For someone who obviously cannot act, how Tony Danza has led a charmed acting life, I don't know. He's obviously the luckiest man ever, or has the best booking agent in the world. Let's dissect this anomoly.
First TD scores with a gig on "Taxi". OK, fair enough. He's basically playing himself on here (in fact his character's name is 'Tony' as well), so no thespian performances are needed. In between seasons he finds the time to rack up such resume stockers such as "Murder Can't Hurt You", and "Going Ape".
1984 arrives, and TD finds himself out of a job, now that Taxi has ended it's run. Goodbye for TD, you say? Well as luck has it, based on his association with the show, he gets tabbed to co-star in "Who's The Boss?" The show is a hit, even bigger than Taxi, and TD's Hollywood stay is extended. In the tradition of keeping a good thing going, his character is named 'Tony' as well, just like in Taxi. Lightning has stuck twice. Like all industious TV actors, he has the energy to do some additional film and TV work, with gems such as "She's Out Of Control", and "Baby Talk".
Sadly, "Who's The Boss" finishes it's run in 1992, and our protagonist is again without a job. Has TD gone to the well too many times? "Not so," say Hollywood's finest content producers. A plan is concocted: TD is to be paired up with brunette sweetheart Lori Loughlin, just off a successful stint in the rip-roaring sitcom "Full House". Surely this combination cannot fail. The result of this pairing is another sitcom entitled "Hudson Street". For the third time, TD's character is also named 'Tony'. America, however, finally speaks out: NO MORE TONY. The show is a flop and is not renewed for a second season.
Surely this failure is enough to have broken the career of TD. For an actor to land a part on a network series is to have defied the odds. To be part of a successful series is like winning the lottery. To then get a part on a a second series hit is mind boggling. To then get even a third show makes one stronger than Superman. But to get a FOURTH show after having a flop is unimaginable, infinitely more considering TD's lack of acting skills. But yet this is what happened. Inexplicably, TD hits paydirt again with sitcom #4, this time simply titled "The Tony Danza Show". I'm sure you can guess what TD's character is named, again. Flop #2 is served up, and mercifully (for us), the show is dumped after 14 episodes.
So for the fourth time, TD is without regular employment. No TV gigs are offered, but no problem, this just leaves him time to create his magnum opus "The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon".
The year is 2000, and one would figure TD's 22 year run of luck has been thoroughly exhausted. But like a Phoenix rising from Arizona, TD is tapped to appear in the minor drama hit "Family Law". None of the devices used in his previous TV shows are used: the show is not a sitcom, and his character is NOT named 'Tony". Perhaps this was a good move, for TD is able to put together a 3 year year run with the show before it is axed. Certainly not the lofty heights he reached with "Taxi" and Who's the Boss", but a good return.
By this time TD has had ten times the acting career that most SAG members only dream of. Surely it's time for this horse to be out out to pasture. In a occurence that could only be scripted in Hollywood, TD is now given a daytime talk show! Since seeing TD one time a week wasn't enough, now you get to see him five times a week. All Tony, all the time! In another odd turn of event, the gig is called, hold your breath, "THE TONY DANZA SHOW"!!! Hell, let's just rehash the title of an old flop. And yes, Virginia, TD did not change his name, he's still named "Tony".
Well it's 2005, and the show is still being made. It's a syndicated show, so not all of America can see it. But TD is still here. And I don't know why.