Another actress comes to mind was Nancy Dussault, Too Close for Comfort fame, could had made a good Ann Romano. She is spunky like Bonnie was and capable of emoting the way Ann Romano did when she got pissed off.

I would have liked to see Rue Mclanahan in that role.

Originally posted by Pitooey
I would have liked to see Rue Mclanahan in that role.

I don't think Rue could had pulled that role off.

Originally posted by mstewart
Another actress comes to mind was Nancy Dussault, Too Close for Comfort fame, could had made a good Ann Romano. She is spunky like Bonnie was and capable of emoting the way Ann Romano did when she got pissed off.

LOL, I think Nancy Dussault would have been a good choice as well. She reminds me so much of Bonnie Franklin. I can't think of many other people who would have made a good Ann Romano.

Originally posted by Pitooey
I would have liked to see Rue Mclanahan in that role.

Only because you're fan right? She'd be totally miscast as Annie. Too old. And.. Romano was supposed to be in her 30's. Marsha Mason would have been terrific. HEY now! :cool:

Well, we are talking about a "what if" situation, so may I name an actress that had her own series at the same time when "One Day At A Time" premiered? In my opinion, Mary Tyler Moore would have been great as Ann Romano. If you just can't picture her in that role, I could see someone else - Sally Field.

If you went that on "One Day At A Time" was Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Harper on "Rhoda", "Valerie".

My choice would be Charlotte Rae or Mary Ann Mobley (The FIRST Mrs. Drummond), or Loretta Swit. Not that they could be a REPLACEMENT for Ann Romano, just that the show would've had different dynamics with any of them cast.

Originally posted by Tyler77
My choice would be Charlotte Rae or Mary Ann Mobley (The FIRST Mrs. Drummond), or Loretta Swit. Not that they could be a REPLACEMENT for Ann Romano, just that the show would've had different dynamics with any of them cast.

Actually Mary Ann Mobley was the SECOND Mrs. Drummond, Dixie Carter was the first :)

I think Charlotte Rae would have been a bit too old to play the part of Ann. She was supposed to be a fairly young newly-single mother. Don't get my wrong, I think Charlotte is great, but I don't think she would have fit the role of Ann Romano.
However, she might have made a good Katherine if Nanette Fabray hadn't been cast for the part :)

Now I have to admit that Mary Tyler Moore and Loretta Switt are interesting choices :)

But I would definitely agree on Nancy Dussault. I always compared the two when I watched One Day at a Time and Too Close for Comfort on E!

Ann Romano was SUPPOSED to be Italian, which Bonnie Franklin most certainly was not...

Anyone think of any "Italian" actresses out there that could have played Ann?

I think Valerie Harper could have pulled off the role if she hadn't been tied up with Rhoda. She was the right age, and there was enough physical resemblance between her and the two girls to have pulled it off. Plus Val IS Italian in real life, so score another point there!! :lol:

Linda Lavin from Alice would have been a good choice to play Ann Romano.

Linda Lavin from Alice would have been a good choice to play Ann Romano.
Yeah, I could see that too.

I think Valerie Harper could have pulled off the role if she hadn't been tied up with Rhoda. She was the right age, and there was enough physical resemblance between her and the two girls to have pulled it off. Plus Val IS Italian in real life, so score another point there!! :lol:
Yes, I could see Valerie Harper playing Ann Romano. She is loud with a sharp tongue sense of humor plus she can play a high tempered person like Ann was. I did not think of Valerie Harper. Good choice.

Linda Lavin from Alice would have been a good choice to play Ann Romano. No way Linda Lavin could had pulled off that part. With the way she acted on Alice towards Polly Holliday and Diane Ladd plus a couple other guest stars she dogged on the show who was a threat to her. Norman Lear would not put up with that. All his show have a central character but it is at many ways an ensemble show.

I'll still stick with Nancy Dussault because of similar traits plus Nancy would had been the right age to play Ann Romano.

Here's another choice whom would had done a good job playing her was Betty Buckley of Eight Is Enough. She definitely had a wide range of emotions to play her. She put out some powerful performances on 8IE.

Yes, I could see Valerie Harper playing Ann Romano. She is loud with a sharp tongue sense of humor plus she can play a high tempered person like Ann was. I did not think of Valerie Harper. Good choice.

Then again, they'd probably have to call the show My Two Valeries!! :crazy: :lol:

Another actress comes to mind was Nancy Dussault, Too Close for Comfort fame, could had made a good Ann Romano. She is spunky like Bonnie was and capable of emoting the way Ann Romano did when she got pissed off.

My first thought was Linda Lavin. I think it would have raised the quality of the show a little bit. But I don't really know for sure.

Well, we are talking about a "what if" situation, so may I name an actress that had her own series at the same time when "One Day At A Time" premiered? In my opinion, Mary Tyler Moore would have been great as Ann Romano. If you just can't picture her in that role, I could see someone else - Sally Field.

Although there is a resemblance between Sally Field and Valerie Bertinelli,
Sally is only 13 years older than Valerie. Not really old enough to be convincing as Barbara's mother (not to mention Julie's mother).

Lane Bradbury. Although she was not a comedic actress per se, she was fantastic as the amusing character Merry on Gunsmoke. She has a somewhat feisty nature that would have fit the role. Another possible choice: Linda Kaye Henning, who had a lot of sitcom experience. Both may have been a bit young, however.

Linda Kaye Henning - interesting choice!! She was born the same year as Bonnie Franklin (1944), so she may have been able to pull it off.

I could also see Elaine Joyce (b. Dec. 1945) in that role. I can imagine her sparring verbally with Pat Harrington! But probably on the young side... as was an even better choice: Karen Valentine (b. 1947). The networks could have done much more with her -- instead she's known primarily for her game show work, it seems.

Finally, I'd suggest Mariette Hartley (b. 1940) -- while not a comedienne, she had a lot of great experience and a strong presence on the screen.

Mariette Hartley made a very funny guest appearance on The Bob Newhart Show, so I think she could've pulled off the comedy of ODAAT. Besides, like you said, she's a very formidable actress. She could've very easily anchored a show like this.

How about these choices:

Rita Moreno
Marcia Rodd
Tyne Daly
Sheree North
Michelle Phillips (Now that would've been interesting.)
Sharon Gless
Adrienne Barbeau
Marlo Thomas

Adrienne Barbeau -- Yes, I could see that! She'd be great as Ann!

Patty Duke
She was doing a lot of TV guest starring roles in the seventies.
She was born in 1946 (2 years younger than Bonnie), so maybe she would've been too young.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/3510/MG018PattyDuke.jpghttp://www.latimes.com/includes/projects/hollywood/portraits/patty_duke.jpg
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/3510/snapshot20130721171152.jpg

Why not Whitney Blake herself who'd created the series with her husband based to some degree on her own experiences? Sad that the network suits considered her too old but she still looked quite attractive- even if she known to be the mother of the then stunning Meredith Baxter!

Patty Duke
She was doing a lot of TV guest starring roles in the seventies.
She was born in 1946 (2 years younger than Bonnie), so maybe she would've been too young.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/3510/MG018PattyDuke.jpg

My Goodness, I was thinking the same thing! Age wise I think she was a mature enough actress to play the mother of two teen-age girls.

Why not Whitney Blake herself who'd created the series with her husband based to some degree on her own experiences? Sad that the network suits considered her too old but she still looked quite attractive- even if she known to be the mother of the then stunning Meredith Baxter!

She was pushing 50 by 1975, which was the reason she didn't get the part in the first place.

Kinda strange she never did a guest spot in 9 season - hard feelings, but not too hard to cash the checks.

My first thought was Linda Lavin. I think it would have raised the quality of the show a little bit. But I don't really know for sure.

Trying to imagine Franklin as an over-eager, more energetic and youthful Alice Hyatt and Lavin as a more weary, less perky and older Ann Romano.

Does make one wonder who else read for the part of Ann before Bonnie ended up with the role.

I still say Patty Duke would have been great in the part, and could easily pass for a couple years older - it's called acting :) Plus she was a heck of alot better actress than Bonnie was! :)

Who knows, she might have even read for the part :)

If she wasn't already doing Maude and maybe a tad bit younger, then how about Bea Arthur. Maude Findlay like Ann Romano on One Day at a Time was also loud and overbearing. Perhaps the main difference between Bea Arthur and Bonnie Franklin is that Bea was a genius comedienne who was truly funny, impeccable timing, and delivery. Thus, we were more able to "forgive" her for playing such a bombastic character.