These ’80s Sitcom Stars Surprised Fans By Bringing Back Their Iconic Characters
Fans of Perfect Strangers were treated to a blast from the past when stars Bronson Pinchot and Mark Linn-Baker reunited at the Fanboy Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee, over the weekend — and stepped back into their famous characters, Larry Appleton and Balki Bartokomous, sparking waves of nostalgia. The beloved sitcom, which aired from 1986 to 1993 on ABC, followed the odd-couple pairing of uptight Chicagoan Appleton and Bartokomous, his exuberant cousin from the fictional Mediterranean island of Mypos.
Known for its heartfelt humor, fish-out-of-water antics and the unforgettable “Dance of Joy,” the series became a cornerstone of ABC’s original TGIF lineup. Seeing the actors together again after all these years reminded fans just how much heart and hilarity the show brought into their homes each week.
Lorimar Television/Everett Collection
Pinchot shared several videos of the duo together at the convention, including some in character. They quickly got into a nostalgic groove with Pinchot picking up his character’s Greek accent and wreaking havoc by encouraging Linn-Baker to jump on a luggage cart, citing that he is his “emotional baggage.”
In another video shared to Instagram, the two jump right into the beloved song from the show, captioning it, “Annnnnnd now…..as requested….THE BIBBIBABKA SONG!!!!!!!!” Fans started commenting, loving the videos and their energy. One wrote, “I AM SO HAPPY!! NOW WE NEED THE DANCE OF JOY!!!” while others asked for a reboot stat.
Lorimar Television/Everett Collection
It is clear that the two are still friends over 30 years later. According to PEOPLE, Pinchot said, “We text and call each other all the time. Mark, I mean, he’s so embedded in my heart. You talk about no time passing. When I get together with Mark, we’re already laughing. Because we can read each other’s minds. And I can’t express to you how not an exaggeration that is.”
Pinchot and Linn-Baker still act regularly, over 30 years after Perfect Strangers wrapped. Pinchot reprised his fan-favorite role of Serge in the 2024 Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F., and costarred on the 2025 Netflix series The Residence. Linn-Baker has made guest appearances on the shows Ghosts and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but his true passion is the stage: he is currently starring in the Off-Broadway play The Imaginary Invalid.
What do you think of the reunion? Would you watch a reboot to see what their characters are up to now?
Remind 
Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
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