WHO'S THE BOSS?: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this series of comedies about advertising executive Angela Bower and her live-in housekeeper -- former pro-baseball player Tony Micelli -- and their respective families. In this episode, Tony moves his daughter Samantha from New York City to Connecticut and applies for the housekeeping job at Angela’s home. Despite the strong approval of her mother, Mona, who thinks Tony is a “hunk,” Angela is uncomfortable with the idea of a man taking the position and living in her home, especially as he has no references or experience. However, he proves himself to be good with children, winning over her young son, Jonathan, and once Mona explains that he is a widower and can provide Jonathan with a good male influence, she gives in. Angela then goes on a date with her boss, Grant, and he invites her to go away with him for the weekend. They are interrupted by Tony, who mistakes him for an intruder, and Grant is equally surprised at her choice of employee. After Grant leaves, Tony later apologizes for butting in, but when Angela reveals that she is up for the position of president at work, he questions whether she is dating Grant in order to secure the promotion. She claims that the issues are unrelated, but he insists that if she gets the job, she will always have to wonder if she got it for the right reasons. The next morning, Tony prepares breakfast and convinces Jonathan to eat healthy food for once, which impresses Angela. He asks her if she thought about his comments from the night before and, disguising their conversation in front of the children, says that she should avoid “empty calories” which are unfulfilling. At work, Angela tells Grant that she wants to put their weekend on hold until the position of president has been decided, just so she can be sure that she is not getting an unfair advantage. When she returns home, she tells him that she followed his advice, much to his contentment. Sam arrives home from school and talks to Tony about Angela’s success as a working mother, seemingly inspired for her own future. Angela’s office calls and Tony learns that she received the promotion. He asks her if she would have any regrets about not going away with Grant if she did not get the job, and she says that she would not. He then tells her that she did indeed get it, and they all celebrate—in their own distinct ways. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 20, 1984 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:25:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:57611
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1984-1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Blake Hunter … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Martin Cohan … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Roxie Wenk-Evans … Associate Producer
- Bill Persky … Director
- Larry Carlton … Theme Music by
- Robert Kraft … Theme Music by
- Tony Danza … Cast, Tony Micelli
- Judith Light … Cast, Angela Bower
- Alyssa Milano … Cast, Samantha Micelli
- Danny Pintauro … Cast, Jonathan Bower
- Katherine Helmond … Cast, Mona
- Dennis Holahan … Cast, Grant Paxton
- Rhoda Gemignani … Cast, Mrs. Rossini