Surprising Stories from the Set of One Day at a Time

After nearly leaving during the first season, Bonnie Franklin negotiated for more creative input — and she used that influence deliberately. She has said she wanted to protect Ann Romano’s independence and keep the character from being softened or sidelined.

Franklin was committed to portraying Ann as capable and self-sufficient, not defined by divorce or desperation. Behind the scenes, she advocated for scripts that reflected a modern, working single mother. The strength viewers saw on screen wasn’t accidental — it was defended.