Roseanne (1988-1997, TV Series)

Roseanne is a TV sitcom that I watched faithfully as a child with my family. This show is interesting for me because it really shows how much changed between the late 80's and late 90's (the crux of my childhood), and it's a great example on how perception can change.

As a kid, I related a lot to Darlene, and I thought she pretty much made the show. I was a tomboy like she was, but I also could relate to her when she became sort of reserved and moody and dark. Nowadays, I guess maybe she might be considered emo; back then, she was simply behaving like a teenager. Her relationship with Dan (her father, played by the great John Goodman) was one of the most realistic dynamics I've seen on TV. Before puberty, she was a tomboy, loved sports, and had a close relationship with her dad, based on their common interests. After puberty, her interests change, as she makes the transition into womanhood. Dan has trouble dealing with this, because as Roseanne put it, "Face it, Dan. Your son is becoming a woman." This reminded me a lot of the dynamic between me and my dad, when I was growing up, and it was nice to know that it wasn't so uncommon.

The shows from that time were really good at utilizing children and making them realistic. They were actual people with their own personalities and nuances. It seems like many shows today treat children like accessories or for use when the plot is convenient. Back then, it seemed like the parents and kids were more 50/50. Sometimes the kids even outshone the parents, and perhaps that's partly why the dynamics are so different in shows today. Ok, so maybe that's partly nostalgia talking, but I think many would agree that shows today are very different from shows then.

Even for the time however, Roseanne stood out in many ways. This was one of the first shows to really show middle class America (or even upper-lower class America) in a realistic way. It didn't glamorize life. The Conners struggled to make ends meet, changed jobs often, and struggled with real life problems. Sometimes the show got a bit too serious for a sitcom (ie, Jackie, Roseanne's sister, in a physically abusive relationship), but it usually handled these issues well. And very few sitcoms avoid having their "special" episodes, so this is hardly something that can't be forgiven.

As a kid, a lot of the issues dealt with on the show, ended up going a bit over my head, especially the politics involved. This is where perspective and maturity can actually breathe new life into an old and even familiar show. A few years back, Roseanne started being shown in syndication on Nick at Nite, TV Land, Oxygen, and even The CW (at least where I live). As a lark, I started watching it again in passing just for nostalgia's sake. Soon, it became one of my favorite shows again, only now instead of watching the show for Darlene, Becky, and DJ, I was watching it for Dan and Roseanne and Jackie. Suddenly the issues I didn't know about or care about as a kid, seemed very poignant even in today's world. The humor isn't dated either and just as funny (or funnier) as the sitcoms today. I don't if that makes Roseanne ahead of its time or timeless. Maybe it's a little of both.

One thing I have to talk about are the Halloween episodes of Roseanne. When I was a kid, some of my fondest memories are of Halloween, and it's still my favorite holiday today. I remember on Halloween night, after Trick-or-Treating, my family would gather around and watch Halloween episodes of our favorite shows. At the time, Halloween episodes were not very common. We'd usually watch The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, Home Improvement, and Roseanne. Roseanne stands out as having some of the best Halloween episodes of any series. Even as an adult and before I started watching Roseanne again, most of my memories of the show were the Halloween episodes, like when Dan dressed up as the Three Stooges, Roseanne dressed up like a man, and when Dan and Roseanne played a ventriloquist and dummy back from the grave. In fact, the Halloween episodes were so memorable for so many people, there's a DVD release with just those episodes on them...and yes, I watch it every October nowadays.

The last season of Roseanne is very symbolic of the death of an era. The final season was poor at best, and in some ways tarnished what was a fabulous sitcom. It turned into an indulgent escapade, only for the last episode to be a bit of a slap in the face to fans. Just as the end of childhood was depressing, so was the final episode. Now looking back, I can still enjoy the other seasons and pretty much disregard the final season without too much effort. At the time though, it was a huge downer.

Overall though the series holds up well today, especially the Halloween episodes, and has good nostalgic value as well as true comedic value. Highly recommend checking it out, if you've never seen it or haven't watched it since childhood.