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Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Bonnie Franklin

Reprising her big title number from Applause, in 2012 l, the year before she left us

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by Anonymousreply 48July 3, 2025 2:11 PM

I thought we were about due for one of our 32 Bonnie Franklin threads we get per year.

by Anonymousreply 1July 1, 2025 11:29 PM

She's a conjoined twin cut off of Linda Lavin.

I know this is her big number but even the original isn't very good.

She and Linda got lucky and became t.v. moms we're still talking about.

by Anonymousreply 2July 2, 2025 1:17 AM

A vicious, flat chested ginger dwarf , with the maternal warmth of Susan Smith or Magda Goebbels.

An untalented hambone foisted on the hapless American public by Norman Lear and Bill Paley, she’s proof that you could air anything on network television in those pre-cable days.

She drove her TV daughters to smack addiction, and her precocious adopted tv son to a life of pole smoking.

Did I miss anything?

by Anonymousreply 3July 2, 2025 1:51 AM

That shoddy reprisal was uncalled for.

by Anonymousreply 4July 2, 2025 1:58 AM

For the life of me, I can't understand why she wasn't part of the 1975 musical "A Chorus Line". I mean really, she could've knocked it out of the park with "At the Ballet", or "What I Did for Love", or "Dance Ten, Looks Three" (most appropriate for her).

And then for her not to be offered the role of Norma Desmond in 'Sunset Boulevard' in 1996 ? Elaine Paige instead ? Please !

by Anonymousreply 5July 2, 2025 3:23 AM

R5 - she was no longer a gypsy.

by Anonymousreply 6July 2, 2025 3:24 AM

She is repulsive in every way.

by Anonymousreply 7July 2, 2025 3:26 AM

R2 Bonnie Franklin wished she had 1/10 the talent of Linda Lavin.

by Anonymousreply 8July 2, 2025 3:27 AM

She would have been a remarkable Wednesday Matinee Mama Rose!!!!

by Anonymousreply 9July 2, 2025 3:31 AM

Picture it: Bonnie Franklin as Mama Rose, Valerie Bertinelli as 'Baby June', Pat Harrington as 'Herbie' and, of course, Mackenzie Phillips as 'Miss Gypsy Rose Lee'.

No one thought of this in 2003 ? We got Bernadette instead ?

by Anonymousreply 10July 2, 2025 3:33 AM

R3 - well done - BRAVA - now that's DL bitchiness!

Everybody, take notes.

by Anonymousreply 11July 2, 2025 4:43 AM

General Mils wanted to hire her to play the Lucky Charms leprechaun, but she too fucking unpleasant to play a cartoon cereal mascot.

L’eggs considered as their spokesperson, but test audiences said she reminded them of dirty pantyhose, so they picked a more subtle and less noxious sitcom actress as their pitch woman, Joyce DeWitt.

by Anonymousreply 12July 2, 2025 4:52 AM

Ooof. Not even Helen Keller was that tone deaf. See, horrible singing causes cancer.

by Anonymousreply 13July 2, 2025 4:52 AM

After signing up on DL a year ago, the monthly Bonnie Franklin discussions brought back that fucking earworm of a theme song to One Day at a Time, playing on loop in my head some mornings upon waking. I remember it from visiting my grandparents’ house in the 80s, where the TV was on nonstop for 16 hours per day. I hold Datalounge directly responsible for this.

by Anonymousreply 14July 2, 2025 5:13 AM

R14- To help you with your earworm.

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by Anonymousreply 15July 2, 2025 5:18 AM

No Bonnie Franklin thread is complete, without her fried egg tit threatening to pop out of that nasty sweater on the cover of People, while the phrase “the Nobel sperm bank” was positioned next to smack addict Mackenzie Phillips’ bony ass.

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by Anonymousreply 16July 2, 2025 5:34 AM

^^ That very sweater is for sale at an auction site. Or it was - -

by Anonymousreply 17July 2, 2025 5:46 AM

R15 oh trust me I’ve seen it in the past year.

And I couldn’t help but think, how many sitcom openers from that era heavily featured the main character relocating to another city and showing them driving their car driving across a highway? Alice, Perfect Strangers, Who’s the Boss, and how many others? Someone should commission a study. It was a great cliche of the time.

by Anonymousreply 18July 2, 2025 7:06 AM

I have to admit it still tugs my heartstrings when they show Mary moving to Minneapolis in the first MTM season credits.

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by Anonymousreply 19July 2, 2025 7:11 AM
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by Anonymousreply 20July 2, 2025 7:51 AM
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by Anonymousreply 21July 2, 2025 7:53 AM
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by Anonymousreply 22July 2, 2025 7:54 AM

Here's the scandalous Bonnie Franklin sweater, yours for a mere $1,250.00

[quote] Item # T0879 - This iconic sweater was worn by “Ann Romano” portrayed by Bonnie Franklin in the television series “One Day At A Time”. The original 1980’s vintage Nathan Road sweater is constructed of an electric blue chenille fabric with a plunging neckline and ¾ length rolled sleeves.

[quote]Ms. Franklin wore the sweater on the cover of People magazine March 17, 1980 with co-stars Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli. The headline, “Why Mackenzie Got Fired: The sad story of One Day’s troubled star.” When the magazine hit newsstands, there was a swirl of controversy; not because of the headline or article inside the magazine, but because the image of Bonnie Franklin with her breast visible. Bonnie (and this) sweater were thrust into headlines and watercooler discussions around the globe.

[quote]This garment is in good screen worn condition and was acquired directly from the costume designer and head of the wardrobe department for Embassy TV (formerly TAT/Tandem) Betsey Potter. The department also supplied wardrobe to Sanford and Son, One Day At A Time, Maude, All in the Family, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and other iconic television shows produced by Norman Lear and Embassy TV.

[quote]Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Betsey Potter.

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by Anonymousreply 23July 2, 2025 8:03 AM

R23 Burn it!!!!

by Anonymousreply 24July 2, 2025 10:05 AM

R23 Thank you for the background info on that. I always suspected that sweater was originally intended for Isabel 'Weezie Jefferson" Sanford to wear on the cover of TV Guide, but she had way too much class. At least no one would say she had 'fried eggs' if she did.

by Anonymousreply 25July 2, 2025 11:28 AM

I always loathed this woman, a hammy Streisand wannabe.

by Anonymousreply 26July 2, 2025 11:34 AM

I found her quite tolerable in bit parts on The Munsters and Gidget and that infomercial for Crisco with those two handsome guys.

by Anonymousreply 27July 2, 2025 12:31 PM

[quote]while the phrase “the Nobel sperm bank” was positioned next to smack addict Mackenzie Phillips’ bony ass.

Too funny! I can't believe that wasn't intentional on the part of People's editors.

by Anonymousreply 28July 2, 2025 1:02 PM

Wow. DL helped me to hate Bonnie Franklin. Whenever I see a cut cock, it reminds me of her and her bellend coif.

by Anonymousreply 29July 2, 2025 1:54 PM

The song goes and the kid with it.

by Anonymousreply 30July 2, 2025 2:07 PM

R2 I think Linda Lavin's Superman song is actually better than Bonnie's All About Eve song

by Anonymousreply 31July 2, 2025 2:20 PM
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by Anonymousreply 32July 2, 2025 2:40 PM

The Bonnie Franklin gifs are not funny. Please stop.

by Anonymousreply 33July 2, 2025 2:45 PM

Criticizing Bonnie Franklin for performing at an AIDS fundraiser a year before her own painful death is peak Datalounge.

by Anonymousreply 34July 2, 2025 2:46 PM

Unfortunately, "The Hal Linden Variety Special" is not available online. It was the only time that Bonnie and Linda worked together. Can you even imagine the horror?

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by Anonymousreply 35July 2, 2025 2:47 PM

Bonnie and Linda doing what looks like some kind of bridesmaids song and dance number.

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by Anonymousreply 36July 2, 2025 2:48 PM

If that ginger dwarf was so hellbent on helping others, r34, she would have kept her goddamn mouth shut, and not subject the public to that caterwauling.

She should been told to write a check.

by Anonymousreply 37July 2, 2025 2:52 PM

I saw you, Miss Wilson in that revival of "On the Twentieth Century"....

"Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair", indeed!

At least a Mary Testa, or Jackie Hoffman might have shown up...still alive?

by Anonymousreply 38July 2, 2025 2:58 PM

🎶 Naah Nah Nah Noh. One Day at a Tiiiiiime 🎶

by Anonymousreply 39July 2, 2025 4:24 PM

R35, I don't think it's a coincidence that the third woman in your pic, Cathryn Damon was dead not long after the Special aired...

by Anonymousreply 40July 2, 2025 6:52 PM

Even in that pic at r35 she is disgusting and desperate for attention

by Anonymousreply 41July 2, 2025 9:35 PM

Your The Judge With Bonnie Franklin- An Educational Short ( with SHORTY) 1965

Watching the Ginger Dwarf is not a complete waste of time- the two young guys are handsome.

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by Anonymousreply 42July 2, 2025 9:46 PM

R42. She always looked 65 years old.

by Anonymousreply 43July 2, 2025 10:01 PM

She was no Ellen Corby R43.

by Anonymousreply 44July 2, 2025 11:13 PM

[quote]Your The Judge

Oh, dear.

by Anonymousreply 45July 3, 2025 12:04 AM

R33 The whiny princess watchdog tone is a perfect fit for you.

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by Anonymousreply 46July 3, 2025 1:38 PM

R16 I recall seeing that when I was 10 years old and thinking that they actually got Mackenzie to come to a photo shoot and demonstrate how unhappy she was to be fired.

by Anonymousreply 47July 3, 2025 1:54 PM

Bonnie Franklin never learned how to dress, properly.

by Anonymousreply 48July 3, 2025 2:11 PM
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