Romancing the past

telly review

There’s something about good comedy shows that keep you hooked, show after show, episode after episode. In fact, they are just what the doctor ordered for stress-busting.

No wonder, of late, every weekend afternoon has turned colourful with Who’s the Boss on Comedy Central. Yes, it’s a rerun, but who cares? All we want is a good dose of laughter after a dull and boring week of endless debates on news channels that make us wonder what the panelists are trying to get at, cookery shows that make us doubt our grandmom’s recipes, soaps that make us pull our hair out, et al. If the click of a button can give us the comic relief that we so need, then why not?

To begin with, enter the Bower household in Fairfield, Connecticut. Meet the handsome hunk Tony Micelli, the housekeeper, and his angelic daughter Samantha; ad executive Angela Bower, who’s pathetic at all things concerning housekeeping, and her cute son Jonathan; and last but not the least, Angela’s mother, the bubbly Mona Robinson, whose love for life can put any youngster to shame. The story revolves around these five characters, their idiosyncrasies, and the hilarity that ensues.

They have their own demands from life — If Tony, a retired baseball player from Brooklyn, wants to give his daughter the best of opportunities in life, Angela is looking for that perfect male role model for her son, while all that Mona wants is to have fun with men of all ages and types! They are one big happy family though Angela, at times, wonders who the ‘real’ boss at home is, and desperately tries to assert herself, ensuring funny moments further. We laugh with them, and at them, only to realise that they are not very different from you and me, only more lovable.

Hilarity reaches its peak when it’s quite obvious that Tony and Angela have fallen for each other, but date others to fool themselves into believing they are not in love. So we see a stream of girls walk in and out of Tony’s life, while Angela thinks she’s serious about Geoffrey Wells. Their ‘strictly business’ relationship, if not anything, definitely gives the show’s audience many reasons to laugh about. We wait with bated breath for them to confess their feelings for each other, and suspense is built, but in vain. Sharing our concern for Tony and Angela is Mona, who keeps dropping hints to the pair that’s in denial.

The show is so engrossing that we become a part of the Bower household and find ourselves deeply drawn into their lives. Though this American sitcom was shot almost 30 years ago (in 1983, though it was aired in 1984), it still appeals to our comic sense. Such is its structure. A few minutes into the show and we are ready to take sides — backing Tony for his ubercool attitude, and joining Mona in poking fun at the ‘dull’ and ‘boring’ life Angela leads. If this isn’t fun, what else is?

Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, the makers of the show, deserve commendation for their perfect characterisation. Each actor suits the part, making us wonder if it’s for real. However, if there’s one character that’s instantly appealing, then it is that of Mona. With her effervescence, her flirtatious ways, and her perfect comic timing, Mona is the ‘cool cat’ of the show, showing what an actor of fine mettle can do when entrusted with a deserving role.

Adding to the fun element of the show further are Samantha and Jonathan, who play their parts to the point of perfection. In fact, Jonathan is almost like the annoying younger brother we would love to have.

Well, Who’s the Boss goes to show no matter how many times we watch it, we will still enjoy it as much as we did it the first time around. Tune in to Comedy Central every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm, and fall for the Bower household hook, line, and sinker.