The essential episodes of Who's the Boss?
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Who's the Boss? — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Single dad Tony Micelli and his street smart young daughter Samantha decide to leave the mean streets of their poor neighborhood for a chance at a better life in Connecticut. Tony happens upon a job offer as a live-in housekeeper for wealthy business woman Angela Bower and her young son by means of her flirtatious mother Mona. He puts his machismo aside and takes the job for the betterment of his daughter and a new "family" is formed.
- 02
During a trip to Tony's old neighborhood to find runaway Samantha, Angela must stand up for Tony who is criticized for being a housekeeper. After proclaiming that fighting is no way to resolve a dispute, Angela ends up in a cat fight with the waitress in Tony's old hangout.
- 03
Peterson is Angela's co-worker and he is jealous of her rise to the presidency. So he attempts to ingratiate himself with Mr. Mackenna, the agency's founder. Angela arranges a party to celebrate Mr. McKenna. Peterson tries to discredit Angela and Tony throws him out of the party.
- 04
Recent college graduate Mona is asked to secretly participate in a sting against age discrimination by applying for a job, then getting turned down. But when Angela learns that her mother has this job interview, she pulls some strings to get Mona hired.
- 05
A distant relative of Tony's comes to town to meet the man she is to marry through an arranged marriage. Upon learning that the intended groom is a male chauvinist, Tony throws him out of the house and forbids him to marry his cousin. But this infuriates her father, who flies from Italy to confront Tony.
- 06
When Samantha needs more money to participate in activities with her basketball team, Angela hires her to work for her on Saturdays. But Samantha soon realizes that, by working weekends, she is missing all the events she wanted money for. So she decides to do a poor job, hoping to get fired.
- 07
Sam has got into the school's basketball team. Her friend Todd hasn't and as she don't want to bother him she also goes without the team. Angela beats Tony in Miniature Golf.
- 08
Due to heavy snowfall life in Fairfield is down. To pass the time stories are told. Topic: Who has brought together the two families - Sam, cause she's the reason Tony wanted to move; Tony, cause he wanted to make life better for Sam; Jonathan, cause he needed someone who takes care of him; Angela, who needed someone for the household; or Mona, who has 'found' Tony?
- 09
Jonathan has a new girlfriend: Jenny. But Jenny has fallen more for Tony. When Jonathan finds this out he gets really upset.
- 10
Tony takes charge of a teen restaurant. When he throws out a popular student all the other customer follow him. Sam, working there as waitress, gets the order to fire her dad.
- 11
Sam and Jesse decide to go steady.
- 12
One year has passed and it's again Angela's birthday. In the nights after she has found out about the surprise party Tony gives, she talks in the sleep and confesses that she loves Tony. But waking up all with her 'Tony, Tony' shouts is, however, very embarrassing for her.
- 13
Tony must move with his studying group from the living room into a motel room. After an evening full of studying the others go home leaving Tony and Kathleen back alone. The both want to spend some more time learning but instead they are getting closer.
- 14
Sam moves out of the house and into a dorm. Tony's frequent visits make him as popular there as she is, and she begins to feel smothered.
- 15
Angela attempts to adjust to her new life in Iowa, but discovers that she really wants to be back east, working at her agency. The conflict of professional interest threatens to split up Tony and Angela.
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Episodes, ratings, cast and the full series dossier.
ChartsBest episodesThe highest-rated hours of Who's the Boss?, ranked.
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