Bosom Buddies
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| Bosom Buddies | |
|---|---|
 Title screen |
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| Genre | Comedy |
| Running time | 22 minutes per episode |
| Creator(s) | Chris Thompson |
| Starring | Tom Hanks Peter Scolari Wendie Jo Sperber Donna Dixon Holland Taylor |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original channel | ABC |
| Original run | November, 1980–May, 1982 |
| No. of episodes | 38 |
| IMDb profile | |
Bosom Buddies was an American sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and Chris Thompson. It ran from 1980 to 1982. The series was rerun on NBC in 1984 due to the success of the Tom Hanks film Splash.
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[edit] Premise
After their own apartment is demolished, two men disguise themselves as women in order to live in the women-only Susan B. Anthony Hotel because of the dirt cheap rent. Kip (Tom Hanks) is originally skeptical of the plan, but after meeting knock-out resident model/dancer/nurse Sonny (Donna Dixon), he ends up convincing aspiring writer Henry (Peter Scolari) that the experience will make a great book. Their co-worker, Amy, (Wendie Jo Sperber) is the only resident in on the plan because she's attracted to Henry. In the first season, Kip, Henry, and Amy work for Ruth Dunbar (Holland Taylor) at the advertising firm of Livingston, Gentry & Mishkin, where Kip is a graphic artist, Henry is a copy writer, and Amy is the receptionist. Ruth often takes credit for the boys' work when reporting to her (unseen) boss, Mr. Rubinowitz.
The boys' deception includes outwitting the hotel manager, Lily (Lucille Benson), and fellow resident, Isabelle (Telma Hopkins), an aspiring singer.
In the second season opener, Kip and Henry start their own advertising firm, Sixty Seconds Street, with the help of their former boss, Ruth, as a not-quite silent partner.
In the second episode of the second season, the male characters' ruse of living in drag is revealed, although they are allowed to continue living at the women-only hotel anyway. Sonny forgives Kip for the deception, and as the new hotel manager replacing Lily, Isabelle agrees to go along with the ruse rather than admit it to the other residents.
[edit] Trivia
The theme song for the opening credits was "My Life" by Billy Joel, although Joel's version was not used on the air. (The Internet Movie Database notes the cast sang the theme song, although this has not been verified.) Some reruns shown in syndication had a vocal version of the show's back credit instrumental theme used for the front credits, with "My Life" removed altogether.
Although the series was produced on videotape, the pilot episode was shot on film. Edie Adams plays the hotel manager in the pilot, and when Kip and Henry name each other's alter egos, they say Buffy and Hildy are sisters. Lucille Benson is introduced as the new hotel manager in the series, and she is told that Kip and Henry are Buffy and Hildy's brothers, respectively. Buffy and Hildy are allegedly from Saskatchewan, but Kip and Henry somehow attended high school in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Peter Scolari appeared in the Tom Hanks directed feature film That Thing You Do! as an Ed Sullivan style announcer. He also appeared as Astronaut Pete Conrad in an episode of the Tom Hanks produced HBO series From the Earth to the Moon and co-starred with Hanks in The Polar Express.
Bosom Buddies was taped on Stage 25 at Paramount Pictures. Stage 25 was also the home of The Lucy Show, Cheers, and Frasier.
[edit] Celebrity Appearances
Rita Wilson, who later became Mrs. Tom Hanks, guested starred in the episode "All You Need Is Love" as a girlfriend of Henry's that he met at a dating service. Rita Wilson later costarred with Hanks in the Nicholas Meyer film Volunteers along with John Candy.
Adrian Zmed guest starred in the first season episode "Best Friends" as Kip's childhood summer camp friend turned rock star Joey Midnight. Zmed went on to costar in the feature film Bachelor Party with Tom Hanks.
Jennifer Holmes guest starred as Henry's girlfriend Dana in the episode "Other Than That, She's a Wonderful Person" and went on to costar in the 82-83 season of Newhart prior to Scolari joining the cast in fall of '83 when she was replaced with Julia Duffy.
Russell Johnson of Gilligan's Island fame guest starred in the episode "Amy's Career" as mouthwash executive Mr. Shaw.
Ernie Hudson guest starred in the episode "One for You, One for Me" as Rochelle, a cellmate of Henry's after he gets busted for by a stolen VCR before going on to star in Ghostbusters.
Jerry Hardin of The X Files and K Callan of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman guest starred in the episode "Kip Off the Old Block" as Kip's parents, Thomas and Enid Wilson. In a scene where the elder Wilson has to be disguised in drag, Hardin noted that Hanks commented that he bet he didn't know he had to dress up in drag when he took the role.
Bob Saget guest starred in the episode "The Show Must Go On" as Bob the Comic who emceed at the club where Isabelle was trying to start her singing career after Kip and Henry arrange with the club owner to get her put on the bill.
[edit] Cast
- Tom Hanks - Kip Wilson (Buffy when in drag)
- Peter Scolari - Henry Desmond (Hildegarde when in drag)
- Wendie Jo Sperber- Amy Cassidy, their co-worker and friend who knows their secret
- Holland Taylor - Ruth Dunbar, their boss
- Donna Dixon - Sonny Lumet
- Telma Hopkins - Isabelle Hammond
- Lucille Benson - Lilly Sinclair (First season only.)
