The BEST episodes of Who's the Boss? season 1

Every episode of Who's the Boss? season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Who's the Boss? season 1!

When Tony Micelli takes a job as housekeeper for Angela Bower, a successful businesswoman, he and his daughter, Samantha, move into Angela's home. Now Tony and Sam must adjust to their new lives with the Bowers- Angela, her son Jonathan, and her mother, Mona.

Last Updated: 4/7/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Protecting the President
star
8.73
55 votes

#1 - Protecting the President

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/22/1985

During a company party at Angela's house, Tony throws out one of her vice-presidents for saying unprofessional things about her.

Writer: Ellen Guylas
Watch Now:Amazon
Mona Gets Pinned
star
8.48
87 votes

#2 - Mona Gets Pinned

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/30/1984

Mona meets Jason, the man of her dreams, but she's old enough to be his mother! After much hiding the truth comes out and Angela, who previously stated that age had no part in love, is aghast. It's not until Jason's parents tell Angela that Mona isn't good enough for their son that she stands up for her mother and does an about-face of her opinion.

Directors: Jim Drake
Writer: Ellen Guylas
Briefless Encounter
star
8.31
197 votes

#3 - Briefless Encounter

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/1984

Part of settling into his new home has Tony using Angela's personal bathroom and getting an eyeful when she steps out of the tub. Neither of the two stubborn housemates accept responsibility, and disagree to an extent that Tony's new girlfriend gives him the heave-ho. Mona's advice about role-playing to better understand each other's point of view helps Tony and Angela see that they aren't angry after all.

Directors: Sam Weisman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Paint Your Wagon
star
8.26
89 votes

#4 - Paint Your Wagon

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/15/1985

It's time to paint the Jaguar, and Angela wants the new color to be sandalwood. Tony overrides her decision and has it painted diablo red. When Angela discovers this, she is enraged and forbids him from future decision-making, proclaiming that he is just the maid. He then takes this declaration to the extreme by dressing, speaking, and behaving like a prim and proper butler.

Directors: Jim Drake
Writer: Lissa Devin
Watch Now:Amazon
Guess Who's Coming Forever?
star
8.25
89 votes

#5 - Guess Who's Coming Forever?

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/29/1985

Mona has been evicted from her apartment and begins looking for a new home. She takes Tony's suggestion to convert the loft above Angela's garage into an apartment. Angela is not happy about the new arrangements.

Directors: John Bowab
Writer: Bud Wiser
Watch Now:Amazon
Angela's Ex (2)
star
8.22
112 votes

#6 - Angela's Ex (2)

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/12/1985

While Tony and Samantha live it up at the lavish estate of Tony's new boss, a wealthy older woman, Michael and Angela enjoy their reunion. But the celebration is short-lived, as they are eventually reminded of the professional and personal differences that drove them apart the first time.

Directors: Linda Day
Watch Now:Amazon
Just Like Tony
star
8.14
84 votes

#7 - Just Like Tony

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/12/1985

Stories of Tony's rebellious youth are rubbing off on Jonathan, particularly when Jonathan brings home a hubcap stolen from a police car. Angela then decrees that from now on, she is to be consulted on all decisions regarding her son. Not to be completely overruled, Tony decides to handle the situation in his own way.

Directors: Asaad Kelada
Watch Now:Amazon
Double Date
star
8.13
110 votes

#8 - Double Date

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/26/1985

Samantha is looking forward to the upcoming school dance, but Tony spoils her evening by constantly taking pictures of her and her date, working at the dance as a chaperone, and getting caught kissing her teacher in front of the entire class.

Directors: Michael Zinberg
Writer: Bud Wiser
Watch Now:Amazon
Tony's Father-in-Law
star
8.11
81 votes

#9 - Tony's Father-in-Law

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/5/1985

Nick, Tony's father-in-law, visits. He cannot bring himself to tell everyone that he will soon be imprisoned, so he instead claims that he is dying, then milks the sympathy.

Directors: Richard Sakai
Writer: Ellen Guylas
Angela's First Fight
star
8.03
152 votes

#10 - Angela's First Fight

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/23/1984

During a trip to Tony's old neighbourhood 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.

Directors: Jim Drake
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Angela's Ex (1)
star
7.95
115 votes

#11 - Angela's Ex (1)

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/5/1985

Angela's ex-husband, Michael, visits so that they can sign the final divorce papers. Instead, they find themselves back together again. With Michael back in the house, there's no longer a need for Tony, who is given two weeks' notice by Michael.

Directors: Linda Day
Watch Now:Amazon
Eye on Angela
star
7.94
115 votes

#12 - Eye on Angela

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/19/1985

A local news reporter, Bobbi Barnes, wants to do a story on the daily life of Angela. But when a series of innocent mix-ups leads Tony and Angela to wake up in the same bed, Bobbi's camera crew is waiting in the hall to capture the scene. Bobbi thinks she has a juicy story for her show, but Mona has other ideas.

Directors: John Bowab
Writer: Ellen Guylas
Watch Now:Amazon
A Rash Decision
star
7.81
111 votes

#13 - A Rash Decision

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/1984

Tony visits Angela at the filming of a soap commercial, and ends up the star of the ad. Soon after, Tony develops an itchy rash that turns out to have been caused by the soap. Angela must then decide if she wants to market a soap whose makers are not completely honest about its potentially harmful side effects

Directors: Linda Day
Watch Now:Amazon
Pilot
star
7.80
236 votes

#14 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1984

Single dad Tony Micelli and his street smart young daughter Samantha decide to leave the mean streets of their poor neighbourhood 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.

Directors: Bill Persky
Watch Now:Amazon
Requiem
star
7.80
125 votes

#15 - Requiem

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/18/1984

Tony is moonlighting to raise extra money, which Mona believes is to take care of a secret girlfriend in Brooklyn. Soon the truth comes out: Tony is still paying rent on his recently deceased father's apartment, so that he and Sam will have a place to go just in case things don't work out in Connecticut.

Watch Now:Amazon
Sports Buddies
star
7.77
69 votes

#16 - Sports Buddies

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/11/1984

Angela becomes involved with a gentleman who is quite the sports fanatic. He becomes more interested in hanging out with Tony and talking sports than in spending time with Angela.

Directors: Asaad Kelada
Watch Now:Amazon
Sorority Sister
star
7.64
101 votes

#17 - Sorority Sister

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/27/1984

Angela's sorotory sister from college comes around and takes an interest in Tony.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:Amazon
Truth in Dating
star
7.37
124 votes

#18 - Truth in Dating

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/4/1984

At the market, Tony picks up a woman who believes that he is the owner of Angela's house and Jaguar. Meanwhile, Angela accepts a date with a man who believes that she is Rosie, Angela's flighty secretary. Both advise the other that no good relationship can begin based on a lie, and soon both are forced to confront their deceived dates.

Writer: Bud Wiser
Watch Now:Apple TV
First Kiss
star
7.26
82 votes

#19 - First Kiss

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/16/1985

Angela comes home from a rowdy birthday party, just as Tony returns home from a police-sponsored demonstration of the effects of alcohol on the mind. Both are in a woozy state, and they end up kissing.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Keeping Up with Marci
star
7.22
80 votes

#20 - Keeping Up with Marci

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/9/1985

Tony fears he can't afford the ski club Samantha wants to join with her friends, but he lets her sign up anyway. When his attempt to economize by cleaning Angela's chimney himself fails, he must go back on his word and tell Samantha she cannot join. Refusing to borrow the money from Angela, Tony soon sells one of his prized possessions to be able to pay for Samantha's ski trip.

Directors: Asaad Kelada
Dinner for Two
star
7.05
95 votes

#21 - Dinner for Two

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/20/1984

Tony is greatly anticipating his dinner date with a girl in Brooklyn, just as Angela is preparing for a business dinner for two with a client. When Angela's guest cancels at the last minute, Tony reluctantly stays in Connecticut to keep her company, while attempting to keep, but slightly postpone, his date.

Samantha's Growing Up
star
6.82
146 votes

#22 - Samantha's Growing Up

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/8/1985

Forced to confront the fact that Samantha is not a little girl any more, Tony buys her her first brassiere. When it turns out not to be the kind she wanted, Tony enlists Angela's help in buying Samantha new clothes. He is less than thrilled, however, when Samantha comes home looking a bit too grown up. (Note: This episode was originally titled "Samantha's First Bra" but was later changed due to censoring problems.)

Directors: Linda Day
Watch Now:Apple TV