Connect with us


TV

One Day at a Time (CBS 1975-1984, Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips)

Published

on


No one ever said single parenting was easy, and no one ever said teenage girls were a walk in the park. With One Day at a Time, you had both. Ann Romano divorced her husband of seventeen years and headed back to her hometown of Indianapolis to raise her two teenaged daughters—though they were pretty independent already. Inside a homey and yellowishly-decorated apartment, sitcom crises sprung up like weeds, and Romano, as she darted from work crisis to home crisis, did her best. It was Donna Reed, 70’s style—no bra, no maternal omniscience, and no problem letting the world know when she was at the end of her rope.

Naturally, the daughters were opposites in many ways: Julie was the headstrong wild child, and Barbara the sensible and chaste one. When Romano and her girls took a breath from their arguments, there entered Dwayne Schneider, the mustached and tool-belted apartment building superintendent. Never had a fix-it man fixed that little, swaggered that much or bedded this many women—if you believed his tall tales, that is. Norman Lear, the sitcom giant also responsible for staple 1970’s shows like All in the Family and The Jeffersons, produced the show. And like his earlier work, One Day at a Time was known to poke around at realistic family dysfunction and sticky social issues.

As Julie and Barbara grew up, they had their share of boyfriends and teen torments. In 1979, Julie married Max, a male flight attendant, and after her new hubby lost his job, the couple moved into the yellow Romano pad. Later that season, they were both written out of the show as Mackenzie Phillips (Julie) struggled with a real-life drug problem. A few years later, Barbara married dentist Mark, Julie and Max were back on the show with a daughter, and the two Romano daughters moved into a house together. Which is not to say Ann wasn’t busy herself—she had several business partners and several boyfriends, often for just a season. Eventually she married Sam Royer, who was dentist Mark’s dad. Don’t knock it…if your choices were Indianapolis singles bars or the father of your daughter’s husband, you’d do the same thing. The series wound down in 1984, with Ann and Sam moving overseas to London for a great new ad job.

We remember the ‘tight jeans and boots’ look that The One Day at a Time ladies sported, we remember Schneider and his tool belt, and we’ll always remember those glimpses at a family life more realistic than most we saw on TV. Unlike Donna Reed, these ladies actually raised their voices. A lot.

Advertisement

production details
USA / CBS – Norman Lear – TAT / x25 minute episodes / Broadcast 16 December 1975 – 2 September 1984

Creators: Whitney Blake, Allan Manning / Producers: Dick Pensfield, Percy Grant

cast
Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano Royer
Mackenzie Phillips as Julie Cooper Horvath (1975-80; 1981-83)
Valerie Bertinelli as Barbara Cooper Royer
Pat Harrington, Jr. as Dwayne Schneider
Richard Masur as David Kane (1975-76)
Mary Louise Wilson as Ginny Wrobliki (1976-77)
Charles Siebert as Mr. Jerry Davenport (1976-79)
Michael Lembeck as Max Horvath (1979-80, 1981-84)
Nanette Fabray as Grandma Katherine Romano (1979-84)
Ron Rifkin as Nick Handris (1980-81)
Glenn Scarpelli as Alex Handris (1980-83)
Shelley Fabares as Francine Webster (1981-84)
Boyd Gaines as Mark Royer (1981-84)
Howard Hesseman as Sam Royer (1982-84)

Advertisement

Alastair James is the editor in chief for Memorable TV. He has been involved in media since his university days. Alastair is passionate about television, and some of his favourite shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Traitors. He is always on the lookout for hot new shows, and is always keen to share his knowledge with others.

The UnXplained Special Presentation The UnXplained Special Presentation
News24 mins ago

The UnXplained Special Presentation, March 29, 2024, HISTORY, “Glimpses of the Future”

Are premonitions real, or merely lucky guesses? The fascinating episode “Glimpses of the Future,” from the series The UnXplained Special...

Mama June: From Not to Hot Mama June: From Not to Hot
News25 mins ago

Mama June: Family Crisis: Mama Dearest, March 29, 2024, WE tv, “Going Away Drama”

Mama June: Family Crisis: Mama Dearest takes a dramatic turn in the episode titled “Going Away Drama“. Alana’s departure prompts...

Dateline NBC Dateline NBC
News26 mins ago

Dateline, March 29, 2024, NBC, “Hit List”

This evening’s episode of Dateline NBC is a special two-hour presentation titled ‘Hit List’. It promises to reveal new information...

BMF Starz BMF Starz
News53 mins ago

BMF, March 29, 2024, Starz, “The Battle of Techwood”

BMF: The Battle of Techwood, the fifth episode of Season 3, finds the Flenory brothers, Meech (played by Da’Vinchi) and...

Who Won Jeopardy! and Final Answer Who Won Jeopardy! and Final Answer
News54 mins ago

Jeopardy! Recap, Winner and Today’s Final Answer, Thursday March 28, 2024

In today’s episode of Jeopardy!, three contestants took the stage for the Invitational Tournament. We were introduced to Monica Thieu,...

The Bold and the Beautiful The Bold and the Beautiful
News1 hour ago

The Bold and the Beautiful, March 29, 2024, CBS

The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for Friday March 29, 1.30pm on CBS reveal a dramatic confrontation between Steffy Forrester...

News2 hours ago

Sarah Paulson, Dev Patel, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, March 29th, 202, NBC

Actress and producer Sarah Paulson appears on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 29, 2024, alongside actor...

News2 hours ago

Series Premiere, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, March 29, 2024, HBO

HBO’s new comedy documentary series, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show, ushers viewers into the multifaceted world of Jerrod’s life with a...

ITV1 Title Card ITV1 Title Card
News3 hours ago

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen, 30 March 2024, ITV1

Set in her beautiful Cotswolds home, Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen sees the legendary cook share her favourite recipes, as well...

Bargain Hunt Bargain Hunt
News4 hours ago

Bargain Hunt, 1 April 2024, BBC One, “Asian Special”

In a special Asian-focused episode of Bargain Hunt, presenter Roo Irvine delves into some of the program’s most remarkable finds...

Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classics
News1 day ago

Nissan Figaro & Ferrari 250 GT, Bangers & Cash, March 28, 2024, Yesterday

On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 8:00 PM., Yesterday presents a brand new episode of Bangers & Cash. This reality...

Big Mood Big Mood
News1 day ago

Big Mood Episode 2, 28 March 2024, Channel 4, “Down”

Continue the laughter and heartfelt moments with the second episode of Big Mood on Thursday, 28 March 2024 at 10:30...

Rob Beckett's Smart TV Rob Beckett's Smart TV
News1 day ago

Natasia Demetriou, Anna Maxwell-Martin, Cush Jumbo, Romesh Ranganathan, Rob Beckett’s Smart TV, 28 March 2024, Sky Max,

Rob Beckett’s Smart TV is back with another entertaining episode on Thursday 28 March 2024 at 9:00 PM on Sky...

Trucking Hell Trucking Hell
News1 day ago

Trucking Hell, 28 March 2024, 5Action

On Thursday 28 March 2024 at 9:00 PM., Trucking Hell returns with an action-packed episode that takes viewers into the...

A&E After Dark A&E After Dark
News1 day ago

A&E After Dark, 28 March 2024, 5STAR,

Its another intense and gripping night at Tunbridge Wells A&E as A&E After Dark returns with a new episode on...

Big Mood Big Mood
News1 day ago

Series Premiere, Big Mood, 28 March 2024, Channel 4, “Up”

Gear up for a hilarious and heartfelt comedy as Big Mood makes its debut on Channel 4 on Thursday, 28...

Popular