Fans of ABC’s TGIF lineup can prepare for a blast from the past. According to Deadline, HBO Max is developing a reboot of the half-hour comedy series, Perfect Strangers. The remake will star Robin Thede (BET’s The Rundown, A Black Lady Sketch Show) and London Hughes (Laughter Shock, The Netflix Afterparty).
In the reboot, Thede and Hughes will discover they are half sisters after inheriting an apartment in Brooklyn, according to Deadline. Thede will play Dejay and Hughes will play Poppy. As polar opposites, the half-siblings will not only have to learn to live together, but how to be family in the process.
According to Deadline, the original series starred Mark-Linn Baker (My Favorite Year, Noises Off) and Bronson Pinchot (Beverly Hills Cop, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) as distant cousins who wind up living together. Created by Dale McRaven (Mork & Mindy, Angie), Perfect Strangers ran for eight seasons with Baker’s Larry and Pinchot’s Balki entertaining viewers from 1986-1993. The series would eventually spark a spinoff entitled, Family Matters, which focused on a middle class African American family living in Chicago. Family Matters’ matriarch Harriet Winslow, portrayed by Jo Marie Payton (The Proud Family, Moesha), was the elevator operator of the cousins’ apartment building.
According to Deadline, Thede will write and executive produce the series as part of her overall deal with Warner Bros. Her For Better Or Words imprint will be joined by original series’ producer, Robert Boyett (Bosom Buddies, Partners), of Miller/Boyett Productions. In addition to this series, Thede is currently writing comedy film for HBO Max with Michael B. Jordan’s (Without Remorse, Creed 3) Outlier Society producing. Thede was recently seen in the second season of A Black Lady Sketch Show. Created by Thede, the late night series was renewed for a third season and featured Ashley Nicole Black (The Simpsons Movie, Bless This Mess), Gabrielle Dennis (The Upshaws, The Game), Laci Mosley (iCarly, Florida Girls) and Skye Townsend (Playing for Love, 8 Days a Week).
Hughes was recently seen hosting The Netflix Afterparty, according to Deadline. The British comedian and actress is currently working on Hot Mess, a comedy being produced by Will Packer (Night School, Central Ave.) and Universal.