My first impression was not very good. For one I thought she looked too young to play the mother of two teenage daughters. MacKenzie Phillips in the first season looked older than Bonnie. I thought she overacted at first.

Looking at it Bonnie Franklin was the first TV mom who had a temper and had no problem letting her temper go. Ann Romano was not Carol Brady, June Cleaver or Betty Anderson who always kept their cool. Ann was upfront with you and let her kids have it when needed it. Ann had a difficult time with life given that she never experienced the real world until she left home to get married and she never learned to be her own person until she divorced Ed. She almost got caught in that pattern again with David Kane, in the first season, but after they broke up that set the pattern of what the show was orignally about.

I think you nailed it in the second paragraph. But I thought she looked about the right age.

To me she looked like their older sister instead of their mother

I never truly had no problems at all with Bonnie. I never really understood what all the fuss was about her being the worst actress in the world. Frankly, she used to scare me some when I was a little kid when she shouted!! Maybe she overacted some here and there, but she was ushering in a new type of television parent. She was living in the real world where Moms weren't like Shirley Partridge. Even Linda Lavin on Alice didn't go through what Ann Romano did. ODAAT was geared more towards real life situations, and I think that is why a lot of people diddn't like the show and especially Bonnie Franklin.

Also I think a lot of people didn't like the character of Julie. She was the problem child of the family and bratty, and I think that turned a lot of people off who were used to the sugar coated shows from the 50's, 60's, and early 70's. The children always obeyed, and if they did cross the line they had to learn a lesson in the end. That didn't always happen that way from what I remember about the show.

I never truly had no problems at all with Bonnie. I never really understood what all the fuss was about her being the worst actress in the world. Frankly, she used to scare me some when I was a little kid when she shouted!! Maybe she overacted some here and there, but she was ushering in a new type of television parent. She was living in the real world where Moms weren't like Shirley Partridge. Even Linda Lavin on Alice didn't go through what Ann Romano did. ODAAT was geared more towards real life situations, and I think that is why a lot of people diddn't like the show and especially Bonnie Franklin.

Also I think a lot of people didn't like the character of Julie. She was the problem child of the family and bratty, and I think that turned a lot of people off who were used to the sugar coated shows from the 50's, 60's, and early 70's. The children always obeyed, and if they did cross the line they had to learn a lesson in the end. That didn't always happen that way from what I remember about the show.

Here's another thing about Bonnie Franklin was she was literally an unknown actress starring in a sitcom. I never heard of Bonnie until One Day At A Time. We were used to the Mary Tyler Moores, Florence Hendersons, Shirley Jones and Lucille Balls. We were spoil by these actresses and the wonderful performances they turned in. Here is an actress with raw talent who brought reality as a mom and the show brought reality of what family can be like from a single home. I love her shouting, ranting and raving.

MacKenzie Phillips' was the first TV rebellious teenager with lots of drama and the world coming to an end. We had these sugary sweet kids who did everything right and if they blew it they were taught a lesson with sappy music in the background. We saw repreucussions when Julie blew it. The great example of it when Julie ran away from home and she told Ann she will only come home basically if she can have everything her way. Ann told don't come home. It was good to see that the parent ruled in that situation. We all knew how that episode ended.

Another thing to look at about Bonnie if it had not been for her who took a strong stand for the integrity of the show it would not had been as good as it was. The first season of the show was not very good but each season got better. In many of the interviews about the show it was stated that Bonnie got in there and voiced her views on the scripts and keeping it to what the show should be about. Thank you Bonnie.

Here's another thing about Bonnie Franklin was she was literally an unknown actress starring in a sitcom. I never heard of Bonnie until One Day At A Time. We were used to the Mary Tyler Moores, Florence Hendersons, Shirley Jones and Lucille Balls. We were spoil by these actresses and the wonderful performances they turned in. Here is an actress with raw talent who brought reality as a mom and the show brought reality of what family can be like from a single home. I love her shouting, ranting and raving.

MacKenzie Phillips' was the first TV rebellious teenager with lots of drama and the world coming to an end. We had these sugary sweet kids who did everything right and if they blew it they were taught a lesson with sappy music in the background. We saw repreucussions when Julie blew it. The great example of it when Julie ran away from home and she told Ann she will only come home basically if she can have everything her way. Ann told don't come home. It was good to see that the parent ruled in that situation. We all knew how that episode ended.

Another thing to look at about Bonnie if it had not been for her who took a strong stand for the integrity of the show it would not had been as good as it was. The first season of the show was not very good but each season got better. In many of the interviews about the show it was stated that Bonnie got in there and voiced her views on the scripts and keeping it to what the show should be about. Thank you Bonnie.

I've watched the first five episodes from Season 1, and it has been the first time I've seen them since probably the mid 1980s. While I'm thrilled to death to see them again I'm aching to see the more controversial episodes and also the arrival of next door neighbor Ginny. I'm waiting for Ann to ditch David so we can get the ball rolling a little better.

I've watched the first five episodes from Season 1, and it has been the first time I've seen them since probably the mid 1980s. While I'm thrilled to death to see them again I'm aching to see the more controversial episodes and also the arrival of next door neighbor Ginny. I'm waiting for Ann to ditch David so we can get the ball rolling a little better.
I hated David. What a moron. Blah Blah blah.....boring.

I hated David. What a moron. Blah Blah blah.....boring.

Well, it is a good thing she didn't marry David because he was a boring character. Didn't Ann get a divorce from Ed because she thought her life with him was boring? No wonder they got rid of David. Ann liked her guys to be a little more exciting...like Johnny Fever for example! :lol: