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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:24:56 GMT
Best Family Sitcom EVER
10/10
I think Roseanne is the BEST family show in TV history. Even in my disappointment at the last season I still feel it deserves the titles of Best Family sitcom ever. I feel so connected to the characters and their lives. People who have only watched a couple of episodes and judged this series as garbage aren't at liberty to judge. Even if you don't identify with the family or it doesn't align with your family values, any intelligent person would have to admit that the writing and characterizations are some of the most honest and sincere of any that have been on TV. Roseanne was also one of the most groundbreaking series as it tackled issues no other show had attempted to. I think it's sad that there are actually people out there who haven't watched this show or hate it because they think Roseanne is gross and "vulgar". The show isn't just Roseanne it's a group effort. This show's success is the writing and cast, the entire cast. Good job to everyone involved. Honest, Compelling, Hilarious, and Heartbreaking. 10 out of 10.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:26:10 GMT
Roseanne- A Bundle of Laughs!
10/10
Roseanne... She is the greatest sitcom mother. Her show is just nonstop laughs! all the excitement of the outrageous sarcasm is what makes it the best. This show isn't like any other! Its realistic. It is just amazing. I could not believe how attached i am to it. I couldn't go a minute without laughing throughout an episode. If Roseanne didn't exist, we would not have any reality in sitcoms. The outrageous laughter is just thrilling. And not just Roseanne, but the rest of the cast are exquisite! I would definitely recommend it to a comedy seeking viewer. The very first time I saw the last episode I was very very confused. I said to myself, "What was that?!?" To this day I still ask myself that question every time I see that episode. Roseanne basically said in her book that everything from season 4 on was a total load of crap. What kind of person just makes up an alternate reality for the entire last half of the series. Now, do understand me here, I love the series. I have seen every single episode at least 3 times. This episode is by far the worst of the bunch. I cant hardly wait till this season comes out on DVD. I hope that Roseanne explains why she ended the series in such a moronic way. I mean come on, when she sent Arnie off into space, that was funny as all, but changing the last half of the series? Whats up with that? I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:29:19 GMT
Roseanne Stands the Test of Time
10/10
For some reason, I completely missed "Roseanne" during its original network run. Only recently have I discovered the show over eleven years after it went off the air. And it's hilarious! I remember reading and hearing so much about what a demon Roseanne was to work with or be married to. Well I don't know if all that tripe was true, but whatever she did worked and worked brilliantly. I was actually shocked at how hard I laughed at some of the episodes. "Roseanne" is plain fall down funny! Roseanne and Darlene's mean one liners almost always zing with a wicked delight and are alone worth the price of admission. Then there's the great John Goodman. I was a fan of his even 'before' the show debuted (See "Raising Arizona" NOW if you haven't!) and he is just fantastic here as Roseanne's hubby Dan Conner. Shows like this are rare. Just compare it to other "family" sitcoms of roughly the same time like "Full House", "Family Matters" and "Home Improvement". Each of the latter were completely predictable and simply not funny. I must have watched five episodes of "Home Improvement". One was enough. They were all the same. All exactly the same! People think that writing for a show like "Roseanne" was easy, but those other lousy shows illustrate perfectly how hard it is. "Roseanne" stayed fresh somehow and each episode makes you look forward to the next. One of "Roseanne's" great trademarks are its gag endings. Surprise appearances by Bob Hope, Luke & Laura, Fabio, a "Graduate" parody and dozens more keep you tuned in literally through the final credits. "Roseanne" could also toss in some great change of pace dramatic episodes such as the one where Dan's mother is committed to a mental asylum. When Dan broke down and cried, I lost it too. "Roseanne" had the talent to pull off an episode like that without embarrassing itself. Yes, "Roseanne" was a comedy centered around a very dysfunctional family, but you knew that they didn't 'actually' hate each other. And that's exactly what made the whole thing work. Anyway, if you haven't yet seen "Roseanne" then you have something wonderful to look forward to. Any show I've never seen that can make me laugh this hard 11 years after leaving the airwaves truly meets with my definition of Standing the Test of Time. Enjoy!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:30:41 GMT
One of the Best
10/10
Roseanne should be considered one of the best sitcoms in television history as every classic show is a reflection of the times it represents. Roseanne has been off the air for about a decade now, and when I have a chance to watch it in syndication, I am always entertained. Even the last season, which was a disappointment, has its moments. It's also interesting to see how the characters evolved and changed over the years. I could be wrong about the following comment, but it seems somewhat obvious when Roseanne Barr was going through her divorce to Tom Arnold. Her performance on the show was more biting than usual during that particular season. Maybe it was the media, expectation, or something else. Either way, a new dimension to the show was added due to Barr's transformation (I believe it was Season 4 or 5).
What really makes Roseanne stand out and keeps it in good company with other classic sitcoms is its blending of comedy and drama, often displayed in one scene. Elementally speaking, it reminds me of All in the Family, Maude, and Good Times, shows that defined showcasing dramedy in the 70s. Also, the performances were terrific. John Goodman was outstanding and underused as Dan. I look forward to when he is on screen. Sara Gilbert delivered a consistently excellent turn as Darlene, and then there's Roseanne Barr. She made her mark and did it well. Estelle Parsons was fantastic as Beverly, and Laurie Metcalf had some scene–stealing moments as Jackie. These are talented performers giving us quality television to remember, along with the writers, director(s), producers, and everyone else involved in the project.
Anyone who finds Roseanne insulting, repugnant, and/or basically not worth watching may be missing the point of the show and the writing itself. Watch it again and really listen to the dialog. The characters are actually quite decent – they are simply not idealistic in a society that craves moral fortitude yet has difficulty maintaining a core foundation these days. Ozzie and Harriet they're not, but then again, a classic show is a reflection of the times it represents. Hence... Roseanne. The show would fair even better today with our present economy.
Thanks to ABC for giving us Roseanne. We are the richer for it!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:48:16 GMT
the best and most real sitcom: Ground Breaking
Being a 15-Year Old guy who loves Roseanne says something in itself. First reaction for most people is they don't know what to think, the characters they can relate to very well or hate if not given the chance. the jokes are original and witty. And it dealed with real life problems which no other T.V. show did, and has done as goo or at all, since Roseanne. 3 Reasons To Watch Roseanne
1) Characters: Roseanne and Dan are your modern parents with amazing skill in acting, speciously John Goodman. He made the most stupid jokes into the funniest thing ever and then could make the most serous scene, Roseanne Barr was a character who you had to love, her Wit was amazing and worked amazingly with Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman and the kids. Laurie Metcalf who played the crazy aunt Jackie, really played her character better then most, almost all, could have. Darlene (Sara Gilbert) played a very real girl, who is very funny and very likable. And other characters like Leon, Becky,DJ, Fred, Mark, David, Nancy, Crystal, and Bev all were very real and had a very good character to play and work story's into.
2) Real Life Problems: Well I'm pretty sure the show's characters ran into every problem possible. And all the problems weren't to far fetched, it was happening to all people around the world. It related to modern day people. It really changed the modern sitcoms. It did something which NO other T.V. show did. It was the most real thing on T.V. and nothing yet has been so real.
3) Humor: Like problems it goes through every type of humor: dark humor, sex jokes, gay jokes, fat jokes, cute humor, more humor that I don't even know. The jokes could make anybody laugh. They are witty, and very spontaneous. It makes "LOL" makes sense for me and to everybody I've seen watch the show. It wasn't just jokes that made the show. It was funny scenes too (ex. when Jackie called Aunt Barbra to tell her her dad died).
The haters of this show look at one episode without knowing whats going on and say "Where is the hot daughter" or "Why is the fat lady screaming its annoying lets turn it off." or even "I hate the show, Roseanne and fat and ugly." First off) There's a lot of people a lot bigger then Roseanne. And a lot more annoying. I don't even think Roseanne is annoying. I can understand if you just don't like the show. But Roseanne being "fat and annoying" is NOT a good enough reason, if you haven't given this show a chance yet. I'd give it one. Its one of the best.
10/10.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:53:33 GMT
A Brilliantly Original 90's Sitcom
I thoroughly enjoyed several sitcoms in the 90's, and thought this was a fascinating era for TV humour. The 90s saw the likes of Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Friends , Married With Children and Roseanne bursting into the schedules and it was a very creative era.
I enjoyed the first few seasons of Roseanne so much. This was a breathtakingly down-to-earth view of family life, and could make you cry as well as laugh.
Groundbreaking, spiky, warm, surprising and very relevant to its time - Roseanne is simply classic viewing. I would recommend the first three or four series to anyone!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 3:57:03 GMT
Was fine as a blue collar show until it went awry!
8/10
I liked the Roseanne show when it was a blue collar comedy that made people laugh mostly about themselves. I didn't like it when it became preachy and liberal especially since half the cast of characters like Leon and his partner played by Martin Mull and Fred Willard were gay as was Sandra Bernhard's character and then the outing of Beverly played by Oscar winner Estelle Parsons. I felt the show was too much by then and it was making a political statement when there plenty of other statements. I felt the show went from being blue collar comedy to left wing liberalness. Don't get me wrong, I am a liberal and I support gay rights but I felt that the show's original premise and it's realism was lost aside to shocking audiences. While it was a shock factor then, it does not exist now. I loved Beverly played by Estelle Parsons who they were smart enough to use wisely and often. Laurie Metcalf's Jackie and Roseanne's herself were believable as sisters on the show. John Goodman's Dan deserved accolades for being the long-suffering husband. There were plenty of topics and smart enough to have casted George Clooney before ER. Yes, Roseanne's show became too much at times but it was funny and maybe you didn't agree with it or disliked the insanity but you saw yourself in the role.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:18:36 GMT
A True Television Masterpiece
10/10
I was twelve years old when "Roseanne" came out, and vividly remember it having such a huge impact on my family, as well as society as a whole. For the first time, middle-class families could identify with characters on a sitcom, and enjoy real life issues and problems being handled with utmost care and realism.
What made "Roseanne" unique was its utter lack of vanity, superficiality, and unrealistic idealism. In the age of "The Cosby Show," and "Family Ties," Roseanne stormed in as an overweight, screaming mother who didn't always keep her house clean, didn't pay the bills on time, didn't always have the answer, and didn't keep her sexuality hidden. From the very first episode, viewers got to see a messy house, screaming kids who don't always listen, and parents who struggle with money, menial jobs, and weight issues. Finally, a real family on television! Can you think of another show where the female lead walks around the house with an xxx-large bright pink bathrobe, rollers in her hair, and can still be taken seriously? Whatever you might think of Roseanne personally (in terms of her public behavior), she never let it effect the quality of the show. The show benefited from WONDERFUL writing, a fantastic cast, and a pitch-perfect blend of comedy and drama. The show had some incredibly funny moments, combined with profoundly touching scenes that really played well on television; the show was never sappy, and stayed true to life. In my opinion, virtually every episode during seasons one through six, with rare exceptions, played out like thirty minute masterpieces. By seasons three and four, the show had reached perfection.
Roseanne acted her heart out on this show, and got better every year. She could always deliver a sarcastic one-liner like no other, but as the show progressed she managed the dramatic scenes with perfect accuracy. She managed to infuse her strong, sarcastic exterior with an incredible dose of heart and generosity. John Goodman had exceptional chemistry with Roseanne, and turned Dan into a hard-working, loving father that we all wish we could have. Laurie Metcalf's Jackie was, perhaps, the shows most complex character, and, in my opinion, the best actor of them all. She could take even mundane lines and turn them into hysterical comedy. Metcalf turned Jackie into a cool, sympathetic character you always wanted around. The sister relationship between Roseanne and Jackie was perhaps the most realistic ever portrayed on TV.
The kids of the show were also exceptional. I remember watching Darlene when I was a kid/teenager, and thinking "finally, a realistic depiction of a teenager." The iconic Darlene was a tomboy, depressed at times, and certainly not your typical happy, popular, beautifully perfect character. She had many challenges, emotions, and Gilbert pulled them all off with complete ease. Darlene was a hero to anybody who felt like they didn't fit in. Becky was the whiny, spoiled brat of the bunch, played beautifully by Lecy Garonson; she never hit a false note. Sarah Chalke, on the other hand, was sub par, and really should never have been cast as a replacement. Even DJ, the youngest of the bunch, had some incredible one-liners, and managed to be completely real.
Overall, this show goes down as a masterpiece; it's exactly what a TV show should be: Hysterically funny, profound, insightful, relevant, and, above all, completely entertaining.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:20:35 GMT
One of the greatest TV sitcoms in history.
10/10
Rosanne revolved around the trials and tribulations of a working-class family, living in middle America. Rosanne Arnold starred as the main character, Rosanne Connor. She and her husband Dan, were forever trying to manage, while holding-down marginal blue-collar jobs.
When Rosanne premiered, the TV landscape was littered with sitcoms starring Yuppie characters, such as Seinfeld, Friends, Murphy Brown, etc. It was so refreshing to finally see a comedy like Rosanne, that was about the average working-stiff. Many more Americans, could identify with the down-to-earth issues that the Connors faced, than with the glamorous lives of the characters in the Yuppie-sitcoms.
The considerable comic talents of the cast, were the main thing that made Rosanne such a brilliant sitcom. Rosanne Arnold is the most bombastically sarcastic comedienne, in the history of television. Female audiences were glad to finally see a sitcom matriarch, sound-off about her troubles in the gloriously uninhibited way that Rosanne did. John Goodman as Dan Connor, was the perfect foil for Rosanne's abrasive style of comedy. They were like a modern-day version of Ralph and Alice, in the Honeymooners. Only Rosanne was much more outspoken, than Alice ever was.
Rosanne will go down in history, as another one of the great classic sitcoms. Watching this show is a must, for those that like comedies that star sassy, sharply funny female characters.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:26:43 GMT
Roseanne and her show - two parallel universes
10/10
Season 1 - You can see Roseanne and the cast struggle in the first few episodes trying to get accustomed to ensemble comedy versus her stand-up routine, however the show improves very rapidly and has some great individual episodes.
Season 2 - This marks the first of the very best seasons of the series, with the acting and writing in all episodes being top-notch. A big theme in this year's show is Roseanne trying to find stable employment after she walked off of her factory job at the conclusion of season one. I especially like how this season handled the real-life issue of what happens to a person like Roseanne who has only a high school education when she loses a factory job that does not provide any experience in doing anything that another employer would find valuable.
Season 3 - Season three of Roseanne doesn't revolve around any particular overriding story arc, but the kids are definitely beginning to grow up. The late Glenn Quinn first appears as rebel and smart-mouth Mark Healey in "Becky, Beds, and Boys". I liked how Mark was portrayed in these early seasons when he was "Rebel Without a Cause" as opposed to the last three seasons when he was transformed into "Rebel Without a Clue".
Season 4 - Season Four of Roseanne has some of the best individual episodes as well as the best overall storyline of any of the show's nine seasons. The season opens with the Conners having opened their motorcycle shop on their own after irresponsible friend Ziggy ran out on them at the last minute last season. This season probably does the best job of combining great comedy, hard-hitting drama, and highlighting situations that should look familiar to any member of the middle class. Although this is not the last of the good seasons of Roseanne, I would say season four is the last of the golden years of that series, and definitely worth viewing.
Season 5 - The season starts out on a very morose note that corresponds to the deep recession the country was suffering when these shows aired in 1992. Dan's motorcycle shop is failing and will have to be closed in order for him to salvage the mortgage on the Conner home. Rodbell's, the diner in the mall where Roseanne has worked for two years, is closing too, due to business in the mall being so bad. Becky elopes with boyfriend Mark and moves to Minnesota, since with the closing of Dan's shop, Mark is unemployed too, plus Becky's college fund has been depleted to pay household bills. This opens up a crevice in Becky and Dan's relationship that takes months to heal. I compliment the show for incorporating the very bad recession going on in 1992 into the storyline. However, the Conners' troubles came on very suddenly and were resolved with a very pat answer.
Season 6 - Although this season has some excellent episodes, and overall is a five star season, we begin to see the start of some of the trends that eventually becomes the downfall of the series. It seems that this is the beginning of a trend in "Roseanne" where men tend to be disposable. Jackie becomes pregnant by one of Dan's coworkers - "Fred" - who is never even given the courtesy of a last name, and Mark, previously depicted as an independent-minded and able mechanic is now portrayed as someone who can't even make passing grades in trade school.
Season 7 - Season 7 still has enough good episodes and even some great ones for it to be worthwhile viewing, but it is definitely the beginning of the end. Roseanne begins one of the longest pregnancies in the history of television this season - thirteen months plus the time Roseanne has been pregnant before she announces the news. The whole issue of the broken romance between David and Darlene and its resolution is one of the best parts of the season. One of the worst parts of the season is the Thanksgiving episode when Roseanne's pregnancy looks like it might be in trouble. She screeches at both DJ and Dan every time they offer an opinion as if they are trying to tell her what to do instead of the possibility that they just want to comfort her and lighten the load. Jackie tires of Fred, whom she married less than a year before, and promptly disposes of him. After a few obligatory appearances in Season 8 he disappears entirely as though he had never existed in the first place.
Season 8 - This season you have to really pick through episodes full of fantasy, inane slapstick, and politically correct undertones to get to the truly good blue collar slice-of-life episodes that made up the majority of episodes in prior years. The biggest problem with season eight is that Roseanne never did fantasy episodes well during any season, and this season is full of them. It was particularly sad to see what became of the Halloween episode this year, always a Roseanne staple. Gone are the outrageous costumes and the clever pranks of previous years. They have now been replaced by a circus of the absurd and the bizarre.
Season 9 - Many people did not like the ninth season of Roseanne, but in its totality, I found it fascinating. The main problem was that it was clumsily written and directed. You have to look at this season in the context of Roseanne's actual life. By 1996, Roseanne herself had not been living a blue-collar lifestyle for over a decade. It was probably much easier for Roseanne to do something she knew - play a woman with a blue-collar background who comes into sudden wealth. Just prepare yourself for more than a few cringe-worthy moments of TV viewing.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:54:28 GMT
My childhood show
10/10
I grew up with this show, it was something that my mom, my sister, and I shared. We all loved Roseanne and her children and would watch it every school night before bed. It made me laugh, cry, and overall that not having a perfect family is OK.
Where I grew up and went to school most kids were more privileged and have a very different lifestyle than I did, and I would watch Roseanne and say "Oh wow my mom does that" or "My house looks just like that" and it made me feel a little better.
It shows the roots of middle-class America, other sitcoms just could not do that. It showed the struggles that were happening in the time and dealt with every issue of all variety. Of course another sitcom like Married With Children also had some amazing stories and lessons while being very funny at the same time, Roseanne will always stick to me because it told the story that was essentially MY life as well as thousands of other struggling middle class American families stories as well.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:56:05 GMT
I think that Roseanne's show is the best comedy show ever!
10/10
I absolutely love this show. I watch it every single day!!! It helps start my day off well and gives me a good laugh early in the morning. I really feel that it should stay on forever for the people that count on this show to be on daily. Please NEVER take this show away. I ABSOLUTELY love it! Roseanne is the best ever! Roseanne has a great attitude on this show. She tells "how the cow ate the cabbage" on every episode. I admire the way the family presents itself with love and humor. This show always makes me laugh. It is sad though how the show ends but in reality this is what life offers us. I just don't feel I would have a great day without watching this show every morning. I love everything Roseanne acts in. If anyone out there has never watched this show then you really are missing out on something great in life! It is a "must see". Don't miss another moment of this show.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:57:49 GMT
Great comedy but also great realism
10/10
A lot of times to watch sitcoms you need a sense of disbelief to take them seriously. Like seriously how does this single teacher/nurse/etc. afford such a nice place to live? But Roseanne while being a hilarious show still made a believable story about a low income mid west family and their struggles to pay the bills and raise their children. Also one of the first shows about overweight people without that fact about them being the butt of a joke. Also one of the first shows to tackle such subjects like gay rights, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, obesity, domestic abuse and many other subjects not being touched by any of the networks prior to that.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 4:59:01 GMT
Amazing T.V programme!
10/10
Well, I decided to watch Roseanne as I remembered it as a child, particularly one episode stuck in my mind for years. After watching all 9 seasons I must say that I was not let down! Full of humour, real life family issues and the hard times that normal families have in the course of life. All the characters played there parts well, and you could feel that they felt comfortable enough with each other in order to create a true family atmosphere.
Even though I loved the last season, it did indeed make me laugh. It was however pretty far fetched. I was also sad that they left it on such a sad and lonely note. But such is life!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Apr 30, 2014 5:01:52 GMT
Top 5 all-time comedy
10/10
ROSEANNE (premiered in 1987 and ending in 1997) is one of the greatest TV comedies ever! Did it stumble down the stretch? Of course...Is it the only show to do that? Of course NOT! Virtually every series has it's rough patches and MOST of them (even the great ones) don't end as well as they began. Many that do end well never achieve the level of greatness this show did. In it's prime (Seasons 1-5), Roseanne was about as perfect as television gets, and I still laugh out loud at many hilarious moments in Seasons 6-8. In fact, some of my favorite eps are from these seasons when the show got looser and broader with it's comedy, while still staying true to the core of what this show was all about, the struggles of lower middle-class in America, focusing on the mundane existence of a poor family who had to work ad infinitum to survive.
Roseanne starred the iconic, hilarious comedienne Roseanne Barr (real name changed 3 times on the show, from Roseanne Barr to Roseanne Arnold, to just plain Roseanne). Roseanne won a Best Actress Emmy for her work, but should have won more! I feel the TV academy was biased against her, giving the award too many times to actresses on safer shows and who weren't playing nearly as multi-faceted, strong characters on their shows as Roseanne was. Roseanne Conner was a force of nature, a self-described "mother of all mothers"! Brash, abrasive, sarcastic, insult-spewing, outgoing, outspoken liberal, very much mimicking the real-life Roseanne. I've seen repeats of this show ad nauseum and the character that makes me laugh more than any other is Roseanne herself!
Roseanne had great support. Multi-Emmy nominated John Goodman was pitch-perfect as Roseanne's husband Dan Conner, a perfect comic foil to her eternal shenanigans. Goodman himself never won a Lead Actor Emmy for his work on the show (absurd), but he was a great physical comedian, as well as deftly delivering his one-liners that were reactionary to Roseanne's insults. Three-time Emmy winner Laurie Metcalf was hilarious as Roseanne's sister Jackie Harris.
The 3 "kids" on the show were the perfectly cast superb Lecy Goranson (as oldest child Becky), brilliant multiple Emmy-nominee Sara Gilbert (as middle child Darlene), and the underrated, unpretentious Michael Fishman (as youngest D.J.). Goranson, Gilbert, and Fishman were the true embodiments of what real children act like and how they behave and interact with their siblings, parents, other kids, and other adults. While Gilbert in particular was the standout as the dark, sarcastic, chip-off-the-old-block Darlene (the younger verbal equivalent of Roseanne), Goranson and Fishman were perfect foils for their sister and the 3 "siblings" had amazing chemistry!
Unfortunately, both Goranson and Gilbert were off the show in stretches in later seasons due to both actresses attending college. Goranson was actually replaced with an inexperienced Sarch Chalke, who forced the writers to make Becky a backburner character in later seasons.
What helped keep the show fresh was the introduction of David Healy (excellently played by Johnny Galecki) as Darlene's boyfriend, who the Conners took in as a foster child. David was a sensitive, introverted teenager, and he in many ways became my favorite character (next to Roseanne) in the later seasons, as he took over the child-parent relationship with Roseanne that she previously shared with Becky (who in later seasons was played by Chalke) and Darlene (whose character was off at college). The late Glenn Quinn (who died of drug overdose a few years after the show went off the air) was also very funny and a nice addition as teen rebel Mark Healy (David's brother and Becky's husband).
Of the other adult characters, Oscar-winner (for Bonnie and Clyde) Estelle Parsons was hilarious as Roseanne and Jackie's quirky, annoying mother Beverly Harris; comic actor Martin Mull was a hoot as Roseanne's homosexual frenemy Leon; Oscar-nominee (for The Great Santini) Michael O'Keefe was refreshing as Fred, Jackie's boyfriend-turned-father of her baby-turned ex-husband. Other notable cast members included Sandra Bernhard (as Roseanne's straight-turned-gay friend Nancy), Tom Arnold (as Dan's Neanderthal friend Arnie, who was on the show early on, but later not due to Arnold and Roseanne's messy real-life divorce), Oscar-winning icon Shelley Winters (as Roseanne's grandmother Nana Mary), and none other than the now-iconic Oscar-winning George Clooney (as Roseanne and Jackie's original boss and Jackie's first boyfriend Booker, who was only on the show for one season).
The show had a bevy of famous and infamous stars during it's run, from former TV show icons (most notably the great Joan Collins, who played Roseanne's cousin; and icon Florence Henderson as a fellow businesswoman), to movie icons (Tony Curtis and Red Buttons) to soap opera actors (Luke and Laura from GH and the Buchanon men from OLTL) to even former porn stars (Traci Lords)! While some of these actors were part of the ep story lines, others were part of the end-of-show, break-the-4th-wall sequences. There was this great surreal 2-part ep that showcased Roseanne with a group of famous TV moms Barbara Billingsley, Isabel Sanford, Pat Crowley, June Lockhart, and Alley Mills.
Frankly, the main reason that I hold this show in such high regard is that it came around a time when virtually every other show on TV was "soft". While I loved 90s shows because I grew up with them, even back then I saw that THIS show was special and way ahead of it's time. I find Roseanne more powerful and enlightening than many dramatic shows that existed at that time (heck, even now!), as it skillfully balanced elements of comedy, drama, satire, and parody. At the center of the storm was the titular character Roseanne herself, and much like the character on the show, the real-life Roseanne is eternally defiant of the system and does things HER way. I guess if she didn't, she wouldn't be ROSEANNE!
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