Who's the Boss?: Double Dump

In happier times

Who's the Boss?: Double Dump
ABC
December 6, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Eric Gilliland's first of four WtB episodes has Jesse dump Sam onscreen, while Max dumps Mona offscreen.  The two dumpees are unhappy, although Sam typically tries to hide her emotions at first.  Partly at the urging of Angela, Mona and Sam go out to dinner and comfort each other.  Tony worries that Mona will lead Sam astray, which offends Angela, but Mona is grandmotherly in her own way.  This is Pintauro's 100th episode.

Who's the Boss?: Prom Night II

Who's the Boss?: Prom Night II
ABC
May 3, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B+

When Jesse invites Sam to his Junior Prom, Angela tries to make all the decisions.  We and Tony find out from Mona how bad Angela's prom experience was.  The episode has a bit about Sam's romance with Jesse, but it's more about her almost mother-daughter relationship with Angela, as well as how Tony deals with it.  In the tag, Tony very sweetly throws a prom in the living room for Angela, complete with decorations and Motown music.

Saleslady Sandra McCabe had played Detective Donahue's bride on Soap.

Who's the Boss?: Three Teens and a Tony

Three teens and a Tony

Who's the Boss?: Three Teens and a Tony
ABC
March 1, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

One teen is Sam; the second is Mason (Adam Carl in only his second appearance, although treated like one of the family); and the third is Sam's boyfriend Jesse.  Tony lets Mason sleep in his room (in a sleeping bag on the floor) when Mason's housemates the football players threaten him.  Then when Jesse can't make it to a skating party, he suggests Sam go with Mason.  Sam has a good time and ends up kissing Mason, with everyone reacting to that.  Among the reactions are some later to be sadly ironic disagreements among Tony, Angela, and Mona on whether Sam should tell Jesse about kissing Mason, with Tony using the example of himself and Angela hypothetically dating.  (Later, he will "cheat on" Angela, and Mona will advocate, as she does here, keeping silent about it.)

This is one of only two WtB stories by Claylene Jones; her other one is also a "Sam episode."

Who's the Boss?: Steady as She Goes

Who's the Boss?: Steady as She Goes
ABC
January 19, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Joe Fisch's first of six WtB stories has the family's reactions when Sam starts going steady with Jesse:

• Sam initially starts planning her wedding (little realizing she'll get engaged to two other guys in the next four years or so), but then realizes she's been neglecting her father;
• Angela is both a friend and a mother surrogate when Sam confides in her;
• Tony is worried, even though he likes Jesse;
• Jonathan teases Sam;
• Mona doesn't really react much, though she does tease Sam a little.

There are also some nice co-parent moments between Tony and Angela, and we know she's thinking of him when she tells Sam about how her image of her dream man has changed over the years.  Note that Jesse is still very intellectual and activist, giving Sam a Greenpeace button rather than a ring.

Who's the Boss?: Car and Driver

Who's the Boss?: Car and Driver
ABC
December 1, 1987
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Donley & Graham wrote the teleplay, based on a story by a writer who didn't contribute to any of my other shows.  Jesse and Sam are helping Tony in his project to deliver meals to senior citizens, using Tony's van.  Unfortunately, Jesse lets Sam drive and she gets into an accident where another teenager is at fault.  The case goes to trial and Jesse has to decide whether to lie to protect Sam or to do the right thing.  This is the episode where we find out that Tony's middle name is Morton, and a studio audience member can be heard repeating it in amusement.  (By this point, studio audiences, with some exceptions, were more subdued than they'd been in the '70s.)

Anthony Peck, who's Jack Smith, was Mugger #2 on Mork & Mindy.  Prosecuting Attorney Michael Keys Hall played Chad McCann's father.  Bailiff Frank Pesce had appeared as two different characters previously and would be Dave in the final season.  And, yes, that's Molly Cheek of It's Garry Shandling's Show as the Defense Attorney.

Who's the Boss?: New Kid in Town

Who's the Boss?: New Kid in Town
ABC
October 27, 1987
Sitcom
DVD
B

Howard Meyers co-wrote this episode with Susan Meyers, whom I'm assuming is his wife.  This may be why it is one of the better Sam episodes.  It introduces Scott Bloom as Jesse Nash.  (Oddly enough, although his character is 16 at some point this season, IMDB lists him as being only 14 on his series introduction.)  Jesse works in a supermarket and Tony brings him home as a potential date for Sam.  (Note that Sam is now in the 10th grade, with no explanation.)  Unfortunately, he's into yoga and social causes, and he accuses Sam of being shallow.  He does see the good in her, and she finds herself drawn to him in an opposites-attract kind of way.  They kiss and Tony walks in on them but surprises himself and Angela by not throwing Jesse out.  I like that they decided to go in a different direction with Sam's first high school boyfriend, unlike "cool" Chad and Todd.