One Day at a Time

IT’S SO RETRO it’s radical. The great producer and political activist Norman Lear strolls onto the set of One Day at a Time—the new Latino-flavored reboot of his hit 1975–84 sitcom—and unobtrusively takes a seat as the cast gathers to read the script of the season finale. This Netflix series, starring Justina Machado (Queen of the South) as a Cuban-American single mom struggling to raise two kids in Los Angeles, is being shot old-school style with three cameras in front of a live audience. And, unlike so many of today’s frantically paced, edited-to-death comedies, this one has scenes (some running 20 minutes uninterrupted) that are allowed to linger and breathe and reveal true depth of character. It’s theater on film and Lear, one of the show’s executive producers, wouldn’t have it any other way. As he listens intently to the actors— the episode is about a kooky yet wildly dramatic quinceañera celebration—all eyes dart in his direction, not just looking for approval but also because, well, it’s just so damn incredible to be in the same room with one of the true giants of the TV business.

 

“I grew up watching and loving so many of Norman’s big shows: All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times,” says Machado, whose character, Penelope Alvarez, is an Afghanistan war vet turned medical professional. “But I never imagined he’d come back to sitcoms and that I’d get a chance to work with him. It’s completely unbelievable.”

Oscar winner Rita Moreno, who costars as Penelope’s hyper-opinionated immigrant mom, Lydia, is just as overwhelmed. She’s 85, Lear is 94, yet they’ve not worked together until now. “I figured our trains were destined never to meet at the same station, and that was a very great disappointment to me,” Moreno says. “And now look at us—two old farts having the time of our lives making this crazy TV show!”