Danny Pintauro's acting skills in the later seasons

[TMC]

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".

The consensus appears that his acting once he became a teenager, was noticeably worse. A kinder way to describe it is that he was very awkward as he got older. During the last few seasons (especially in Season 7, with Billy), 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. Danny was at the very least, considered to be the "weakest link" among the main cast.

I hope that this isn't interpreted the wrong way, but people have since commented that with the benefit of hindsight, it was very obvious that Danny as he got older, he wasn't exactly a hetrosexual person in real life. It was made even more difficult because Jonathan was clearly written as being a boy who was genuinely sexually attracted to girls.

Going back to my initial point about Jerry Mathers, I a while back came across this comment on Reddit pertaining to child actors on sitcoms:

So many "cute kids" last two seasons, and then become the brats on the show. Danny Pintauro (Jonathan on Who's the Boss?) comes to mind, same with Ben Seaver on Growing Pains, or more recently, Luke on Modern Family. It's like writers have no idea what to do with awkward teens. They're not cute, 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.

[BestTVever]

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.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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

You don't remember Billy?

[TVSCREEN2015]

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.

[BestTVever]

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.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TVSCREEN2015

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. 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".

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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:


Danny Pinataro, when Who's the Boss? started was actually the more "experienced" child actor than Alyssa Milano because he had done Cujo. And Danny in Tony's words, was the cute kid who could cry effectively on camera.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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 car accident 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.

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TMC

Of course, I'm speculating, but I wonder if Danielle Spencer's acting abilities were further compromised by her near fatal car accident 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.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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", 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!"

[BestTVever]

Originally Posted by TMC

There's this episode from the fifth season called "Your Grandmother's a Bimbo", 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.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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??

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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!"

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

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, 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.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TVSCREEN2015

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.