Who's the Boss? indeed.

Tony Danza seems to be itching to teach in Philly.

The actor/producer and a team of producers are creating a reality show for A&E in which Danza revives his pre-show-biz career as a history teacher. Though the Hollywood trades have reported that the series will be set in his native New York - think Welcome Back, Kotter - Danza hints that a Philly school has been selected.

Danza was spotted Monday night at Alma De Cuba with Mayor Nutter and his wife, Lisa, and Greater Philadelphia Film Office head Sharon Pinkenson, all of whom declined to comment. Danza also met Tuesday with schools chief Arlene Ackerman, whose spokesman had no info.

Danza himself, though, is talking. In a video clip on his Web site, www.dailydanza.com, he says he toured Philly schools, and playfully suggests that he has to become a Phillies fan. An A&E rep said nothing has been confirmed.

Movie land

Talk, I hear, is true that Jack Nicholson has been cast as Paul Rudd's highfalutin' dad in the James L. Brooks comedy tentatively titled How Do You Know? (Plot: Reese Witherspoon stars as a woman torn between laced-up businessman Rudd and fun-loving professional baseball player Owen Wilson.) The film starts in Washington, D.C., and moves to Philly shortly after July 4 for several months. Nicholson worked for Brooks in Terms of Endearment and As Good As It Gets.

This summer, Resorts in Atlantic City will host some filming of the Lionsgate film Warrior. It's about a former Marine (Tom Hardy) being trained for a mixed martial arts tournament by his father (Nick Nolte).

Thrown a curve

By nature, baseball bullpens are dramatic settings, and cameras from MLB Networks have been tailing Phillies relievers on and off the field since spring training. The Pen, a six-week series narrated by former Phillies closer Mitch Williams, premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday on MLB. The show wraps at the All-Star break. On the first episode, we see highlights, including Clay Condrey's talents as a bass fisherman.

Media notes

John DeBella of WMGK (102.9) bragged about his grill skills to guest Bobby Flay yesterday, and Flay accepted his challenge to a burger-making contest, to be taped this summer for his Food Network show Throwdown! at his Atlantic City steak house. DeBella's burger specialty is chipotle honey barbecue with bacon and blue cheese.

The digital TV switch is tomorrow, but CBS3 will broadcast its analog signal for 30 more days. Programming in English and Spanish will explain the switch.

Sports talk 950 ESPN has produced a retrospective on the life and work of Harry Kalas. Keyed to Father's Day, the one-hour program hosted by Michael Bradley will include stories by Kalas' son Todd. Premiere is 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Behind the scenes

Hairstylist Artur Kirsch of Studio CL in Rittenhouse Square and Jenkintown, spending last weekend in Margate, was summoned to the Borgata late Sunday night to do a quick blow-out and style on comedian Kathy Griffin before her midnight show. Griffin missed her appointment with her original stylist.

Havertown music historian/radio figure Denny Somach is selling off pieces of his classic-rock collection in an auction, June 21-28, at backstageauctions.com. Somach, a part of WYSP during its glory days, has lots of stuff from the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Yes, B.B. King, and Elvis Presley.

That was Joe Pantoliano of Sopranos fame walking his Lhasa apso in the bushes outside the 555 Building in Bala Cynwyd last Thursday before an interview with Paul Perrello of Metro Networks. Pantoliano, in town to premiere his documentary about mental illness (No Kidding, Me Too!) and to speak at Friends Hospital, was followed discreetly by a building worker wielding a scooper.

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Contact columnist Michael Klein at 215-854-5514 or mklein@phillynews.com. On Twitter: @phillyinsider.