I am pretty much convinced that Tom Hanks can play any character and make it convincing. He has made movies that I did not particularly like, but I loved him in them. I think he could even play a man dressing as a woman to get a cheap apartment in an all women’s building. Wait... he did do that. And it was fantastic.
Bosom Buddies was a sitcom that ran for only two seasons from 1980 through 1982. While I was a bit young for it then, it was running in syndication when I was in elementary school and I have quite fond memories of watching the show with my mother. I also have fond memories of having a major crush on Tom Hanks’ co-star on the show, Peter Scolari.
Reminiscing aside, it was a show that created its fair share of buzz when it first premiered. Two men lose their dirt cheap apartment and learn from a close friend that there is a super inexpensive place where she lives, the Susan B. Anthony Hotel. The catch, of course, is that it is a women only building. Kip and Henry (Hanks and Scolari, respectively) decide that dressing as their alter-egos (and fictional sisters) Buffy and Hildegarde, is more than made up for by paying an affordable rent. Posing as the sisters, the two ad executives also introduce their male selves to the ladies in the building. Oh, and Kip falls in love with another tenant in the building – a buxom blond by the name of Sonny (Donna Dixon). Hijinks predictably ensue.
So that about sums up the first season (also available on DVD). As the second season began, it became increasingly clear that the premise of the boys hiding their true gender was quickly wearing thin for comic gold. In the very first episode of the season Kip outs his secret to Sonny and in the second episode, “There’s No Business…,” Henry uses his and Kip’s savings to buy his uncle’s miserably failing commercial production house.
Presumably the writers hoped this new story line would provide the needed boost to keep their show around. They were admirably able to get sixteen more episodes out of the idea, with Kip and Henry taking on their old boss (expertly played by the always perfect Holland Taylor), reminiscing about their first job out of college, trying to save money (and getting arrested), and struggling to keep clients.
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