Bosom Buddies -

“Bosom Buddies” is a classic American sitcom that originally aired from 1980 to 1982. The show revolves around the hilarious misadventures of two young advertising professionals, Kip Wilson (Tom Hanks) and Henry Desmond (Peter Scolari), who find themselves in a desperate housing situation. When their affordable apartment complex becomes a women-only residence, they decide to dress in drag and adopt female personas—Kip becomes “Kip Lewis” and Henry becomes “Hildegarde” or “Hildegarde Desmond.” This allows them to live in the same building and keep their jobs while maintaining their secret identities as women.

Main Characters:

Kip Wilson (Tom Hanks): One of the two roommates who adopts the persona of “Kip Lewis” to live in the women-only apartment complex. He is charming and good-natured but often finds himself in comical predicaments.
Henry Desmond (Peter Scolari): Kip’s best friend and roommate, who becomes “Hildegarde” to share the apartment and keep their jobs. He is the more cautious and practical of the two.
Amy Cassidy (Wendie Jo Sperber): A close friend and coworker of Kip and Henry who occasionally gets involved in their schemes. She is supportive of their double lives and becomes one of their confidantes.
Ruth Dunbar (Holland Taylor): The stern but fair manager of the Susan B. Anthony Hotel, the women-only apartment complex where Kip and Henry reside in disguise.

Themes:

“Bosom Buddies” primarily explores themes of friendship, camaraderie, and the lengths people will go to for affordable housing and job security. The show uses humor and situational comedy to highlight the challenges and absurdities of Kip and Henry’s double lives.

Rating:

3.5/5 – “Bosom Buddies” received mixed critical reviews during its run. While some critics appreciated the humor and chemistry between Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari, others found fault with the show’s premise and execution.

TV Parental Guidelines Rating:

The series typically carries a TV-PG (Parental Guidance) rating, suitable for a broad audience. It contains comedic situations and cross-dressing themes that are generally light-hearted and not intended to be offensive.