One Day at a Time - The Complete First Season - Region 1 DVD

One Day at a Time navigated the challenge of presenting comedy and realistic drama in the same program thanks to its talented cast and creative team, who addressed the social issues in a thoughtful manner without seeming preachy, and delivered genuine laughs that never stooped to slapstick or "hot button" issues (though the show's laugh track is particularly grating). All 15 episodes of the premiere season (which debuted as a mid-season replacement and rose to twelfth place in the ratings for the entire network year) are included in this double-disc set; longtime fans will be pleased to note that not only are the episodes uncut, but the One Day at a Time Reunion Special, which aired in 2005, is included as an extra (it's mentioned nowhere on the box cover art). All of the principal players contribute their memories of the show's successful run, including some honest discussion of Phillips' much-publicized drug problems. -- Paul Gaita