80s TV Ladies: Episode 319: Directing Who’s The Boss | Asaad Kelada - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 05-13-2025, 12:36 AM

https://www.80stvladies.com/episode/...-kelada-part-2

Quote:

"It is equally treacherous when you are very successful as when you are trying to get your foot in the door in terms of keeping the sense of who you are.” -- Asaad Kelada, producer/director, The Facts of Life

The Conversation

How directing his first episode of network television - "Rhonda Questions Her Life and Flies to Paris" - felt like coming home.
THE “TIES” THAT BIND: An old friend, Gary David Goldberg, asked Asaad personally to direct the pilot of Family Ties.
Michael J. Fox ad-libbed the “P” in “Alex P. Keaton” when picking up a call from his girlfriend -- and it got the biggest laugh of the night. That’s when Asaad knew the show was going to be a hit.
Michael J. Fox was actually the SECOND choice to play Alex Keaton. Matthew Broderick was first.
ON PERSISTENCE: Observing and learning for five years to direct his first episode of television. “People would wave at me and say hello, but were they looking at an insane man, or were they looking at someone who was just determined? How am I being perceived by persisting and persisting? Was I somebody who was really deluded? When doesn’t he take no for an answer? I think I just outlasted them.”
Directing “Les on a Ledge” for WKRP in Cincinnati.
DIRECTING WHO’S THE BOSS?: Tony Danza had a photographic memory and hated rehearsal. Katherine Helmond and Judith Light loved to rehearse. Plus, the kids? Everyone had to be directed differently, but it all had to come together.
The “Requiem” episode of Who’s The Boss? is where Tony Danza and Asaad really connected. After that, he was invited to stay -- for four years.
WHO REALLY WAS THE BOSS? “No question -- it was Tony Danza. Tony was volatile. He made everybody feel good -- until he didn’t.”
GETTING TO KNOW BENSON: Asaad only directed two episodes of Benson -- but he and Robert Guillaume became lifelong friends.
“LOOKOUT FOR CLORIS LEACHMAN!” -- “I was told ‘She may try to take over, she is always changing things -- and she is a flirt. Maybe you can use that to tame her’.”
WELCOME TO THE “TV CLUB”: “Even when you get accepted into the TV club, it is a temporary membership. And it can be revoked at any time.”

So join Susan and Sharon -- and Asaad -- as they talk Danny Pintauro, Alyssa Milano, Jan Hooks, The Last Resort, Julie Kavner, Todd Bridges, Designing Women, Justine Bateman, Chuck Lorre -- and getting stuck in the bathroom with Benson!