MovieChat Forums > One Day at a Time (1975) Discussion > Anybody really know why Richard Masur le...

Anybody really know why Richard Masur left?

posted 10 years ago by joejanickjr1
25 replies | jump to latest

So, I saw ODAAT make its debut on Antenna TV in Phoenix this month; a show I 1st started watching when I was just 6. From what I vaguely remembered I thought the David Kane character was the husband Ann Romano divorced for some reason. Ofc he was the 'rebound guy' as I now see from the reruns that lasted only 1-1/2 seasons. Was the character just flat-out written off or did Mr. Masur leave or was he pushed out? I see nothing about this show's history to explain it unlike some of the other characters/players.

[–] happipuppi13 10 years ago

Wow Joe! Age 6?

I was actually 7 years old myself in 1975 but didn't tune in until about 1977.

I live here in Phoenix as well. You know ,the Metrocenter Mall area?

I was totally pleased as can be when I saw the show was coming to A.~TV .
Hadn't seen it since the late 1980s (except clips on that Feb. 22nd,2005 reunion show 10 years ago on CBS.)
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Anyhow ,in regards to the reasons for Richard leaving ,I've never heard
or read any negative stories about CBS pushing him out for any reason.

(Deceptivly) pushing him out wouldn't make sense ,since he was doing a fine job.

Based only on how ODAAT changed & his IMDB resume ,my guesses are these 2 reasons. :

1. After he left , he certainly didn't starve. He continued (and possibly wanted to as well) in TV roles ,movies (Most notably Fallen Angel and "Who'll Stop The Rain?" w/ Nick Nlte (1978) and even off-Broadway plays.

Plus ,he served two 2-year terms as president of Screen Actors Guild, 1995-1999.

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2. Like we saw last night with the canceleld wedding & breakup episode ,I beleive that ,in making this show more about ANN being and independent ,divorced woman...they had to phase out the David character.

I mentioned this on another post but , like Ann/Bonnie said last night ,she really wasn't "independent" and was essentially ,using David as an excuse not to be. A friend , soemone to lsiten to her ,a surrogate father for the girls )Etc.)

So to have their impeding nuptuals get called off makes sense. The show became what it's supposed to be about ,a single mother learningto depend on herself and not a man in her life doing it for her.

I hope that clears it up for you. Have a good weekend! 

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] corinnacarpenter 10 years ago

He also played Nick Lobo, the dimwitted boyfriend of Brenda Morgenstern on "Rhoda"

🍸 Tom Snyder  🍸

[–] joasiafly 10 years ago

Nick Logo and his accordion!

"Heeey, Brendaaaa!"

[–] joasiafly 10 years ago

I meant Lobo stupid auto correct

[–] rivkahchaya-372-42432 10 years ago

He's been a judge on Law & Order too, though. He actually gets around quite a bit.

[–] lirico2spinto 10 years ago

I think I'm becoming a Richard Masur fan. I've seen him in The Waltons (Season 3 The System), & I really like him as an actor. I've also recently seen him in the first season of ODAAT, & I really like his acting. I think one episode that stood out for me was the "Father David" episode. The way he yelled "Alright, hold it!" to those punks with the beer, I actually went quiet. Plus, I liked his speech to the kids & to Ann. I actually applauded and said to myself, "He's good."

It's a shame he left the series at the beginning of the 2nd season. I think he's an incredible actor, & he did a great job.

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

I've always liked him a lot--he's a good actor, I've never caught him in anything where he doesn't come across very well. The finale episode for his character on ODAAT was genuinely moving--Masur really got across the pain and hurt David was feeling without having to resort to any kind of dramatics or'business' at all. He should have taken an Emmy for that performance. And I agree, when he left a little bit of the show went with him. I wish he could have stuck around a little longer, whatever the reason for his departure.

[–] happipuppi13 10 years ago

You want to see a polar opposite version of Richard?

Watch the 1978 Nick Nolte film "Who'll Stop The Rain".

he's a mean and violent bastard in that one.

(I don't feel bastard is a swear word.)

Go for it or just be a gopher!
(MR.) happipuppi13 🐕 *arf,man!*

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

There's also a made for tv film he did back in the Eighties (I'll have to look up the title) where he plays a very creepy pedophile who's making homemade child porn. He was very good in that, a very disquieting performance.

He's definitely mad, bad and dangerous to know in 'Rain', a favorite film of mine.

[–] revolver95 10 years ago

You're thinking of Fallen Angel with Dana Hill. I never saw it but it was always mentioned in Masur's bios. It was a big film in 1981.
I think David left the show to allow Ann to be independent. They brought Ginny in to introduce Ann to the wild single life. By the third season the powers that be probably decided to focus on a single woman raising her children rather than her social life.

[–] amyghost 10 years ago

That's the one--thanks very much, I couldn't find it in Masur's IMDb credits list. He was excellent in this.

I agree that I think David was written out due to the fact that the show was supposed to be about a newly divorced woman finding her own way. If she were immediately tied to a full-time, heavy-duty boyfriend, that would have derailed the whole concept.

[–] blakgard 9 years ago

Sadly, this is the role I will most remember him for. Although it does show his talent quite well.

[–] joejanickjr1 9 years ago

Yes, Metrocenter. Went there all the time before the PV Mall was built (I grew up in NE Phoenix); ironically I live closer to the MC now, though it's a shell of its former self. Now WalMart's moving in which will further debase the place.

[–] mikethemartian 9 years ago

I remember him in a 1987 horror film called The Believers about Santería.

I'll always remember his "Princeton can use a guy like Joel" from Risky Business, although if I remember correctly it was written in a letter and not said by him.

The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

[–] coreycitn63 9 years ago

A possible explanation is that they wanted Ann Romano fully independent divorced woman.

[–] mistermycroft 9 years ago

He is also famous for the episode of All in the Family (Archie Bunker) around 1974, where he played the slow witted fellow who worked at the grocery store, who Archie thought was hitting on his daughter, Gloria. The episode dealt with Archie making bigoted assumptions about mentally handicapped people. He was very cruel to him !

[–] amyghost 9 years ago

I remember that episode--and Masur's performance in it--very well! I haven't seen that episode in years; it doesn't seem to to be aired in reruns of the show, and I can't help wondering if it might have been retired for PC reasons.

[–] mistermycroft 9 years ago

Antenna TV has shown it alot over the past 5 years

[–] JosephQCat (706) a year ago

It is always in the rotation anytime I have regularly watched the series.

[–] JosephQCat (706) a year ago

Excellent episode and excellent performance by Masur. Actors on average then did not want to play intellectually challenged characters but Masur gave a professional portrayal.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6543) 9 months ago

This is the correct answer. At some point the show had to get them together or break them. It couldn't continue forever in a "will they-won't they" mode. They decided to break them.

[–] danafranklin 8 years ago

I think he was always intended to be a one season character. The producers didn't want Ann's character tied down to one man, especially that early in the series.

"What is necessary is never unwise." -- Sarek.

[–] ABBAcat 8 years ago

Dude has had a long career. I saw him not long ago onThe Good Wife and I was like David Kane! Somehow his character reminded me of Reuban Kincaid from The Partridge Family.

🐾

[–] JosephQCat (706) 3 years ago

If my memory is any good the actor did not want to be tied down to any one series. Also, I think he preferred the stage versus appearing on television.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Did he star in a tv movie about a child pornographer?