# One Day at a Time (1975)

> A divorced Indianapolis mother, her two teenage daughters, and their new building superintendent navigate everyday misadventures in a warm network sitcom.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/2078

## Facts

- Seasons: 9
- Episodes: 210
- Episode runtime: 24 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy
- Created by: Whitney Blake, Allan Manings
- Network: CBS
- Cast: Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli, Pat Harrington Jr., Mackenzie Phillips, Boyd Gaines, Howard Hesseman, Michael Lembeck, Nanette Fabray
- TMDB rating: 6.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072554/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: warm, wry, gentle, comforting, breezy

## What critics say

Critics broadly praise One Day at a Time for its warm family comedy, sharp ensemble chemistry, and humane handling of single parenthood, while noting that its long original run and later revival vary in consistency.

## Synopsis

One Day at a Time (1975-2005) is an American network sitcom created by Whitney Blake and Allan Manings for CBS. Bonnie Franklin plays Ann Romano, a divorced mother who moves with her two teenage daughters into an Indianapolis apartment building, where Valerie Bertinelli plays the younger daughter Barbara Cooper and Pat Harrington Jr. plays Dwayne Schneider, the new building superintendent who becomes a fixture of the household. Mackenzie Phillips plays the older daughter Julie Cooper. The engine of the show is domestic: a single mother balancing work, dating, and the growing independence of her teenagers, with each twenty-four minute episode built from small household crises, schoolyard friction, and the awkward comedy of a shared building. Structured as a long multi-camera studio sitcom running across nine seasons, it offers a case-of-the-week rhythm within a steady ensemble. The tone is gentle, wry, and warm, rooted in the 1970s family comedy tradition. Set in 1970s Indianapolis, it has the feel of a midwestern domestic comedy. Fans of Kate and Allie, The Facts of Life, and Alice will find similar comfort in its blend of single parenthood, generational friction, and affectionate humor.

## Shows like One Day at a Time

- [Who's the Boss? (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/599)
- [Charles in Charge (1984)](https://ember.film/tv/535)
- [Alice (1976)](https://ember.film/tv/464)
- [Empty Nest (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/2682)
- [The Facts of Life (1979)](https://ember.film/tv/1700)
- [The Partridge Family (1970)](https://ember.film/tv/12984)
- [Happy Days (1974)](https://ember.film/tv/3659)
- [Three's Company (1977)](https://ember.film/tv/2551)
- [Diff'rent Strokes (1978)](https://ember.film/tv/2290)
- [Maude (1972)](https://ember.film/tv/2071)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt