One Day At A Time' Cancellation Faces Backlash

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

It's no secret that no show on Netflix has depicted aspects of Latinidad as accurately as One Day at a Time has. After three seasons, it was announced on March 14 that the show will not return for a fourth season.

The streaming site tweeted: “We've made the very difficult decision not to renew One Day at a Time for a fourth season. The choice did not come easily - we spent several weeks trying to find a way to make another season work but in the end simply not enough people watched to justify another season.”

This saddened fans across the country. Finally there was a show that had accurate Latinx representation, covering issues from mental health to colorism and subtle familial dynamics over shades and features. We went for a deep nostalgic dive when we saw Rita Moreno's traditional-grandmother arguments, and the real-life melodrama that exists during Quinceanera planning. The show made a big effort to speak authentically to different Latinx identities.

Although one of the producers of the show, Sony Pictures Television, will reportedly search for a new streaming platform or network, the cancellation was not handled lightly by the internet.

Support for the show was trending on Twitter within an hour of the announcement.

ODAAT was properly executed because half of the writing staff are Latinx, and the main writer Calderón Kellett is Cuban. References like Bustelo Coffee and the family recycling Country Crock containers as Tupperware make the show relatable, as does how Latin-American society dismisses the LGBTQ community or when words like “feita” slips from grandma Lydia's lips. It was writers who lived this show's scenes that made something as simple as mentioning the importance of vapor rub iconic. These portrayals helped our community finally feel acknowledged.

The announcement was followed by another tweet that read: “And to anyone who felt seen or represented - possibly for the first time - by ODAAT, please don't take this as an indication your story is not important. The outpouring of love for this show is a firm reminder to us that we must continue finding ways to tell these stories.”

To what many believe is the exact opposite. By canceling our stories they are silencing us.

We hope that ODAAT finds a new home so that it can continue to educate and represent our community. Through the turmoil, a petition was created to save the show - it may be time to show these platforms what Latinx unity really looks like?