Who's the Boss?: First Kiss

Who's the Boss?: First Kiss
ABC
April 16, 1985
Sitcom
DVD
B

Sternin, Fraser, and Guylas wrote this teleplay based on a story by Wiser.  While it has some great moments, I do have issues with it. It's Angela's birthday.  (We won't get a clue to the date until later seasons, but if we assume that this episode is set last of the episodes of Season One, then it's after Sam's Easter weekend ski trip, so probably at least after April 7th, perhaps the date this aired or later.)  At first, she thinks she's going to get a surprise party and then she thinks that everyone has forgotten her birthday.  So she agrees to go to a Mexican restaurant with her best friends Dr. Isabel Schaeffer (Fern Fitzgerald, who would return once more) and Wendy Wittner/Wittener (Dori Brenner, the first of five appearances).  Meanwhile, Tony goes to play basketball with his friend Jeff (played by Danza's former Taxi co-star Jeff Conaway).

Surprisingly, both Tony and Angela get drunk.  It makes more sense in her case, since she's with her friends and feeling forgotten and wanting to celebrate.  Tony and Jeff are invited to drink for a safety demo, with promised rides home.  Tony gets less drunk than Jeff and the alcohol seems to affect him more than it does Angela, although he's much less inhibited than Angela normally, so it's harder to notice.  Angela's friends say they think Tony is cute and they fish to find out what Angela thinks of him.  Despite her inebriation, she answers cautiously.

Then Tony comes home shortly before Isabel's beeper goes off.  Her friends leave, Wendy wishing her a happy birthday.  Tony feels bad that he didn't remember, until he realizes he didn't know when her birthday was.  (Obviously, this episode wouldn't have worked in a later season, for other reasons as well.)  He offers to make Angela a birthday cake.

The two of them talk in the kitchen but are both hesitant to say how much they like each other.  Then she throws some flour at him and a playful fight breaks out, as they chase each other around the room, throwing flour.  He catches her, their eyes meet, and they move in for a kiss.  (Later in the episode, and later in the series, they'll argue over who initiated it, but it looks simultaneous.)

He apologizes after the kiss ends, but she's more worried about feeling dizzy.  She falls to the floor and he ends up carrying her up to her room.  She tries to pull him into bed, but he pulls away.  She immediately passes out.  And then, saying he'll regret this in the morning, he covers her up and leaves the room.

Mona comes in the next morning and finds the mess in the kitchen.  (The kids are staying with Mrs. Rossini in Brooklyn overnight.)  She sees Angela's shoes in the toaster.  She eagerly goes upstairs to talk to her daughter.  Angela wakes up with her nightgown over her clothes.  (Tony handed it to her but we never saw her put it on.)

At first, she can't remember the night before, but with Mona's prodding she recalls the kiss and then jumps to the conclusion that she slept with Tony.  (Does she think that he or she then put her clothes back on, with the nightie on top?)  Mona is delighted, although whether it's at Angela getting laid or about Tony specifically is unclear.  (In later seasons, it would be more the latter.)

There's a Three's-Company-like misunderstood conversation when Angela goes down to the kitchen to talk to Tony.  He's talking about their kiss, but she thinks he's dismissive of their having sex.  They clear the air but there's still much to discuss.  He says that he wouldn't take advantage of her when she was drunk.  And they have this exchange.

TONY: It's just that, uh, I mean, if anything ever did happen between us, I wouldn't wanna lose you, as a friend.
ANGELA: Oh, I wouldn't want to lose you either, as a friend.
TONY: And another thing.  If, uh, we ever did "lose each other as friends," I'd want you to remember it.  And you would!
ANGELA: So would you!

As played by Danza and Light, with all their chemistry, the scene sizzles.  It also will resonate through most of the rest of the series, with the possible loss of their friendship adding a dimension to the employer/employee taboo.

The kiss is also great, and the studio audience definitely appreciates it.  But I do feel uncomfortable with the idea of Angela possibly having sex when she's too drunk to remember it.  Yes, Tony doesn't try, but there is this exchange between Angela and Mona in the tag.

MONA: And how are the lovebirds this morning?
ANGELA: Mother, let me explain something to you.  It seems I had a slight memory lapse and I filled in the wrong blanks.  Now, Tony explained the whole thing, nothing happened.
MONA: And you believed him?

Then Tony comes in singing "To all the girls I loved before."  Angela looks very uncertain.  I get that it's a joke, but it's kind of a tasteless one.

Hugh Gillin, who plays the Police Officer, previously was Gen. Tomlin on M*A*S*H, Terri's father on Three's Company, Dave on Mork & Mindy, and Old Mr. Stepanowicz on Square Pegs.

Who's the Boss? in its first season ranges from C+ to A-, with half of the 22 episodes earning a B!  This averages out to a B, a very impressive beginning.  Why do I enjoy this season so much?  Well, the cast is solid, with great chemistry all around, although of course Danza & Light in particular.  The writing is good, often witty.  The situation has a lot of potential, as both Danza and Light recognized when they had to choose between this and other projects.

As for the next seven seasons, well, I watched various episodes on Youtube, until they were taken down.  I got a bootleg collection as an early Christmas present, so I'm eager to see if those discs work.  If they do, we'll continue this journey with the Micellis and Bowers, and Mona of course.  If not, well, it's been fun to revisit this season.  (Which is on the only DVD collection ever officially released.)