90's Nostalgia • Humor

This Week in 90s Nostalgia: Roseanne

October 23rd, 2009

By Audra Foster

Remember Roseanne? That nice little show on Nick@Nite about the nice little family with their nice little house and nice little lives? Why, I remember it like it was yesterday…

The parents’ names were Dan and Roseanne Connor, (played by John Goodman and Roseanne Barr), and they never ever got into arguments or fought over anything. Roseanne was the perfect housewife—quiet, demure, clean—and Dan was the perfect husband—caring and romantic. They had three lovely, almost perfect children: Becky (Lecy Goranson/Sarah Chalke), quiet but responsible, never in trouble with her parents; Darlene (Sara Gilbert), cheerful, bright, and friendly, very popular in school; and finally DJ (Michael Fisher), charismatic and charming, always willing to take out the trash, really looked up to both his sisters. They were the perfect little children, loving and obedient to their parents at nearly all times.

Roseanne, if I remember correctly, had a younger sister named Jackie (Laurie Metcalfe), who was just the sweetest little sister anyone could ever ask for. She always knew what to say, and what to do, and really only ever visited to help Roseanne bake pies for charity and other kind works. The two of them were an excellent team in the kitchen, which was their favorite place to be.

I do believe it was set in a quaint little suburban town, with nice green lawns and nice blue houses and nice yellow cars…yes, I remember little DJ often running out to play on his nice red bike. And I remember Becky and Darlene both growing up and finishing college and marrying nice handsome young men and having exactly 2.5 children each. Dan and Roseanne lived happily for many many years, without a single problem—a miracle, for sure—and even had a fourth child when they felt they were ready, naming him after that nice singer, Jerry Garcia.

This delightfully quaint little show, beginning in1989 and ending in 1997, ran for nine seasons and won the Peabody Award for Excellence in Television Broadcasting in 1992, the People’s Choice Award in 1989, the Kid’s Choice Award in 1992, and three Golden Globes.

Roseanne was a show beloved by families around the world for its quaint humor and realistic qualities. I do miss it so—but what’s this? It’s airing again on Nick@Nite? How delightful! I can’t wait to snuggle in with a bowl of popcorn and relive this timeless family classic! Tee-hee!