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Did "The Dance of Joy" have anything to do with Louie Anderson (Larry Appleton in the original pilot) being fired?


Louie Anderson was originally cast as Larry Appleton, but was recast with Mark-Linn Baker after the pilot episode was filmed. Not to fat shame, but was it decided to recast with someone thinner so that Bronson Pinchot could lift his co-star while doing "The Dance of Joy"? I suppose if Louie Anderson tested well with audiences, Larry could've lifted Balki, instead of vice versa. However, Balki lifting Larry seemed more fitting. Putting Balki's catchphrase "Don't be ridiculous" aside, "The Dance of Joy" was a "physical catch phrase" in itself -- without it, the series was nothing.

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