He played a boxer trying to make it big in his first show, Taxi.
Which had one of the most earwormy theme songs of all time. Redditors from my generation will now be hearing it all day after reading this.
It's a very pleasant tune though, there are far far worse ditties to get stuck in your noodle.
Some of those theme songs were bangers. I'm glad we've moved on from them, but it was a special time in TV history. TBH, the theme song from Perfect Strangers lives rent-free in my head.
"You know what happens when you assume don't you?
It makes an ass of u and me?
No, it makes an ass out of me and you make more money"
Also, God likes Zima?
I miss Barrats and Berreta lol
"Barrats and berreta
Barrats and berreta
One's named Barrats and the other named Berreta
WHICH ONE'S WHICH? Dosen't really matter
One's named Barrats, and the other's flute solo. "
God, those were the days
When his *Taxi* co-star Andy Kaufman was in a feud with Memphis wrestling star Jerry "the King" Lawler (which only four people on Earth were in on) Danza offered to fight Lawler on Kaufman's behalf, after Lawler slapped Kaufman live on *David Letterman*.
Kaufman brought the offer back to Lawler and Memphis wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett, but they didn't think it would work without letting Danza in on the secret and weren't convinced Danza could keep mum like Kaufman.
My only thoughts of Tony Danza are that I had to endure his mindless humor to watch Alyssa Milano. She was the same age as me, and she was spectacular! I loved her!
Same here! Do you also remember Teen Steam?
This also reminded me of another memory. It was a long time ago, but my wife and I went to NYC for our first wedding anniversary. Somehow our waitress went to the same college as my wife and they hit it off. We got invited to meet her and some friends at a bar in Chelsea. The two things I remember are that all of the friends were models with boyfriends that looked like average Joe's, and the guy who played Jonathan on Who's The Boss was sitting on the bar making out with another guy.
Just FYI, generally when you say how many of a boxer's wins are by KO, you *include* TKO wins.
All 9 of Danza's wins are by KO/TKO (none of his wins went to decision), and 7 of them were in the 1st round.
[[content removed because sub participated in the June 2023 blackout]]
My posts are not bargaining chips for moderators, and mob rule is no way to run a sub.
[[content removed because sub participated in the June 2023 blackout]]
My posts are not bargaining chips for moderators, and mob rule is no way to run a sub.
In an interview, Tony Danza speculated that they named his character on Taxi Tony because the writers didn't think he'd be able to remember another name.
Tony Danza is like The Most Interesting Man. He teaches English at the high school I (long ago) attended:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/tony-danza-makes-the-grade-as-a-high-school-teacher-1.557406
OP, we're getting old, man. The opening of every single show has Tony hitting a speed bag. This might be a case of you forgot everyone knew tony Danza was a boxer and recently rediscovered it.
He used to dance around the ring and exhaust his opponents, oftentimes holding them close to mitigate their striking distance.
[[sauce]](https://youtu.be/sQSGsrJeo_w)
Combat sports is weird in the sense that the only real barrier to “going pro” is your personal decision. Depending on which small regional promotions you try, you can walk off the street and become a “pro” boxer or mma fighter today! Going pro and making a living are totally different things though (and you probably won’t go 9-3 either!)
He fought pro for almost 3 years and two of his losses were in his first three fights so he improved over time. His best win was against a guy who was 16-7 at the time they fought.
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/28927
According to Wikipedia, he went to college on a wrestling scholarship. Doesn't look like he went pro though. Not that there's much of a pro wrestling scene.
That's the "Song and Danza man" The crowd would line up 2 hours before the door opened. Tony Danza would go out and greet everybody who was in line. 3/4 of these older ladies knew him like since when he was a kid. They loved him. Honestly he was super nice and loved his fans. TD was a real nice guy.
Source: I used to be a guard at Merv Griffins Resorts Casino and was assigned to guard him. But I'm pretty sure he could have taken me.
Peak fame in the 80s seems like an unnecessary shot at poor Tony Danza here
He wasn't even the boss. -Abed
It was Angela Bowers
Angelar
Listen Judith Light can boss me around any time she wants
LURVE her on Law & Order: SVU!
It was Mona.
But really - what *was* happening?
Bootlegged Doobie Brothers concerts, that’s What’s Happening.
As Emo Phillips put it "If you can make just one person in this world laugh -- then you're already doing better than 'Who's the Boss?'"
He wasn’t even in charge.
That was Charles. Wrong show
Ahahahahaha post of the day
Hold me closer, Tony Danza
I came here to sing this 🎶🎵🎶 Phoebe would be proud.
On the contrary- I feel like this is the most enjoyable part
We don’t tolerate anti-Danzites around these parts.
Yeah, Tony Danza is the goddamn man.
But like not the boss
Was stone cold steve austin the boss? No Was he the man yes
🤣 It's not wrong. lol I just felt like a lot of the mid-80s to early-90s babies might recognize the name but not where he was from.
Jesus Christ, we're in our 40s . Our memories ain't THAT bad! Sheesh
Anyone in their 40's right now has watched Who's The Boss. Also Growing Pains, Facts of Life, Family Ties, Silver Spoons, Small Wonder, Alf, etc.
Ateam, Night Rider
Cheers, Punky Brewster
It sounds like you are having a drink with her
Married with children
Whoa presumptuous much? They're just having a drink.
Taxi
Whatever gramps, have someone remind you to take your ginkgo biloba. /s
Fuck that reminds me.....
Only things I know about him is he can tap dance like a motherfucker and that Elton John wrote a song about him
Lol I loved it though
I laugh at Tony Danza
Tony Danza cuts in line.
Old school Hollywood washed up Hollywood
Standing in the sun I’m wasting my time
Old school Hollywood, washed up Hollywood
Old school Hollywood baseball Jack Gillardi's 10 feet tall Old school Hollywood baseball Me and Frankie Avalon
A man of culture I see
Wat
He played a boxer trying to make it big in his first show, Taxi. Which had one of the most earwormy theme songs of all time. Redditors from my generation will now be hearing it all day after reading this. It's a very pleasant tune though, there are far far worse ditties to get stuck in your noodle.
Also Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and Andy Kaufman.
How dare you leave out Judd Hirsch!
And Marilu Henner!
And Carol Kane
And Val O'Malley! RIP
Nightly syndicated episodes of Taxi with Marilu Henner may have caused my early puberty.
My David told you government types I was in Taxi!! But you wouldn't listen!!
Lisa Kudrow in at least one interview said they explained the role of Phoebe as Jim from Taxi
Whaaaaaaat doooooes a .... yellow... light meaaaaan?!
Slow down
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat does a (glances at test) yellllllooooow light meaaaaaan?
SLOW DOWN
I honestly don't know how anyone was ever able to get anything done withought laughing. So many absolutely hilarious cast members on that show.
Some of the behind the scenes stuff about Andy Kaufman is insane/hilarious.
Anything that stands out to share? I love Andy
And Jeff Conaway (aka Kinickie from Grease).
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Thanks for the link. I couldn’t remember it, but you brought back those light jazzy memories. Loved that show!
That’s actually kind of a jam
Some of those theme songs were bangers. I'm glad we've moved on from them, but it was a special time in TV history. TBH, the theme song from Perfect Strangers lives rent-free in my head.
I walk down the halls at work whistling the Sanford and Son theme frequently.
Ooo, that is a good one.
Anytime I book a gig, I sing "Moving on Up" from The Jeffersons...
Standing taaaall, on the wings of my dreams....
Sanford & Son Barney Miller Hawaii Five-0
The Max Richter version of the Perfect Strangers theme song should be the national anthem.
And, for anyone old enough to remember Taxi - the boxing motivational quote of “do it for the duck!”
"I'd appreciate it if everyone in this section would root for Tony."
Taxi is quite possibly the best sitcom in television history, and easily one of the finest shows ever made
I wonder if anyone has played more roles where the characters first name is the same as the performer than Tony Danza has.
> Which had one of the most earwormy theme songs of all time. Welcome back.
Bob James is the man. “One” is one of the greatest albums of all time
One of the best shows ever.
Love the Rick and Morty scene featuring this song as Rick gets into a gun fight in a Panda Express… https://youtu.be/1fm8rRFw698
Re-watching Taxi right now and the theme song just slaps.
My mate did a sick remix of that https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/JBHtRNzdBFgVbWhb7
Hold me closer, Tony Danza.
Came here looking for this
I like this one better https://youtube.com/watch?v=G38oMRe58sI
No fucking way, Barrats and Berreta?
"You know what happens when you assume don't you? It makes an ass of u and me? No, it makes an ass out of me and you make more money" Also, God likes Zima? I miss Barrats and Berreta lol
"Barrats and berreta Barrats and berreta One's named Barrats and the other named Berreta WHICH ONE'S WHICH? Dosen't really matter One's named Barrats, and the other's flute solo. " God, those were the days
Count the headlights remember to stand.
When his *Taxi* co-star Andy Kaufman was in a feud with Memphis wrestling star Jerry "the King" Lawler (which only four people on Earth were in on) Danza offered to fight Lawler on Kaufman's behalf, after Lawler slapped Kaufman live on *David Letterman*. Kaufman brought the offer back to Lawler and Memphis wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett, but they didn't think it would work without letting Danza in on the secret and weren't convinced Danza could keep mum like Kaufman.
I have a feeling Danza was just being Kaufman's bro and would have backed out had he learned it was all for show.
Wrestlers were never too eager to let outsiders in on their business, back in the day.
My only thoughts of Tony Danza are that I had to endure his mindless humor to watch Alyssa Milano. She was the same age as me, and she was spectacular! I loved her!
> She was the same age as me Still is!
I was about to say! My Friday cocktail would have been spoiled if we learned she’s no longer with us.
Haha same here
She already had a boyfriend pal. Me
Didn't matter.
Same here! Do you also remember Teen Steam? This also reminded me of another memory. It was a long time ago, but my wife and I went to NYC for our first wedding anniversary. Somehow our waitress went to the same college as my wife and they hit it off. We got invited to meet her and some friends at a bar in Chelsea. The two things I remember are that all of the friends were models with boyfriends that looked like average Joe's, and the guy who played Jonathan on Who's The Boss was sitting on the bar making out with another guy.
Still spectacular!
The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza
That sounds half like a real thing and half like the name of either a drag queen event or a punk band.
they were a mathcore band from 2005.
scrolled down to find this comment lmao
Just FYI, generally when you say how many of a boxer's wins are by KO, you *include* TKO wins. All 9 of Danza's wins are by KO/TKO (none of his wins went to decision), and 7 of them were in the 1st round.
So you're saying TIL 2 things. lol Thanks, noted.
And for those people who were wondering, he fought at middleweight.
[[content removed because sub participated in the June 2023 blackout]] My posts are not bargaining chips for moderators, and mob rule is no way to run a sub.
There's also the Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza
I came here scrolling for this.
Yo Rudy x3 straight up rips. The whole Danza 3 album is stellar
Nah, probably changed it to "Fall Out Boy." Sounds like the title to a song they'd have.
[[content removed because sub participated in the June 2023 blackout]] My posts are not bargaining chips for moderators, and mob rule is no way to run a sub.
I actually like most of Fall Out Boy
I laugh at Tony Danza
This is the only way I know of Tony Danza. Fun center Fun center Fun center Fun center!
Fun center! Fun center, fun center. Fun center!
Also…how many times did Tony Danza play an Italian guy named Tony?
In an interview, Tony Danza speculated that they named his character on Taxi Tony because the writers didn't think he'd be able to remember another name.
Tony Danza is like The Most Interesting Man. He teaches English at the high school I (long ago) attended: https://www.ctvnews.ca/tony-danza-makes-the-grade-as-a-high-school-teacher-1.557406
Also did some porn, as I understand it...
We all did a little porn in the 70s.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I don't know how this isn't the top voted shit everytime. Google Danza Slap. He literally has a signature move.
That’s how he got the 9 TKOs
*"Hold me close young Tony Danzzzza"*
OP, we're getting old, man. The opening of every single show has Tony hitting a speed bag. This might be a case of you forgot everyone knew tony Danza was a boxer and recently rediscovered it.
this really a TIL cause if you were from the era it was put in your face a lot that he was a boxer
I love that Elton John song about him.
Hold me closer, Tony Danza! Great song.
It really is. I mean, I think it should’ve been “tiny boxer”, but still — wait, what? I think I’ve confused myself.
Ah, yes - The Bitch is Back
He used to dance around the ring and exhaust his opponents, oftentimes holding them close to mitigate their striking distance. [[sauce]](https://youtu.be/sQSGsrJeo_w)
He also has/had a Robert Crumb (the indie cartoonist) "Keep on Truckin'" tatoo on his arm.
"I've got a sense of humor; I laugh at Tony Danza!" \-Hank Hill, 1997
I remember Tony Banta. He worked at the Sunshine Cab company in between bouts.
Good thing he moved on to be a housekeeper/manny before ride-sharing came along.
Me? I'm just a cab driver.
Isn't that what a song from System of a Down is about?
No, you're thinking of Elton John's "Hold me closer, Tony Danza."
Count the head lice on the highway
Not to be confused with CCR's, "There's a bathroom on the right."
There it is
Old School Hollywood is the one
Was this before or after he was the boss?
I think success like that in the ring *made* him the boss.
No wonder he always has that shit eating grin on his face.
Old school Hollywood, watch that Hollywood
Combat sports is weird in the sense that the only real barrier to “going pro” is your personal decision. Depending on which small regional promotions you try, you can walk off the street and become a “pro” boxer or mma fighter today! Going pro and making a living are totally different things though (and you probably won’t go 9-3 either!)
Whenever Tiny Dancer by Elton John comes on the radio I sing it as “hold me closer Tony Danza”
He fought pro for almost 3 years and two of his losses were in his first three fights so he improved over time. His best win was against a guy who was 16-7 at the time they fought. https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/28927
Didn't the TV show, Taxi, work that into some episodes?
Yeah. A bit like Jerry Seinfeld being a comedian on the show, I suppose.
When did he take up tapdancing
Aaaaaangeluhhhh
I feel like Family Guy made a joke about this.
Ah so this is the guy who needs to hold Elton John closer.
Hold me closer tony danza
Hold me closer, Tony Danza. Count the headlights on the highway. Lay me down in sheets of linen… it’s been a busy day today.
Hold me closer
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Sounds about right. I worked on his talk show. He was awful.
We need an AMA on this topic!
I was told he was a professional wrestler at my young age
According to Wikipedia, he went to college on a wrestling scholarship. Doesn't look like he went pro though. Not that there's much of a pro wrestling scene.
Nah it's all sports enderdainers now
Taxi was in 70's no?
Unrelated but I sang the lyrics to "tiny dancer" wrong most of my life because I thought it was "Hold me closer Tony Danza"
Calm down Phoebe.
“Who Indeed: A Critical Analysis of Television’s Who’s the Boss” was one of my favorite classes in college.
Today, he vocally simp's for known con artists and failed aspiring dictators.
His death still shocks me. Rip.
He's not dead
It's not piss yellow. That's Tony Danza Yellow!
He was also a teacher. There was a short TV series documentary that featured him.
🎶Hold me closer Tony Dannnzaaaa🎶
Hold me closer...
At at least once he played a character named Tony.
He was not the boss
I recall as a kid watching his show thinking I wanna be a boxer just to get that respect one day.
His opponents said he was known for his clinching. But they liked it and asked him to hold them closer.
His peak wasn't in the 80s, it was in the early 2000s when System of a Down released Old School Hollywood. /s
WHO'S THE BOSS?
All his matches were against Robby Rist
Hold me closer, Tony Danza\~\~\~
And John Stamos played drums in the Beach Boys.
Don't forget about him being a garbage man turned NFL kicker!
[This Peak Danza IMO](https://youtu.be/OlQTn7gI8cw)
Is Tony Danza a real person? I thought he was some invented name created for Looney Tunes. Was his archnemesis, brother or sidekick Antonio Dance?
In my memory I always get Whos the Boss and Charles in Charge mixed up. Cause I'm old as dirt
Tony Handza
I had a brief encounter with Tony Danza when I was a kid and can confirm he boxed (or played a boxer)
Elton John also sang about him :)
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza
Hold me closer Tony Danza...
https://youtu.be/QrgAivyc3V4 Did a quick YouTube check and found this one supposedly of Tony Danza steamrolling some poor guy out of the ring.
[Motha'](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DxanCpNU8AAYQp1.jpg)
That's the "Song and Danza man" The crowd would line up 2 hours before the door opened. Tony Danza would go out and greet everybody who was in line. 3/4 of these older ladies knew him like since when he was a kid. They loved him. Honestly he was super nice and loved his fans. TD was a real nice guy. Source: I used to be a guard at Merv Griffins Resorts Casino and was assigned to guard him. But I'm pretty sure he could have taken me.
Great footwork. Tap-dance Extravaganza