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Season 1 – Pearl

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Pearl Sep 1996 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
A loading dock manager by day, widow Pearl Caraldo seeks a better life by enrolling in night classes at a nearby college, where she frequently finds herself at odds with her snobbish professor, Stephen Pynchon. She also doesn't get a lot of support from her son, Joey, a single parent who misses the free baby sitting, and best friend Annie, who frets that Pearl will drop her after becoming "one of them intellectuals." Pearl's classmates include socially inept Frankie, overachiever Amy and fashion-obsessed Margaret.
Pearl — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

This sitcom needs a more fleshed-out world before it can claim it as its oyster, but Rhea Pearlman is a gem and finds a worthy comedic adversary in Malcolm McDowell.

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Critics Reviews

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Diane Werts Newsday 10/20/2021
Rhea Perlman's trademark gumption, Malcolm McDowell's pomposity-with-a-heart, and sharp scripting from Don Reo turn this unpolished idea into a vibrant gem. Go to Full Review Noel Holston and Neal Justin Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/19/2021
Rhea Perlman, the sassy Cheers waitress, is a kinder, gentler presence in this somewhat promising sitcom. Go to Full Review David Bianculli New York Daily News 07/26/2019
James Burrows directs the pilot masterfully, not only taking advantage of the unusually deep and wide angles of the cavernous classroom setting, but smoothly catching and framing every electric moment between Pearl and the professor. Go to Full Review Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal 10/25/2021
The pilot is funny, the series could be even funnier. If there's a Cheers grad worth betting on, it's Perlman. Go to Full Review Rick Kushman Sacramento Bee 10/21/2021
3/4
Turns out Perlman was not just along for the ride on Cheers. She and McDowell may be the chemistry champs of the year. Go to Full Review Barbara Righton Ottawa Citizen 10/20/2021
Pearl (Rhea Perlman) heads for college, where she encounters a gaggle of misfit students, and an acerbic professor (Malcolm McDowell). The verbal sparring that results is top notch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Pearl — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Rhea Perlman

Pearl Caraldo

Malcolm McDowell

Profesor Stephen Pynchon

Carol Kane

Annie Carmen

Kevin Corrigan

Frankie Spivak

Dash Mihok

Joey Caraldo

Lucy Liu

Amy Li

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 16, 1996 Pilot A working-class widow (Rhea Perlman) deals with an imperious professor (Malcolm McDowell) on her return to college. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 18, 1996 Teacher's Pet Pearl (Rhea Perlman) volunteers to be Pyncheon's (Malcolm McDowell) teaching assistant. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 23, 1996 Your Cheatin' Heart To compensate for cheating on a philosophy test, Pearl persuades professor Pynchon to give her an oral makeup exam, which evolves into a freewheeling battle of wits. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 30, 1996 Billy Pynchon's tippling brother (Billy Connolly) arrives from Scotland with their father's ashes. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 7, 1996 The Naked Truth Pearl (Rhea Perlman) sees more of Pynchon (Malcolm McDowell) than she wanted to see. Details Episode 6 Aired Oct 14, 1996 Pynchon's Pynchon A visit from Pynchon's former professor leaves him speechless. Details Episode 7 Aired Oct 30, 1996 Ticket to Ride Pearl thinks Pynchon's request for a ride is a request for a date. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 6, 1996 Homecoming Pearl (Rhea Perlman) uses Pyncheon (Malcolm McDowell) to avoid a handsome Italian. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 13, 1996 Homecoming Dates for the grand homecoming ball hinge on a lost wager, an attempted bribe, second thoughts and, yes, fate. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 20, 1996 Lessons in Love Censorship protester Pynchon (Malcolm McDowell) chains himself to the library doors. Details Episode 11 Aired Dec 11, 1996 The Tutor Pearl teaches her 9-year-old-genius adviser (Mara Wilson) how to be a kid. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 18, 1996 Christmas Daze On Christmas Eve a guard dog traps Pearl and Pynchon in the classroom. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 8, 1997 Power Play Professor Pynchon's students have written papers on the abuse of power - and that's just what happens when he gleefully assigns them to grade one another's work. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 15, 1997 Pearls Before Swine Pearl may have to drop out of school to repay her deceased husband's debt. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 29, 1997 Mission ImPearlsible Weird Guy Bob (Seth Green) sabotages a group project, and Pearl (Rhea Perlman) must get it back. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 5, 1997 Dean Cuisine Pearl is Pynchon's blind date for dinner at Dean Aston Martin's (Danny DeVito) house. Details Episode 17 Aired Feb 12, 1997 The Write Stuff Pearl's fiction assignment turns autobiographical; with Alice Cooper. Details Episode 18 Aired Feb 19, 1997 The Write Stuff Pearl romanticizes her late husband, Sal (Ted Danson), in her assignment. Details Episode 19 Aired Jun 4, 1997 The Two Mrs. Rizzos Annie's ex-boyfriend finds a lot in common with Pearl; Joey moves out of the house. Details Episode 20 Aired Jun 11, 1997 Mommy Dearest Frankie's mother, Miriam Spivak, arrives in town and announces that she has left Frankie's father, but matters get worse when Pearl learns that Miriam is having a fling with Pynchon. Details Episode 21 Aired Jun 18, 1997 My So-Called Real World Pynchon allows Frankie to make a documentary film in lieu of a term paper. Details Episode 22 Aired Jun 25, 1997 Billy Returns When Pynchon's brother returns to town and asks Pearl on a date, Pearl questions his intentions. Although Pearl is attracted to Billy she isn't sure if he really likes her or if he is just trying to annoy his brother. Details

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Season Info

Director
James Burrows, Don Scardino, Gil Junger, Peter Chakos, John Ratzenberger, Robby Benson
Executive Producer
Don Reo, Rhea Perlman, Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Gary S. Levine
Screenwriter
Don Reo, Judith D. Allison, Josh Goldsmith, Terri Minsky, Janis Hirsch, Teresa O'Neill, Cathy Yuspa
Network
CBS
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 16, 1996