IMO, Ted Bessell was cast for one reason and one reason only: for the meta joke of Mary Richards (or Laura Petrie) getting Ann Marie's guy.
I agree that Mary's second apartment didn't have the peculiar charm of her first, but I also think having her change apartments at that point in her life - when she was promoted to producer and presumably making more money - made sense. More sense than if she had remained at her first place even after "making it after all."
Conversely, look at the original "One Day at a Time": Ann Romano seemed to do better professionally every season - going from working (as a secretary/assistant?) at Connors & Davenport, to being promoted to creative director, to launching her own ad agency with Nick, to launching another one with Francine after Nick's untimely death - yet, she stayed in the same, cheap apartment all nine seasons, for the sake of continuity (and, of course, for Schneider, lol).
By
Khan ·
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.