Of the numerous topics this show covered, it never covered race

[mickrobatt]

This show covered nearly every social issue in the book, but I got to thinking the other day that it never covered race or race relations. In fact, there were very few non-white people even on the show. It was white all the way. An episode about Julie or Barbara wanting to date a black boy would have been interesting. I wonder how Ann would have reacted. That is hard to say. As progressive as Ann wanted to be, she was old-fashioned in so many ways. Growing up in a small town the way she did, probably with very few people of color, Ann might have had some prejudices. While I certainly think Ann would have been all for everybody having equal rights and opportunities, I do not think she would have been in favor of her daughters dating any man who wasn't white. I think Ed would have gone through the roof as well. And while Ann would have definitely been for civil rights, I think she would have been afraid in an all-black neighborhood.

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by mickrobatt

This show covered nearly every social issue in the book, but I got to thinking the other day that it never covered race or race relations. In fact, there were very few non-white people even on the show. It was white all the way. An episode about Julie or Barbara wanting to date a black boy would have been interesting. I wonder how Ann would have reacted. That is hard to say. As progressive as Ann wanted to be, she was old-fashioned in so many ways. Growing up in a small town the way she did, probably with very few people of color, Ann might have had some prejudices. While I certainly think Ann would have been all for everybody having equal rights and opportunities, I do not think she would have been in favor of her daughters dating any man who wasn't white. I think Ed would have gone through the roof as well. And while Ann would have definitely been for civil rights, I think she would have been afraid in an all-black neighborhood.

Strange that a Norman Lear show was so lacking in diversity. I guess they are making up for that now with the reboot.

Ann, Barbara, Julie or Schneider could have had at least one love interest of another race. That would have been interesting.

[Bonniegirl]

It is strange because in every other Norman Lear show race was a really big, major topic!! With ODAAT it was more about woman's lib with the Ms. Romano title!! And they did make a major big deal of Ann being Italian for some reason which pretty much had nothing to do with the show except to have Ann have a fiery temper, stereotyping Italians that they are hot headed!!

They also gave Max a Jewish last name but it was never mentioned that he was Jewish, and even had him celebrating Christmas in the "Not a creature was staying" ep.!

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

It is strange because in every other Norman Lear show race was a really big, major topic!! With ODAAT it was more about woman's lib with the Ms. Romano title!! And they did make a major big deal of Ann being Italian for some reason which pretty much had nothing to do with the show except to have Ann have a fiery temper, stereotyping Italians that they are hot headed!!

They also gave Max a Jewish last name but it was never mentioned that he was Jewish, and even had him celebrating Christmas in the "Not a creature was staying" ep.!

I wonder what Lem thought about that. Or did he just not give it any thought at all given the backstage drama with Mack? As compassionate as we all know he is I bet he felt like strangling her at some points for screwing with his stints over and over. He didn't freeze her out of his life though it seems. He probably was the first of the cast to give her another chance. Either him or Glenn Scarpelli, I'm thinking. I never read "High on Arrival" does she mention who first reached out to her? I remember you said that you read it at some point, right?

[Svenfan1234]

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

Strange that a Norman Lear show was so lacking in diversity. I guess they are making up for that now with the reboot.

Ann, Barbara, Julie or Schneider could have had at least one love interest of another race. That would have been interesting.

I haven't seen any episodes of the reboot so far, but I have to say that this thread is interesting. Maybe he thought that with All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons and especially Good Times he'd covered it enough and didn't need to in One Day at a Time? Or maybe they just wanted to explore different territory, with Ann's independence? We may never know the answers, but we can sure speculate!

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

I wonder what Lem thought about that. Or did he just not give it any thought at all given the backstage drama with Mack? As compassionate as we all know he is I bet he felt like strangling her at some points for screwing with his stints over and over. He didn't freeze her out of his life though it seems. He probably was the first of the cast to give her another chance. Either him or Glenn Scarpelli, I'm thinking. I never read "High on Arrival" does she mention who first reached out to her? I remember you said that you read it at some point, right?

I will have to reread it again , I read it before I crushed on Lem!! I do remember her saying how he was brought in as her TV Husband, and how nice looking he was and a very nice person too. And she was saying he and his than wife, Barbara would invite her over their house for dinner and they were very kind to her!!

Sounds like they were seeing to it that she got some good, healthy meals at least sometimes figuring from the drug abuse she wasn't eating very well!!

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by Svenfan1234

I haven't seen any episodes of the reboot so far, but I have to say that this thread is interesting. Maybe he thought that with All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons and especially Good Times he'd covered it enough and didn't need to in One Day at a Time? Or maybe they just wanted to explore different territory, with Ann's independence? We may never know the answers, but we can sure speculate!

Ann and her freaking independence!

Boy, did they ram that concept down our throat.

They acted like she was being held prisoner with her handsome husband who provided and cared for their family. Those scenes with her "finding herself" at the expense of Ed and David got old real fast. It was her own damn fault for marrying so young and popping out those kids right away and all the men in her orbit had to pay for her mistakes. Not to mention Barbara and Julie being uprooted from the home they loved.

Dammit Anna! You are always so judgmental of Ann!

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I will have to reread it again , I read it before I crushed on Lem!! I do remember her saying how he was brought in as her TV Husband, and how nice looking he was and a very nice person too. And she was saying he and his than wife, Barbara would invite her over their house for dinner and they were very kind to her!!

Sounds like they were seeing to it that she got some good, healthy meals at least sometimes figuring from the drug abuse she wasn't eating very well!!

Thanks for doing that, Bonnie. Yeah that was kind of them.

I wonder what kind of relationship Mack and Lorna have.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

Thanks for doing that, Bonnie. Yeah that was kind of them.

I wonder what kind of relationship Mack and Lorna have.

IDK, probably none! I think L came along way after ODAAT ended!! If anything I think Mack would keep up with his first wife more!!

[Babalu]

I never really thought about it much then but TV shows being obsessed with pushing their liberal propaganda issues is one of the main reasons why I don't watch TV now.

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by Babalu

I never really thought about it much then but TV shows being obsessed with pushing their liberal propaganda issues is one of the main reasons why I don't watch TV now.

I bet you can't wait for the reboot of Murphy Brown to come out.

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

IDK, probably none! I think L came along way after ODAAT ended!! If anything I think Mack would keep up with his first wife more!!

Did we ever decide what broke those two up?

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Anna Karenina

I bet you can't wait for the reboot of Murphy Brown to come out.

Yeah, I'm just so busy it's takes too much time to not watch it again.