Prayers for Bonnie Franklin

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 12:57pm

Years before "One Day at a Time," she embodied the spirit of every kid who ever wanted to perform.

Here she is on the Tony Awards, performing the title number in "Applause":

http://youtu.be/89DzMDC6gws

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:03pm

I'm so sorry to hear of her passing.

Sending her prayers that she rests in peace.

Thanks for the video, PalJoey.

Sad loss.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:23pm

So sad. R.I.P. Mrs. Romano...

[ggersten]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:27pm

I watch that Applause number every couple of months...just because it is so joyful (and it's also my earliest memory of the Tony Awards!)

But, moreover, it is how I always think of Ms. Franklin.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:32pm

Horrible news. Rest in Peace, Bonnie. You will be greatly missed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:42pm

That moment at 6:05--when she tosses the chorus boys the red-checkered tablecloth to cover up their bare butts, clenches her fists and belts, a la Streisand, "Nobody but nobody...is gonna...step on my applause!"--that moment goes beyond the song, beyond the show, deep into the hearts not only of the kids who wanted to perform but the kids who lives were elevated by watching others perform and by fantasizing about their performances.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:51pm

Very sad news, very talented woman and seemed like nice person.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 1:53pm

And just last year (or was it the year before?) I saw her in a NYC Musical Theatre Festival production. She was such a lively spirit.

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 2:23pm

"So sad. R.I.P. Mrs. Romano..."

That's Ms. Romano...

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 5:56pm

Thank you for the news, joey. She was amazing in APPLAUSE.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 6:33pm

She was the modern day sitcom mother. So sad she is gone. I grew up watching "One Day At A Time". from RC in Austin, Texas

[AndersonTours]

Posted: 3/1/13 at 11:16pm

Loved her work. So sad she is gone. Saw her in APPLAUSE so many years ago. It was obvious she was a star in the making. Terrible news.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 10:29am

She was incandescent in that clip. I remember watching that Tonys broadcast and thinking how cute and talented she was. She was really way too young to play the mom of teens on ONE DAY AT A TIME, but she was so good that the audience bought into it gladly. I know I did.

Interesting how the APPLAUSE ensemble had to sing, "Why do we live this crazy life" instead of the proper lyric, "Why do we work our a$ses off." Now every other line in a sitcom--hip or otherwise--uses that somewhat more crass word for posterior.

May she rest in serene peace.

Updated On: 3/2/13 at 10:29 AM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 3/2/13 at 11:53am

She introduced that iconic song to Broadway. It was a magical number and she was so great in that role. It launched her sit-com career and Broadway lost her for good.

She will be missed.

Anyone know who that redheaded women next to her in the opening is?