Something serious occurred to me while watching old "Perfect Strangers" episodes:
Larry moved from Madison, WI to Chicago to pursue his dream of becoming a photojournalist. Balki immigrated from a small Mediterranean island because he was tired of poking sheep around with a stick. They worked, they struggled -- but eventually made it. By the time the series ended, they were both working at a newspaper -- Larry was a reporter, as I recall; and Balki was drawing a comic strip. They were both married. There is an optimism in these early episodes I've been watching (the only ones available on DVD, for some reason) that seems almost quaint now: We know that though it won't be easy, they will be successful so long as they don't give up.
But that show is from the '80's. If it were made today, Larry would probably be snowed under with student loans and Balki might be wishing he'd never left Mypos.
And they would still be working in Mr. Twinkasetti's store for minimum wage.