Bosom Buddies: Two Percent Solution

Bosom Buddies: Two Percent Solution
ABC
January 15, 1982
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Carrerow & Chambers story takes advantage of the fact that Amy owns 2% of the business to provide humor and character development.  Ruth has temporarily failed in contract negotiations at Livingston, Gentry, and Mishkin, so she decides to be a less silent partner at Sixty Seconds Street.  She disagrees with the guys on the format of an upcoming ad (a magic act with Carson and McMahon impressions), as well as its star, Sonny. So she offers the gig to Isabelle, who presumably doesn't know about Sonny.  Kip and Henry argue with Ruth (including about their fashion sense, ages, heights, and other personal aspects).  Then Amy steps in and manipulates the situation so that the three of them will spoil her.  They even, judging by the exterior shot, take her to Ann Marie's favorite Italian restaurant, Nino's.  (Hey, at least this show is set in New York, unlike when Phil Packer went there on a double Brady date.)

Amy has no intention of deciding between sets of friends, but she doesn't mind gifts, or payback towards Ruth, who's been treating her like an underling all this time.  Meanwhile, Ruth learns to appreciate Henry and Kip's youthful enthusiasm and creativity, while they value her experience and schmoozing.  And Sonny and Isabelle have the last laugh.  (I still don't know how that "sawed in half" trick is done, since there are no table curtains here.  And early '80s visual technology was still relatively primitive.)

Mario the waiter is played by Lew Palter, who was Mr. Gronsky on The Brady Bunch and Claude on Soap.

Scenes from an Italian restaurant