Well, it looks like California’s 4th District is going to need to find another opponent to run for Congress because Alyssa Milano just made other plans. In the latest, “Wait, who ordered this?” news it was just confirmed that the Who’s The Boss? redux is officially in the works. Yay? At some point, this went from a reunion to a sequel, and it landed both Tony and Samantha Micelli themselves: Tony Danza and Alyssa. Mike Royce, fresh off the One Day at a Time reboot, will be writing it and Norman Lear is executive producing it (Lear was not a part of the first one). The plot, so far, is Tony and Samantha still live in the family home, only Sam is the single mom now.
The Who’s the Boss? sequel series has found a home. The project, reuniting original stars Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano and executive produced by Norman Lear, has landed at Amazon Freevee for development. The follow up is being written/executive produced by One Day at a Time co-creator/exec producer/co-showrunner Mike Royce and co-executive producer Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz. Sony Pictures Television, which owns the rights to the original series and has been working on the sequel for the last two years, is the studio.
Danza and Milano are set to reprise their roles as Tony and Samantha Micelli. Set 30 years after the events of the original series, the sequel will focus on former Major League Baseball player/retired housekeeper Tony Micelli (Danza) and his relationship with his daughter Samantha (Milano). She is now a single mother, living in the family house. In line with Norman Lear’s classic shows, the new comedy will explore generational differences, as well as opposing world views and parenting styles within the dynamic of a modern family in 2022.
You know what name I didn’t read anywhere in the article? Angela. I didn’t even watch the original that much, but my general philosophy is if there’s no Judith, why bother? The show is set 30 years later, so they probably killed her off. Lord knows what happened to her son.
I know Fuller House went over pretty well with a next generation premise, so this might work. With Samantha presumably being ‘The Boss’ now as the head of the household, it’s an interesting dynamic. I’ve always liked Tony and I get a kick out of the fact that his characters are always named Tony. I hope this works. I can’t say I am overly excited for it, but I am open-minded about it. If they update the jokes, if they make the storylines relevant, if they negotiate a fair deal to bring Judith back in some capacity, I’d at least give it a shot. What about you all?
RIP Katherine Helmond!
Photo credit: Avalon Red, Getty Images and Instagram
I feel like these things always come 15 years too late.
Yeah, 15 years ago Alyssa Milano would have been the actual same age as Judith Light at the start of the original series (though those 80s fashions add 5 years, so maybe 10 years too late).
I never saw the original but may tune in to this. All I can think of when I see ‘Who’s the Boss’ is Abed in Community arguing with the professor about who the boss really is 😀
I loved that show but you’re right, if Judith isn’t in it somehow, then what’s the point?
The heck? I will totally watch this but without Sam rockin’ those 80s fashions that inspired my own wardrobe, what is even the point?
Well in the original show, Tony was the nanny/housekeeper for Angela and her son so 30 years later that storyline wouldn’t work anymore obviously. I could see Angela making an appearance occasionally but I can’t see how her character could be a regular. Maybe just come on once or twice to give an update on her and her son’s life. I watched the original show but I wouldn’t say I was a huge fan, it was more like “Well, this is what’s on so I’ll watch it” but it was definitely not appointment TV for me.
They end up together at the end of the series, and it sounds like they’re living n Angela’s house for the reboot.
I used to watch it as a kid and I liked it, but as a grown woman and mother who understands that part of taking care of business means setting up my estate in a way that cares for my kids well, I’m a little annoyed at the whole “they’re living in the family home.” thing.
That was Angela’s house and I’m going to need an explanation for how Angela was a whole executive, holding it down and taking care of business, but now Tony and Samantha have the house and neither Angela nor Johnathan (was that her son’s name?) are anywhere to be seen.
I need explanations and they better be good.
Yeah, I’m more interested in what they will use as the back-story than I am in the actual show. The only thing I could see working is that they kill off Angela or they married and divorced and somehow he got the house.
It makes sense if Angela is dead that her spouse/partner would still be in the house. Even if it’s willed to Jonathan he may not want it beyond the equity so if Tony is paying the property taxes and maintaining the house while middle aged Jonathan is elsewhere living his life, it adds up. Sam moves home because she’s a divorced/widowed single parent.
If I remember correctly, it ended with Tony giving up his teaching job in Iowa to go back to Angela. I wonder how they’ll explain what happened to her.
Probably, Tony and Angela married, now Tony is a widower so they can have the “older dad dating” subplots. Both Jonathan and Sam lived on their own but now Sam is divorced and forced to move back home because the economy sucks. Jonathan continues to live his best life in NYC or LA or something and can guest star.
Judith Light IS the boss of whatever she’s in, so I don’t think she’ll do more than maybe stop by to spread around a little of her magic.
+1 I love Judith Light.
Why? And who asked for this?
+1
So…. Sam is Angela. Tony is Mona? Who’s Tony? Where’s Angel’s and Jonathan?
IDK. Fuller House worked because they brought everyone back minus the Olsen twins and were committed to the fan service.
This…doesn’t sound like that.
All I have to say is OMG, Sam looks JUST LIKE my nine year-old in the pic with the yellow shirt!! Down to the crossed arms and raised-eyebrow “I’ve got you now!” smile. Love a feisty little girl!
I don’t know what the point of this is, but I didn’t really watch the original and don’t really care if they reboot it as I probably won’t watch that, either.
I was never a big Who’s the Boss fan but I’m still happy to see this happening. All those people should be working more!
I used to love this show. Alyssa was the girl to be jealous of back then. She was so pretty and still is. She was on the cover of every Teen Magazine. I don’t know if I want to watch the reboot though. Sometimes it’s best to leave things the way they were. I went to Paris once. I don’t want to go again. The memory I have of it is perfect and I don’t want to ruin that. I went in the mid 90’s. I heard is nowhere how it used to be (lots of crime now).
Why did I just squeal like a teenage girl! My husband looked at me like what’s wrong?! Funny story about my connection to Who’s the Boss..My family immigrated to Canada in ‘89, and guess which show I watched to help me learn English .. To this day, even though I have moved around to different countries, people are confused when I tell them, I never lived in New York. My accent sounds like a total New Yorker..Meanwhile I grew up in a city in western Canada. I tell them blame Tony Danza..Too funny.. I LOVED this show.Tony reminds me of my dad in so many ways. Will definitely be tuning in..
That’s a great story ! Thanks for sharing !