Surprising Stories from the Set of One Day at a Time

In FOX’s special The Truth Behind the Sitcoms, Bonnie Franklin and Pat Harrington Jr. were surprisingly candid about One Day at a Time’s early days. Both admitted that many of the first-season episodes simply weren’t very good.

It’s rare to hear stars critique their own breakout show, but their honesty tracks. The series took time to find its rhythm — sharper writing, stronger character balance, and better pacing. Once it did, though, it hit its stride and became the confident, culturally relevant sitcom fans remember.