"Roseanne" (1988) TV series 1988-1997

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Creator:

Matt Williams

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

18 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

'Roseanne' is the story of a working class family struggling with life's essential problems: Marriage...

Plot Keywords:

Working Class | Sitcom | Marriage | Gay Interest | Vegetarian

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 41 wins & 69 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 19	12:00 AM	TVLAND	Born to Be Wild	#2.16
Sun. July 19	12:30 AM	TVLAND	Hair	#2.17

Cast

Roseanne	...	Roseanne Conner / ... (221 episodes, 1988-1997)
John Goodman	...	Dan Conner / ... (221 episodes, 1988-1997)
Laurie Metcalf	...	Jackie Harris / ... (221 episodes, 1988-1997)
Michael Fishman	...	D.J. Conner / ... (220 episodes, 1988-1997)
Sara Gilbert	...	Darlene Conner / ... (219 episodes, 1988-1997)
Alicia Goranson	...	Becky Conner / ... (146 episodes, 1988-1996)
Johnny Galecki	...	David Healy / ... (92 episodes, 1992-1997)

Also Known As:

"Life and Stuff" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

22 min (222 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Carsey-Werner Company

Trivia:

D.J. stand for David Jacob.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "Brain Dead Poet Society" Roseanne only serves a plate of food to Dan and Darlene, but DJ and Becky have plates of food in front of them at the end of the scene.

Quotes:

Jackie Harris: This IS Mom, right?
Roseanne: I don't know, better check that birthmark
[looks on Bev's neck]
Roseanne: No, six-six-FIVE! Close enough.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Futurama: Three Hundred Big Boys (#5.11)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Theme

A Realistic, Creative, Funny Sitcom that Dared to be Different.

Roseanne is probably the closest thing to families in reality. You had family shows like Full House, Family Matters where the problems always went away with hugs and smiles at the end. However, Roseanne didn't do that. It was a show based on the hard facts of life. Living on a budget, losing a job, kids experimenting with sex, alcohol, and drugs for the first time. It is these types of experiences that make Roseanne a truly special show that dared to be different.

Roseanne started in 1988 on ABC, and was an instant success. Roseanne Barr played herself as a wisecracking mother and wife trying to raise her family the best she can. Roseanne is married to Dan Conner played by John Goodman. Goodman the goofy, but hard-working father, and devoted husband to Roseanne. Roseanne's sister, Jackie played by Laurie Metcalf, always had Roseanne's back while trying to deal with her own life. Roseanne and Dan had three children. The oldest Becky, was a bratty teenager who always despised of the way she had to live. Darlene, the younger daughter who was more of a tomboy, who always had sarcastic remarks. DJ being the youngest, an adventurous son, who was always running about the house. Other characters include Roseanne's infamous, and dreaded mother Bev, Arnie who makes appearances as Dan's friend, Dan's father Ed Conner, Leon, the gay manager of the restaurant, and Nancy their bisexual friend.

Over the years, Becky moves out, and gets married to her boyfriend Mark. Darlene meets David, Mark's brother, and David eventually moves into the Conner household. Roseanne eventually opens up her own diner after bouncing around jobs. Dan takes up a job at the city garage. Jackie, and Roseanne get pregnant. Jackie giving birth to her son Andy, and Roseanne giving birth to new baby Jerry. Darlene gets married to David, and Dan also has a heart attack at the end of the eighth season. In the ninth and final season, The Conners win the state lottery, and become rich. Also in the last season, Darlene gives birth to a premature baby.

Roseanne remained a superb show always in the top 10 during its first seven years. After a slight dip in ratings during the 8th season, Roseanne decided to have the family win the lottery, a move which began the ultimate demise of the show. After the family wins the lottery we get to see the Conners live it big after all those years of just getting by. Unfortunately, ratings began a steep plummet because the very principles of reality were being thrown out the window. We would no longer hear Roseanne call her house a hellhole, or see the family just trying to get by on tax day. In the ninth season we see Roseanne and family going to fancy dinners, appearing on Jerry Springer, going to luxury spas. While it was entertaining, it was no longer based on the original premise.

To try and rekindle some sense reality, and to boost ratings, Dan has an affair after taking care of his sick mother in California. Roseanne and Dan eventually do rebuild their relationship, and towards the end of the series in a very emotional episode Darlene gives birth to a very premature baby.

The show finally came to a close in 1997. The finale was probably the most creative by far, and quite possibly the most misleading. It turns out in the finale that the entire series was a recreation in Roseanne's book of how she wanted her life to be. Certain details were altered. For example, Jackie was gay because of all her man troubles, Becky actually marries David, while Darlene marries Mark. And the saddest part we learn that Dan actually died when he had his heart attack at the end of the eighth season. Roseanne explains that the entire ninth season did not even exist. Dan never had an affair with Roseanne, nor did the family win the lottery or have all those encounters with the rich and famous. It was just something that Roseanne always wanted to happen. Roseanne finishes writing in her book, and then gets up walks to the living room and sits on the sofa, and that is the end of the series.

Why Roseanne chose to end her show this way I will never understand. What made her show such a hit for the first eight years was basically all made-up. This is one of those cases in television where Roseanne should have quit while she was ahead, as the ninth season did not even place in the top twenty. Despite the less than stellar last season, Roseanne still remains one of the best sitcoms in television history.