Modern TV does not appeal to me, so in spite of having watched this for most of its network run and tuning in on occasion during re-runs, I didn't watch the recent revisal of the show that ended abrubtly and will be continuing without its leading lady. I knew Roseanne Barr from her stand-up appearances on the Tonight Show, finding her deadpan view of being a "domestic goddess" as hysterical, and her proclamation that God created gay men so fat women would have someone to dance with at weddings. So therefore when "Roseanne" was announced for a line-up on ABC's fall 1988 schedule, gay video bars around the country decided to add it to their line-up of shows to broadcast live, and they were not disappointed. Every Tuesday, Roseanne's gay fans would gather amongst their friends and other fans to laugh with the Conner family which, as the audience got to know them, showed a different view of America, the struggling lower middle class family, and opened many people's eyes to their plights which have not improved.
While Roseanne Barr (later Arnold, later just Roseanne) first started acting, critics were not impressed, but in looking back at those early shows, you see not only the character, but an actress in development. Roseanne spoke most of her lines just like Roseanne would do her stand-up, and when Roseanne got angry at husband John Goodman, sister Laurie Metcalf or her three children, she seemingly shrieked her lines which grated on some people's nerves. To see her advance as an actress as writers changed (thanks to backstage upheaval) can be attributed to her getting acting classes on the set thanks to both Goodman and Metcalf, more experienced actors, plus Oscar winning recurring players Estelle Parsons and Shelley Winters, as well as the assortment of guest stars playing friends, family, co-workers and neighbors.
The show dealt with many serious issues during its long run, and for 90 percent of its run, it was extremely well written and never resorted to sitcom stereotypes and cliches. It was only in its last two seasons that there were some questionable choices, but one thing never wavered in spite of the weaker plots: the quality of the acting and the love for its characters. Metcalf really became the breakout star, getting some seriously wonderful opportunities on stage and film, while Goodman seemed to be working on almost every new major movie when he wasn't taping the show. Roseanne even tried movie acting ("She Devil", playing rival to Meryl Streep!), as well as the theater (the witch in "The Wizard of Oz"), but personal demons seemed to keep her tied more to the show. Changes in casting (two Becky's) had some humorous moments on the show, and even a "Gilligan's Island" sequence had a great fantasy ending with the cast of that classic sitcom taking over, a rare reunion that had audiences in stitches.
The characters of Roseanne and Jackie were extremely well developed as they tried to lead different lives than their childhood had allowed them to, taking the lesson from mother Estelle Parsons as learning they didn't want to be at all like her. In fact, and perhaps because I'm not a member of this family, the show was at its best when Parsons was on the show (more in the later seasons), and outrageously funny when fellow Oscar Winner Shelley Winters appeared as Nana Mary. Parsons' Beverly was indeed the biggest pain in the butt mother you could ever hope to see, but on occasion, showed her daughters a thing or two, especially when she informed them that the way they were putting Christmas tree garland on a sleeping Winters was all wrong. "Didn't I tell you that you start at the bottom?", she cries as they look on in amazement by her sense of fun that seemingly comes out of nowhere. The show in its last season seemed to really loose all track with little of John Goodman on screen and the fantasy of them winning the lottery, plus that ending where Roseanne revealed it was all in her imagination as a part of a book, especially the revealing of several major character's fates. They were all changed for the return of the show earlier in 2018, but the events of the return of the show are enough for a movie, let alone a TV series review.
While Roseanne Barr (later Arnold, later just Roseanne) first started acting, critics were not impressed, but in looking back at those early shows, you see not only the character, but an actress in development. Roseanne spoke most of her lines just like Roseanne would do her stand-up, and when Roseanne got angry at husband John Goodman, sister Laurie Metcalf or her three children, she seemingly shrieked her lines which grated on some people's nerves. To see her advance as an actress as writers changed (thanks to backstage upheaval) can be attributed to her getting acting classes on the set thanks to both Goodman and Metcalf, more experienced actors, plus Oscar winning recurring players Estelle Parsons and Shelley Winters, as well as the assortment of guest stars playing friends, family, co-workers and neighbors.
The show dealt with many serious issues during its long run, and for 90 percent of its run, it was extremely well written and never resorted to sitcom stereotypes and cliches. It was only in its last two seasons that there were some questionable choices, but one thing never wavered in spite of the weaker plots: the quality of the acting and the love for its characters. Metcalf really became the breakout star, getting some seriously wonderful opportunities on stage and film, while Goodman seemed to be working on almost every new major movie when he wasn't taping the show. Roseanne even tried movie acting ("She Devil", playing rival to Meryl Streep!), as well as the theater (the witch in "The Wizard of Oz"), but personal demons seemed to keep her tied more to the show. Changes in casting (two Becky's) had some humorous moments on the show, and even a "Gilligan's Island" sequence had a great fantasy ending with the cast of that classic sitcom taking over, a rare reunion that had audiences in stitches.
The characters of Roseanne and Jackie were extremely well developed as they tried to lead different lives than their childhood had allowed them to, taking the lesson from mother Estelle Parsons as learning they didn't want to be at all like her. In fact, and perhaps because I'm not a member of this family, the show was at its best when Parsons was on the show (more in the later seasons), and outrageously funny when fellow Oscar Winner Shelley Winters appeared as Nana Mary. Parsons' Beverly was indeed the biggest pain in the butt mother you could ever hope to see, but on occasion, showed her daughters a thing or two, especially when she informed them that the way they were putting Christmas tree garland on a sleeping Winters was all wrong. "Didn't I tell you that you start at the bottom?", she cries as they look on in amazement by her sense of fun that seemingly comes out of nowhere. The show in its last season seemed to really loose all track with little of John Goodman on screen and the fantasy of them winning the lottery, plus that ending where Roseanne revealed it was all in her imagination as a part of a book, especially the revealing of several major character's fates. They were all changed for the return of the show earlier in 2018, but the events of the return of the show are enough for a movie, let alone a TV series review.