Nutter OKs Danza show

 CITY HALL. Mayor Michael Nutter backed a bid yesterday for actor Tony Danza to film a reality show in Northeast High School.

Lori Shorr, the city's chief education officer, read a letter of support from Nutter at a School Reform Commission meeting. The commission is expected to vote next week on whether to sign a contract with A&E Network for the show.

A&E is the same network responsible for "Parking Wars," which some say casts the city in a negative light, but Shorr is not concerned about Danza doing the same thing.

"We have much more assurances in this contract than most people ever get," Shorr said. If the contract is approved, the district get to review and object to any footage before it airs. It would also receive $3,500 per episode plus any legal fees.

Danza, who has a history education degree, would co-teach 10th grade English with a certified teacher and could also participate in extracurricular activities. Producers would not say exactly when the 13-episode series might air other than "some time in 2011."

The show would allow viewers "to finally see school teachers taking their overdue moment in the spotlight," said co-executive producer Donny Jackson.