Bosom Buddies: Kip and Sonny's Date

Bosom Buddies: Kip and Sonny's Date
ABC
January 8, 1981
Sitcom
DVD
B

Chris Thompson wrote this episode that works on a few different levels.  As the title indicates, Kip and Sonny have an actual date, to a French restaurant, but they double with Henry and his blind date, Ruth's niece Cecily, who's now a punker who calls herself Andrea Pus.  (This is the second episode to refer to Ruth's other niece, 8-year-old Gloria.)  Kip makes a fool of himself, as he realizes when, as Buffy, he plays a game of Truth.  He goes on a bender for a day and a half but resolves to try again with Sonny.

Levels I appreciate this episode on (in no particular order):

• Again, nice ensemble work, as when Henry, Amy, and Isabelle help Kip ask Sonny out, and the other questions in Truth (Isabelle doing something at 18, but first kissing a guy at 12, and of course Amy hijacking a Greyhound bus because of peer pressure);
• It contains one of Dixon's best performances on the show; yes, she looks stunning in the shining red dress but she's also willing to look silly, as when she imitates Kip;
• Kip and Sonny's interaction with the waiter;
• What I recall as one of the earliest portrayals of a punk-rocker on a sitcom, and a fairly sympathetic portrayal at that; 
• The nice twist that Henry actually hits it off with Andrea, who finds him sweet;
• The Mrs. Robinson references (and Sperber seems to be a pretty good singer);
• Back when I was twelve and a Henry fangirl, I probably wouldn't have thought about this, but now I think Isabelle is right, Kip does have a nice butt;
• Kip and Henry playing most of one scene on their knees, even their hug;
• The way their friendship works;
• The references this time range from the then very accessible Dr. Pepper set-up to the now "I had to Google him" Richard Boone.