What would the 70’s or early 80’s be without Norman Lear. His ingenious development of shows that impacted race issues and other controversial issues were crafted in a manner that was perfectly paired with the right cast of characters. Who would have thought that Norman Lear would return? After a long hiatus, he has come back to deliver us with an even precious gift, a reboot of his comedy about a single mother raising two children, One Day at a time, starring an all Cuban American family which is as controversial as all areas Norman Lear is classically known for.
This show applies a yes you can attitude when it comes to the successes of racial diversity and the racial mixing of families. Norman Lear who was responsible for shows like All in the Family, The Jefferson’s, Good Times, Sanford and Son, Maude and One Day at a Time. Lear thinks it is about time for change. When it was first announced by Norman Lear on Variety, he explained “My name’s going to be with it,” the 94-year-old recalls saying. “I’ve got to be with it.”
With the inclusion of the One Day at a Time reboot who knows what may happen next. After hosting a marathon of his landmark shows on Antenna TV, Lear has proposed the idea of bringing back his other shows. The reboot of one Day a time isn’t the only controversial show that Lear developed but had involving Latino families, he created one show,titled Aka Pablo back in the 80’s that starred Pal Rodriguez. It was based on a Mexican- American family but flopped. In the One Day at a Time reboot is basically about a Latino family led by a female Army Veteran and according to Variety The new One Day at a Time is a continuation of that effort.
The Netflix series mashes up the experiences of Lear and showrunners Mike Royce and Gloria Calderon Kellett — Lear as a World War II veteran, Royce as a parent of two teenagers, and Calderon Kellett as the daughter of Cuban immigrants.It stars Justina Machado as Penelope, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan struggling to make ends meet in Los Angeles, where she lives with her teenage daughter, her middle-schooler son, and her mother — a Cuban émigrée played by Rita Moreno, who Lear recruited to the role. (Schneider, the creepy building superintendent of the original, is reimagined as a charming, dopey hipster played by Todd Grinnell.)
It is destined to be another classic for Lear, who at 94 is still going strong. The show premieres January 6th on Netflix is being praised. When asked about the reboot Lear praised Netflix for their creative freedom over the whole reboot process and show’s premise. Lear was also present at every taping. As with his old shows, One Day at a Time which was shot in front of a live audience. Lear warmed up the crowd before filming began on each episode, telling jokes and sharing stories. It is nice that he still can tell stories that can make anyone smile.