Who's the Boss?: Parental Guidance Suggested

Who's the Boss?: Parental Guidance Suggested
ABC
October 30, 1990
Sitcom
DVD
C+


Gene Braunstein wrote this story where Billy feels pressured by Tony and Angela over-scheduling him, so he acts out by hitting the other kids at school.  I consider Billy a mildly annoying character and Halyalkar a not very talented even for his age actor, so it's hard for me to enjoy an episode focused on him.  True, in some ways he's just a catalyst to bring T & A closer, and indeed Andy (Doug Ballard) breaks up with Angela when he discovers that she considers Billy just as much her responsibility as Tony's.  It's not clear in this or any other episode how deep the feelings were/are between A & A, even less than what Kathleen really felt about Tony.  If the writing and direction were stronger in Season Seven, there would be more resonance to characters coming and going.  Anyway, I do like a post-Throb-pre-Frasier Jane Leeves as Billy's teacher Ms. Adams, the leap Tony makes on the couch, and Danza cracking up Light about his "shorts riding up."

Robert Clotworthy, who was Clete in the "Skating Rink" episode of The ABC After School Special, Private Welch on M*A*S*H, and Tony Williams on Three's Company, plays Greg.  Janice Kent, who was Cheryl Gainer on 3'sC, is Laurie here.  DeVera Marcus, who was Violet on Bosom Buddies and Dee on The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary Special, plays Willa.  Josh Byrne would return twice more in the role of Joey (shortly before going on to be a regular on Step by Step).