When Norman Lear decided to reboot his 1975 classic, nobody really knew if the magic would translate. It did. But it wasn't just the writing. The One Day at a Time actors managed to take a multi-cam sitcom format—something many critics considered dead—and turn it into a raw, bleeding heart of Latinx representation and mental health advocacy.
Television is often disposable. You watch, you laugh, you forget. But this cast? They stuck. From Justina Machado’s frantic, resilient energy to the legendary Rita Moreno’s scene-stealing flair, the chemistry felt less like a production and more like a Sunday dinner you were lucky enough to crash.
The Powerhouse at the Center: Justina Machado
Justina Machado didn't just play Penelope Alvarez; she inhabited her. Penelope was a veteran, a nurse, a single mother, and a woman struggling with PTSD and depression. That's a lot for one sitcom character to carry.
Machado brought a specific kind of "tough-love" vulnerability that grounded the show. It wasn't just about the jokes. Honestly, some of the most impactful moments were the ones where she wasn't saying anything at all—just the look of exhaustion after a long shift or the flicker of panic during a depressive episode. Machado had been a working actor for years, appearing in Six Feet Under and Queen of the South, but this was her definitive moment. She proved that a woman in her 40s could lead a hit show with grace, humor, and a heavy dose of reality.
The Living Legend: Rita Moreno
How do you even talk about Rita Moreno? She’s an EGOT winner. She’s an icon. In the show, as Lydia Riera, she was the "Abuelita" everyone wanted.
But Lydia wasn't a caricature. While she provided the flamboyant comedy—the dramatic curtain-opening entrances were a highlight of every episode—Moreno infused the character with a deep sense of history and loss. She represented the Cuban exile experience. Her performance bridged the gap between the old world and the new, often clashing with her progressive granddaughter, Elena.
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Moreno, even in her 80s and 90s during the show's run, had more energy than most actors half her age. She was the soul of the series. Without her, the house would have felt empty.
The Kids: Isabella Gomez and Marcel Ruiz
Casting child and teen actors is a gamble. Usually, they’re either too precocious or too wooden. One Day at a Time dodged both bullets.
Isabella Gomez played Elena Alvarez, the nerdy, social-justice-oriented daughter who comes out as a lesbian in the first season. This storyline was monumental. Gomez handled Elena’s journey with a mix of awkwardness and bravery that resonated with LGBTQ+ youth globally. She didn't make Elena a saint; she made her a teenager—sometimes annoying, always passionate, and deeply relatable.
Then there’s Marcel Ruiz as Alex. He started as the "pretty boy" younger brother, but as he grew up on screen, the writers gave him more to chew on, specifically regarding the pressures of being a young Latino man and dealing with racism. Their sibling dynamic felt authentic. They fought. They made up. They actually looked like they lived in the same cramped apartment.
Todd Grinnell and Stephen Tobolowsky: The "Family" We Choose
Schneider and Dr. Berkowitz. On paper, they’re the "outsiders."
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Todd Grinnell took a character that could have been a creepy landlord trope—the original 1970s Schneider—and turned him into a symbol of chosen family and recovery. Schneider’s battle with sobriety was one of the show's most poignant arcs. Grinnell played it with a "puppy-dog" earnestness that made his relapses genuinely heartbreaking for the audience.
Stephen Tobolowsky, a veteran character actor you've seen in everything from Groundhog Day to Silicon Valley, played Dr. Leslie Berkowitz. His deadpan delivery and his "not-quite-a-boyfriend" relationship with Lydia provided a soft, comedic landing for some of the show's heavier themes.
Why the Chemistry Worked (And Why Fans Fought for It)
When Netflix canceled the show after three seasons, the internet basically exploded. This doesn't happen for every sitcom. It happened because the One Day at a Time actors were vocal. They weren't just employees; they were advocates.
They took to Twitter. They did interviews. They showed up at rallies.
The fans saw that the cast cared as much as they did. Pop TV eventually picked it up for a fourth season, a move almost unheard of in the streaming era. While that fourth season was cut short by the 2020 pandemic, the legacy of the cast was already cemented. They had created a blueprint for how to handle modern social issues without feeling "preachy."
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The Lasting Impact on Latinx Representation
We have to talk about the vacuum this show filled. Before this cast came along, how many Latinx families were on TV that weren't involved in crime or playing sidekicks? Not many.
The Alvarez family was ordinary in the best way. They struggled with rent. They argued about religion. They dealt with the nuances of being "American enough" versus "Latino enough." The actors brought their own cultural nuances to the roles—whether it was the specific way they used Spanish slang or the importance of the Quinceañera.
What the Actors Are Doing Now
- Justina Machado: She’s continued to dominate, starring in The Horrors of Dolores Roach and appearing on Dancing with the Stars. She remains a fierce advocate for Latinas in Hollywood.
- Rita Moreno: She hasn't slowed down. She appeared in the West Side Story remake (the one she originally starred in decades ago) and continues to be a staple at major industry events, proving that age is irrelevant when you have that much talent.
- Isabella Gomez: She moved on to lead the reboot of Head of the Class and continues to work in film and television, often choosing roles that challenge stereotypes.
- Todd Grinnell: He’s been active in various series, including With Love, maintaining his reputation as a versatile character actor.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world these actors built, or if you're a creator looking to emulate their success, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the "Hello, Goodbye" Episode: If you want to see the peak of this cast's dramatic range, watch the Season 3 finale. It’s a masterclass in ensemble acting.
- Follow the Cast on Social Media: Many of them, especially Justina Machado and Isabella Gomez, remain active in social causes that the show championed.
- Support Latinx-Led Media: The best way to honor the legacy of this cast is to ensure their success wasn't a one-off. Seek out shows like Gentefied or With Love that continue the tradition of authentic storytelling.
- Analyze the Multi-Cam Format: For aspiring writers or actors, study how this cast used the presence of a live audience to timing their jokes while keeping the emotional beats grounded. It's a difficult balance that they perfected.
The story of the Alvarez family might have ended on screen, but the impact of the One Day at a Time actors continues to ripple through the industry. They proved that authenticity wins, that "old-fashioned" sitcoms can be revolutionary, and that family—whether by blood or by choice—is the most powerful story you can tell.