Balki Bartokomous
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Balki Bartokomous (born in 1964) is a fictional character on the television sitcom Perfect Strangers, played by Bronson Pinchot. Balki is from the island of Mypos (possibly from the Greek μήπως meaning "maybe"), a fictional country.
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[edit] Character history
[edit] Personality
Balki was born and raised in Mypos where he eked out a living as a shepherd and dreamed of a better life in America. Balki is a naive, optimistic, well-meaning person. These traits, along with Balki's ignorance of American culture, sometimes get Balki into difficult or dangerous situations, with Larry invariably coming to his rescue. The character of Balki was based upon a foreign exchange student Dale McRaven knew in high school.[citation needed]
[edit] Cousin Larry
Balki traveled to America in 1986, at the age of 22, to live with his cousin Larry Appleton, carrying his meager possessions in a trunk quaintly labeled "America or Burst". Originally, Balki went to Madison, Wisconsin to find Larry, only to find out that Larry had recently moved to Chicago, Illinois, so then Balki went to Chicago to find Larry.
[edit] Occupation
In 1986, Larry got Balki a job at the Ritz Discount store, a store that Larry was already employed at. They worked for Donald Twinkacetti.
In 1987, after Larry got a job at the Chicago Chronicle, Balki began working for the mail room of the Chicago Chronicle. Larry and Balki both worked in the same room in the basement of the chronicle. Balki worked for Sam Gorpley who regularly insulted Balki. In 1991, Balki was promoted at the Chicago Chronicle. His new job was writing Dimitri's World, a comic strip about his beloved sheep.
Balki began night school in 1986 to earn his high school diploma. He graduated in 1988 as valedictorian of his class.
[edit] Mamma
Balki is very close to his mother, whom he calls "Mamma". Balki sends her half of his paycheck and frequently writes her letters.
In 1991, Balki's mom came to the United States to see Balki become an American citizen (though due to a mistranslation on Larry's part, Balki's mother originally thought she was coming to see Balki get his driver's license). When Balki's mother learned that Balki was becoming an American citizen, she was hurt because she had hoped that Balki would return to Mypos. Balki's mother gave Balki a "chicken foot", which meant that unless he did what his mother wished, Balki was no longer her son. Balki returned to Mypos, and Larry followed him to convince Balki's mother to let Balki return to the United States. Balki did so and became an American citizen.
[edit] Other family
Balki has a cousin named Bartok (also played by Pinchot via camera tricks) who immigrated from Mypos to Los Angeles in 1989. Bartok's experiences in the New World changed him for the worse. When Bartok visited Balki in Chicago, Bartok conned money from Balki. Later, Balki convinced Bartok to become the person he was before going to Los Angeles and to return to Mypos. Balki also has an uncle named Stavros Mewhiney from Mypos.
[edit] Love life
Later in 1986, Balki met his girlfriend Mary Anne Spencer at a health club. Balki got married to Mary Anne in 1992. In an episode originally aired August 6, 1993, Mary Anne gave birth to their son, Robespierre-Boinki Bartokomous.
[edit] The Dance of Joy
Whenever Balki is immensely pleased by something, he forces Larry to do the Dance of Joy. This consists of ridiculous leg kicks and alternating chants of "Hey," ending with Cousin Larry jumping into Balki's arms. The lyrics to the Dance of Joy song are approximately:
Dai-dai-dai-dai, Dai dai dai dai dai dai Hey Hey Hey Hey
[edit] Personal
His favorite motto is: "Well, of course not. Don't be Ridiculous!"
Balki has a stuffed sheep named Dimitri. The wool used to make the stuffed sheep is from an actual sheep named Dimitri from Mypos.
Balki has a sister named Nisha, she only appeared in one episode.[citation needed]
