The Nostalgic TV Show Partner Switcheroo

The 1990s brought us some iconic television programming.  These shows produced some of the most celebrated TV partners, duos, and buddies the small screen has ever seen.  Just think of all the hijinks brought to us by Fox Mulder & Dana Scully, Pinky & The Brain, Jack McFarland & Karen Walker, The Fresh Prince & Carlton Banks, Frasier & Niles Crane, Lucas Wolenczak & Darwin the Dolphin, Chandler Bing & Joey Tribbiani, and of, course, Ren & Stimpy.  These pairs provided us hours — nay — days — nay –years of entertainment.

Imagine what would happen if you switched up television twosomes?  Check out these re-imagined duos and find out what shenanigans these new partners might get up to in some of the zaniest shows that could have existed — only in the ’90s:

Fox Mulder from The X-Files & Pinky from Pinky and the Brain

The-Pinky-Files
Show Title: The Pinky Files
Genre: Sci-Fi/Drama
FBI agent Fox Mulder is constantly thwarted by his new partner, Pinky the simpleminded mouse.  When Mulder consults Pinky for his opinion on paranormal activity, Pinky utters things along the lines of “I think so, Mulder, but how will the aliens use sausage casings as tractor beams?”

Ren Höek from Ren & Stimpy & Chandler Bing from Friends

Show Title:  Höek and Bing’s Agency Thing
Genre:  Dramedy
A sarcastic advertising agent and an even more sarcastic Chihuahua struggle to keep a pet supplies marketing firm, “Agency Thing,” afloat.

Frasier Crane & Darwin the Dolphin from SeaQuest DSV

Fish-Dick
Show Title:  Fish Dick
Genre:  Detective Show
Psychiatrist turned private eye Frasier Crane works with his partner Darwin the Dolphin to solve crimes occurring in and around Puget Sound.

Dana Scully from The X-Files & Joey Tribbiani from Friends

Show Title:  The Acting Detector
Genre:  Sitcom
A scrappy young FBI agent tries to make her romance with an unemployed actor work.  When Scully begins dragging Joey on assignments, she finds that his naiveté and imagination are useful in solving cases.

The Brain from Pinky and the Brain & The Fresh Prince from Bel-Air

The-Brain-of-Bel-Air
Show Title:  The Brain of Bel-Air
Genre:  Sitcom
Now this is a story all about how Will’s life got flipped-turned upside down… When a megalomaniacal mouse who’s up to no good decides to take up residence in the Fresh Prince’s hood…

Lucas Wolenczak from Seaquest DSV & Jack McFarland from Will & Grace

Show Title: Gay Genius in Space
Genre: Sitcom
In a case of mistaken identities, NASA accidentally kidnaps a teenage prodigy and an outspoken homosexual actor.  Now Lucas and Jack find themselves trapped inside the space station SNIR.

Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air & Stimpson J. Cat from Ren & Stimpy

Cat-Got-Your-Carlton
Show Title:  Cat Got Your Carlton
Genre:  Sitcom
When an uptight yuppie finds a cat “doing the Carlton dance” in the window of an animal shelter, he cannot resist adopting the creature.  Little does either know their lives are about to be changed forever as Stimpy shakes up Carlton’s neat, predicable existence while Carlton forces his flea-bitten friend to learn about the finer things.

Karen Walker from Will & Grace & Niles Crane from Frasier

Show Title: The Walker/Crane Wedding Party

Genre: Soap Opera
Shrill-voiced dowager Karen Walker seduces psychiatrist Niles Crane for his money and social status.  Little does she know that the recently bankrupted Niles has his own nefarious interests at heart when he proposes to her.

Photoshoppin’ by Erika Cervantes

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About the author

Kristen Bobst is a grade-A comedy writer, an unstoppable sock puppeteer, and the world's foremost whimsy aficionado. She certainly believes the meaning of life really is 42; and right now Kristen is really into The Carrie Diaries. Comediva. Where the funny girls are.

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