Pearl Caraldo, a middle-aged widow, is the loading dock manager for University Electronics but who wants to achieve a higher levelof education. She is accepted as a night student at the prestigious Swindon University. By contrast, her 20-year-old son Joey, a single father with no apparent ambition, is disappointed that his mother is no longer readily available as a live-in babysitter for his infant daughter. Also less than thrilled is Pearl's sister-in-law Annie, who is concerned that with her greater educational attainment, Pearl will become another "one of them intellectuals." A professor of a required course, Stephen Pynchon, further complicates matters by his belief that higher education is for a cultured elite, not working-class people like Pearl, and sets out to embarrass and belittle her whenever possible in hopes that she will withdraw from the university.
When Malcolm McDowell's name was put forward as a candidate to play Prof. Pynchon, creator Don Reo was initially skeptical, feeling that McDowell was more associated with villainous parts, but when McDowell read for the part, it was clear that he was very suitable. McDowell modeled the character on Lindsay Anderson, as well as British comicsEric Morecambe, Benny Hill, and John Cleese.
Broadcast
"Pearl" was broadcast on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 p.m. on CBS, opposite "The John Larroquette Show" on NBC, a show that was also created by Don Reo. Reo said "It's a really difficult, bizarre phenomenon,... the Larroquette show is in its fourth year and the last thing in the world I want to do is contribute to its demise."
Episodes
Reception
Critical reception
Pearl received very positive reviews, David Bianculli reviewed it in the New YorkDaily News comparing it to the 1973 movieThe Paper Chase, and calling it "a gem." He also said James Burrows "directs the pilot masterfully." For the Buffalo News, Alan Pergament said that "McDowell really is the star of the show, delivering his sarcastic lines with relish," and that "with some minor polishing" the show "could really give Perlman something more to cheer about." Tom Jicha in the Sun-Sentinel also called it "a gem" and says that Perlman and McDowell's "exchanges crackle with venomous vitality." He also calls McDowell "a revelation in his episodic TV debut" stating that "he has the comedic timing of someone who has been doing it all his life."
