What a genuinely classy guy.

She made it to the other side, when so many people don't. She lives in grace.

“One Day At A Time” was one of the best sitcoms of the ‘70’s. The gritty realities this show portrayed, are what made it so believable. Michael Lembeck was so handsome as “Max.” Mackenzie Phillips went through hell and back. I am so happy she survived. Many others didn’t.

What an amazingly honest and refreshing look behind the scenes. Michael went through hell. But his and Mackenzie's friendship prevailed through all of that. I have always thought that he was a very good addition to the cast. I am so happy he was able to come back, and deliver such amazing performances. Wonderful interview.

I am so happy she sober now

This was quite ahead of its time to show that life doesn't always work out the way you plan. Especially for a 70's-80's sitcom.

He was one of the biggest crushes I ever had for an actor growing up🤗

Loved One Day At A Time. The show was ingenious in mixing comedy with serious topics without being preachy. Some of those episodes that featured Michael/Max were actually Emmy worthy. Would have been nice if Michael was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

“ Jump the Shark “ doesn’t mean it was going up , it means it was going down . Comes from when “ Fonzie “ jumped the shark on Happy Days .

Dear Michael Lembeck, I hope you read all of these comments. You had a huge following back in the day...and even now! You were the crush of many a teenager, both girls and boys (present company included!). Thank you for all of your great work. 😎

The Dear Max episode played last week on Antenna TV. He should of won an Emmy for that one. I'm amazed he didn't become a bigger star after show.

Handsome silver daddy 😍

Wow!!! I clicked and I see his dad more than ever!!! I remember Michael from the Krofft Supershow as a kid

So great to see Michael Lembeck all these years later, I had such a crush on him, and he still looks amazing! He also had a very cool actor Dad too!

72 !!! Always a very handsome guy ...looks great now. He aged the way Hollywood would take an actor playing a young part , his age , and then aging them forty years.....

This man is in his early 70s. Dang!

You can tell he's the son of Harvey Lembeck. There's the resemblance and he also has his father's mannerisms and way of speaking.

I had such a crush on Michael Lembeck! He still looks wonderful.

He even looks better now than he did then. He’s a respected director now. Very talented.

Loved him on Captain Kool and the Kongs

Michael is right, MacKenzie is a lovely woman who has survived very many difficulties. She is an inspiration to anyone going through drug recovery. I had the pleasure to meet her at her book signing a few years ago. She immediately felt like a friend.

If you came from a broken home back then, it was so relatable.

Always thought he was so cute, more handsome today.

Son of a great character actor, Harvey Lembeck

I liked Michael’s appearance on a first-season episode of Barney Miller where he played the detective with the beard and who ultimately got a gunshot wound in the behind.

I always thought Michael Lembeck was so dammed sexy - still handsome

Had a HUGE crush on MICHAEL LEMBECK back in the early 80s. Only watched the show when he was on. Sorry he gave up acting afterwards but he is a successful television director now so I'm happy he found his calling. CALL ME MICHAEL!! lolz

Used to love his dad in the old beach blanket movies.

Amazing how MacKenzie survived let alone became clean and healthy and awesome after 30+ years of drug use (as recent as 2008 was caught w heroin and coke at an airport) Just incredible the abuse some human bodies can take.

It was my favorite show so it’s nice to see how they are family in real life as well. Unconditional regard and love.

I had a mad crush on him. Hes still so good looking

Im glad she was able to recover. By most accounts that was a very tough period. Back then , I always thought the Julie character was flaky (completely aside from MacKenzie addiction issues). Her character was always so erratic. In more modern times, I think she would have been bipolar.

I remember when he was Captain Kool on THE KROFFT SUPERSHOW. He later became a tv director and won an Emmy directing the highest-ever rated episode of FRIENDS, "The One after the Super Bowl".

MacKenzie Phillips wrote in her autobiography how her parents were into drugs. Her father sexually abused her for many years. It all makes sense why she got into the drug culture. It was self-medication to ease the pain of trauma.

That "Dear Max" episode is also one of my favorites from ODAAT. Lembeck's performance was top notch. He's come a long way from his Kaptain Kool and the Kongs days (when I first was familiar with him). And damn, was he cute during his ODAAT run! What a hot looking man! He's still easy on the eyes.

The show really tried to keep Julie on the show, but it just was too difficult.

I always thought Julie left because she suffered from severe post-partum depression. Without understanding what she was feeling, the character thought it best to leave. That's how I saw it.

I see the family resemblance.. His dad, Harvey Lembeck from the Beach Blanket movies, and Helaine Lembeck, his sister from Welcome back Kotter, Judy.....

I loved him on Mary Hartman

I always thought Michael was so handsome, glad to see he still is.

Michael Lembeck became a great addition to the cast. It was Heartbreaking he was let go at the end of the 1979-80 Season. I'm happy him and MacKenzie got to return. I too like The Dear John Episode.

My crush 😍😍😍 especially when he was bearded

Great interview.

Talented guy like his Dad. Remember them saying "she was finding herself:

I remember when this happened in the show. He was too good lookin' and normal for her.

It's so sad that she became addicted. But, lots of people do. I had an acquaintance who died young due to a drug overdose. It was so sudden and shocking.

High on arrival is her book, go read it. It is the best book I've ever read in my whole life.

Love these interviews

So many years later... he looks great!😏

That was awesome

One day at a time! 1970s i was a teenager then! Lol 😂 now i feel old!👵👴👶

They are airing the series on AntennaTV - Season 5.....the first four shows had my favorite opening with the Indianapolis city shots, redone by episode 5 when Michael was added - Max and Julie marry on a whim. Episode 12 Mackenzie was ordered off the show for six weeks (the first show was the 1979 retirement home show - character is in Houston), Max appears in a few shows alone. Episode 18-19 she returns for the two-part retrospective in 1980 and appears in episode 20 as well Episode 21 Perils of Plastic - Julie and Max overspend their credit cards - she was fired after that show. The opening credits redone again to remove her, and a section added at the end where Bonnie and Valerie get mail and Michael slips on Pat's mopped wet floor. Season 6 - both characters written out and not mentioned much at all. Season 7 - Episodes 4-5 "Julie shows up" character announces she is pregnant. (November 1981) Episodes 21-23: Barbara and Mark in Las Vegas - Julie and Max appear and in the third/final retirement show. Season 8 - they go back to regular characters (opening credits in shows they appear in). Things begin to look normal - Julie has Annie in episode 8-9. Season 9 - She is the first four episodes, opening credits and all. Her final episode was "The Bedtime Story" Episode 11 was the Dear Max episode - airing January 8, 1984 - he was alone in the next 10 shows Then the finale spinoff show attempt for Pat.

I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS felt sorry for MacKenzie Phillips!!!! I mean, look at her father!!!! To have sexual relations with your child, I mean, how do you LIVE WITH THAT?! I'm sooooooo HAPPY that MacKenzie is at peace now, she truly deserves it!!!!

I’ve always liked him

It’s Captain Kool from Kool and the Kongs...1976 Krofft Supershow check it out.

Still a handsome dude.

I loved him in " On the Right Track ".

In his scenes from the show he is quite reminiscent of a young Scott Bakula.

I thought michael lembeck was such a cutie . His father was also an actor harvey lembeck was in the frankie avalon anette funicello beach movies was the leader of motorcycle gang ...was also on all in the family.

I'd rather hear more about Michael, I loved him as Kaptain Kool and the movie "Gorp" he was hilarious!

Loved him on love boat as joey with Lisa Hartman the high school reunion episode

He was a stud muffin

I had such a crush on him! Still so handsome.

Really likable guy And role, grew up with this show.

He was the guy when I was a kid: He was in everything.

he's ridiculously handsome. still.

He is a sweet man.

He auditioned for the fonz. Nearly got it. Perfect guy

Wow, he's still pretty cute !

Never realized his dad was Eric Von Zipper until right now.

Hard to believe he was once the lead singer of Kaptain Kool and the Kongs.

he is 72 when they made back to the beach, they shouldve cast him as eric von zipper's son his father died way too soon

Very good looking talented guy.

Never forget Pat Harrington.

he is still so handsome

I love both husbands!

He was so good looking! I'd have married him for real. Still handsome 😍

Try to imagine your father doing this... it has too be the most horrible thing in your life... I feel for her.

If one of my co-workers walked into my office and found me doing several lines of coke, I guarantee you my boss would also know I was doing that, and I would be fired on the spot and not given another chance. They wouldn't wait for me to mess up and then fire me, and then hire me back, and then fire me again, over and over. But then, it was just too awkward to write her character out that they put up with it for so long? That isn't how the real world works. Maybe she wouldn't have been so far gone if they had fired her right off the bat and not tolerated such flagrant drug use on the set.

Considering her upbringing, I would have been surprised if Ms Phillips DIDN'T eventually become addicted to drugs. Unfortunately, the show could not have veered into reality about the situation without running into legal problems. If they had been able to, the show might not have turned into such a " hot mess ". Ironically, in my experience, it's usually the younger daughter that is the rebel, always in and out of trouble. I am curious tho, as to why the producers didn't re-cast the part after the very first, or even second time, Ms Phillips was fired. BTW, it is kind of a shame that Mr Lembeck walked into this career killing situation. He definitely wasn't the comedic talent(?) his father was, but had he started in/stayed in mostly dramatic roles he might still be in front of the cameras.

I, for one, had a crush...............

Michael Lembeck was sexy AF on the show, and still sexy today. Nice guy too.

In the remake of this show, instead of having Phillips’ play a character named Pam the social worker, I would have had it be Julie.

He's left-handed!!

Michael Lembeck appeared on Barney Miller.

I had a huge crush on him...WOOF!

Kaptain Kool and the Kongs!

That poor girl had a life of torment.

I keep getting up to change the channel on this TV set, but nothing is happening. I think I need a TV repairman.

...FIRST, lemme say ...LOVED Max! (Michael) ...funny, SEXY, handsome, had the **BEARD OF LIFE**, and, was CLEARLY talented, due to his MEGA success as a Producer / Director!! He MUST be lauded, one day!! ...NOW, The 'Julie's Gone' plot-line : ... Sorry, Michael, but... Julie did NOT come off well in that Episode, AT ALL; His own Acting was STELLAR, in those scenes, but, what REALLY teed me off (THEN), was Ann Romano's exasperated dismissive-ness of what Julie did...... (cont.) ...We ALL know Bonnie Franklin was NOT fond of MacKenzie's unprofessional-ism, but she CLEARLY washed her hands of MacKenzie (..AND, 'Julie') in that Episode; she acted out what she supposed to...but that's your DAUGHTER!! ....Even then, in 1984(?), we KNEW 'Julie' was 'addicted'... a TERRIBLE situation for 'Max' (and Michael) to be put through, for a 'new' character....My two cents......

He looked a LOT like the guy that played Jedidiah on Barnaby Jones and that was on SWAT.

Captain Kool!

He's a mensch!

He used the phrase “jumping the shark” to mean that it became more popular.I thought jumping the shark is from happy days having a bad episode and signaling the end of the show.

If Meredith Baxter (Birney) had played Ann Romano, she would have played her own mother.

Not for nothing but how do you reach the conclusion that yes, the character of my wife has to be written off the show, but I think my character will be fine. Some actors seem to lose a sense of reality and common sense.

While these shows were garbage .they were our garbage

Eric Von Zipper Jr!!

one word: RE-CAST!!! It's JUST a tv show.

He looked better with his beard...