"Roseanne" is a very special program, as it showed people as they really are, not prefabricated, starched and pressed, cookie-cutter characters (such as "The Brady Bunch," for example.)
The creators of this show delightfully smashed through stereotypes and made the show a joy to watch. The fact that both lead actors are heavier than most TV parents, but yet are just as joyfully sexual and in love as anyone else was quite refreshing. On TV, sex is usually reserved for the young and lithe.
Also, when it's revealed that the heavy-makeup-wearing, provocatively- dressed Nancy is really a lesbian, they contrasted that with the fact that straight Jackie was the one who wore flannel and drove a truck, showing that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Leon, although rather persnickety, wasn't preening and promiscuous in the way most other TV shows portray gay male characters.
Another example is that Roseanne (the character) tells DJ that she is half-Jewish, showing for once that not all Jews are affluent doctors or lawyers, most of us are just regular folk like everyone else.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS. Much has been said about the final season being "silly" or "unrealistic." I, myself, wondered what was going on, but the final episode made it all worthwhile. The revelation that the fantastic events of the past year where all in Roseanne's head, a way for her to escape her bleak reality, was touching. I am man enough to admit I shed a tear at the end of that episode.
"Roseanne" is all-around brilliant. Fantastic writing, acting and direction. Hopefully this show will remain in syndication for many years to come...and hopefully will make it's way to DVD.
The creators of this show delightfully smashed through stereotypes and made the show a joy to watch. The fact that both lead actors are heavier than most TV parents, but yet are just as joyfully sexual and in love as anyone else was quite refreshing. On TV, sex is usually reserved for the young and lithe.
Also, when it's revealed that the heavy-makeup-wearing, provocatively- dressed Nancy is really a lesbian, they contrasted that with the fact that straight Jackie was the one who wore flannel and drove a truck, showing that you can't judge a book by it's cover. Leon, although rather persnickety, wasn't preening and promiscuous in the way most other TV shows portray gay male characters.
Another example is that Roseanne (the character) tells DJ that she is half-Jewish, showing for once that not all Jews are affluent doctors or lawyers, most of us are just regular folk like everyone else.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS. Much has been said about the final season being "silly" or "unrealistic." I, myself, wondered what was going on, but the final episode made it all worthwhile. The revelation that the fantastic events of the past year where all in Roseanne's head, a way for her to escape her bleak reality, was touching. I am man enough to admit I shed a tear at the end of that episode.
"Roseanne" is all-around brilliant. Fantastic writing, acting and direction. Hopefully this show will remain in syndication for many years to come...and hopefully will make it's way to DVD.