Did You Know Ann Romano Was Going to be Raped in an Episode?

[Brian Damage]

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_...28efe4460cfb30

One of the episodes of One Day, meanwhile, was supposed to feature Bonnie Franklin’s Ann Romano being attacked by a rapist. But that dark and unfortunate story line was handed to poor Edith Bunker on the episode titled “Edith’s 50th Birthday” on All in the Family—one of the most dramatic moments in TV history. Norman Lear felt it was too dark for the Franklin sitcom.

[catlover79]

Wow, I think that topic would've fit right in on ODAAT. I think Bonnie Franklin would've done a good job with it.

[TeeVeeCloset]

Interesting side casting note: The actor who portrayed the rapist in "All In The Family", dated Ann Romano in an episode as a serious classical musical mystro.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by TeeVeeCloset

Interesting side casting note:The actor who portrayed the rapist in "All In The Family",
dated Ann Romano in an episode as a serious classical musical mystro.

David Dukes was the actor's name

[OH Nuts!]

Interesting! And yes I think Bonnie Franklin would have done a good job with the role had the ep come into being.

[treky]

yea, I remember reading that somewhere once.

[opus]

I wonder if this is true.

[Dave_L]

From the 1987 book "Archie & Edith, Mike & Gloria: The Tumultuous History of All in the Family":

"The idea, initially, had been developed for Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin) on One Day at a Time. Then, as a story emerged, people began to feel that if rape is indeed a crime of violence against women of all ages, the message would come across more effectively with Edith Bunker as the victim. A new script evolved and was introduced in the customary fashion."

[opus]

Originally Posted by Dave_L

From the 1987 book "Archie & Edith, Mike & Gloria: The Tumultuous History of All in the Family":

"The idea, initially, had been developed for Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin) on One Day at a Time. Then, as a story emerged, people began to feel that if rape is indeed a crime of violence against women of all ages, the message would come across more effectively with Edith Bunker as the victim. A new script evolved and was introduced in the customary fashion."

Nice. I have that book, but didn't remember that part.I just re-skimmed thru it. Found it on page 133.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Dave_L

From the 1987 book "Archie & Edith, Mike & Gloria: The Tumultuous History of All in the Family":

"The idea, initially, had been developed for Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin) on One Day at a Time. Then, as a story emerged, people began to feel that if rape is indeed a crime of violence against women of all ages, the message would come across more effectively with Edith Bunker as the victim. A new script evolved and was introduced in the customary fashion."

I yearn for the days when TV shows were TV shows and not political propaganda. "We want to influence America with a rape story but Bonnie Franklin is too cute. Let's rape ugly Edith instead."

[Dave_L]

Originally Posted by opus

Nice. I have that book, but didn't remember that part.I just re-skimmed thru it. Found it on page 133.

Yeah, it's still a great book. And it was an especially good resource when it came out back in the pre-internet late-80s, when episode guides and show histories and interviews weren't readily available in just a few clicks.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Dave_L

Yeah, it's still a great book. And it was an especially good resource when it came out back in the pre-internet late-80s, when episode guides and show histories and interviews weren't readily available in just a few clicks.

I have a ton of those books. And because I'm old school, if one comes out that interests me, I still buy them.

[opus]

Bumping due to some talk in the ODAAT A-Z thread

[Anna Karenina]

Look, uh...why couldn't they have done a rape or attempted rape story line for Ann too? It might have gotten her that elusive Emmy. But then again it might have tanked.

Instead she got the harass the underling story line and heart attack story. Barbara came closest with that disgusting professor story, I guess.

I don't think you can do a rape story on a half hour sitcom very easily, its hard to play that theme for laughs. It was done brilliantly on AITF but does anybody remember the Too Close For Comfort where 2 obese women rape Monroe? That was just horrendous.


BF's best acting IMO was the married man 3 parter which I hated for the way they made Ann into an unrecognizable door mat but somehow she pulled off some really good, understated acting. No tics or histrionics like the first season.

[Anna Karenina]

Originally Posted by opus

I have a ton of those books. And because I'm old school, if one comes out that interests me, I still buy them.

Yes, me too.

My favorites include Hailing Taxi, The I Love Lucy Book,Mary and Lou and Ted and Rhoda and The Partridge Family Album although I really am more of a Brady fan. I have the Barry Williams book about the show and he or his ghostwriter got a lot of the details in the episode guide wrong.