Aye there, how you doin'? In news that I did not expect to be reporting on this afternoon, we've gotten word that Tony Danza is making his television comeback thanks to Netflix, and their forthcoming 10-episode series THE GOOD COP.
In THE GOOD COP, Danza plays Tony Sr., a disgraced, former NYPD officer who never followed the rules. He lives with his son, Tony Jr., an earnest, obsessively honest NYPD detective who makes a point of always following the rules. This “odd couple” become unofficial partners as Tony Sr. offers his overly-cautious son blunt, street-wise advice on everything from handling suspects to handling women.
Andy Breckman, the creator of the Tony Shalhoub detective comedy MONK, will serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Randy Zisk (BONES, MONK), and Howard Klein (THE OFFICE, THE MINDY PROJECT) also coiming onto the project as executive producers. Zisk will also direct the first episode while Tony Danza will serve as a producer on THE GOOD COP, with the series being inspired by a format from Israeli production company YES, who will also serve as executive producers.
As a part of the new show's announcement, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix, Cindy Holland, said, “We’re excited to bring viewers the return of Tony Danza, one of television’s most beloved icons. THE GOOD COP is a funny, charming procedural series that we think our members will love.”
Meanwhile, MONK creator Any Breckman has been quoted as saying, “Many cop shows feature dark and provocative material: psycho-sexual killers, twisted, grim, flawed detectives. Many address the most controversial issues of the day. I watch a lot of them. God bless 'em all. But the show I want to produce is playful, family-friendly, and a celebration of old-fashioned puzzle-solving.”
For those of you who might not remember the television antics of Tony Danza, he was a key player on the classic sitcom TAXI from 1978-1983, and then went on to become the leading "manny" on a comedy sitcom called WHO'S THE BOSS?, which aired from 1984-1992. Recently, Danza starred in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical comedy HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, in addition to starring as Joseph Gordon-Levitt's father in DON JON. Personally, my primary memories of Danza's hayday always lead to when he starred in ANGLES IN THE OUFIELD, and the romantic comedy SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL.
As it happens, Danza still lives in New York, and is a member of the board of directors for the NYPD Police Athletic League and is an active champion of their Teen Acting Program.
No release window has yet to be given for when THE GOOD COP will make its Netflix premiere.