Michael Lembeck in Dear Max

For Hazel Horvath.
Michael Lembeck should have won an Emmy for his tour de force performance as a man left bereft by a woman who left him and his child to "find" herself.

[@robinbrl]

This was heartbreaking but Michael Lembeck did a wonderful job in this episode. You could feel his pain.

[@umarbentley4953]

In real life he was good friends with Mackenzie off camera and he truly cared for her.This is him displaying his real emotions about her as she was going through her drug issues at the time.

[@soulvigilante]

3:50 Bonnie Franklin is not just reading a script; she is sending a message directly to Mackenzie...that's a pretty damn powerful moment for a sitcom. Thanks for posting this!

[@ml.vaughn2122]

Through this episode Mackenzie started on drugs and they had to fire her

[@kdizzle79]

I’m just happy that eventually, Mackenzie got it together and got sober. But this episode was ultimately damaging to Julie’s character legacy. In the early years, this would have fit perfectly with her character

[@joannross8412]

Totally agree

[@robinbrl]

I think so. Especially when Bonnie said " I'm worried about MY baby." I felt she was referring to Julie and Mackenzie at the same time.

[@gretchennelson9965]

@@robinbrl I LOVED it when Ann said that! Took Barbara and Ann’s mother down a peg or two with their constant”But it’s her baby” and”for God’s sake Mom, she left her baby!” Shut up!

[@leastlikedcritic7529]

I believe this is the cast and crew feeling the impact of Mackenzie Philips departure.

[@tjames9698]

Yes. Definitely.

[@tigertbalm]

I never thought much about Boyd Gaines (Barbara's husband) he didn't do much on the show.. But i saw him starring on Broadway and he was amazing. What a singing voice he has!

[@zt1053]

He played an abusive husband on la law

[@beverlywatkins8271]

He was also on an episode of Frasier.

[@Johnnypensful]

mackenzie is lucky with all shes been through she didn't kill herself...shes all good now

[@peggywelty5139]

People need to think before they get married that way they don't hurt the children they bring into this world , I put my children first above everything .

[@Juliaflo]

Amen.

[@melindarozas1334]

What a great episode; Michael did a great job!!

[@Asukenick]

He said this was one of his favorite episodes.

[@Regreviews]

They really did it in McKenzie Phillips character in this episode

[@Asukenick]

During the show's third season in 1977, Phillips was arrested for disorderly conduct. Because of her drug and alcohol abuse, Phillips began arriving late and was even incoherent for rehearsals. The producers ordered her to take a six-week break to overcome her addiction but were ultimately forced to fire her in 1980. After two near-fatal overdoses, Phillips entered Fair Oaks Hospital voluntarily for treatment. In 1981, the producers of One Day at a Time invited her back to the show. However, in 1982, Phillips relapsed into cocaine use and the following year, she collapsed on the show's set. After refusing to take a drug test, she was fired permanently, and her character written out of the series. In 1992, Philips entered a drug rehab program for nine months.

[@beverlywatkins8271]

Thankfully, she is better now.

[@Asukenick]

@@beverlywatkins8271 She's very lucky to be alive. Todd Bridges had a lot of problems too and he's still alive as well.

[@Panwere36]

The sad part of all this is that it took Mackenzie decades to accept why she was an addict, which is far worse than what the script here did to her character.

[@gregoryreed4866]

This episode always made me sad. I wish Mac had gotten clean and been able To Come back at the end and reconcile with Max

[@Asukenick]

I like to think Julie came back at one point.

[@gregoryreed4866]

@@Asukenick me too!!!! They could still reboot, but Schneider and Ann are dead

[@Asukenick]

​@@gregoryreed4866After 40 years it's not going to happen. We did get a remake though and McKenzie was in some episodes and Michael directed one of them.

[@colleenk60]

The character, Julie, could be dealing with postpartum depression. McKenzie Phillips had her own troubles, including a messed up father.

[@zt1053]

They didn't show Ann's apartment that much the last season

[@kimberlycubbs5752]

Sad episode and love the show.Loved Julie

[@janinekarnbach6577]

Love these shows

[@gretchennelson9965]

“it’s gonna take more than cake and milk Mom” Well,I don’t know,cake and milk always worked for me!🙃

[@cellytron]

Seriously, cake and milk isn’t gonna make things any worse!

[@user-wr6db6nw8t]

Not to different from MacKenzie Philip's real life situations!

[@schewitt1977]

Barbara's husband is handsome.

[@tjames9698]

I think Julie would be diagnosed with bipolar and post-partom (sp?) depression today. Instead of having the actress play “Pam” in the ODAAT reboot, she should have played Julie again.

[@joannross8412]

Yes postpartum!!

[@mannymontgomery9807]

If this had been 15+ years later, I think Julie would have been diagnosed with bipolar depression.

[@maryhlad5277]

I agree.

[@gretchennelson9965]

Yes, definetely.

[@clgil77]

I was just getting ready to post that. It would have been cool if they had a follow up years later with her now being a psychiatrist and reunited with her family and using her pain to help her daughter who went down a similar path.

[@martinsmith6342]

@@clgil77 That's a great idea!For the past year I had a similar idea!That it would deal with Julie reconnecting with the family she left behind, mainly her daughter, and you could bring in Barbara and her family, Max with a new family, and maybe bring back Alex!The other details, regarding the fates of Anne Ramano and Schneider, could be written whatever way is appropriate, since Bonnie Franklin and Pat Harrington Jr are unfortunately, no longer around and can't be replaced!Just a thought, your idea is genius!

[@martinsmith6342]

Also Julie could move back into the old apartment she lived in in the old days of the show !Great show it was!

[@gretchennelson9965]

“Somehow I don’t think we have to worry too much about Julie-she’ll survive” wow,a lot of sympathy for your sister Barbara!😖

[@wordivore]

Barbara's focus was on the baby. When a mother abandons her child, it makes a life long impact on that child.

[@jopayne5617]

Sorry, but I agree with Barbara. That show tended to make everything about Julie, and seldom on her. She had been the good girl, and here her sister who caused nothing but trouble has a great husband and child, and leaves them. My daughter was diagnosed with Bipolarism and never left her kids. Their father left all of them she had to stay and take care of them. This is simply what the writers thought sounded reasonable, so we wouldn't hate the character. But the story was the actress messed up, and they had to let her go. I am glad she got hold of it later on, but that is how it was.

[@hazelhorvath8808]

Poor Max!!! He's too cute to leave!!! And leaving her baby too!! What was Julie thinking???

[@carrieheffernan1685]

The writers gave her far too harsh an exit. Trying to stick it to the actress by making her character seems heartless. This isn't the Julie that loved her baby so much that she wanted to give her the most peaceful birth possible. Also, her mother as written was an enabler, she should have been tougher with her and gotten her some therapy. Instead she just let her run off without giving Max a heads up. Lazy, shock writing designed to punish the actress. She still could have left him but arranged for visitation with her child off screen. A mess all around but the acting was first rate.

[@user-wr6db6nw8t]

I think she once said they knew something was wrong again when during a rehearsal. she fell asleep. They figured it was drugs, she even refused a test they wanted her to take.

[@millenniumman75]

The random drug test was part of her fall 1981 return to the show. If they suspected at any time, they could force a test. She was clean until the 1982-1983 season, but it became apparent by the fifth episode of the final season (1983-1984). He last show was "Bedtime Story" when she wrote a bedtime story for Annie. It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if Bonnie and Valerie had decided to continue the show for two more years like CBS wanted. This episode was filmed in early 1984, so they were down to the last 10 shows of the season at that point. You can tell it was hardest on Bonnie and Pat - They, along with Mackenzie, go all the way back to the April 1975 unaired pilot:"Three to Get Ready" that was retooled to "One Day at a Time". kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKTUqKmcgJ2nZ6s

[@millenniumman75]

@63Jim63 her last episode was about credit card debt. The last five episodes had to have the opening credits redone a second time to remove her.

[@mattmcdermott3919]

To be continued. One day at the time. Poor. Max. He. Too cute. And. Leaving. Her. Bady

[@schewitt1977]

The Grandmother cracks me up

[@millenniumman75]

Nanette Fabray - she was in comedy a LONG time. She passed away in October 2020 at the age of 97.

[@citygirl5705]

@@millenniumman75 No, she died in February 2018. But the age is correct.

[@kaynemccully5266]

😢 I couldn't stand her character she was a pain in the ass

[@DarthSideous63]

It was obvious that Mackenzie Phillips was back on drugs. Although the producers had enough with her drug use they could have easily killed off Julie but they gave a way for her to return had the show been renewed for another season.

[@millenniumman75]

They had a stipulation upon her 1981 return that she could be drug tested at any time. By September 1983, she had collapsed on the set (sleeping during rehearsals) and the producers approached her about a drug test. She said "don't bother" and walked out. She knew it was over. You are right in that CBS was actually willing to keep the show going another two years - until 1986, but Bonnie and Valerie jointly said that it was time to end it. Bonnie had encouraged Glenn Scarpelli to leave the show for NBC's "Jennifer Slept Here", a supporting role, because she knew it was coming to an end.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan They actually would have been or maybe Nick only. The issue was with Ann's bosses - Charles Siebert (Jerry Davenport) left to go to Trapper John, M.D. in Fall 1979....then they had to do something about John Hillerman (Claude Connors), as he left to do Magnum, P.I. in late 1980. They would either have had Connors & Davenport sold, or Ann promoted - not as likely given she was only there five years. Glenn did get additional roles on the Love Boat after Jennifer Slept Here was cancelled. He fell off the way many child stars did. When he left One Day in spring 1983, he was about to turn 17 playing a 15 year old.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan Sam wasn't on the show much after Alex left. Sam just wanted everyone gone except Ann and even then, he didn't want to live in her apartment. The whole Sam thing was creepy from the initial one-night stand.....to bringing a horse into the apartment to poop all over Ann's 1980 rug. I mean - what was it with his animals?! Ann snapped at him for hating on Schneider in their last show.

[@tracyr173]

Julie has always been a mess

[@zt1053]

I remember in the 90's McKenzie appeared on Beverly Hills 90210 and the soap opera Guidling Light as a drug counselor but I heard on the radio in 2008 she was busted with drugs again. Did she stay clean after the 2008 incident?

[@gregoryreed4866]

She’s 100% clean and has been for years now. She’s even been on Valerie’s cooking show because they’re still best of friends

[@stacystoltz8722]

Cool funny show Onedayattime at this time Cheers wow Godloveyou much

[@kc0lif]

I'm glad mackenzie got herself together.

[@aakansh45yearsago83]

Funny thing is Max irl is just 4 years younger than his mom-in-law.

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

Yeah. That is weird!

[@tigertbalm]

Bonnie Franklin's character was supposed to have married very young and had kids early. But there were many times in the show that I felt Julie or Barbara's friends or dates looked more Ann's age. Bonnie Franklin was playing slightly older than she was but looked a bit younger.

[@carmencitadavis9043]

Who do they think they're kidding they probably took Mackenzie Phillips off the show because she was probably on drugs again and they're trying to cover it up pretended like her character Julie left her husband but I believe it has to do with drugs why she's not on the show anymore

[@laurallewien2165]

Max married Julie knowing what type of person she was from the get....does her leaving really surprise him?

[@michelleclark7031]

Looks like Fred dodge a bullet

[@DoctorJoanieTool]

Hi! Antenna TV is going to air two of the New Years Eve specials at the retirement hotel on Dec 30/31 … please can you DVR and post them!?!?!? Antenna is removing ODAAT off the air. It breaks my heart. It’s the best show they have.

[@kyetroya2318]

I hated the way they always had the max character speak to the mom character like that. I couldn't stand him. Lol I know it's fiction but I hated that! 😑 Lol

[@gretchennelson9965]

Actually Barbara and the grandmother are the ones who annoyed the hell out of me!😡 all of the” but this is her baby” and”for God’s sake Mom she left her baby” geez, shut up!

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

It was probably because he was only a little bit younger than she was in real life. She was not old enough to be his mother-in law.

[@zt1053]

Not right how they made it where Barbara couldn't have kids but Julie could.

[@gretchennelson9965]

Oh of course, sweet little Barbara is the one who deserved to have a child not that bitch Julie. Mackenzie really got the shaft from everyone is this show.😡

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

@@gretchennelson9965 Anger management. Try it.

[@marcofalzone6469]

That's the bittersweet aspect of reality

[@stacystoltz8722]

👋🏾😃😎

[@joannross8412]

6:47... Ann yelling @ Barbara in Barbara's house.... so not cool

[@lindadowns230]

It didn’t surprise me Julies always been that way. Max should have known better all they did was Argue ever since they met. Sad tho she Abandoned her baby😒

[@marcofalzone6469]

Even so real for 82/83.

[@tinaloveseddie]

They should of wrote into the script that Julie was in rehab, because she’s a junkie.😏

[@mattmcdermott3919]

To be continued next week episode

[@tigertbalm]

Yes, I always thought that would be better.

[@schewitt1977]

But she wasn't addicted in the story.

[@kellylaflash1016]

You can do storylines like that now, but that was taboo in those days - especially on a sitcom.

[@tigertbalm]

Yes,I'm younger than Mackenzie but watching the show as a naive teen, even I could tell she had a drug problem,it really changed her appearance.

[@susanmledesma5386]

😥😭

[@joesimon2029]

Max should have been with Barbara . Mark is such a DWEEB.

[@millenniumman75]

Well, the third to the last episode had Max kiss Barbara.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan That might have explained Howard's opening credit being dropped when Mackenzie was fired. From the fifth episode onward, Howard was in episodes when he wasn't even credited (opening or closing), and was "away" in the Dear Max episode. Something else happened in that period with the show.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan Very true. I didn't like how Sam was Mark's dad - they didn't interact too much either. It's no wonder Bonnie wanted to end it then. Too many storylines on Barbara, Mark, and Max.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan He interacted well with everyone.....Pat Harrington in particular. You never met his family! So many open storylines. Sadly, he knew at the time he was hired that he was afraid it wouldn't last long. I would bet he was part of the reason they kept reaching out to Mackenzie all those times.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan Definitely - they had a gold mine with Shelley Fabares as Francine playing off of Ann, but they dropped her to a handful of shows, too. The whole last season was as off as Roseanne's last season - just "off".

[@jennifercox1935]

Y'all no in real life she's on drugs right

[@schewitt1977]

Yes she has addiction issues and had to get healthy she said it herself.

[@porflepopnecker4376]

We knew that before you were even born.

[@TMcConnaughhay]

yes, we "know"

[@heathervelasco5159]

Was on drugs she has been clean for years

[@sweetbeauty2153]

Scheinder was always so damn annoying!!!!

[@Sweetbabyvixen]

KATHERINE was much worse, I couldn't stand her pushy ass!!

[@sweetbeauty2153]

@@Sweetbabyvixen I definitely agree with you!!!

[@gretchennelson9965]

@@Sweetbabyvixen Agree 100%

[@toddlandry5736]

I never liked Schneider. Totally agree

[@porflepopnecker4376]

But I liked that movie they did with him later, "Schneider's List."

[@RBS_]

....OK, it's been QUITE the time, since I saw this ep, and it CLEARLY doesn't do 'Julie' (and Mackenzie), ANY favors! FIRST, bravura for the sensitive / levelheaded performance of Mr. Lembeck; he can only work with what the script gave him at the time, and here, he gives Max the right amount of reasoning as to why he should stay....MOST bullish Men would've said, "I'm OUTTA here!", and cut the deserting Wife's family OFF! >: ( ...and, his thick, fabulous hair alone, gives him QUITE the sympathy vote! ...ha-HAA!! NOW, the others: Ann / Bonnie- a chance to chew scenery, but not interested in dwelling on a problematic character / actress... Schneider / Pat- buffoonish moments to 'lighten' the mood, but should've shown his (quelled) dramatic chops... Mark / David- nice balance, but, not given enough...'machismo', to be believed...how would he feel, if it was HIM? Grandma / Nanette- obviously played with 'old school generation' naivete, but the 'ladder' scene, was BAD-ASS!! Barbara / Valerie- NOW we see why Val was SO beloved at the time; earnest, lightly funny, concerned, but not experienced enough to 'get' why Julie pulled her stunt, believable, and might I add....she was just STUNNINGLY beautiful!! ....her hair texture, complexion, height, body type, just STUNNING! could've given Brooke Shields a run for her money at the time!! Mr Lembeck was in a ill-timed period in this show's history (new husband to a popular character, who instantly becomes 'unpopular', due to her questionable tactics), but he shows here why he wasn't removed....he's moved on QUITE professionally....we ALL know his directorial history....but MAN, he grew one HELL of a beard, then!! 🧔

[@gretchennelson9965]

Julie really got the shaft on this show. Everything was geared toward showcasing “America’s sweetheart” Valerie Bertinelli. Ed didn’r snow up for Julie’s wedding but was there for Barbara’s and then they made Julie a deadbeat mother. Really crappy way to treat Mackenzie Phillips.😖😡

[@millenniumman75]

@@gretchennelson9965 Unfortunately, she brought a lot of it on herself, but didn't completely understand herself either. She was facing a lot of issues - but the inability to define it and the fame made it all worse. That fifth season (1979-1980) was in total upheaval due to her issues. It had my favorite opening credit version with the Indianapolis backgrounds, but had to be redone in episode 5 without them to work through the Julie character (adding Max). After episode 12, she was suspended for six episodes (13-18) missing the New Year's Eve performance. She was ordered to go to rehab - but she admitted that she ended up going on vacation and getting her haircut instead. Episodes 19-20 "Retrospective" had her returning still with the drug problems. She would last two more episodes before being fired (Perils of Plastic was her last episode). The last five episodes had the opening credits redone again with her credit removed and ending with a lobby scene when Max slips and spill groceries. He would be written out at the end of the season. They brought Nanette Fabray in to help with some of the storylines. Season 6 (1980-1981) was down to three characters until the fifth episode when Ron Rifkin and Glenn Scarpelli join the cast.

[@millenniumman75]

@ny giants fan raider fan He always called her Shorty because she didn't like being called anything that made her feel old. It was supposed to be a respectful nickname. The last scene they had together was good. He called her Shorty and apologized for not doing a better job with Julie....then Ann apologized for not herself not doing a better job with Julie.....when there was nothing either could do given Mackenzie's issues.

[@TMcConnaughhay]

well thank you Siskel and Ebert

[@liaadavis9686]

No ann you shouldn't but out

[@carlosorta8788]

I JJ jb

[@middlemarie4430]

The overacting was painful

[@mattmcdermott3919]

Matt. McDermott. To be continued

[@joannross8412]

Not sure overacted.... max really loved julie.... a man with a broken heart for himself & his daughtet

[@mattmcdermott3919]

Comments on. Michael. Lembeck In. Dear. Max

[@gretchennelson9965]

middle marie How many times did they say”But it’s her baby!” Geez!

[@millenniumman75]

@@gretchennelson9965 "But it's her BAAAY-BEEEEE" lol And the canned baby crying. The SAME crying noise every time!

[@cindimccullough6303]

It’s shows like this that made the American family go downhill. Accepting behaviors of a spoiled brat leaving the world she created.

[@barbaranelson8617]

Barbara really gets on my nerves sometimes. She is so sanctimonious when it comes to Julie leaving her baby.

[@tinaloveseddie]

Barbara Nelson Barbara was always annoying😂

[@MyFreddy68]

Know what you mean. But Barbara always managed to keep it together, despite all the years of Julie's behavior. But as the younger sibling myself, I understood her point. How many more times was Julie going to need to "find" herself? It becomes draining.

[@joannross8412]

But Barbara couldn't have kids

[@millenniumman75]

@@joannross8412 Yep - in an early 1982 episode before marrying Mark, she finds out that she has endometriosis and could not have children. Emmy nominated episode!

[@Sweetbabyvixen]

@@millenniumman75 Actually, Barbara's Crisis did win the Emmy for best direction.

[@TempeSoldier123]

Between the storyline and the acting, this has to be one of the worst attempts at television.

[@schewitt1977]

I think the cast was under stress they love Mac and they had to write her out it must have been very difficult for them.

[@schewitt1977]

@ny giants fan raider fan awe ok thanks for that.