Who's the Boss?

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Classic '80s sitcom about a blended family.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that in this series, two single parents, their kids, and a lively, man-crazy grandmother live together in a non-traditional family. By making the main male character a housekeeper, the show offers a good twist on traditional gender roles. The evolving relationship between Tony and Angela -- along with subtle sexual tension between them -- is a central theme. Other issues explored include teen dating, parents dating, and jealousy. The series is particularly good for kids who understand the dynamics of non-traditional families.

  • The characters are caring and sensitive. Themes explored include teen dating, parents dating, and jealousy. Each episode has a moral/life lesson. A nice turnabout on traditional gender roles.
  • Not applicable.
  • Frequent innuendo from the zany, man-crazy grandmother Mona. Subtle sexual tension between the two central adult characters. Kids date as they get older (one episode features hickeys prominently).

What's the story?

In this classic 1980s sitcom, Judith Light plays Angela Bower, a divorced, uptight, career-driven single mother. She hires Tony Micelli (Tony Danza), a handsome Italian widowed father who used to play for the St. Louis Cardinals but moved to upscale Connecticut to find a job that allows him to spend more time with his daughter Samantha (Alyssa Milano), to manage the household and help raise her son Jonathan (Danny Pintauro). Angela's spirited, man-crazy mother Mona (Katherine Helmond) completes the unusual family. Mona is present for all of the important moments and has the best "tells 'em like she sees 'em" one-liners.


Is it any good?

 

This long-running sitcom (1984-1992) was one of the first to turn traditional family and gender roles upside down. Even though its stereotypical characters border on corny, WHO'S THE BOSS? manages to be loveable and charming for today's audience, thanks largely to the chemistry of the talented ensemble cast. The show provides a glance back at how television has evolved along with social roles, hairstyles, and clothing. Its charm is in watching macho Italian male Tony manage emotional challenges and domestic chores with integrity and finesse.

The evolution of Tony and Angela's relationship and the growth of the children over the course of the series add depth to the storyline -- we see tomboy Samantha grow up and start dating and eventually get married. And Tony's sensitive, self-deprecating wit balances Angela's intensity as they work together to raise a family. Watching the subtleties of their relationship evolve becomes a central theme of the show. Sure, some of the jokes fall flat, but this classic sitcom is enjoyable family television with a clear message: Families come in many varieties.


What families can talk about

Families can talk about what constitutes a family and how this program (from the early 1980s) was one of the first to highlight a single, career-driven woman relying on a domestic male figure to run the household. What would it be like to have a man other than your dad in charge of the cooking and cleaning? How do you think you'd deal with a situation like Tony and Sam's?


This review was written by Audrey Shapiro
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Would be good show if there wasn't so much innuendo
I had never seen this show before, and purchased the DVD to see what it was like. This show is very good....funny, entertaining - except there is a fair helping of sexual innuendo and sexual tension between the two main characters. In the Season One finale, Tony and Angela, both intoxicated kiss in the kitchen, and the next morning Angela thinks she had sex with Tony and her mother seems rather pleased....Tony walks in on Angela naked in the bathroom...and so on. There are other mild references to sexual actions in the show also. Profanity is used rarely in this series. Overall, this show is good for older audiences, but I'd be careful around kids. While it seems like an innocent show, it's not.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Pretty Silly
OK, but Tony sure does seem dum

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
salut comment avoir les video de madame est servie la saison 8 mille merci

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Parent of 3, 6, and 9 year old
June 18, 2010
 
Good, funny show for teens, but not younger kids.
This is a very funny show, but not for 8 year olds! The grandmother makes WAY too many sexy comments. There's an episode where the 8 year old boy is asking why his mother and the housekeeper doesn't just go ahead and "have sex" so they can get married. There are a lot of sexual jokes and and talk about sex, which is not appropriate for 8 year olds. This is more of a show for teens to watch with their parents.

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Kid, 12 years old
October 3, 2011
 
great but depends on you and your family
I believe this is a great show fro kids or adults it is one od the great shows from the 80's I love it the people in this sitcom are very encourging and funny in some parts you can understand their stuation. you sgould watch it with your kids like all families they all have different ideas about what is appraiot you should watch it first to see if you like it and approve or disaprove either way if you decide you dont like it then it could be a good refrence in your childrens teen years.

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Parent of 3, 7, and 9 year old
June 18, 2010
 
Good family show for older kids and parents to view together
I loved this show as a teenager and when it recently came back on TV I noticed it was given the 8 and up review, but I must say I disagree. It has quite a bit of sexual jokes and innuendos, especially from the grandmother. I feel it's a good show overall, but more appropriate when kids hit around puberty and then it would still be good to watch with their parents as a family so topics could be discussed, (like premarital sex, which is frequently hinted at from the grandmother.) The main characters do have, overall, good values.

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Adult
August 19, 2009
 
good for the entire family
i think it is a has no sex, or filthy language. very fynny.great show for all ages.

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This review was written by Audrey Shapiro
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:Nickelodeon
Cast:Alyssa Milano, Judith Light, Tony Danza
Genre:Comedy

This review was written by Audrey Shapiro
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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