Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Pilot

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Pilot
Channel 4
16 December 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
C+

Clive introduces this episode, as he did the ones for the compilations, although here he claims his twin brother is hosting and looking very uncomfortable.  Clive was never a very smooth host (which is part of his charm), but he is noticeably more awkward here.  Other than the historical interest, including a completely different set, there's not any strong reason to watch this, but there are some nice moments, like when one-timer Jon Glover makes his "June the 25th, Christmas Day" joke in Authors.  And his Film Dub with Jimmy over Phantom Empire might make you chuckle.

Whose Line Is It Anyway? in its first series ranges from C- to B, averaging out to right on the C+/B- border.  The show hasn't jelled yet but there are some promising performers and interesting teams already.  The second series (which wouldn't start for another eleven months) would carry over some of the performers while adding in new ones.  The format would be mostly the same though, and, for instance, 1.10 resembles 2.1 more than it does this Pilot.

Roseanne: The Memory Game

Roseanne: The Memory Game
ABC
December 13, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Grace McKeaney's first of four Roseanne stories takes awhile to get going-- and again the Wellman's Plastics scene is the weakest of the lot-- but it works its way to a gut-punching moment and then resolution and comfort.  We learn in this episode that Dan and Roseanne married fifteen years ago, right after high school.  (I'd remembered Dan as a year or two older, but either I'm wrong or this was retconned.)  Their reunion is coming up so Dan hires a professional photographer for their family portrait.  Unfortunately, Jackie (who is starting to seem passive-aggressive, or maybe just really clueless) chooses this time to tell Roseanne that Dan dated Roseanne's nemesis Phyllis in high school.  When Roseanne confronts Dan, it turns out that he had drunken sex with Phyllis!  Roseanne (and the audience) end up forgiving Dan but it has changed things.  And, yes, this must've been an interesting pairing with the Who's the Boss? flashback show.

Steve Vinovich, who plays Bob the photographer, was Ben Baxter, the guy who switches food with Jack on Three's Company during their finals.  Juanita (Evelina Fernández), Pete (Ron Perkins), and Sylvia (Anne Faulkner) all return for the Wellman scene.

Who's the Boss?: Life with Father

A father who's less self-doubting than Tony Micelli

Who's the Boss?: Life with Father
ABC
December 13, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This isn't bad for a clip show, and I suppose they were somewhat excused, seeing as they'd recently passed the 100 mark.  (Unlike Family Ties, which did so many clip shows that Saturday Night Live parodied that weakness when Justine Bateman hosted earlier in '88.)  Sam defies Tony and drives off to Vermont with Bonnie, but along the way she remembers her life with her father.  Meanwhile, he worries about her and has flashbacks of his own.  Note that Bonnie is both in Sam's car and in a flashback.  Cinnamon, Wengrod, and Kallis are credited with the writing, although there must've been more if you count the older material.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 1 Compilation 2

Poor Paul Merton!

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 1 Compilation 2
Channel 4
9 December 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
C+

The highlight here is definitely the alternate American Musical from 1.9, with Josie and Mike as "hang-gliders in love" (and he manages to do a "go down" joke relatively tastefully), who meet tripping Tony and out-of-place John in a maze.  (Josie gives John a sweet hug at the end.)

The weakest game is also from 1.9 though, the "burgundy handbag" Rap.  The two games from 1.7 are arguably better than what aired: Story, with some Tony/John (as Russians), and Party Quirks, where Tony makes the first of his "go upstairs" offers.  Josie and John do FATS and he's more flirty than usual, although awkwardly.  And Josie and Stephen team up again, this time for Every Other Line.

Roseanne: Lovers' Lane

Roseanne: Lovers' Lane
ABC
December 6, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Another uneven episode, this time with a pointless rape joke.  (I don't mean gratuitous, I mean pointless, but I'll get to that.)  The title is a pun, since the Conners and friends go bowling, and Becky's "new boyfriend" Chip Lang (Jared Rushton, who would return twice in the role) works at the alley.  It turns out that they're not actually dating yet, and she's shy about speaking to him.

The other "lovers" are Jackie and Booker, who make a "friendly bet," where if he beats her at bowling, she'll spend the night at his place, while if she wins he'll have to clean her bathroom.  It's unclear what Jackie's feelings about Booker actually are.  She seems attracted to him (and, yeah, it is a twentysomething George Clooney), but she hesitates.  Because he's younger?  Because he's her boss?  Because he's conceited?  Other?  Do we ever find out?

He wins and she asks if he wants her "against her will."  He says of course.  But then he says he doesn't want it to happen because of a bet.  So what is the point of the "against her will" line?  And is it something she wants or not?  On a soap opera, this kind of ambiguity might be OK, but this is a sitcom and I'd like some insight if not closure on this plot thread.

Evelina Fernández and Annie Faulkner return as Juanita and Sylvia but apparently they're not allowed to be in any scene outside Wellman's Plastics, so they don't go bowling.  Ron Perkins returns as Pete and gets insulted.  Josh C. Williams makes his first of two appearances as Crystal's son Lonnie Anderson (get it?), although he's not referred to by name here.  This is the first of 13 Roseanne episodes written by Danny Jacobson.  I assume he improved.

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.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 1 Compilation 1

Clive

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Series 1 Compilation 1
Channel 4
2 December 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

Despite Clive joking in an episode this season that this programme aired live, in fact a lot of material was shot each week, and then edited down to the episodes we see.  The compilations of each series allow us to view some of the leftover material, which understandably was dropped in a few cases, and in others offers little gems.  The material on this first of two compilations of the first series has selections from 1.1., 1.5, 1.10, and understandably quite a bit from 1.9.  Some of the memorable moments here:

• Tony hosting Party Quirks for the first time, with Mike as a Kissogram (this would have an unexpected pay-off two or three years later);
• Clive rambling on about putting audience members into envelopes, as Tony indulges him;
• Josie reacting to one of Tony's celebrity insults (Anne Diamond) with "Oh, that's cruel!;
• Josie flirting with Paul in FATS, culminating in him inviting her to the back of his Volkswagon;
• John and Archie in their FATS respectively kicking (or at least miming kicking) Archie in the crotch, and saying the word "clitoris";
• Stephen and Josie flirting in their Film Dub, although they turn the male-female couple into students at a boys' school; 
• and Paul responding to the suggestion "It's only cotton wool," with "But I like it.  That's a Rolling Stones song, isn't it?"

Roseanne: Radio Days

Roseanne: Radio Days
ABC
November 29, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Laurie Gelman story is uneven but has some interesting elements.  Roseanne encourages Dan to enter a song-writing contest on the radio, which he does, using one of her own poems.  They come in fourth but we hear the song a couple times and so we know that both Dan and Roseanne have talent.  Meanwhile, Becky and Darlene bicker, D.J. remains adorable, Booker and Jackie engage in behavior that isn't clearly flirtation or mutual harassment, and we find out some of Crystal's tragicomic background.

Roseanne's coworkers Juanita (Evelina Fernández), Sylvia (Anne Faulkner), and Vonda (Charlayne Woodard) return and are given a little more personality.  Ron Perkins is credited on IMDB for two previous appearances as Pete Wilkins, but this is the first time I noticed him.

Who's the Boss?: A Jack Story

Jennifer Holmes

Who's the Boss?: A Jack Story
ABC
November 29, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Joe Fisch wrote this story where Angela is swamped at work, so she hires Jack.  The two of them spend a lot of time together and Tony gets jealous, although he can't admit it even to himself of course.  It's a pretty suggestive episode, including foot massage and some Mona lines and reactions.  Note that Sam drives Jonathan to school (I think he's in the 8th grade) but makes him ride in the back.

Jennifer Holmes, who plays Judy, the woman Tony attempts to date. was Dana on Bosom Buddies.  Lesa Lee, who plays the Woman "stimulated" by the Woody Allen type, was Gorgeous Dream Babe on the Garry Shandling episode where "Grant gets broken."  This is Milano's 100th episode.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.10

Everyone loves Rap!

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.10
Channel 4
25 November 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

This has Enn Reitel, one of the better one-timers, as well as a returning Fry, whom we wouldn't see on WLIIA again until '97 (on an episode I don't own, although I've watched some of it on Youtube).  It also was the last of the five episodes that the then-husband and I saw in the summer of '90 on Oregon Public Broadcasting, and we thought that the increased sexual references (including John climbing on Stephen's back and "copulating" with him) had gotten the show cancelled.  Oh, sure, it all looks pretty innocent now, but at the time even something like Clive awarding 69 points was surprisingly naughty.

Anyway, Enn proves to be a more accessible (to Americans) impressionist than Rory Bremner, and yet he does impersonations of people who aren't easy to do, like Vincent Price and Dustin Hoffman.  Too bad he wasn't asked back.

Roseanne: Language Lessons

Roseanne: Language Lessons
ABC
November 22, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Laurie Gelman's first of five Roseanne stories just has the family, at the Conner house, and the characters fight and play and make up and generally interact in a believable way.  Nothing earth-shattering or particularly plot-heavy, but a nice further introduction to the dynamic of how these relatives get along, and don't get along, with Roseanne often in the middle.  (If I recall correctly, she'll later be accused of putting herself in the middle, making her not unlike Tony Micelli.)

Who's the Boss?: Yankee-Doodle Micelli

Who's the Boss?: Yankee-Doodle Micelli
ABC
November 22, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This Wengrod & Cinnamon story has Tony flashing back to memories of his grandfather, with Danza playing Matteo Micelli (father of Matty), and two boys portraying Tony Micelli at 7 and 13.  (One of them, Thomas Ian Nicholas, who plays Little Tony, would become a regular in the American Pie movie series, as Kevin.)  The old-age makeup job on Danza isn't much better than that on Reed and Henderson on The Brady Bunch about fifteen years earlier, but otherwise this is one of the best episodes of the series.

OK, so there are anachronisms (from Mr. Ed being on in the late '50s to Tony's age not matching up to other episodes), but overlooking those as well as the makeup, we see a set of interlocking stories that are emotionally moving, highlighting the grandfather-grandson relationship, as well as the relationship between Tony and Angela.  (Not romantic here, despite Mona's teasing, but definitely close and supportive, and Tony is amazed how well Angela knows him.)  Note that Philly Fingers is mentioned but not shown, and Tony's habit of stealing street signs, referred to previously, here has an unexpected effect.

This is the 100th Who's the Boss? episode to air, and therefore the 100th show for Danza and Light.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.9

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.9
Channel 4
18 November 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B

This is the best, and in many ways the most interesting, episode so far, so let me just bullet-point it as a way to unpack it:

• After almost a full series of not particularly funny (sometimes even painfully unfunny) Americans, Mike (or "Micheal" as he's credited) McShane is a revelation, funny in his own right but also playing well with others, even the aloof John Sessions;
• Mike and Tony would genuinely become friends in later years, but here they're just meeting and getting acquainted;
• Mike and Josie, on the other hand, have instant chemistry, not so much hot as warm, and that they twice play a married couple is completely plausible, as is their harmonizing, even in FATS;
• Tony/Josie shippers also get some material here, with Josie amused if a bit shocked by Tony, while he is definitely aware of her and her reactions;
• Tony/John shippers, for that matter, have some stuff to work with, especially in FATS, even if Tony does offer the disclaimer, "I'm not a homosexual"*;
• The first game is the best version of Authors so far, perhaps ever, with the performers (even John!) ricocheting off each other and the title, The (K)Night of the Crumpet;
• Remote Control is the relative weak spot of the episode but it doesn't drag things down too far;
• At last American Musical finds a good line-up.  OK, John is admittedly a weak link, but at least he allows Mike to work in one of the polysyllabic words he's fond of ("microcephalic").  After Mike and Josie's duet, the part with Tony is golden, and if you don't at least smile at Tony's reply of "no" to Josie's musical question, "Did he make you drop your pants?", then you probably shouldn't bother with the British version of this show.

*Watching this programme back in the '90s, for some reason my gaydar failed to register for anyone less obvious than Julian Clary, but in my defense, I was young and without the Internet.  Now WLIIA looks chockful of gay, bi, and flexible-for-the-purposes-of-comedy performers, especially but not exclusively the men.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.8

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.8
Channel 4
11 November 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
C+

On the plus side, John gets to work with Griff (and imitate him).  On the minus side, that means Paul gets stuck with the unremarkable Richard Kaplan much of the time.  Note that both Dukakis and Bush (Sr.) are mentioned (but not imitated) for World's Worst person to be U.S. President, although this was most likely taped before the American election.  Note the exchange between Clive and Paul about Twiglet jokes after Party Quirks.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.7

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.7
Channel 4
4 November 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
C+

Rory McGrath is definitely one of the more undeserving "winners" of Series One.  And Jonathan Pryce makes less of an impression on his return.  Even Tony isn't at his best, although he does get some, yes, outrageous moments.  A later Clive would never have chosen "pornography" as a topic with Tony around!  But it's what John does with the topic, as three distinct Bilko actors/characters (Phil Silvers as Bilko, Harvey Lembeck as Barbella, and I think Paul Ford as Col. Hall) that makes the episode worth tuning in.

Night Court: Fire

Suspense!

Night Court: Fire
NBC
November 2, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
D+

Bob Underwood wrote this Season Six episode which manages to contain:

• An inconclusive election with Dan tying with an unseen female opponent (Election Day was the Tuesday after this aired);
• Bull voting against Dan because of issues and insults;
• Harry and Christine arguing and then kissing when they think they're going to die;
• Jokes about corpses, including necrophilia;
• And one of the most boring fires I've ever seen on TV.

Mike Finneran again appears as Art Fensterman.  William Utay, who plays Phil Sanders, would be Jim on Who's the Boss?

This "best of" DVD ranges from this D+ to two C+s, averaging out to a C.  I will be donating it to a thrift store, and appreciating more the shows I liked at the time, and still like.

Roseanne: D-I-V-O-R-C-E

Roseanne: D-I-V-O-R-C-E
ABC
November 1, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Lauren Eve Anderson's first of four Roseanne stories has Dan and Roseanne going to dinner at the Landford Inn, while 13-year-old Becky and Aunt Jackie share the babysitting duties.  Note that Becky is the same age that Marcia was when she and Greg (then 14) argued that they were old enough to sit for their younger siblings.  On Bunch, the parents, especially Carol, worried about the children and couldn't relax and enjoy dinner, but Roseanne and Dan in contrast joke about who would get stuck with the kids if they ever got divorced.  There's no doubt of the Conners' love for each other, however, and this is a relatively sentimental episode for this series.  The mention of Roseanne's plans to be a writer would have long-ranging consequences.

Who's the Boss?: Nineteen Again

Who's the Boss?: Nineteen Again
ABC
November 1, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Donley & Graham wrote this story where Tony goes to a frat party and his "date" Angela* gets drunk on spiked punch.  She insults Dean Brown (Alan Oppenheimer, who among other things, played four characters on That Girl and who would return in this role).  After she sobers up, they talk about their adolescences and it ends up being a bonding experience.

Bobby Brett, who's Gene here, would later play Ike.  Bill Calvert plays another (presumably unrelated) character named Patrick on Ellen.


*They present themselves as single, although she is referred to as his date more than once.  They end up spending very little time together at the party, although they do share a holding cell later.  This will not be counted when they later in the season discuss whether they're going on a "first date."

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.6

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.6
Channel 4
28 October 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

Again, no particular highs or lows, but this is the first full episode I saw of the programme.  (Well, OPB left out the Film Dubbing, but that's less than Comedy Central would omit.)  It wasn't obvious in 1990, but the line-up has two people who'd do one more episode each (Jan and George) and one who'd never return (Graeme Garden of The Goodies, looking much older than 45).  Also, this is I believe the first of my shows to mention soon-to-be-Vice-President Dan Quayle.

Roseanne: We're in the Money

Roseanne: We're in the Money
ABC
October 25, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B-

David McFadzean's first of five Roseanne scripts isn't as strong as the pilot, partly because the factory scene (generally the weakest aspect of the first season anyway) feels too long and somewhat unnecessary.  Still, it's interesting to see how Roseanne and Dan manage money.

Michael Fishman becomes the new D.J. in this episode and is adorable.  Perfume Counter Saleswoman Christina Pickles would later play Mona's sister-in-law on Who's the Boss?

Who's the Boss?: My Fair Tony

Who's the Boss?: My Fair Tony
ABC
October 25, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

This first of four WtB stories written by David Lesser has Tony beginning college.  (Does Ridgemont start after the high school or are these episodes not airing in the right order?)  His Public Speaking instructor, Professor Darnell (Nicholas Pryor, who was Major Nathaniel Burnham on M*A*S*H), criticizes his speaking style, and best friend Angela admits that it could be a barrier in getting a job.  Tony goes overboard to become a more eloquent speaker, till his Brooklyn self gives him honest feedback.  This is one of those episodes with an unreal, sort of fantasy, moment, here with the Brooklyn-Tony leaving behind his paddle ball.

Chelsea Noble would return in the role of Tony's classmate Cynthia.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.5

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.5
Channel 4
21 October 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

No real weak spots or stand-outs here, just generally entertaining.  Some things of note though:

• Jonathan Pryce does "pirate movie" for FATS, fifteen years before his first Pirates of the Caribbean movie;
• Paul/Josie shippers have some more fodder here, not just her amusement at him, but their pairing as Jack & Jill in FATS;
• Josie's "heavy metal" Song Styles gets pretty raunchy;
• John gives away his quirk when Paul hosts PQ again;
• and when Paul offers Twiglets to his other two guests, they both accept them.

Twiglets, sort of like peppery pretzels

Roseanne: Life and Stuff

Roseanne: Life and Stuff
ABC
October 18, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Even though this series originally ran on ABC right after Who's the Boss?, I definitely wasn't watching it the first season.  (And to be honest, what with changes in my life in the late '80s, I wasn't watching WtB that regularly.)  This is the only episode written by co-creator Matt Williams, but it obviously incorporates a lot of Roseanne's stand-up act and persona.  On the other hand, director Ellen Falcon did the majority (fifteen) of the first season episodes.

You know the cast now, but back in '88 no one did, so first of all, Roseanne and her family:

• Roseanne Barr as the Danzaly named Roseanne Conner
• John Goodman as her husband Dan
• Laurie Metcalf as her sister Jackie
• Lecy Goranson as older daughter Becky
• Sara Gilbert as younger daughter Darlene
• and Sal Barone as son D.J. (soon to be replaced because he didn't get along with Gilbert)

Roseanne's coworkers at the factory include Sylvia Foster (Anne Faulkner in her first of nine appearances), Juanita Herrera (Evelina Fernandez, also first of nine), and Vonda Green (Charlayne Woodard, first of five), but they're not given much to do here.  Natalie West as Crystal Anderson, however, would do 83 more episodes, and she is in the opening credits.  (Crystal wishes she could find a husband like Dan, which would later be ironic.)  And, yes, that's 27-year-old George Clooney (post-Facts-of-Life) as Roseanne's boss Booker.

When I watched Season One a few years later, it didn't seem as good as later seasons (except for of course the infamous last season), but this pilot (back when the series was made as Life and Stuff) holds up really well.  Although Barr is not technically an actress at this point, more of a personality, she is laugh-out-loud funny and of course she and Goodman have immediate, believable chemistry.  No one else, not even future Emmy-winner Metcalf, is anywhere near as interesting yet, but they don't have to be.  And, yes, the theme of an imperfect but loving working-class family (not the Cosbys, but not the Bundys either) is here right from the start.

Who's the Boss?: Sam's Car

Who's the Boss?: Sam's Car
ABC
October 18, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Meanwhile, in the U.S., a writer's strike delayed the beginning of the 1988-89 season.  In this Braunstein & Perlow Season Five kick-off, 16-year-old Sam gets her driver's license, so her dad buys her the title object, which is embarrassingly large and yellow.  (The reveal of the car, set to the 2001 theme, is nicely done.)  When the kids at school make fun of her, she doesn't want to tell her father and hurt his feelings.  Everyone's perspective, including Angela's as mediator, makes sense.  And it's a pretty funny episode, Garrett Morris's cameo as Officer Audette included, although we can see the beginning of the dumbing down of Bonnie.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.4

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.4
Channel 4
14 October 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

An out of her depth but having fun Betty Thomas and new semi-regular sweetly naughty Tony Slattery appear in what is technically the first episode I ever watched.  Of course, the sound was off (or maybe the reception was bad), so all my then-husband and I saw was the Party Quirks where Tony walks from side to side and bent over.  Not that it makes much more sense when you know what's going on.  Tony's pairings with both Paul and John provide hints of future greatness.  Note that this has probably the earliest instance of Clive asking, "Do you have [common object] in America?", which would later bring out the easily brought out snark of Greg Proops.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.3

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.3
Channel 4
7 October 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
B-

A noticeably drunk and visibly smoking Peter Cook makes his only appearance on the show, providing some laughs, although it's Stephen who has the funniest lines in the best game of the episode, Panel, a game that allows for more participation than usual for Clive.  This is as good a place as any to note that John has a tendency to upstage people, especially in Film And Theatre Styles (hereafter abbreviated to FATS), but Josie is remarkably patient with him.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.2

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.2
Channel 4
30 September 1988
Improv Game Show
DVD
C-

Not particularly funny, with racial and ethnic stereotypes, and (mostly on the part of Bremner) references to British celebrities who are not funny merely being name-checked*, the only thing to recommend this episode to anyone but the completist is John's Griff Rhys Jones impression, and that's more fun to see when you get Griff's onscreen reaction in a later episode.  Note that Richard Vranch appears briefly onscreen and is in the credits, but he doesn't perform in the episode as aired, so I won't be tagging him.  Also, Jimmy did Dylan Thomas for Authors on the radio programme and made the same "die the bread" joke there.


*Tony Slattery would find a way to make such jokes accessible even to an American who had never and in many cases still hasn't heard of these people.

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.1

Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Episode 1.1
Channel 4
Improv Game Show
23 September 1988
DVD
C+

It sort of starts here.  That is, WLIIA was a successful radio programme earlier in '88 (I have an officially released in the UK cassette that contains two episodes), and then it moved to television, with host Clive Anderson and regular panelist John Sessions intact.  (Other regular Stephen Fry would make occasional appearances on the telly version.)  The Pilot was filmed before this episode (which I used to number as 2), but didn't air till later, with a special introduction by Clive.  I first encountered WLIIA on Oregon Public Broadcasting in 1990 and thought it was a typically short-run British programme.  The then-husband and I taped five episodes.  And then in 1992 we rediscovered the show on Comedy Central, both the older and brand-new episodes.

And that's enough background for the moment.  Other than historical interest, the main two reasons to watch this episode are because Josie seems utterly charmed and amused by her fellow Comedy Store Player Paul, and because Paul hosts Party Quirks.  He "teases us all," as Clive puts it, by playing with the conventions of the game (already!) and taking his sweet time to guess about his guests.  He also references Twiglets for the first of what will be many times.  As for John and Archie, the former also has his best moment at the Party, playing a Theatre Director, while the latter "wins" the episode, the first of many unjust wins by various contestants, although this is by no means Hahn's worst episode.

Note that Clive mispronounces musician Vranch's last name as "Vrance."  Paul O'Dell directs, as he would for the rest of the 1988 series.

Who's the Boss?: The Two Tonys

Who's the Boss?: The Two Tonys
ABC
May 17, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This weak Season-Four closer is the first of sixteen episodes written by Gene Braunstein and the first of seven for Bob Perlow.  Tony takes Angela back to Marty's Melody Room, now with a completely different layout and proprietor.  (Clyde Kusatsu, who plays Kim Lee, had three different roles on M*A*S*H.)  T & A run into Tony's ex-girlfriend, who's married an obnoxious man, also named Tony.

Season Four ranges from C+ to B+, with exactly half (twelve episodes) receiving a B, all averaging out to a low B, showing that the show has hit its stride in what would turn out to be one of the middle seasons.   The main change for the other middle season has been foreshadowed, with Tony going back to college.

Out of This World: Boy Crazy

Out of This World: Boy Crazy
Syndicated
May 14, 1988
Sitcom
VHS
B-

Evie (whose middle name is revealed, perhaps for the first time, to be Ethel) befriends a punker named Boy Leslie (David Coburn, who would be Greer on Who's the Boss?).  Donna disapproves.  A lot of the humor feels two to five years out of date, e.g. Tammy Faye Bakker's eyelashes, but, with the help of Boy's music, this is a better than average episode for this series.

Ken Smolka, who plays Leslie's father, Rev. Drake, would be Senator Stewart on Who's the Boss?  Steve Burton and Christina Nigra return as Chris and Lindsay.

Who's the Boss?: Sleep Talk, Sweet Talk

Who's the Boss?: Sleep Talk, Sweet Talk
ABC
May 10, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B+

This Cinnamon & Wengrod story would be the perfect Season Four bookend with "Frankie and Tony Are Lovers," but another episode aired the week after this one.  Angela hasn't found a way to tell Tony she loves him, but she sleep-talks so that the whole family hears.  Everyone reacts characteristically: Jonathan somewhat innocent, Sam very curious and teasing, Tony in denial, Mona prying, and Angela herself embarrassed enough not to go to her birthday party.  (Her birthday is Friday the 20th, likely May.)  Tony tracks Angela down to a bar, where they talk about it as directly as they're capable of at this point.  He references his confession at the time of his appendicitis.

Michael Alldredge, who was Burt Harrison on The Bob Newhart Show and Sam on Three's Company, is Joe the bartender here.

Out of This World: The Box Is Missing

No, Nigra doesn't play the cube.

Out of This World: The Box Is Missing
Syndicated
May 7, 1988
Sitcom
VHS
C+

The box in question is the cube that Evie and her dad use to communicate, although Evie and Donna react as if Troy himself has been kidnapped.  The mystery is pretty predictable of course, but I would've gone with a B-, due to the exploration of space powers, if not for some unfunny slapstick.  (This is the 400th C+.)

Fred Willard plays Milton Wyler of the Marlowe Vice, that is, he's a Miami-Vice-influenced cop for the town of Marlowe where this is set.  John Roarke, who was in the "diet clinic" episode, makes his last appearance in the series as Phil the handyman.  (And it's sort of a D.C. Follies reunion, since he did voices on there, as did Alaskey.)  April Kelly, who was one of the better Mork & Mindy writers (she did twenty-three episodes) co-wrote this with someone who didn't work on any of my other shows.

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.

Married with Children: All in the Family

Married with Children: All in the Family
Fox
May 1, 1988
Sitcom
VHS
C+

I of course taped this because the Del Rubio triplets (of Americathon) appear as Peg's aunts.  They and other Wanker relatives pay the Bundys a visit, much to Al's displeasure.  I watched MwC off and on over its long run, mostly in the early years, although the mean-spiritedness was a barrier.  This episode is the Season Two finale, so Kelly is not yet stupid, and Marcy is still with Steve.

Linda Day, who directed four of the early Who's the Boss? episodes, here does one of her thirty-three for MwC.

Weird Al Yankovic: Fat

Weird Al Yankovic: Fat
Song released April 12, 1988
Music Video
VHS
C

Weak follow-up to "Eat It," but then "Bad" wasn't as good as "Beat It."  By this point, I had pretty much given up on Weird Al, although he still had some good songs ahead.

Who's the Boss?: Marry Me, Mona

Who's the Boss?: Marry Me, Mona
ABC
March 29, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B

Max Muldoon makes the title request, but Mona says no, until she meets Max's young and beautiful ex-wife.  This is Leslie Nielsen's second appearance on the show, but I guess we're to assume he and Mona have been seeing each other in the meantime.  Light does some very good acting, as the voice of reason, despite her fondness for Max.

Todd Starks, who previously played a character named Matt, is the Hardhat here.  Cinnamon, Fisch, Meyers, and Wengrod co-wrote this episode.

Who's the Boss?: Model Daughter

Who's the Boss?: Model Daughter
ABC
March 22, 1988
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Danny Kallis's first of fourteen WtB stories continues this show's fascination with modeling, here with Sam getting a modeling gig that she hopes will lead to more gigs, despite Tony's concerns.

Robert Briscoe Evans has his first of three WtB roles, as a Photographer.