It’s been nearly 30 years since “One Day at a Time” went off the air — since Bonnie Franklin, who played single mother Ann Romano on the long-running sitcom, was regularly seen on TV. But Franklin’s death last week, at 69, has prompted an outpouring of emotion on the usually cynical Internet, with a common refrain: “I always wished she could be my mom.”
Ann Romano was a particular kind of mom, a rarity on TV when the show premiered in 1975: divorced and living in an apartment in Indianapolis, raising two teenage daughters on her own. Carol Brady had a Barbie Dream House, a husband, and a full-time housekeeper to help manage the minor dramas of sibling jealousy and cheerleading tryouts. For nine seasons plus syndication, Ann Romano dealt with smaller digs and bigger issues: runaways, suicide, birth control, sex.
Comments
She was OK but she was no Donna Reed, she wasn't even Barbara Billingsley.
Joanna likes Bonnie Franklin who played a role model, hates Marissa Mayer who is a role model. Go figure.
This comment has been removed.
You're not expected to understand, 127 (much of anything, really).
This comment has been removed.
Thanks Ms. Weiss for a good Tribute to Bonnie Franklin's Life and Work.
First Shaunessey and Cabot Field, and now Ms. Romano - emphasis on the Ms. by the way! Thanks for the nostalgia!
"Bonnie Franklin’s genius, as an actress..."
Probably a very nice person, but when I think of "genius" actors, Bonnie Franklin does not come to mind.
Genius? Genius? She was a decent, capable actress and a pretty good dancer. She wasn't Meryl Streep or Judy Dench.
Never much like the show. I had a REAL mom to talk to.