pants have put out the call! They're encouraging fans to put together PS theme song tributes in their own city! And do you think fans across the country are going to heed the call? Well, of course they will! Don't be ridiculous!!
NEW 3/2/10!!! - Read our exclusive interview with the Super Secret Project!
Watch The Baggy Pants Perfect Strangers Remake Mosaic!
Mark
Linn-Baker Gets a Session with the Life Coach!
Haven't
I Seen the Back of Your Head on TV?
It
Seems I've Seen This Theme Song Before!
Click here to read our exclusive interview with The Baggy Pants!
Hooking
Up with Bronson
Pinchot on DVD
Formerly titled Cluster, the film Hooking Up is probably best described as a sexual escapade romp in the tradition of American Pie and even Porky's. Starring Corey Feldman, Alison Whitney, Brian O'Halloran and Bronson Pinchot (as a teacher trying his best to fend off the advances of an amorous 15-year-old who just happens to be the principal's daugter), this is probably not a movie for youngsters or for the sexually inhibited. Finally available on DVD, this is an un-rated release, so expect general "naughtiness" throughout. Bronson's role is apparently limited, but completists will probably want to pick up a copy of this quirky little independent title to see another one of Bronson's unique performances.
Visit the official Hooking Up website!
Purchase Hooking Up on DVD from Amazon.com
Bronson Pinchot Speaks Candidly about Past Roles
This last week has
been a perfect example of what happens when interview excerpts go viral.
After our update on Tuesday we learned that Bronson had given a very lengthy and
fascinating interview to The Onion's A.V. Club in which interviewer Nathan Rabin
went over Bronson's career role by role, asking for insight into the various
parts Bronson has played over the years, including Balki in Perfect Strangers.
As always, Bronson's answers were thoughtful, reflective and brutally
honest. 
As
we all know, Bronson isn't afraid to speak his mind when asked a direct
question, even if it includes not-so-flattering revelations about his work and
himself. What was a very exciting and brilliant interview to his long-time
fans quickly spiraled into a ridiculous spate of word-of-mouth nonsense when
other media outlets began pulling out two specific references from the article,
namely Bronson's comments about working with Tom Cruise on Risky Business
and with Denzel Washington on Courage Under Fire. This, in turn,
caused countless comments and remarks from readers around the web, both in favor
and condemning Bronson about the nature of these remarks. It's fascinating
to watch the brouhaha a couple of negative opinions can make when they're deemed
to be about someone worth mentioning, i.e. Cruise and Washington (note that
positive remarks Bronson made about Tom Hanks went mostly unreported in rehashes
of the article, and what amounted to Bronson's public apology to Rebeca Arthur
for some callous behavior towards her near the end of Perfect Strangers'
run was flatly ignored). Cousin America or Burst alerted us on the Forums
to a follow-up interview on the Wall Street Journal's Speak Easy blog in which
they tried to get to the bottom of Bronson's remarks. Were they serious or
in jest? This gave Bronson the chance to clarify some of his comments but
he certainly made no apology for them. You can read both interviews in
their entirety by clicking the links below.
Read The Onion's A.V. Club Interview with Bronson
Read the follow-up article in the Wall Street Journal's Speak Easy Blog
Mr. Art Critic Comes to DVD on October 13th!
Bronson
Pinchot gives a stirring and hilarious performance in this independent movie
from Brauer Productions. Filmed mainly on Mackinac Island, Michigan, the
film focuses on a snobbish art critic named M.J. Clayton (Pinchot) whose
reputation as a ruthless and heartless cut throat reviewer has won him little
admiration from the artists he's so thoughtlessly ripped apart. After
meeting one of the artists whose work he has slammed and sharing a number of
drinks, a bet is made. Clayton claims any idiot can make art, but then
finds himself having to prove it so by painting a masterpiece himself.
Realizing he has no discernable talent to produce such art, he looks to a
budding young artist (Toni Trucks) to possibly help him out of a potentially
embarrassing situation. This little movie is a real treat for Bronson's
fans and we're so excited that it's finally going to be officially available on
DVD! Do yourselves a favor and pick this one up!
Order Mr. Art Critic at Amazon.com
Experience
a Little Terror this Halloween
If you're going to be in Philadelphia on October 22nd and want some scary thrills with a little Bronson Pinchot thrown in, then plan to attend the Thumping Thursday night of the Terror Film Festival where they will be showing the horror film From a Place of Darkness at 8:30 p.m. This spooky film festival is not for the faint of heart, but if you want your celluloid scares full blast then this is the event for you! Or if you can't handle that much excitement, you can always order From a Place of Darkness on DVD and watch it at home in the dark . . . if you dare!
Visit the Terror Film Festival's Official Website
Order From A Place Of Darkness on DVD!
Bronson Has a Little Good Clean Fun
Many thanks to
Cousin Nightime59 for alerting me to the existence of this little independent
film in which Bronson appears. 
The
title is derived from the name of the indie band which is the focus of much of
the movie . . . in fact the film was written and directed by Good Clean Fun
member Issa Diao! It's a very sweet little movie about a group of high
school students who are trying to put together a show. When the band they
booked is suddenly unavailable, Allison (C.J. Celeste) is certain she can get
the Good Clean Fun to play for them. After all, she had been one of their
former roadies. Their attempts to get the band to appear, as well as the
interesting relationships between Allison and her best friend Jake (Paul
Emerson) and those of their friends, makes for some very lighthearted and tender
entertainment. Bronson appears as Dean Vernon, who seems determined to
interfere with Allison's plans at all costs. Bronson doesn't appear in an
actual scene until about an hour in, but when he does it's an amazing segment,
and one can understand why he was drawn to the project. The review on the
back of the DVD which states "It's like a real movie!" - Issa's
Mother sums up the movie's humor in a nutshell. It's not a movie that
will rock the world, but it does make it sway a little more pleasantly for 70
minutes.
Order Good Clean Fun from the movie's official website
How Would You Like to Pick Bronson's Brain?
Our good friend,
Cousin MontyCora, who runs the wonderful BronsonPinchot.net
website, has given visitors to our Forums a 
unique
opportunity to ask Bronson questions which he will in turn answer over
time! It's part of a brand new Q&A feature on her website, and we were
thrilled to get the first opportunity to "pick Bronson's brain," as it
were. This will be an ongoing feature on her site, so if you have a
question for Bronson you can submit it in one of two ways: either go to our
Forums and post your question in the "If you could ask Bronson a question .
. . " section. Or go to MontyCora's website and you can submit your
question directly on their Q&A page! All answers will be posted on the
same Q&A page. Thanks to MontyCora and to Bronson's management for
setting this up for the fans!
Post Your Question for Bronson to Our Forums
Post Your Question to Bronson on BronsonPinchot.net
Mr.
Art Critic part of Rosa Parks Circle Movie Nights
Adam
Opens in Limited Release
Visit the Official Adam Website!
Adam
scheduled to premiere in Sedona, Arizona
According to Sedona.biz website, the latest film to feature Mark Linn-Baker, Adam, will be making its Sedona, Arizona, debut on July 21 (4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.) at the Harkins Sedona Six Theatres as part of the Sedona International Film Festival. The festival is thrilled to have the chance to screen the film before its official release by Fox Searchlight Pictures on July 29th.
Read the complete story at the Sedona.biz website
Visit the Sedona International Film Festival Official Website
Visit the Official Adam Website!
Pomeranz
Presents Charlie Chaplin . . . in Music
If you happen to be a fan of Charlie Chaplin, music and David Pomeranz (who performed the unforgettable vocals on the Perfect Strangers' theme song), and you happen to be in New York City around mid-July, you may very well want to catch Charlie Chaplin - A Life. In Concert. Written and performed by David, this musical outlines the incredible life of one of film comedy's most enduring legends who forever became known as The Little Tramp. The shows will be performed on July 9, 10, 11 and 12th. This is a great opportunity for those of you in the New York area to catch this great show!
Visit the Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts website
Click here to visit David Pomeranz' Facebook Page
Adam
scheduled for upstate New York screening
According to Tim Malcolm of the Times Herald-Record, Max Mayer's film Adam, which includes Mark Linn-Baker, will be screened at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck, New York, at 3:30 p.m. on July 11th. The director, who was also a co-founder of the New York Stage and Film Company, will be on hand at the screening. The film has also been picked up by Fox Searchlight Pictures and is scheduled to be released on July 29th.
Visit the official Upstate Films website for more information
Mr.
Art Critic Receives Critical Praise!
Richard Brauer's independent film, Mr. Art Critic, which stars Bronson Pinchot as the cynical lead character, was recently featured during TBS's Just for Laughs festival held in Chicago, Illinois, at the Gene Siskel Film Center. The winners of Film Center's biennial Christopher Wetzel Award for Independent Film Comedy were featured as part of this festival, including Mr. Art Critic, which received an Honorable Mention! The filmmakers as well as selected local Chicago cast members were scheduled to appear.
Visit the Gene Siskel Film Center website for more information
Visit the Just for Laughs Website
Powerhouse Theatre celebrates its 25th season!
Theatermania.com reports that New York Stage and Film's much-respected Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College will be celebrating it's 25th year of bringing exciting new works from up-and-coming writers, actors and directors to the stage. To mark this auspicious anniversary, there will be a special event entitled Powerhouse's 25th Anniversary Gala Event: A Silver Celebration Under the Stars on Saturday, June 27th. NYS&F co-founder Mark Linn-Baker will be on hand at the event, as well as Carole Kane, Peter Frechette, Wendy Makenna, Mary McDonnell, Rob Morrow, Reg Rogers, Randle Mell, Jenny Powers and Duncan Shiek. Selections from past Powerhouse productions will include segmnts of Savage in Limbo (1985), Snakebit (1994), Side Man (1996), A Year with Frog & Toad (2000), The Dazzle (2000), Adrift in Macao (2002), Dangerous Beauty (2005), and Nero (2008). Following the performance is a special Hudson Valley LOCAVORE party (Locavore refers to someone who only eats food grown locally). Special packages that include two full season subscriptions are available, as well as tickets for just the gala event. This is a great opportunity to catch some great performances by past NYS&F alumni and to help support a terrific theater tradition!
Read the story at Theatermania.com!
Visit the Powerhouse Theater website to purchase tickets!
The Learners Wins 2009 Audies Humor Award!
Not
only has Bronson been enormously successful in the fields of television, movies,
stage and voice-over acting, he has also made his mark in the field of audio
book narration. And now the Audio Publishers Association has honored one
of his latest readings, The Learners, with The Audies Award for Humor in
their 2009 ceremony on May 29th. This was the second book by Chip Kidd
which Bronson has brought to life for the audio book version; both are published
by Blackstone Audio, Inc. Congratulations, Bronson, and to everyone
involved in the production of this notable audio book! On an ironic note,
one of the other audio books nominated for the Humor prize was Lewis Black's Me
of Little Faith, which includes a reading of The Laundry Hour by
Black and . . . Mark Linn-Baker!
Click here to see all the Audie Award Winners!
Visit Blackstone Audiobooks for more titles read by Bronson!
To
Phrase it One Way . . . "Don't Be Ridiculous!"
As we reported earlier, Mark made an appearance on the May 26th NBC special entitled TV's 50 Funniest Phrases. We're happy to report that Perfect Strangers and the catch phrase "Don't be ridiculous!" came in at an impressive number 23 on the list! Clips from the pilot episode were shown and Mark made mention that the original pilot had co-starred Louie Anderson but that he didn't work out so he stepped in and became Bronson's co-star. Mark also noted how Bronson had a true innocence, and that he wasn't just playing someone who was being innocent, he truly was innocent. It was so nice to see Mark speak so fondly of the show and also to see the show get such a respectable placing on the list!
Click here to view the segment on "Don't Be Ridiculous!"
Mark Linn-Baker
voices support for SAG contract
Visit the Screen Actors Guild website to view the video!
Mark Linn-Baker is no Straight Man!
Cousin Tekva, who wrote that really wonderful Perfect Strangers spec script entitled Auld Lang Stefanos (which she has graciously allowed us to publish in the Stories section) has penned a wonderful article for Suite101.com entitled "Mark Linn-Baker and Cousin Larry Appleton - This Perfect Stranger was no Straight Man." In the article she makes the case against Mark constantly being labeled as the "straight man" of the show. She makes a very compelling argument for those who may only remember the series being a showcase for Bronson Pinchot and I hope it goes a long way in setting the record straight about Mark's own comedic talents.
Click here to read Cousin Tekva's wonderful article!
Does
Mark Linn-Baker know about funny phrases?
Well, of course he does, don't be ridiculous!
We have just learned from Cousin James that Mark Linn-Baker will appear on a guest star on a brand new special for NBC entitled TV's 50 Funniest Phrases, which will air at 8:00 p.m. on May 26th. Presented by the Paley Center for Media, the show will showcase the 50 top catch phrases from television and did our favorite show's most famous catch phrase make the list? If you know the phrase, you can answer that question yourself! We'll have more about this show after it has aired, but be sure not to miss it!
Visit NBC's Official Website here!
Visit the Paley Center for Media website here!
Jasika Nicole Likes Balki!
A
very talented actress named Jasika Nicole has been garnering media attention
recently with her role in the eerie Fox series entitled Fringe.
Back in 2004, Jasika appeared in the stage show Chasing Nicolette with
Bronson Pinchot, and during an interview with UGO TV she spoke very highly of
Bronson after the interviewer went out of their way to bring up the fact Jasika
had worked with him. "Balki! Bronson, he is very kind hearted
and very talented," Jasika explained. "I'd only seen [him] in TV
and movies so working with him on a stage show showed off way different talents
that he has. He's got incredible comic timing! He's really funny and
has a great sense of humor! He's really self-depricating and it was
definitely a good experience! He was great to work with and how cool is it
that I can put on my resume that I worked with Bronson Pinchot?"
Jasika went on to say that Bronson is "kind of timeless," and the
interviewer agreed, "He's an icon!" It's always so nice to see
people speaking so fondly of their working experiences with Bronson over the
years!From
a Place of Darkness finds a place on DVD!
Douglas A. Raines 2008 independent horror film, From a Place of Darkness, will be released on both DVD and Blu Ray on May 5, 2009. The movie stars John Savage, Travis Schuldt, Valery M. Ortiz and Bronson Pinchot and follows the story of a documentary filmmaker who finds more than he bargains for when he starts to interview his new subject, Vic, who might be connected with snuff films. Bronson plays Carl, the primary investor who also becomes intrigued by this seedy and scary world. You can order the movie from Amazon.com by clicking the links below (note: this movie is unrated but definitely contains adult-oriented themes and footage!)
Order From A Place Of Darkness on DVD!
Order
From A Place Of Darkness on Blu-ray!
Adam Receives More Accolades!
Already having been the recipient of the Alfred P. Sloane Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Max Mayer's film, Adam, continues to impress audiences and has now received the Jury Award for Best Picture at the 11th Annual MethodFest Film Festival in Calabasas, California. The independent film, produced by Serenade Films (which also released an earlier film featuring Mark Linn-Baker, Twelve and Holding) and Olympus Pictures (which is collaborating with Cinedigm on a ground-breaking all-digital multi-picture distribution deal) has been picked up for distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures and will hopefully reach theaters some time later in 2009.
Visit the official MethodFest website
Read the L.A. Daily News Report about the MethodFest winners
Criminal
Minds and Scrambled Brains
This week marked two guest appearances on television by two Perfect Strangers veterans. First, we were treated to a really great dramatic performance by Sam Anderson as a supporting character in the series Criminal Minds. The episode, House on Fire, found the profiling team seeking the identity of a serial arsonist and murderer in a small town in Indiana. Sam played the town's doctor and turned in a really moving performance.
Meanwhile,
over on PBS Mark was featured in yet another episode of the children's education
series, The Electric Company. Returning as Annie Scrambler's
somewhat deranged Uncle Sigmund, the hypnotist, he helped Annie switch places
with Lisa in the episode Scrambled Brains. The appearance was very
funny and the series is certainly a lot of fun with Mark's inclusion!
We hope we will continue to see so many regular appearances by our favorite PS stars!
Visit
The Electric Company's official website
(Note: complete episodes
are available online once they have aired!)
Visit the official Criminal Minds website
Mark
on Mars
Mark Linn-Baker made a memorable guest appearance on the ABC series Life on Mars on March 11th. The episode, entitled Coffee, Tea or Annie? found the lead characters going undercover to track down the killer of two women, one of which was an airline hostess. Mark becomes one of their suspects when it is revealed that he has been paying the murdered stewardess in exchange for something . . . the police think it's probably drugs. It turns out to be quite a different scenario altogether and Mark's segment of the show is actually a very funny short but unforgettable cameo. We won't spoil the plot if you haven't seen it yet, but sufficed to say the character he plays has been a naughty boy! You can currently watch the episode online at ABC.com.
Watch the episode Coffee, Tea or Annie, now on ABC.com
It
Will Be a Happy Hour for the New York Stage and Film
With a Benefit Reading of The Laundry Hour
It has been
announced that Lewis Black and Mark Linn-Baker will be presenting a special
reading of their 1981 play, The Laundry Hour, to benefit the New York
Stage and Film Company at the Laura Pels Theatre on March 16th. Co-written
by Linn-Baker, Black and Williams Peters with music and lyrics by Paul
Schierhorn, and originally presented by Joseph Papp, the two-man show was
recently published in Black's book, Me of Little Faith and was also an
extra on the audio version of the book. This will be a rare chance for
theater-goers to see the reading of this notable piece from Mark's theatrical
history in person!
Ironically, the play currently running at the Laura Pels Theatre is Distracted,
which Bronson appeared in when it debuted in Los Angeles in 2007. Not only
that, but the lead actress is Cynthia Nixon, Bronson's co-star in the Law and
Order: Special Victims Unit episode, Alternate!
Read more about this special benefit reading at the NYS&F website
Adam Wins Alfred P. Sloane Prize at Sundance!
We're happy to share the news that the latest feature film co-starring Mark Linn-Baker, Adam, has won the Alfred P. Sloane Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The romantic comedy, which has been picked up by Fox Searchlight Pictures for release later this year, stars Hugh Dancy as a an engineer with Asperger's Syndrome (remember Mark's role as Wally, a man with Asperger's in Law and Order: Criminal Intent?) who is looking for love. The $20,000 prize, awarded by the Alfred P. Sloane Foundation, honors movies which either focuses on science or features a character who is a scientist or engineer. Adam was chosen “for its credible and moving portrayal of an engineer with Asperger's Syndrome whose passion for science helps him in his struggle to achieve a meaningful relationship.”
Read the Salt Lake Tribune's Blog Report about the Award
Read The Hollywood Reporter's review of Adam
They're Gonna Give Us the Power
the
Electric Company kids. While some elements of the original series still
exist (such as the screaming of "Hey, you guys!" and the two-person
silhouetted word pronunciations), the new series introduces a somewhat more
plot-driven format, at least to encompass the clever video bits. The
original series played out more like an episode of Laugh-In, comprised
entirely of short clips featuring a cast of regular characters but without an
overall theme.The theme of the new series brings to mind another PBS kids series which also featured Mark entitled Ghost Writer. This show features four kids who make up "The Electric Company" (their name is derived from The Electric Cafe where they hang out.) Each of them has a special power which they can use, all focused on words and language but with visual elements. This gives the show a platform with which to showcase words visually on the screen, which is what the original Electric Company focused on. There are four other kids called The Pranksters, who do everything they can to confuse people by scrambling words and causing general mayhem. The show features musical numbers performed by the cast, as well as animated and short segments, not to mention a number of celebrity guest appearances!
While the series officially started on January 23rd, a special two hour preview called The Electric Company Stunt featured four episodes of the show, one of which included Mark as Uncle Sigmund. The episode involved Uncle Sigmund hypnotizing Electric Company member Hector to think he's a dog after Hector wins a rap video contest that Annie Scrambler had also entered. Since this episode is not the same as the one mentioned in the earlier press release, we can assume Mark will be making appearances throughout the series! Check your PBS channel's local listings to find out when The Electric Company is on in your area!
Visit
The Electric Company's official website
(Note: complete episodes
are available online once they have aired!)
Melanie . . . It's So Nice to See You Again!
Visit the official Prayers for Bobby website
Adam has scheduled screenings at Sundance
For more information about the screenings at Sundance, click here!
See a short interview with the film's creator on YouTube!
Possible Upcoming Strangers Spottings . . .
We
have alerts of some potential spottings of actors from Perfect Strangers
which we can't quite confirm but which you may want to watch for. First,
Cousin Pavan of SitcomsOnline.com
alerted us that Melanie Wilson is listed as appearing in the upcoming Lifetime
film Prayers for Bobby starring Sigourney Weaver. While IMDb lists
her in the credits, we can't be certain it's our Melanie Wilson until the
film airs on January 24th at 9:00 p.m. But it looks like a stirring enough
drama to not miss anyway!Finally, ABC will begin airing the new season of Lost, so be sure to tune in to see Sam Anderson as Bernard! And you can also catch Sam guest starring in a new series on TNT called Leverage, in an episode entitled The Snow Job. If you visit the official Leverage site (link below) and click on Video, then Behind the Scenes, you can watch a small clip about that particular episode which shows Sam for a moment.
Visit the official Prayers for Bobby website
Visit the new version of The Electric Company's website
Visit the official Lost website
Visit the official Leverage website
For older news stories, click here!