FORGOTTEN TV: PEARL (1996-1997)

After the end of CHEERS in 1993, Rhea Perlman took a couple years off before returning to sitcoms with her own series named PEARL in 1996.

Perlman played a middle aged woman who returns to college. Much of the show centered on her philosophy class where the Professor was played by Malcolm McDowell. Yes, the star of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and CALIGULA was in a sitcom, and was very good too! Also in the cast were Lucy Liu and Carol Kane as Pearl's sister in law. To be honest, I had forgotten they were in the show.

I do remember two other cast members.

Kevin Corrigan was a student. This was in the mid 90’s when he was something of an indie film darling, the male Parker Posey. Also in the cast was Nikki Cox. According to some sources, she was only in two episodes, but I’m pretty sure she was in more than that. This aired while her other sitcom, UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER was on the air.

As far as sitcoms go, PEARL was a lot better than it might sound. It was smart, and very funny. From the creators of GOLDEN GIRLS, with writers from THE JOHN LARROQUETTE SHOW and MASH and even DANGER BAY and DOUBLE TROUBLE, it never really found its audience.

Proof that no one was watching came from this dialogue, from a discussion between Corrigan and Cox. They are in class, and are told to exchange tests and grade each others papers.

COX: Don’t flunk me.

CORRIGAN: Yeah, I’ll flunk you. (Quietly) I wouldn’t mind flunking you all night long.

I could never believe they got away with that line.

PEARL ran only 22 episodes on CBS. It went off the air in 1997 and hasn’t been seen since. It was never released on DVD.



Here is a Youtube clip from the series with Malcolm McDowell reteaming with his A CLOCKWORK ORANGE co-star Aubrey Morris.