Best Episode Ever-- Ranking the ODAAT episodes based on Barbara's screen time

[opus]

So in my latest rewatch I'll rank the episodes as I watch them chronologically. The most important thing for an ep is how much Barbara is on screen. I won't use a stopwatch or anything (even I'm not that crazy), but just go with with a general sense of "all", "most", "some", "half", "quarter", terms like that.

Today was Ann's Decision, which I'd say Barbara was in a quarter of at most. Which currently makes Ann's Decision the best episode of One Day At A Time!

1. Ann's Decision (Q)

[opus]

Today was Chicago Rendezvous. Felt like the same amount of camera time as yesterday, maybe a little less. Since I felt the quality was about the same, we'll play it safe and keep Ann's Decision at the top.

1. Ann's Decision (Q)
2. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")

[Bonniegirl]

Oh cool !!! You are watching them all again ? I can't wait till you get to season 5 , when the show REALLY gets good!!!

[opus]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Oh cool !!! You are watching them all again ? I can't wait till you get to season 5 , when the show REALLY gets good!!!

I wonder if I'll stick with this thread. A 209 episode list will really test my cut and paste skills.


Today was Jealousy (a title reused in season 4). Barbara's in at least half of this one, making it the best episode of ODAAT to date.

(Bonus points for being the first mention of Trish the Dish. Loses points for having Schneider just coming into the girls bedroom without knocking or announcing himself just "because no one was in the living room")

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")

[opus]

How to Succeed Without Trying. Not much Barbara in this one. And has Julie telling Barbara that to get good grades from the teacher she should shampoo, wear tight jeans, and lean into him and brush her hair against him. Let's put this one at the bottom.

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
4. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

David Loves Ann. Between a quarter and half. Mostly deals with David being needy and proposing. Still love Julie’s two “Want some chicken soup?” Putting it at #4.

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
4. David Loves Ann (Q-H)
5. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

Julie's Best Friend. Starts off Barbara strong, but then she fades away. Probably in it a bit more then a quarter. New number #3

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
4. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
5. David Loves Ann ("Q")
6. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

Super Blues (First look at Schneider's apartment. He also goes from having a wife downstairs in the pilot to having been divorced for 10 years)

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
4. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
5. David Loves Ann ("Q")
6. Super Blues ("Q")
7. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

All The Way. First ep to deal with virginity, in this case Julie's

1. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
2. Ann's Decision (Q)
3. All The Way ("Q")
4. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
5. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
6. David Loves Ann ("Q")
7. Super Blues ("Q")
8. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

Fighting City Hall. In most of it. Plus it's funny. New best episode

1. Fighting City Hall (M)
2. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
3. Ann's Decision (Q)
4. All The Way ("Q")
5. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
6. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
7. David Loves Ann ("Q")
8. Super Blues ("Q")
9. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

David Plus Two. Features Denny, the Ginny prototype

1. Fighting City Hall (M)
2. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
3. David Plus Two (Q-H)
4. Ann's Decision (Q)
5. All The Way ("Q")
6. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
7. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
8. David Loves Ann ("Q")
9. Super Blues ("Q")
10. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

Julie's Job. Contains a Suzanne Somers sighting!

1. Fighting City Hall (M)
2. Julie's Job (H)
3. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
4. David Plus Two (Q-H)
5. Ann's Decision (Q)
6. All The Way ("Q")
7. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
8. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
9. David Loves Ann ("Q")
10.. Super Blues ("Q")
11. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)

[opus]

The College Man. Very little Barbara. As for the rest of it, watching Robby Benson crush on Ann really doesn’t do it for me. New worst episode.

1. Fighting City Hall (M)
2. Julie's Job (H)
3. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
4. David Plus Two (Q-H)
5. Ann's Decision (Q)
6. All The Way ("Q")
7. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
8. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
9. David Loves Ann ("Q")
10.. Super Blues ("Q")
11. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)
12. The College Man (NM)

[opus]

Father David. Barbara's in all of it (except for running off to puke in the bathroom in the last minute right before David's final rant). Best episode yet.

1. Father David (A)
2. Fighting City Hall (M)
3. Julie's Job (H)
4. Jealousy (season 1) (H)
5. David Plus Two (Q-H)
6. Ann's Decision (Q)
7. All The Way ("Q")
8. Julie's Best Friend ("Q")
9. Chicago Rendezvous ("Q")
10. David Loves Ann ("Q")
11. Super Blues ("Q")
12. How to Succeed Without Trying (NM)
13. The College Man (NM)

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by opus

13. The College Man (NM)

Actually, I don't remember Barbara at all in "The College Man." I do like the younger episodes when Julie is always calling her "twerp" or "shrimp."