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| Tony Danza as Tony Micelli in "Who's the Boss" opposite Angela Bower, played by Judith Light. Source: https://www.foxnews.com /entertainment/10-hot-moments-between-tony-and-angela-on-whos-the-boss (May be subject to copyright) |
He will forever be one character to me – Tony Micelli. He was a single dad, former baseball player, and live-in housekeeper on “Who’s the Boss”. And he had this chemistry with his boss, Angela Bower played by Judith Light, that left viewers wondering, will they ever get together/
However, his career was much longer and more prolific, and the names of his characters had a strange quirk.
What’s in a name?
There was a musical act in the ‘80s called “Tony! Toni! Toné!”.
There was a musical act in the ‘80s called “Tony! Toni! Toné!”.
Nothing could have better described the television career of Tony Danza. The first name of every character he played was named Tony.
That’s why I did a double take a few weeks ago when I was watching the latest season of “Blue Bloods”. When detectives Reagan and Baez responded to a shooting involving an off-duty police officer in his own home, they referred to the cop as “Ray”.
It sounded like Tony Danza, and kind of looked like him, but “Ray” looked a lot older and like he may have had a bit of work done. He also didn’t quite act the same. He was much more serious, but that could just be good acting. And he was a guest star, so he really wasn’t on screen enough to really figure out.
Yet, in the credits there it was in plain sight – “Tony Danza”.
It brought back memories of Tony, Tony, Tony – the three characters he played in the 1980s and beyond.
Murder Can Hurt You
It is ironic the first character I ever saw Tony Danza play actually wasn't named Tony, but it was so close, and for a good reason. He was in “Murder Can Hurt You”, which was a spoof of television detective shows. His character wasn’t named Tony, but Pony – Pony Lambretta, a spoof of TV detective Tony Baretta.
It is ironic the first character I ever saw Tony Danza play actually wasn't named Tony, but it was so close, and for a good reason. He was in “Murder Can Hurt You”, which was a spoof of television detective shows. His character wasn’t named Tony, but Pony – Pony Lambretta, a spoof of TV detective Tony Baretta.
Tony drives taxi
Taxi was a ground-breaking show that achieved a lot of critical success, including multiple Emmy awards. However, it never had the same commercial success, struggled in the ratings and got dropped not once, but twice. It was cancelled once by ABC then picked up by NBC who cancelled it a year later.
Taxi was a ground-breaking show that achieved a lot of critical success, including multiple Emmy awards. However, it never had the same commercial success, struggled in the ratings and got dropped not once, but twice. It was cancelled once by ABC then picked up by NBC who cancelled it a year later.
The writing was strong and the acting was excellent. It was where viewers first met Danny DeVito as dispatcher Louis DePalma. Judd Hirsch became a household name, garnering an Emmy for his performance as driver Alex Reiger. Marilu Henner broke down some barriers as a strong female lead as driver Elaine Nardo. Christopher Lloyd was incredible as driver Jim Ignatowski who was a spaced out one-time hippie. Jeff Conaway parlayed his role as driver Bobby Wheeler into a spot in Grease, which was a huge box office hit.
Yet, the actor who went onto the biggest success on TV was Tony Danza, playing the dim-witted, punch drunk boxer and tax driver Tony Banta.
Danza had actually been a boxer so he integrated that into his character.
I don’t have a lot of specific memories, but Danza’s role as Tont Banta led to the role that would likely define his career.
Tony keeps house
It was not too long after “Taxi” went off the air that ABC announced Tony Danza would be back on the air for the 1984-1985 season. He was playing Tony Micelli, a former baseball player and single dad, who becomes a live-in housekeeper for Angela Bower, a divorced business executive and mother of one. She was played by Judith Light who had had her biggest success in daytime television. Rounding out the cast were Tony’s daughter, played by a very young Alyssa Milano, who started out as a tomboy; Angela’s son, played by Danny Pintauro; and Angela’s mother Mona, played by Katherine Helmond, who was not far removed from her role as Jessica Tate on “Soap”.
It was not too long after “Taxi” went off the air that ABC announced Tony Danza would be back on the air for the 1984-1985 season. He was playing Tony Micelli, a former baseball player and single dad, who becomes a live-in housekeeper for Angela Bower, a divorced business executive and mother of one. She was played by Judith Light who had had her biggest success in daytime television. Rounding out the cast were Tony’s daughter, played by a very young Alyssa Milano, who started out as a tomboy; Angela’s son, played by Danny Pintauro; and Angela’s mother Mona, played by Katherine Helmond, who was not far removed from her role as Jessica Tate on “Soap”.
“Who’s the Boss” did not start out being a ratings dynamo. In fact, the show that was its lead in, “People Do the Craziest Things” hosted by Bert Convy, was cancelled after a couple episodes.
I remember fearing “Who’s the Boss” would soon follow given ABC’s quick trigger finger. Yet, it survived that first season. The next year, ABC paired “Who’s the Boss” with another family comedy called, “Growing Pains” and that one-hour time slot would turn in solid ratings until the end of the 1991-1992 season.
Over that period, Tony Danza would explore many different sides of Tony Micelli. In addition to macho, former athlete, he was the sensitive single dad who still grieved the loss of his wife with his daughter. He was also the faithful housekeeper and friend to Angela Bower.
Tony loves Angela
It was inevitable that Tony and Angela would develop feelings for each other. For me, that was the best part of the show. That sexual tension germinated in the first season, began to grow in subsequent seasons, and did blossom into a full romance by the end of the show’s run.
It was inevitable that Tony and Angela would develop feelings for each other. For me, that was the best part of the show. That sexual tension germinated in the first season, began to grow in subsequent seasons, and did blossom into a full romance by the end of the show’s run.
Tony Danza and Judith Light had good on-screen chemistry. It would be those two roles the actors are best remembered for. All told, they ended up appearing in 196 episodes of “Who’s the Boss”.
The years after
Tony Danza would go on to continue acting, voicing the baby in “Baby Talk”, a knock-off of the movie “Look Who’s Talking?” in 1991-1992. He followed that with two more shows. In “Hudson Street” he played a divorced detective for 22 episodes in the 1995-1996 season. He was back in 1997-1998 for 14 episodes in “The Tony Danza Show, where he played a single father of two and a sportswriter. In both shows his character was named – Tony.
Tony Danza would go on to continue acting, voicing the baby in “Baby Talk”, a knock-off of the movie “Look Who’s Talking?” in 1991-1992. He followed that with two more shows. In “Hudson Street” he played a divorced detective for 22 episodes in the 1995-1996 season. He was back in 1997-1998 for 14 episodes in “The Tony Danza Show, where he played a single father of two and a sportswriter. In both shows his character was named – Tony.
He continues to act to this day. In fact, his guest spot in “Blue Bloods” earlier in 2022 is one of his most recent performances.
Parting thoughts
“Who’s the Boss” was a Tuesday night staple on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial. It was a classic sitcom that provided some laughs. More importantly, it provided that sexual tension between Tony Micelli and Angela Bower that kept me coming back every week.
“Who’s the Boss” was a Tuesday night staple on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial. It was a classic sitcom that provided some laughs. More importantly, it provided that sexual tension between Tony Micelli and Angela Bower that kept me coming back every week.
I was a teenager experiencing all these intense emotions for the first time, so every week I hoped Tony and Angela would get together. Whenever Angela dated someone new, I secretly thought, “Tony is way better.” Actually I am pretty sure I said that to my Mom. We watched “Who’s the Boss” together every week.
What made that couple so compelling was that Tony Danza turned in a classic performance as a sensitive, endearing, strong single dad.
He may have gone on to play a lot of other characters – mostly named Tony – but he will always be Tony Micelli to me.
And he did get the girl in the end.
Tony and Angela did live happily ever after. In fact, they would be celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.
