The legendary Rita Moreno plays Lydia Riera on One Day At A Time. Abuelita is hell-bent on proving that she's not like other grandmothers. Lydia is spunky, funny, heartwarming, charming, sassy, all at the same time. One Day At A Time debuted on Netflix but now airs on Pop TV.
Her rapport with characters like Schneider and her grandson Alex is delightful to watch. Lydia gives One Day At A Time many of its most hilarious moments. Over the four seasons it has been on the air, Lydia has proved time and time again what an icon she is. Here are some of those moments.
"I Don't Want To Outshine The Bride. Just Kidding. Yes, I do."
No one is as brutally honest as Lydia. And no one likes dressing up more than her. For Penelope's ex-husband's wedding, Lydia pulls off another one of her over-the-top looks. She humbly says that she doesn't want to upstage the bride with her attire. And without missing a beat, the very next second she says that she actually does. Her intonation during this dialogue will have fans laughing uncontrollably. Rita Moreno is brilliant and beautiful and brings all of this and more to her character Lydia.
"I Was The iPhone Of My Time."
One aspires to have the level of self-confidence of Lydia. The way she carries herself and the way she is so sure of herself is awe inspiring. While explaining to her grandchildren how popular and famous she was back when she was in Cuba, she says that people would line up for blocks just to see her. The really clever writing of this show is able to insert how she was like the iPhone seeing how people line up for iPhones these days. Lydia says it with relish.
"No. God Is A Man. If He Were A Woman There Would Be Less Problems."
In an argument about whether God exists at all, and if God does indeed exist, if God is a he or she, Lydia loudly proclaims that God is a man. This makes sense considering her traditional views on the subject, and her deep spirituality and religiosity.
But what she says after is what turns everything around. While she conforms to the belief that God is a man, she does so because she thinks the reason that he's a man is why he messes up so much. Lydia truly is a rockstar.
"And I'm Just A Narrow-Minded Homophelopian."
This is one of those moments that shows the genius of the writers of the show in utilizing the skills of Rita Moreno's acting. In quite an emotional moment, Lydia is dealing with Elena having come out to her. She tries to make sense of what her religion has told her about being gay, and what the Pope had more recently said. In the midst of making sense of all this, we see how wonderfully Lydia is able to accept Elena. And this moment, bringing some much-needed lightness, also shows how she doesn't want to be judged for being "homophelopian," ie, homophobic.
"I Know You Are Sad About Losing Your Girlfriend, But You Are Really Pooping This Party."
Lydia has no chill. Schneider is extremely gloomy about being broken up with his girlfriend and is generally being a party-pooper at the wedding party. Lydia likes to party, she's someone who enjoys parties like these. Lydia is not afraid to call this out, and she calls it out in such a hilarious manner. Schneider and Lydia have an amazing rapport, and some of the funniest moments on the show happen in their interactions. This is one of those moments when Lydia calls Schneider out for "pooping this party."
"Then Use Your Phone And Chapsmat Somebody."
Before Elena comes out to Lydia, Lydia drives Elena up the wall trying to get her to find herself an escort to her quinceañera. Lydia gives her a deadline by when she had to pick a boy who will be her escort. Lydia tries to find someone from her yearbook as well.
Lydia, ever the tech-savvy modern grandmother in this hilarious moment asks Elena to "Chapsmat" somebody if she still can't find a boy, probably referring to Snapchat. She wants to show that she's with the times, but this attempt becomes too funny for viewers.
"I Came Out Of The Womb Wearing Stilletos"
Dr. Berkowitz and Lydia are on their way out when Lydia slips and falls. This is yet another iconic statement and moment when Lydia talks about how important high heeled shoes are for her. This line perfectly captures a very important part of Lydia's personality, her keen interest in dressing. And especially her dedication towards shoes. She loves them and it's very hard to talk Lydia out of her high heels in spite of it being dangerous for her. For Lydia, the stilettos represent her feminity which is very important to her.
"My Body Belongs To God And My Husband's Ghost."
Dr. Berkowitz and Lydia have what they call a "Platonic Companionship" and they are on their way to a date that they just won't call date. They have a very flirty relationship but Lydia is still very much committed to her husband. So much so that she thinks that he continues to exist as a ghost and she still has conversations (and more!) with the ghost of her husband. After Lydia slips and falls, Dr. Berkowitz has to make sure her leg is okay and hence has to examine her. This is when this statement slips out of Lydia.
"The Condiment Or The Dance? I Am Equipped For Both."
Schneider knocks on the door saying that he has a "salsa emergency." Without missing a beat, Lydia replies back asking if he is talking about the condiment or the dance because she is ready with both. Rita Moreno's comedic timing is impeccable.
It turns small moments like these into iconic ones. This is one example of her matter-of-fact style of talking and comeback. She then proceeds to teach Salsa the dance, to Schneider, and Lydia is on top of her game in this scene.
"But Now, I'm An American, So Hit It."
Dr. Berkowitz is on a mission to complete all of the things on Lydia "bouquet" list and mastering a dance from another culture was one of them. Lydia had promised herself that she wouldn't ever do the chicken dance because she has dignity. And this dignity is tied to her Cuban pride. But she had just become an American citizen, so she mockingly says that she doesn't have dignity anymore. To watch Rita Moreno do the chicken dance is a delight in itself, but to hear Lydia say "hit it" is legendary.