First we got Fuller House, and now Roseanne is back from the same era of television. It’s safe to say that the return of classic American sitcoms is well underway and feels both nostalgic and bittersweet.
The Witty Dialog and Cast Chemistry Hasn’t Faded
Filmed In Front Of A Live Studio Audience
Anyone who grew up with Roseanne will remember the unique wit of the show that focused on blue-collar life and was filmed in front of a live studio audience. Which is gleefully something that the revival makes clear at the onset of its episodes, by way of a proud vocal announcement.
The original 9 season run of the show ran from 1988 to 1997, and was a regular sitcom staple of countless families. It offered a flavour that was not on offer anywhere else, a sense of keeping things real. The Connor family dealt with everyday issues like money, bullying, obesity, dealing with a low income lifestyle, aversion to cleaning, being a tomboy, teenage pressures like smoking, and on and on.
That is until the final season when they hit it big winning the lottery, which completely betrayed the premise the show was loved for. Eventually, the show ended on the devastating revelation that it was all a story Roseanne had written to cope with the loss of Dan. What a bummer it’s been all this time!
We Don’t Have To Pretend The Awful Finale Never Happened Anymore, It’s Been Pushed Aside!
Now the show is back, having aired its first two episodes back to back. Wisely, it begins especially strong by retconning that previous ending and making fun of it. Roseanne and Dan are in bed and they get in a laugh over how he appears dead when wearing his sleep apnea oxygen mask. Later in the premiere episode the two get a chance to talk about Roseanne’s story and how it would have been a hit had it included more bondage and wizardry. Very sly, show, very sly.
The show roars back onto the television set, albeit not the old tube TVs it once dominated, by connecting and placing itself squarely within the Trump era. While its premiere’s premise feels a touch late for the “Nasty Women” outrage from Trump’s early days (which feels like a hundred years ago due the non-stop news cycle this chaotic presidency has become), it does a solid job positioning the central characters: Roseanne, who is a Trump voter, and Jackie who is firmly on the opposing side. They come back from their year long fight for the sake of being with their family, and along the way, deliver both sides of their arguments and view points.
How Could You Vote for “Him”?
What Roseanne does especially well is present a hilarious, but candid and honest commentary from both sides, and the need for a middle ground, including politics.
While Fuller House managed to bring back the exact style and atmosphere of the ’90s (albeit with a bit too much ’90s cheese), Roseanne, likewise, does an impeccable job transporting us back, while keeping us firmly grounded in 2018. One could argue it does so with a much sturdier and believable premise.
Yes, the house looks pretty much the same, but the kids are now adults, with their snappy dynamics intact, and modern issues we can relate to. This includes being separated, having returned from military service overseas in Syria, and a dead-end service job. It also manages to find room for such current things as hipster lifestyle commentary, as well as such topics of being a surrogate mother for money, and resulting family conflict.
Adding to this, the grandchildren represent today’s realities. This includes Darlene’s son Mark, who is himself when wearing feminine clothing, spurring family conflict over his happiness versus societal gender norms, and the dangers of being different. This is the theme that dominates the second episode, quickly moving away from Washington politics and showing how nimble the sitcom remains, especially after years off and a chance to reconnect with what gave the show its appeal, and its ability to discuss real topics through comedy.
Anyone who watched the show when they were young may have missed this strength and focused on the iconic laugh and comedy dynamics; but now that some of us are grown up ourselves, with children, like the Connor kids, it takes on a new meaning and connection.
All to say that if you grew up with the Connors, it is a bittersweet return to that house, to that cast, and to that mile-a-minute wit and lightnin- in-a-bottle chemistry. One can only hope Seinfeld is next to disregard its finale and bring us a show about nothing, yet everything again.
The ’80s and ’90s Are Back In A Big Way
As for Roseanne, fingers crossed that it can remain strong, not only servicing nostalgia, but continue to cross generational issues and realities, while making us laugh, ponder and have solid feels. So far, Roseanne feels great again.
Also, can’t wait to see if they bring back the annual Halloween episode, that was a real treat growing up.
What did you think? Two thumbs up?
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