perfect for the medium voice range
One Day at a Time is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from
December 16, 1975, until May 28, 1984. It starred Bonnie Franklin as a
divorced mother raising two teenage daughters, played by Mackenzie
Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli, in Indianapolis.
Background
The series was created by Whitney Blake and Allan Manings, a
husband-and-wife writing duo who were both actors in the 1950s and
1960s. The series was based on Whitney Blake's own life as a single
mother, raising her three children (Including future actress Meredith
Baxter) after her divorce from her first husband.[1]
Plot
Ann Romano, a divorced mother, moves from their home in Logansport,
Indiana to Indianapolis with her daughters, the rebellious Julie and the
wisecracking Barbara. Ann frequently struggles with maintaining her
role as mother while affording her daughters the freedom she never had
as a young woman. David Kane, Ann's divorce lawyer and neighbor, takes a
romantic interest in her, but she isn't ready to remarry. Dwayne
Schneider, the building's quirky superintendent (most often referred to
only by his last name), provides usually unwanted advice to the tenants.
After David takes a job in Los Angeles, the focus squarely rests on
Ann's dilemmas as a single mother and career woman as well as the girls'
growing pains, with Schneider becoming a more welcomed part of the
family. Ann's strained relationship with her ex-husband Ed slowly mends,
as does the girls' relationship with his new wife, Vickie. Julie and
Barbara advance through high school and into the working world, and
Julie eventually marries flight attendant Max Horvath. Alex, the
orphaned son of Ann's deceased boyfriend, moves in, changing the
dynamics in the female-dominated apartment. Later in the series run,
Julie gives birth to a daughter, "Little Annie" Horvath, Barbara marries
dental student Mark Royer, and Ann's mother Katherine moves nearby.
In the penultimate episode, Ann decides to take a job in London,
leaving her daughters in Indianapolis to raise families of their own. In
the series finale, Schneider also leaves town, moving to Florida to
take care of his niece and nephew.
Production
For its entire run, the series was taped in Hollywood before a studio
audience. Originally, it was taped at CBS Television City. Shortly
after its premiere, the series began taping at Metromedia Square, where
it remained until 1982. From 1982 to 1984, the series was taped at
Universal Studios Hollywood.
Like many sitcoms developed by Norman Lear, One Day at a Time often
tackled serious issues in life and relationships, particularly those
related to second wave feminism. Stories depicting such events as
weddings, births, and other important milestones frequently stretched
over two-, three-, and four-part episodes.
Theme song and opening credits
The theme song for One Day at a Time, "This is It", was composed by
Brill Building songwriter Jeff Barry and his wife Nancy Barry, and
performed by recording artist Polly Cutter. The opening credits were
originally seen over a filmed sequence showing Ann, Julie, and Barbara
excitedly moving into their new home. Later, the opening credits
sequence mostly consisted of clips of each cast member taken from
previous episodes.
