I thought about starting a thread like this after reading on in the Leave it to Beaver forum concerning Jerry Mathers' supposed "loss of acting ability" (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6068068#post6068068).

The consensus appears that his acting (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=6064717&postcount=18) once he became a teenager, was noticeably worse (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224737/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-3#entry4432038). A kinder way to describe it is that he was very (https://web.archive.org/web/20140406114445/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-11#entry13358263) awkward (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224726/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-2#entry1643083) as he got older. During the last few seasons (especially in Season 7, with Billy (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224726/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-2#entry1557761)), it seemed like all Jonathan was there to do for the most part, was walk in, say a single line of dialogue and then leave (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224726/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-2#entry1557797). Danny was at the very least, considered (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224737/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-3#entry4436149) to be the "weakest link" (https://web.archive.org/web/20140405003514/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-4#entry5516462) among the main cast.

I hope that this isn't interpreted the wrong way, but people have since commented (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224844/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/#entry960935) that with the benefit of hindsight, it was very obvious that Danny as he got older, he wasn't exactly (https://moviechat.org/tt0086827/Whos-the-Boss/58c741036b51e905f66e6240/When-did-you-realize-the-liitle-boy-was-gay) a hetrosexual person in real life. It was made even more difficult because Jonathan was clearly written (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224737/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-3#entry4399582) as being a boy who was genuinely sexually (https://web.archive.org/web/20140406114447/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-10#entry13353675) attracted to girls (https://web.archive.org/web/20140405003515/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-5#entry7017306).

Going back to my initial point about Jerry Mathers, I a while back came across this comment on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/d657gs/hey_reddit_im_jay_abramowitz_in_the_1980s_and_90s/f0rm21i/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) pertaining to child actors on sitcoms:
So many "cute kids" last two seasons, and then become (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125158/http://www.jumptheshark.com/puberty.htm) the brats on the show. Danny Pintauro (Jonathan on Who's the Boss? (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125256/http://www.jumptheshark.com/w/whostheboss.htm)) comes to mind, same with Ben Seaver on Growing Pains (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125158/http://www.jumptheshark.com/g/growingpains.htm), or more recently, Luke on Modern Family. It's like writers have no idea what to do with awkward teens. They're not cute (https://web.archive.org/web/20140406114447/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-10#entry13296974), they're not funny, and they can't act, because acting before was just them looking at the camera and saying a 3 work catch phrase.

Danny was cast because he was cute, adorable and he could act. When these young kid actors hit puberty its natural for anyone to feel awkward during this time. Being that he was gay and playing a teenager interested in girls makes it even more awkward. When you are young and cute you have no sexuality. But soon it comes as part of who you are. I dont see his lines being cut because he was gay but because the cute factor was over. I really felt for him because in those days it must have been brutal to be gay. Wasn't he outed by a tabloid? It was impossible for him to hide who he was. Some can do it others not so much.
The show was getting long in the tooth and the kids grew up. On another note, I hate when sitcoms introduce a cute young character once the kids grow up. The Brady Bunch did it with Oliver when the kids got older. Family Ties did it when the kids got older and the new adorable kid just had a few clever lines in the beginning and then would leave the room. I hate that stuff. At least Who's The Boss did not introduce another cute kid. I just felt bad for Danny being gay, outed, and then having to pretend to be straight on TV.
To answer your question, I dont think his acting skills changed. He was just put in a very awkward situation. He no longer was playing the adorable kiddie who would run into the room and tell adult jokes and just be adorable. He grew up and that changed the dynamic of the show and especially his character. Since he was now a teen, they made him chase girls and the whole thing just was awkward. It really had nothing to do with his acting skills IMHO.

At least Who's The Boss did not introduce another cute kid.

You don't remember Billy?

Danny Pintauro was by far the worst part of this show and the weak link of the cast. Such a terrible actor. Couldn't deliver a line if his life depended on it. It was as if somebody was holding giant cue cards behind the camera for him to read off of.

Danny was exactly like Danielle Spencer on What's Happening. As a young child, they were hysterical. Dee could deliver a line with perfect comedic timing. As she got older, it looked like she lost her ability to act and almost reading lines off cue cards. Danny was the same way. He was adorable and could deliver the lines as a young kid but then got awkward as he got older.

Danny Pintauro was by far the worst part of this show and the weak link of the cast. Such a terrible actor. Couldn't deliver a line if his life depended on it. It was as if somebody was holding giant cue cards behind the camera for him to read off of.

That's what others have said online (https://web.archive.org/web/20140402224737/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2874131-whos-the-boss/page-3#entry4432038). Danny just had a blank expression to the point in which it was like playing a game of guessing where the cue cards were.

More specifically, with the other actors in the main cast (i.e. Tony, Judith, Katherine, and Alyssa), you could believe the parts that they were playing. In other words, you wouldn't for instance, be thinking "yeah that's Judith Light", you would think "wow...Angela's really pissed about something".

Danny was cast because he was cute, adorable and he could act. When these young kid actors hit puberty its natural for anyone to feel awkward during this time. Being that he was gay and playing a teenager interested in girls makes it even more awkward. When you are young and cute you have no sexuality. But soon it comes as part of who you are. I dont see his lines being cut because he was gay but because the cute factor was over. I really felt for him because in those days it must have been brutal to be gay. Wasn't he outed by a tabloid? It was impossible for him to hide who he was. Some can do it others not so much.
The show was getting long in the tooth and the kids grew up. On another note, I hate when sitcoms introduce a cute young character once the kids grow up. The Brady Bunch did it with Oliver when the kids got older. Family Ties did it when the kids got older and the new adorable kid just had a few clever lines in the beginning and then would leave the room. I hate that stuff. At least Who's The Boss did not introduce another cute kid. I just felt bad for Danny being gay, outed, and then having to pretend to be straight on TV.
To answer your question, I dont think his acting skills changed. He was just put in a very awkward situation. He no longer was playing the adorable kiddie who would run into the room and tell adult jokes and just be adorable. He grew up and that changed the dynamic of the show and especially his character. Since he was now a teen, they made him chase girls and the whole thing just was awkward. It really had nothing to do with his acting skills IMHO.

Tony Danza explains Danny here:
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Danny Pinataro, when Who's the Boss? started was actually the more "experienced" child actor than Alyssa Milano because he had done Cujo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cujo_(film)). And Danny in Tony's words, was the cute kid who could cry effectively on camera.

Danny was exactly like Danielle Spencer on What's Happening. As a young child, they were hysterical. Dee could deliver a line with perfect comedic timing. As she got older, it looked like she lost her ability to act and almost reading lines off cue cards. Danny was the same way. He was adorable and could deliver the lines as a young kid but then got awkward as he got older.

Of course, I'm speculating, but I wonder if Danielle Spencer's acting abilities were further compromised by her near fatal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLsIkiMc3dI) car accident (https://praisehouston.com/4063031/danielle-spencer-details-car-accident-paralysis-near-suicide/) in 1977.

Looking back at Who's the Boss?, I feel horrible for Danny because with the benefit of hindsight, you could kind of sense that he may actually be gay. But he was placed in these situations that again with the benefit of hindsight, felt disingenuous to who he truly was.

Again, it felt increasingly awkward to try to buy Danny as some girl crazed teenager when he really didn't have the ability or where with all to convincingly pull it off. Danny and I hate to say this, did as he got older, frankly come across as a tad effeminate in his mannerisms and his voice.

But I suppose at the time (keep in mind, that Danny didn't officially come out until 1997), you just figured that Danny and the character that he was playing was simply a really nerdy and sensitive kid.

Of course, I'm speculating, but I wonder if Danielle Spencer's acting abilities were further compromised by her near fatal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLsIkiMc3dI) car accident (https://praisehouston.com/4063031/danielle-spencer-details-car-accident-paralysis-near-suicide/) in 1977.

Looking back at Who's the Boss? I feel horrible for Danny because with the benefit of hindsight, you could kind of sense that he may actually gay. But he was placed in these situations that again with the benefit of hindsight, felt disingenuous to who he truly was.

Again, it felt increasingly awkward to try to buy Danny as some girl crazed teenager when he really didn't have the ability or where with all to convincingly pull it off. Danny and I hate to say this, did as he got older, frankly come across as a tad effeminate in his mannerisms and his voice.

But I suppose at the time (keep in mind, that Danny didn't officially come out until 1997), you just figured that Danny and the character that he was playing was simply a really nerdy and sensitive kid.
Exactly. If my memory is correct Danny was outed in some tabloid which was not cool in the 80s. Yes he was gay but also grew out of the cute young kid role. He was now a teen and should be chasing girls which made everything awkward.

Exactly. If my memory is correct Danny was outed in some tabloid which was not cool in the 80s. Yes he was gay but also grew out of the cute young kid role. He was now a teen and should be chasing girls which made everything awkward.

There's this episode from the fifth season called "Your Grandmother's a Bimbo" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abm6zlY4N-o), where Mona poses in a racy, scantily dressed manner for a magazine photograph. I feel horrible for wanting to chuckle when Jonathan upon first seeing the photo and not right away realizing that the women in said photo is actually his grandmother, says "Who's the babe?"

It seemed like that was the beginning of the whole "Jonathan is a teenage horndog!" portrayal. But Danny Pinatro even though he was reaching or close to puberty by that point, said that particular line in a decidedly soft, almost effeminate manner. Alyssa Milano's voice was much deeper and forceful than Danny Pinatro's during the later years of WTB?

And knowing what we know about Danny now, the smart-aleck, wise-guy in me wanted to say "You really aren't into girls, dude! Stop kidding yourself!"

There's this episode from the fifth season called "Your Grandmother's a Bimbo" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abm6zlY4N-o), where Mona poses in a racy, scantily dressed manner for a magazine photograph. I feel horrible for wanting to chuckle when Jonathan upon first seeing the photo and not right away realizing that the women in said photo is actually his grandmother, says "Who's the babe?"

It seemed like that was the beginning of the whole "Jonathan is a teenage horndog!" portrayal. But Danny Pinatro even though he was reaching or close to puberty by that point, said that particular line in a decidedly soft, almost effeminate manner. Alyssa Milano's voice was much deeper and forceful than Danny Pinatro's during the later years of WTB?

And knowing what we know about Danny know, the smart-aleck, wise-guy in me wanting to say "You really aren't into girls, dude! Stop kidding yourself!"
I dont think he was kidding himself at that point. He had a job to do and he acted out the lines that were given to him.

Danny was cast because he was cute, adorable and he could act. When these young kid actors hit puberty its natural for anyone to feel awkward during this time. Being that he was gay and playing a teenager interested in girls makes it even more awkward.Hmm I didnt realise he is Gay.... Is he the one in the movie Camerons Closet??

Danny was cast because he was cute, adorable and he could act. When these young kid actors hit puberty its natural for anyone to feel awkward during this time. Being that he was gay and playing a teenager interested in girls makes it even more awkward. When you are young and cute you have no sexuality. But soon it comes as part of who you are. I dont see his lines being cut because he was gay but because the cute factor was over. I really felt for him because in those days it must have been brutal to be gay. Wasn't he outed by a tabloid? It was impossible for him to hide who he was. Some can do it others not so much.
The show was getting long in the tooth and the kids grew up. On another note, I hate when sitcoms introduce a cute young character once the kids grow up. The Brady Bunch did it with Oliver when the kids got older. Family Ties did it when the kids got older and the new adorable kid just had a few clever lines in the beginning and then would leave the room. I hate that stuff. At least Who's The Boss did not introduce another cute kid. I just felt bad for Danny being gay, outed, and then having to pretend to be straight on TV.
To answer your question, I dont think his acting skills changed. He was just put in a very awkward situation. He no longer was playing the adorable kiddie who would run into the room and tell adult jokes and just be adorable. He grew up and that changed the dynamic of the show and especially his character. Since he was now a teen, they made him chase girls and the whole thing just was awkward. It really had nothing to do with his acting skills IMHO.

That reminds me that Tina Yothers is another example (and maybe, a rare female example) of a once cute sitcom kid who became incredibly awkward and out of place as she got older. I always think of that SNL sketch from when Justine Bateman hosted back in 1988 that spoofed Family Ties. Literally the only line of dialogue that Jennifer Keaton (played by Victoria Jackson here) is given to say is "Yeah!"

Danny was exactly like Danielle Spencer on What's Happening. As a young child, they were hysterical. Dee could deliver a line with perfect comedic timing. As she got older, it looked like she lost her ability to act and almost reading lines off cue cards. Danny was the same way. He was adorable and could deliver the lines as a young kid but then got awkward as he got older.

Going back to my original point about Jerry Mathers (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=6068068#post6068068), his TV mom Barbara Billingsley once said that as Jerry got older, he became very self-conscious (as most teenagers do) and lost the carefreeness of his earlier years. I of course don't know for sure if that was also the case with Danny Pintauro and Danielle Spencer, but it could shed new light on why certain kids on sitcoms lose their appeal and charm as they reach puberty.

Danny Pintauro was by far the worst part of this show and the weak link of the cast. Such a terrible actor. Couldn't deliver a line if his life depended on it. It was as if somebody was holding giant cue cards behind the camera for him to read off of.

I kind of get why people think that Danny was the weak link on the show. It seemed like towards the end especially, he was merely around to remind viewers that Angela is somebody's mother and to provide Samantha with a pseudo little brother. Otherwise, it was kind of hard to figure out Danny's place on the show.

Tony and Angela's "will they/won't they" relationship was of course, the crux of Who's the Boss? So naturally, Danny as Jonathan was never always going to be the main focus. Danny also wasn't a teen idol or heartthrob like Alyssa Milano was. Let's be real here, Alyssa was the big draw for young viewers not Danny. And Danny didn't provide the much of the show's edge and comedic bite like Katherine Helmond did as his grandmother Mona.

I kind of get why people think that Danny was the weak link on the show. It seemed like towards the end especially, he was merely around to remind viewers that Angela is somebody's mother and to provide Samantha with a pseudo little brother. Otherwise, it was kind of hard to figure out Danny's place on the show.

Tony and Angela's "will they/won't they" relationship was of course, the crux of Who's the Boss? So naturally, Danny as Jonathan was never always going to be the main focus. Danny also wasn't a teen idol or heartthrob like Alyssa Milano was. Let's be real here, Alyssa was the big draw for young viewers not Danny. And Danny didn't provide the much of the show's edge and comedic bite like Katherine Helmond did as his grandmother Mona.
I agree with everything you said. Danny was the cute, adorable kid who lit up the room with his charm and getting or saying the adult jokes. Once he grew up, that magic was gone and he turned into the clever few lines and disappear actor.

Danny Pintauro was by far the worst part of this show and the weak link of the cast. Such a terrible actor. Couldn't deliver a line if his life depended on it. It was as if somebody was holding giant cue cards behind the camera for him to read off of.

While I agree that Danny was with all due respect, the weak link of the cast, I wouldn't out and out say that he was a terrible actor, at least not initially. I think that in the early years of Who's the Boss? he fit the role fine enough as this sweet, naïve, nerdy little kid.

It seemed like the producers and writers weren't entirely sure what to do with his character once he reached puberty. Like I said before, all of the "good" teenager plots seemed to already be used for Sam. And it was just plain awkward to want to buy Danny as some girl-crazy little horndog when he quite frankly, didn't have the ability to convincingly pull it off.

And during the final season or two, it appeared that Jonathan as a character went from being depicted as like I said, a sweet and nerdy kid to a selfish and mean teenager and diva, who always said some dumb remark or put Sam down.

While I agree that Danny was with all due respect, the weak link of the cast, I wouldn't out and out say that he was a terrible actor, at least not initially. I think that in the early years of Who's the Boss? he fit the role fine enough as this sweet, naïve, nerdy little kid.

It seemed like the producers and writers weren't entirely sure what to do with his character once he reached puberty. Like I said before, all of the "good" teenager plots seemed to already be used for Sam. And it was just plain awkward to want to buy Danny as some girl-crazy little horndog when he quite frankly, didn't have the ability to convincingly pull it off.

And during the final season or two, it appeared that Jonathan as a character went from being depicted as like I said, a sweet and nerdy kid to a selfish and mean teenager and diva, who always said some dumb remark or put Sam down.
I would not call the character nerdy. He was the cute kid who got jokes with being so young but engaging in adult humor. Thats sort of of the opposite of nerdy. His lines were far more grown up for his age. That was the schtick. I hate characters like that but its what we get in sitcoms. The kid on Family Ties, Little Earl on What's Happening, etc

Danny Pintauro was by far the worst part of this show and the weak link of the cast. Such a terrible actor. Couldn't deliver a line if his life depended on it. It was as if somebody was holding giant cue cards behind the camera for him to read off of.

In the series finale, they had a scene where Tony is preparing to leave for his new life in Iowa and he and Jonathan have a little heart to heart talk. Jonathan tells Tony that he's always been like a dad to him.

For some reason, whenever I think of it, it sounds like of disingenuous hearing it out of Danny Pintauro's mouth at that point in time. I really don't know how to properly explain it other than it seemed like he was kind of unsure of himself (and thinking too much) in delivering that line of dialogue.

Plus, why did they have to have that type of scene to begin with? Of course, Tony stepped up and became kind of a father figure for Jonathan over the past eight years, but Jonathan if I'm not mistaken, always had a good relationship with his actual dad, Michael.

It isn't exactly the same as Sam's relationship with Angela, since Sam's real mom died when she was really young and therefore, Sam never really had a female role model (unless you count Mrs. Rossini) in her life.

It seemed like once Michael remarried they completely forgot that he ever existed and he was just living his own life in California.