during the Original Run. When you watched ODAAT over the years, did u noticed the physical changes of Mackenzie at the time or u didn't pick up on it?

I was very young at the time, but I do remember the changes and wondering if anything was wrong. :(

I was too young too pick up on it, but I remember my older sister saying Mackenzie Phillips looked awful.

I was too young myself, but I always remember her being completely unattractive. She looks great now though.

I was too young myself, but I always remember her being completely unattractive. She looks great now though. ditto - she was pretty scary-lookin in some episodes, I was too young to have figured it out, but I remember mom sayin she was a junkie :)

When I was younger, I always wondered where the heck Julie was. (When she didn't appear in some episodes) When I got a little older, I just assumed it was some sort of contract dispute. Then one day somebody told me she was a junkie.

When I was younger, I always wondered where the heck Julie was. (When she didn't appear in some episodes) When I got a little older, I just assumed it was some sort of contract dispute. Then one day somebody told me she was a junkie.


It was one scene when she looked really scary. I have to watch it again tonight.

When my older sister told me what drugs were I thought to myself how could anybody want to do that and destroy their TV show career? The show did suffer without Julie. I wondered what was wrong with MP for doing that to herself. :(

When my older sister told me what drugs were I thought to myself how could anybody want to do that and destroy their TV show career? The show did suffer without Julie. I wondered what was wrong with MP for doing that to herself. :(


Why did the show suffer without Julie? Was it because she was the most dramatic?

Why did the show suffer without Julie? Was it because she was the most dramatic?
because it left a big hole in the cast, which they tried to fill with Glenn Scarpelli - or as my wife refers to him, "that whiney little girl"

without Julie, who was there to cause trouble?

From what I remember Julie was the drama queen for sure. I always liked the "troublemakers" in shows and movies. When Julie was gone you didn't seem to have as much conflict.

Why did the show suffer without Julie? Was it because she was the most dramatic?


Julie really was the most underrated character on the show. She was the one who really sparked the arguments and the conflicts on the show. When she left, there was a serious void.

Did they show any scenes with Julie bringing the drunk bum home to live? I think she joined some kind of weird religious group or something because she said Ann neglected her? I think Julie was trying to save the homeless man's soul??

They really didn't delve into any particular episodes with the exception of a couple.

I remember a few episodes towards the end, when despite all the padding,etc-, I couldn't help but see she looked scarily underweight with a pasty complexion! Once when she was visiting Ann in the hospital, I kept thinking 'Ann's fine, Julie needs to be in that hospital bed!'
I'm glad she's doing better now!

Julie really was the most underrated character on the show. She was the one who really sparked the arguments and the conflicts on the show. When she left, there was a serious void.


I felt the same way. Julie was the spark on the show and she was missed.

She did look bad on the show especially when she was with her husband. I used to think "How did she get that guy"?

I felt the same way. Julie was the spark on the show and she was missed.

She did look bad on the show especially when she was with her husband. I used to think "How did she get that guy"?



I was so surprised they discussed her Drug problem on the reunion

I was so surprised they discussed her Drug problem on the reunion

Poor MacKenzie looked uneasy. To me I think they harp on her drug habit too much. I'd rather find out about the series and the stars who guested on the show. They left a couple of people out.

We all know about MacKenzie and her drug problem. I hope next time they don't make it a 10 minute chat fest.

They should've taken the cue from The Happy Days Reunion. They didn't harp on Scott and Joanie's real relationship back in the day...

It did not seem that way to me. Maybe I missed something. I figured since she had been sober for the past 14 years that it really did not matter and she has talked about it on different shows. I would love to have a conversation with her sometime. She seemed so cool. BTW, I know Brian Damage said that she seemed underated to me. I think the producers knew the importance of her being there. When she came back to the show in 1981, she was getting paid 50,000 per episode. Joyce and Suzanne were making 30,000 the previous year on 3's Company. When Mac was featured in the opening credits the second season, I wish she hadn't been billed behind other costars when she used to be billed 2nd right after Bonnie Franklin.

In the early episodes when she looked skinny, and
unhealthy,,,she was doing alot of coke,,,although I
read and also heard on the E THS it was herion,,,
I guess it could of been both...In later episodes
to me when she gained weight,,she had went into
rehab,,then I think she relapsed and she was fired
once again from the show..

In the early episodes when she looked skinny, and
unhealthy,,,she was doing alot of coke,,,although I
read and also heard on the E THS it was herion,,,
I guess it could of been both...In later episodes
to me when she gained weight,,she had went into
rehab,,then I think she relapsed and she was fired
once again from the show..

MacKenzie Phillips was always a rather thin actress. She was looking way too thin in the fourth season, which her battle with drugs and alcohol went full tilt, and in the fifth season she was horrible to watch. You saw in that fifth season there were not a lot of close shots of her because she looked so bad.

After her first firing she did come back in 1981 but in the 8th season you can see she was relapsing again. If you see the episode, The Letter, you can see her melting down from the drugs.

I am glad to see that she is recovering and looking wonderful. She always have a more earthy look about her that was attractive.

MacKenzie Phillips was always a rather thin actress. She was looking way too thin in the fourth season, which her battle with drugs and alcohol went full tilt, and in the fifth season she was horrible to watch. You saw in that fifth season there were not a lot of close shots of her because she looked so bad.

After her first firing she did come back in 1981 but in the 8th season you can see she was relapsing again. If you see the episode, The Letter, you can see her melting down from the drugs.

I am glad to see that she is recovering and looking wonderful. She always have a more earthy look about her that was attractive.

I personally feel that Mackenzie Phillips was unattractive to begin with so the drugs just made her physical situation worse.

I personally feel that Mackenzie Phillips was unattractive to begin with so the drugs just made her physical situation worse.

She wasn't stunning like Valerie Bertinelli but given she had such a hard life I can see how that did her in. Today she is looking better than ever.

In spite of her looks MacKenzie Phillips is one talented actress and sings quite well.

She didn't look too bad on the reunion show.

When I was young it went over my head like a lot of things about the show.

I never really noticed. Must have been too busy watching Valerie.

I never really noticed. Must have been too busy watching Valerie.

Yes, and poor Mack saw Valerie blossom overnight and it really messed with her confidence.