How well known were Mackenzie Phillips's "issues" at the time - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 08-16-2018, 03:30 AM

I mean, the internet didn't exist yet when One Day at a Time was originally airing. So I wonder how much the general public knew about what was going on in her personal life. Did most viewers wonder why Mackenzie kept disappearing and reappearing on the series? I think that viewers only heard bits and pieces about what was really going on and that she had a major substance abuse problem.

rusty spike · 08-17-2018, 12:45 AM

Do you know about tabloid magazines?

You couldn't help but notice the crazy headlines when standing in-line at your grocery store checkout line.

Inquiring minds want to know!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsWDM8LqJUU

It was well publicized that she was failing to show up for the taping of episodes.

Bonniegirl · 08-17-2018, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty spike

Do you know about tabloid magazines?

You couldn't help but notice the crazy headlines when standing in-line at your grocery store checkout line.

Inquiring minds want to know!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsWDM8LqJUU

It was well publicized that she was failing to show up for the taping of episodes.

Yeah! And the TV viewers could really see how she was really starting to look bad! She was getting much too thin and sickly looking !!!

opus · 08-17-2018, 01:41 AM

March 17, 1980

TMC · 01-17-2019, 04:18 AM

Does anybody think that it was a tad harsh with how they pretty much made Julie a deadbeat mom at the end? It was like the producers wanted to just stick it to Mackenzie and her issues by taking one final dump on her character.

RetroTVNitekatt · 03-08-2019, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Does anybody think that it was a tad harsh with how they pretty much made Julie a deadbeat mom at the end? It was like the producers wanted to just stick it to Mackenzie and her issues by taking one final dump on her character.

It was a little harsh, but all the producers wanted was a nice final season to wrap things up and she went and screwed things up.

It's no secret (Val even mentions it in her first book) they were talking about a spin-off with her and Mac when Mac returned,but it never happened - clearly the producers and the network were worried about the risk if Mac relapsed - and she did in the end.

The whole "Two Couples Sharing a House" is so obvious what was salvaged from the spin-off concept. The entire 9th Season plays like two separate interconnected series - the "couples" and their story-lines and then Ann & Sam.

Coffeecup · 03-25-2020, 04:48 PM

As I look at the People cover, is Bonnie wearing any upper undergarment?. She looks to be braless!!

Bonniegirl · 03-25-2020, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

As I look at the People cover, is Bonnie wearing any upper undergarment?. She looks to be braless!!

Yeah, she does look a bit revealing !!

Chocolate Moose · 03-27-2020, 01:27 PM

believe me, we knew.

TV Guy · 10-29-2020, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Does anybody think that it was a tad harsh with how they pretty much made Julie a deadbeat mom at the end? It was like the producers wanted to just stick it to Mackenzie and her issues by taking one final dump on her character.

They did it this way because Michael Lembeck was well-liked, and they didn’t want him to be out of a job (again) because of Mackenzie’s issues. So the writers had them split up.

We did know about the drug issues when she was originally fired, though when she relapsed in the final season, it was said that she was suffering from anorexia.

TMC · 02-05-2022, 06:19 AM

I heard that depending on what condition Mackenzie was in when she got to the studio—if she showed up at all—scripts were often extensively rewritten at the last minute to seriously minimize her screen-time (or write her out entirely when she passed out on set). You can see the other actors’ frustration, anger, and genuine concern in the actual show.

08-16-2018, 03:30 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 128,203	How well known were Mackenzie Phillips's "issues" at the time I mean, the internet didn't exist yet when One Day at a Time was originally airing. So I wonder how much the general public knew about what was going on in her personal life. Did most viewers wonder why Mackenzie kept disappearing and reappearing on the series? I think that viewers only heard bits and pieces about what was really going on and that she had a major substance abuse problem.

08-17-2018, 01:41 AM	#4
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 33,081	March 17, 1980
	Last edited by opus; 03-26-2021 at 11:13 PM.

03-27-2020, 01:27 PM	#9
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,904	believe me, we knew.
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

08-17-2018, 12:45 AM	#2
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Do you know about tabloid magazines? You couldn't help but notice the crazy headlines when standing in-line at your grocery store checkout line. Inquiring minds want to know! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsWDM8LqJUU It was well publicized that she was failing to show up for the taping of episodes.

01-17-2019, 04:18 AM	#5
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 128,203	Does anybody think that it was a tad harsh with how they pretty much made Julie a deadbeat mom at the end? It was like the producers wanted to just stick it to Mackenzie and her issues by taking one final dump on her character.

03-25-2020, 04:48 PM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,193	As I look at the People cover, is Bonnie wearing any upper undergarment?. She looks to be braless!!

02-05-2022, 06:19 AM	#11
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 128,203	I heard that depending on what condition Mackenzie was in when she got to the studio—if she showed up at all—scripts were often extensively rewritten at the last minute to seriously minimize her screen-time (or write her out entirely when she passed out on set). You can see the other actors’ frustration, anger, and genuine concern in the actual show.