One Day at a Time

Normalized divorce and single motherhood in a warm Norman Lear package.

Why it matters

Episode guide

209 episodes across 9 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.

At a glance

Newly divorced Ann Romano raises two daughters in an Indianapolis apartment with Schneider the superintendent as unwanted Greek chorus. Bonnie Franklin headlined CBS's One Day at a Time (1975–1984), a Norman Lear-adjacent relevant sitcom about single motherhood, teen trouble, and independence without a laugh-track apology. Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips grew up on camera; the 'very special episode' energy was earned by the premise. It was women's lib as weekly multi-cam. Schneider's tool belt became oddly comforting infrastructure.

Network & studio

• CBS — broadcast network

Why watch now

Single-mom sitcom with real stakes under the jokes — Franklin's steel and the daughters' chaos. Foundational 1970s social comedy beyond Archie.

Cultural impact

One Day at a Time mainstreamed divorced single motherhood as sitcom center and made Ann Romano a feminist TV landmark. Its later Netflix reboot only confirmed the premise's durability. Schneider, Julie, and Barbara are 1970s family-television permanent residents.

Creators

Whitney Blake · Allan Manings · Norman Lear

Key cast

• Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano
• Mackenzie Phillips as Julie Cooper
• Valerie Bertinelli as Barbara Cooper
• Pat Harrington Jr. as Dwayne Schneider

Flash facts

• CBS sitcom about a divorced mother and her daughters; aired 1975–1984.
• Starred Bonnie Franklin as Ann Romano.
• Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips played daughters Barbara and Julie (with later cast evolution).
• Pat Harrington Jr. played building superintendent Schneider.
• Part of the 1970s wave of socially relevant Norman Lear-era comedy.

FAQ

Back to the decade

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