Who's the Boss?: Dear Landlord

Who's the Boss?: Dear Landlord
ABC
January 16, 1990
Sitcom
DVD
C

Daniel Palladino, who usually does a better job, contributed this story that starts out very well and then goes somewhat off the rails.  Ernie has gossip about the Harpers, gossip that contradicts both Season Five and Season Seven, but that's OK within the episode itself.  The Harpers have split up and their house is for sale.  Angela agrees to buy it and rent it out, with Tony managing it.  The two of them flirt so much about this that Ernie gets sweaty!

Various inappropriate people (of which we just see three) want to rent the house, but then an adorable little old man named Don Lester (played by David Sage, who would be a Priest on Roseanne) comes by and he's willing to pay six months in advance.  Unfortunately, after Angela leaves on a business trip, a flaky but pretty actress named Michelle comes by and Tony ends up renting to her.  She has Tony do lots of favors for her and her rent check (for $250 less than the original amount) bounces, yet we're supposed to think Angela's main objection is that she's jealous that Tony's charmed by a younger woman.  (Ironically or not, Michelle is played by an actress who's only a couple years younger than Judith Light.)  In the end, Angela gives Michelle money to stay in a hotel while looking for an apartment in New York, which isn't much of a "win" for Angela.  Still, I guess this is setting up the gut-puncher of a season-closer a few months away.