Who's the Boss?: Mona

Who's the Boss?: Mona
ABC
May 12, 1987
Sitcom
DVD
C

Cohan & Hunter wrote this attempted spin-off, which at least, unlike Charmed Lives, would've starred one of the regular WtB characters.  It's hard to imagine Boss continuing for another five years without Mona, so it's just as well this didn't sell.  On it's own terms, it's nothing special, and mainly should be watched to one, see, how important good writing and a supporting cast are, and two, to find out some biographical details for Mona.

She goes to New York to spend the weekend with her younger brother, Cornelius Rockwell (James B. Sikking, who's indeed five years younger than Helmond).  While there, she finds out that he's sunk his savings and hers into a faded hotel.  She decides she'll be a far from silent partner.  The most interesting part is the dream sequence that opens the episode, set in the summer of 1941, complete with Helmond as her own mother.  (When we meet Mona's mother, she's nothing like either Helmond character, but then I suppose that may be part of the dream aspect.)  Mona recounts the dream to Tony and Sam, and then Angela comes in.  Jonathan is absent.

This episode features a few actors who had appeared earlier in the series (or even that season) in other roles:

• Beau Billingsley as the Chef, Dave before;
• Joe Regalbuto as Don, Father Mickey Callahan earlier;
• and Paul Sand as Packard, Wally previously.

Suave Jim Ratcliff is played by David Hedison, who was Emily's old flame Steve Darnell on The Bob Newhart Show.  Hotel guest Mr. Padnick is played by Don Sparks, who had two roles on Three's Company.  And, yes, that's 11-year-old Candace Cameron as Little Mona.