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16 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Never given the credit deserved, 29 December 1999 Author: esfaith from Ohio, USA
I know that Who's The Boss? is a fondly remembered show of the 80s, yet I don't think it ever got the credit it deserved. Although it blends in as a sitcom just like the many others of its decade, I believe it stands alone in other ways. The cast is highly talented and the chemistry was amazing. Especially between Tony Danza and Judith Light's characters. No one can beat the quick wit of Katherine Helmond's Mona, and it takes a heck of a good actress to make the character what it was. The sexual tension between Angela and Tony is what everyone seems to remember when they discuss this show, and the writers kept it going for seven years before the characters finally confessed their love. I think this long running courtship makes the show stand out because it was done so well and so believably when in reality the concept is quite farfetched. Throw in a couple of cute and funny kids who developed into great actors themselves, and I think you have one of the BEST sitcoms of the 80s. Long live the reruns in cable!
12 out of 15 people found the following review useful: One of the best sit-coms ever..., 22 April 2000 Author: Libby-20 from USA
I love Who's the Boss, and I would absolutely rate it as one of the best sit-coms ever, even though I have rarely if ever seen it actually given this credit. Maybe I am biased because its my favorite show. Or maybe because I spent my childhood watching it, and for me, this show encompasses so many memories of the 80's, along with Cyndi Lauper, Garbage Pail Kids and Jelly shoes. But, actually, even though I am biased in a sense, I could still be right. I have never seen another sit-com that has had me on the edge of my seat, so awaiting the next episode. I have been lucky enough to see Who's the Boss on cable recently to refresh my mind, and it is only better now that I am old enough to appreciate the relationship between Tony and Angela. I can also appreciate the characters more in-depth, and I can analyze why Tony and Angela are the way they are, why it is so hard for them to admit their love to each other, and I can finally appreciate it when they DO declare their love for each other... If you are a romantic, you'll love this show! It has sweetness, laughter, romance, goofiness and much much more. There are a lot of very good sit-coms that can offer one or a few of the aspects that Who's the Boss offers, but only WTB has it all. To top it off, the acting of mostly everyone on the show is excellent, especially Judith Light and Tony Danza. If you love to watch great couples and you're sick of the sappy soap operas (which were only good when Judith Light was on OLTL, LOL:-) then you have to give WTB a chance. You'll get hooked. And this show definitely should have gotten MUCH more recognition!
10 out of 12 people found the following review useful: If you were alive in the 80s you have at least heard of this show, 7 October 2002 Author: Jonas from Seattle
I am so glad to see reruns of this show again. It is so much fun to watch, and it's nostalgic. I like all the characters except for Danny (when he was older his voice sounds....well we won't go there) As the seasons go on, though, Angela and Tony are the main focus of the show anyway. I don't get the whole Billy thing, why do shows always do that? It's almost a guarantee that it's going to be dead in its track within a year or two. Anyway it did run for a long time, and I love the final episode. You get to decide how they end. They need to do a reunion show.
7 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Amazing boss / housekeeper chemistry lights up hilarious sitcom, 24 April 2006 Author: roghache from Canada
This is an incredibly entertaining sitcom, one of the best ever of the family comedy genre. Actually, there are two families here who sort of merge into one, both physically (sharing the same house) and emotionally (sibling spats and so on, but genuine care & concern).The series revolves around a fairly affluent, divorced New York City advertising executive, Angela Bauer, who lives in a lovely colonial home in Connecticut with her rather shy & insecure young son, Jonathan. There are frequent visits from her man hungry mother, Mona, who eventually moves into an apartment over the garage. In the meantime, Angela hires an unusual, macho appearing Italian housekeeper hunk from Brooklyn, Tony Micelli, who is anxious to give his teenage daughter, Samantha, the greater opportunities that accompany a suburban life. Tony & Sam move in and the two families combine, so to speak.The relationship between Angela and Tony makes this series. Angela, the serious career woman, begins to rely heavily on Tony not only for domestic management, but also as a surrogate dad for son Jonathan. In the process Tony and Angela become best friends, share both laughs and tears, and exchange advice on everything from clothing styles to parenting to love interests. Naturally, romantic feelings develop between Angela and Tony and the chemistry & sexual tension of this unconsummated relationship are at the heart of the ongoing story. There are some pretty funny situations...Angela & Tony kissing after becoming a bit tipsy, Tony inadvertently walking in on Angela as she's just getting out of the shower, a scenario where the pair are forced to sleep in the same bed. Are you getting the picture? This ongoing situation is just so much more entertaining than modern sitcoms where everyone hops into bed straight away.Judith Light and Tony Danza are both magnificent in their roles. Light plays the workaholic, uptight Angela to perfection and no one could possibly impart more charisma to housekeeper Tony than Danza does. Katherine Helmond is brilliantly cast as the vixen mother, Mona. Danny Pintauro plays the cute Jonathan and Alyssa Milano puts real pizazz into her portrayal of Sam, a pretty & very social teenager who, typical of her age, is constantly on an emotional roller coaster and keeps the household in a state of continuous uproar. This is a brilliant and hilarious series with a clever, unique take on the employer / employee relationship.
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: A classic family sitcom, 1 January 2001 Author: BatPhrOg from TN
Who's the Boss? is no exception to the classic family sitcoms of the 80's and early 90's. It was a really great show and it was definitely Alyssa Milano's best acting job to date. Just like everyone else said I was also too young to realize the chemistry between Tony Danza and Judith Light but now that I watch reruns on Fox Family I understand it more. Mona was just a hilarious character to the show and I'm glad she was on it. It was definitely an underrated show. It lasted for a healthy 8 or 9 seasons but isn't quite as popular as the other sitcoms of it's time which is truly sad.
9 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Great writing and acting, 14 November 2000 Author: Rachel-20 from California
This show is one of my favorites to watch in re-runs. The quality of acting among the main characters elevated this to a level close to that of a good stage play, rather than that of the throwaway sitcoms that are so prevalent in prime time nowadays. The writers and actors together did a wonderful job of creating and maintaining emotional and sexual tension between Angela and Tony. It's so effective that in certain parts of some episodes I can feel the heart-pounding, did-he-mean-what-I-thought-he-meant, oh-my-gosh-I-think-he-really-likes-me tension right along with the characters in the show. And that kind of emotional effect just doesn't happen often with TV shows. It shows especial skill that they were able to maintain the chemistry and tension over an eight-year period, without it wearing thin or becoming too predictable.Judith Light is a wonderful actress. It is a mystery to me why she has been stuck in the realm of made-for-TV movies and infomercials since the end of this series. I think she belongs on the stage, personally. And to me, Tony Danza will always be Tony "oh hey, hey oh!" Micelli.They never should have brought in Billy, though. He was a cute kid, but at that point the show foundered for a while. It did recover in the last season and the final episode actually leaves me in tears when I see it.
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Never gets tiring, 14 February 2007 Author: chescagab from Canada
I've recently discovered this show through a bunch of DVD's of all 8 seasons. Out of all the sitcoms I have ever watched, I must say they don't make comedy like they used to.The acting was great and the cast fits perfectly. Tony Danza as a warm, caring but overprotective father. Judith Light as an uptight, conservative executive. Alyssa Milano and Danny Pintauro played the children perfectly. What was interesting is how the characters evolved so well as the times changed. In the latter parts of the episodes, Angela has learned to be more relaxed. Sam and Jonathan have become more like siblings as evidenced by their fights in some of the episodes. The only character I didn't like was Billy, but it's great that they got rid of him. The kid was a good actor, it's just he didn't 'fit'. The family was formed by this time as being Tony, Angela, Sam and Jonathan with well-timed comments from Mona, so to introduce a kid that late didn't bode well for the chemistry.The plot was well written with the sexual tension between Tony and Angela being apparent as early as the pilot episode. I liked how it eventually developed and the suspense of Tony and Angela getting together made me watch more episodes. I thought the transition from being friends to 'maybe something more' could have been developed further, but the ending was so sweet! Watching the ending made me think that "Who's the Boss" really came full circle. This is the first time I have ever seen this show, and I can appreciate the feelings Tony and Angela have for each other and how difficult this was to express at times.Although it was a comedy and it had its corny moments, it was really very touching with the right amount of laughter and suspense. Definitely one of, and arguably, the best comedy of its kind. They should do a reunion episode!
10 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Too great for words!, 28 August 2004 Author: Cherisse Lemmon (Rissey1992@cs.com) from Oregon, USA
Who's the Boss? was a hit television show that was too great for words, but I guess I have to use them. I love the spectacular acting of Judith Light and Tony Danza. Their characters were in love and nobody could have played love better. The way they could look deeply into each other's eyes on the set, and act as if they couldn't breath, couldn't talk, couldn't move, all they could do was love. Katherine Helmond played the boy-crazy mother so well. She has this zany, saucy character that would be far too dificult for some, but she knew how to act as if every guy that crossed her path was the hottest man alive. Alissa Milano played the character of a young teenager better than TV has ever seen! She could go from mad, to sad, to excited, to happy, to any emotion within a matter of seconds which is a vital talent when are playing the part of a young teen. Danny Pintauro was the perfect young, annoying, little brother type, "King Cobra"... it was as if he transformed into Jonathon and really felt the part. He probably loves snakes as much as Jonathon did, after acting so much, so well, it tends to rub off oen, ten being the best, one being the worst, I would give it 20! WHO'S THE BOSS? ROCKS!!!!!!!n you. The clothes were very nice also. The perfect outfits to go along with the perfect hairstyles of the 80s. TV has never seen a TV series so well planned, produced, directed, acted out, or anything. If I were to rate Who's the Boss? on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best, one being the worst, I would give Who's the Boss? a 20! WHO'S THE BOSS? ROCKS!!!!!!!
8 out of 12 people found the following review useful: When There was Still a Modicum of Ethnicity Recognition Left!!, 12 December 2006 Author: dataconflossmoor from United States
Our parent's generation was full of ethnic and religious generalizations which dominated the population's thought patterns, particularly in urban areas, today that is no longer the case!! In 1984 there was still a smattering of ethnic stereotypes that many people identified with on a fondly familiar level!! "Who's the Boss" combined the prevailing philosophies of today as well as the values of yesteryear!! I thought Tony Danza was the best part of the show...Italian Americans have a culture all to themselves, and reminiscing about the way things use to be was homogenized into a value system which exists today!! The whole genre is set up whereby old values clashed with modern situations!! The big bread winner in the household was a female, she was employing a male housekeeper...This male housekeeper was a semi-professional athlete, so he was very much a man!!! The mother was a party animal, and the kids were victims of their respective environments!! It was a case of W.A.S.P meets WAP.....I could identify with this combination totally, I am half one and half the other!! Together they sound like an insect repellent!! I use the term WAP kiddingly and with no disrespect!! For purposes of comic relief, all value systems were exaggerated!! This show exemplified the adjective "cute", and was enormously popular...Stars like Grant Aleksander contributed to the show tremendously!! They helped make it very entertaining!!!Today, a show like "Who's the Boss" could not make it!! The show encompassed an antiquated association of human nature through religious and social upbringings!! The ideas of the 1980's embraced a nostalgic ethnicity recognition which correlated to a bygone era's sociological pattern of living!!! Today, all such stigmatic associations have been aggregately obviated in American Television programming!!... I think that "Who's the Boss" was one the last bastions of programming that used innocuous cultural labeling as a humorous element to be incorporated into a television show... It was a great idea for a great period in American history (The 1980's)
4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Probably the best sitcom!, 22 October 2001 Author: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
This is the only sitcom that a person can watch for 7 years and not get bored! This show is wonderful for kids and teens to watch and grow up with the characters, I personally rate this show PG (MPAA) for mild language and some not-graphic sex-related dialogue.******************SPOILERS***************The writing is excellent and the ideas are great, the story is easy to follow and simple. The acting is WONDERFUL, I mean look at Alyssa Mylano, while Sam, her character, changed from a tomboy to an unpopular teen to a mature MARRIED woman, she was able to act all 3 of the "Sams", and Danny Pintauro's character, Jonathan, changed from the smart good boy to a teen that can't stop thinking about girls, Tony Danza and Judith Light, well, they act excellently, and the emotional tension between Tony and Angela was very well acted, and Mona is always a treat!Enjoyment: 5/5 Violence: 0/5 Family Viewing: 5/5Rating: 5/5
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