I Guess This Is When I Completely Tuned Out

[LittleRickyII]

I've caught a few episodes over the last week or so. I had no idea Barbara and Ann got married on the show. I didn't know the Alex character disappeared from the series before it ended. I thought Mackenzie Phillips had been permanently fired from the show several years before it ended; I had no idea they brought her back in the last season. I never knew she and Barbara and their husbands were sharing a house together. And like I said, I didn't even know Barbara had a husband. I don't even remember Julie having a baby. All this is new to me. I know the ratings had tanked by this final season, and apparently I was among those millions of viewers that had walked away from the show. But seeing these episodes now, I don't feel like I missed much. In particular, the episodes focusing on Julie and Barbara's home life, without Ann, are not too interesting. It's also difficult watching Mackenzie. She looks like she's at death's door. She looks much better NOW, even though she's more than 30 years OLDER.

[cleverfun3000]

I have ALWAYS preferred enjoying celebrities when they are at their prime and at the top of their game in both looks and talent. After a certain number of years they naturally look OLD and UNattractive; thus less appealing to look at and listen to. That's when I jump ship.

[ThomasE]

Welcome back Little Ricky. You have missed out on a lot. Lol

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Welcome back Little Ricky. You have missed out on a lot. Lol

Thanks, Thomas. Truth be told, PBS is my favorite network. One Day at a Time airs from 8:00 to 9:00 where I live, and on most nights at that time PBS is airing some fascinating documentary that gets me glued to the set and I can't change the channel. But on nights like last night, when they had on a local cooking show (not very compelling stuff) it was easy to switch over to ODAAT.

This show sort of reminds me of My Three Sons in that it stared out simple, but evolved into a show with such a big cast that they had to have dual storylines going on, with some episodes taking place in one household and others in another household. People keep bashing Bonnie Franklin, but personally I prefer the episodes she's in, although she's less interesting as a married woman. ODAAT was at it's best in the early years when it was Ann, Barbara and Julie, and Mac (Julie) still looked healthy, as she does today. The scenes with Barbara and Julie are jarring because Valerie looked like the picture of health and Mac looked the opposite. I'd rather be looking at a 2015 Mackenzie Phillips than a 1983 Mackenzie Phillips.

[Bonniegirl]

I kind of like that Barbara and Julie had husbands and moved into that house together ! At that point with Ann married to Sam was boring to me the Romano apartment wasn't that exciting anymore! I like Schneider, but his shtick was the same for nine seasons! I wasn't thrilled with Francine either, and when they focused on Ann's job it was boring. I thought the four newlyweds was pretty cool, just a shame the dark cloud was hanging on because of Mack's drug addiction! If not for that, maybe they could have done a spinoff on those four! Added some more characters, like their friends and neighbors . Something like that! On the spin off I would have liked them to keep Grandma Romano though! She was the oldest character, but a breath of fresh air whenever she was in the show! A fun lady!

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I kind of like that Barbara and Julie had husbands and moved into that house together ! At that point with Ann married to Sam was boring to me the Romano apartment wasn't that exciting anymore! I like Schneider, but his shtick was the same for nine seasons! I wasn't thrilled with Francine either, and when they focused on Ann's job it was boring. I thought the four newlyweds was pretty cool, just a shame the dark cloud was hanging on because of Mack's drug addiction! If not for that, maybe they could have done a spinoff on those four! Added some more characters, like their friends and neighbors . Something like that! On the spin off I would have liked them to keep Grandma Romano though! She was the oldest character, but a breath of fresh air whenever she was in the show! A fun lady!

You don't like Francine, but you do like Grandma Romano. But you do know that "Grandma Romano" is "Francine's" aunt, right?

I'm not so keen on the idea of a Julie, Barbara and their husbands spin-off. Wasn't that already done with The Brady Brides? It didn't work too well then, and I don't think it would work any better with this cast, IMO. I just find the episodes that are focused on them painfully boring. And the Mac thing, it's just uncomfortable looking at her in these episodes.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

You don't like Francine, but you do like Grandma Romano. But you do know that "Grandma Romano" is "Francine's" aunt, right?

I'm not so keen on the idea of a Julie, Barbara and their husbands spin-off. Wasn't that already done with The Brady Brides? It didn't work too well then, and I don't think it would work any better with this cast, IMO. I just find the episodes that are focused on them painfully boring. And the Mac thing, it's just uncomfortable looking at her in these episodes.

Yeah I know Nanette and Shelley are related! I like Shelley Fabares'! I liked her as Donna Reed's daughter, and she played on Brian Keith's show, I think he was a doctor in Hawaii and she played his daughter? Cute show, I only remember it a little bit though! Also she was in Coach, right? And she also sang Johnny Angel! It's just I don't care for the Francine character or really any characters that have to do with Ann's job, just kind of boring. I always liked the eps that focused on the family a lot more! The girls, their boyfriends, than husbands ,even Ann and her dates and stuff like that! Although after her and Sam got married that seemed boring to me too! And Grandma and Schneider I liked!

It's a shame Schneider's spinoff never took off. Him going down to Florida wasn't it to care for a relatives kids or something and they were carnival people? Sounds like it would have been a fun show!

[LittleRickyII]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Yeah I know Nanette and Shelley are related! I like Shelley Fabares'! I liked her as Donna Reed's daughter, and she played on Brian Keith's show, I think he was a doctor in Hawaii and she played his daughter? Cute show, I only remember it a little bit though! Also she was in Coach, right? And she also sang Johnny Angel!

Yep, she sang Johnny Angel and she was on Coach. I actually went to a taping of Coach once. I like Shelley, and boy has she been around a long time! The Donna Reed Show started in 1958. Francine was quite a departure from her Donna Reed character! I find that I do enjoy the episodes with Francine more than the ones about the daughters and their husbands. I think both of those husbands are bores.

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

It's a shame Schneider's spinoff never took off. Him going down to Florida wasn't it to care for a relatives kids or something and they were carnival people? Sounds like it would have been a fun show!

I don't think a spinoff was in the cards. The ratings for One Day at a Time were dropping so fast it wouldn't have made sense to continue the show with a spinoff.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I kind of like that Barbara and Julie had husbands and moved into that house together ! At that point with Ann married to Sam was boring to me the Romano apartment wasn't that exciting anymore! I like Schneider, but his shtick was the same for nine seasons! I wasn't thrilled with Francine either, and when they focused on Ann's job it was boring. I thought the four newlyweds was pretty cool, just a shame the dark cloud was hanging on because of Mack's drug addiction! If not for that, maybe they could have done a spinoff on those four! Added some more characters, like their friends and neighbors . Something like that! On the spin off I would have liked them to keep Grandma Romano though! She was the oldest character, but a breath of fresh air whenever she was in the show! A fun lady!

Bringing this thread up because "The Sisters" ep airs tonight!! Where the two couples move in to that cute house! I loved that ep. and that house!!! I couldn't find a thread where we specifically discussed this ep. And we are almost at season 9 which I like a lot!!! Max is coming back!! YAY!!!!

What I posted last time is how I still feel!!!

[Torgo]

Originally Posted by cleverfun3000

I have ALWAYS preferred enjoying celebrities when they are at their prime and at the top of their game in both looks and talent. After a certain number of years they naturally look OLD and UNattractive; thus less appealing to look at and listen to. That's when I jump ship.

How nice of you.

[mets82]

The 4 of them living together didnt last long. Btw, Mark grew on me, Max was ok-sometimes obnoxious but I liked Sam the most. Watch the first episode of season 9, where Ann and Sam are talking in Ann's house. Reminded me of an episode of Seinfeld.

[opus]

Originally Posted by LittleRickyII

I had no idea Barbara and Ann got married on the show.

So many jokes spring to mind....