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Ruminations on TV Shows, Comics, And Music

The Conners In Significantly Fewer And Less Problematic Seasons, 7: Keep On Truckin'

4/29/2021

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Roseanne Barrnoldargent has spent most of the last few years ruining the hard work she did in the 80s and 90s, making the most realistic American sitcom of the 20th century. While the original run of the series had its ups and -- hooooboy -- some very deep downs, it was mostly a well-written family comedy. John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and even Roseanne were dextrous enough to be funny while still injecting drama without reaching Melodrama. For the most part, the show has been about being progressive and understanding no matter what your political background. It was about acceptance, and being good to each other, especially your family, no matter what. That's why Roseanne's plummet into right wing celebrity loon was such a disappointment to the fans of her blue collar past.

This season begins over twenty years after the last episode we saw. Ths kids are now all grown up with children of their own. American has become a more divided nation, politically, and I saved all of you from seeing a single episode of one of The Worst Seasons Of Television Ever because it doesn't matter to continuity. You're welcome.
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Season 7:
​Much Later


Episode 1: Twenty Years To Life

This is probably my least favorite episode of the continuity. I hate the cartoonishness of politics in this episode, but it's necessary to see where all the characters have landed twenty years later, and it's, honestly, a little easier to watch in 2021 than it was in 2018. Meet Darlene's kids. And DJ's kids. And find out what sad things have happened to this family in the intervening years.


Episode 2: Roseanne Gets The Chair

No, this isn't the final episode before Roseanne gets fired. It's about a chair lift. And Etsy, and other things unlikely to be the focus of a TV episode in the 1990s.


Episode 3: Darlene Vs David

Oh, look, Mr. Big Bang Theory is back, and he's a negligent father! And, My Gods, Bev is still alive? And still keeping the storyline from "Body By Jake" going strong? Bra-vo.


Episode 4: Netflix & Pill

After discovering Roseanne is hoarding medication for her bad knees, Dan urges her to get surgery.


Episode 5: Keep On Truckin'

Holy Shit. Roseanne dies offscreen? Yeup. A drug overdose wipes out the show's matriarch, and Darlene and Dan must do whatever it takes to keep the family together.


Episode 6: Miracles

Death and birth usually go hand in hand, and sure enough, Becky is pregnant. And Darlene gets a new job.


Episode 7: O Sister Where Art Thou?

Darlene and Becky end up having to hash out some old trauma, much in the same way Roseanne and Jackie used to before the time jump.


Episode 8: A Kiss Is Just A Kiss

Darlene's child, Mark, gets in trouble for kissing another boy. Meanwhile, Darlene appears to be cheating on her boyfriend with her ex-husband. And Becky fears she's too old to be a good mom.


Episode 9: Lanford, Lanford

A quick kibosh is put on the Love Triangle aspect of the show, Dan has his first post-Roseanne girlfriend, and Becky stays sober.


Episode 10: Slappy Holidays

Ooooh, a Thanksgiving episode! Just like old times. Lots of family melodrama. Someone moves back into the house, and someone else gets slapped!
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The Conners In Significantly Fewer And Less Problematic Seasons,  6: Fights And Stuff

4/29/2021

0 Comments

 
Roseanne Barrnoldargent has spent most of the last few years ruining the hard work she did in the 80s and 90s, making the most realistic American sitcom of the 20th century. While the original run of the series had its ups and -- hooooboy -- some very deep downs, it was mostly a well-written family comedy. John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and even Roseanne were dextrous enough to be funny while still injecting drama without reaching Melodrama. For the most part, the show has been about being progressive and understanding no matter what your political background. It was about acceptance, and being good to each other, especially your family, no matter what. That's why Roseanne's plummet into right wing celebrity loon was such a disappointment to the fans of her blue collar past.

This is the first season where I've had to be very selective about continuity. During this era Roseanne was revealed to be pregnant again, and had a fourth child. And then the show went super zany. Then it went off the air. And when it returned two decades later, the fourth child was nowhere to be found. So, apart from a couple of throwaway lines, which we'll consider Weird Jokes, her pregnancy doesn't appear, and we can just pretend any baby who appears on screen is Jackie's.
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Season 6:
​Fights And Stuff


Episode 1: Rear Window

It's been a while since we've seen any neighbors in The Conners' neighborhood. Maybe the new ones will spark some new sensations in the family.


Episode 2: Happy Trailers

Becky and Mark move out. Again. This time into a cozy little trailer park.


Episode 3: The Blaming Of The Shrew

DJ's new girlfriend is a total top. And Fred and Jackie go to a marriage counselor.


Episode 4: Sherwood Schwartz, A Loving Tribute

We've skipped most of the Roseanne goes to fantasy land episodes of the show. They're usually tedious. But in this one, the cast of Roseanne ends up living out an episode of Gilligan's Island. And then the tables turn as the cast of Gilligan's Island ends up living out a scene from Roseanne.


Episode 5: December Bride

We've also skipped most of the wedding episodes of the show. But when Leon and Scott decide to tie the knot, Roseanne ruins everything with her, for once, good intentions.


Episode 6: The Thrilla Near The Vanilla Extract

Roseanne and Jackie feud in the supermarket over a job neither really wants while Dan and Mark feud at home over DJ's affection, which neither of them really needs.


Episode 7: Another Mouth To Shut Up

Ok, we're avoiding Roseanne's pregnancy and child, but it's time for her to come to terms with being a grandmother!


Episode 8: The Wedding

Darlene and David decide to get married, and it just about kills someone.


Episode 9: Heart And Soul

The Conners recuperate in the hospital, where Darlene and David have a scaled down reception.


Episode 10: Fights & Stuff

Is this the way it all ends? Dan and Roseanne have their most severe fight ever, and one of them decides to walk out on the family.
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The Conners In Significantly Fewer And Less Problematic Seasons,  5: Closet Full O'Skeletons

4/29/2021

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Roseanne Barrnoldargent has spent most of the last few years ruining the hard work she did in the 80s and 90s, making the most realistic American sitcom of the 20th century. While the original run of the series had its ups and -- hooooboy -- some very deep downs, it was mostly a well-written family comedy. John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and even Roseanne were dextrous enough to be funny while still injecting drama without reaching Melodrama. For the most part, the show has been about being progressive and understanding no matter what your political background. It was about acceptance, and being good to each other, especially your family, no matter what. That's why Roseanne's descent into looney right wing celebrity was so sad for long-time fans.

I loved the show. And I still love what it was. We're a few seasons into Roseanne Minus Roseanne, and it's on par with peak Roseanne, and certainly worth watching a large swath of its back catalog.
Picture

Season 5:
Closets Full O' Skeletons


Episode 1: The Mommy's Curse

Change is afoot everywhere. The Lunchbox gets a new owner, and somebody liiiiiiikes Jackie.


Episode 2: A Stash From The Past

It's Blame Game Roulette as Roseanne finds a bag of pot in David's room and is determined to punish someone for possession.


Episode 3: Halloween V

We had no holiday episodes last season! Well, we fix that here when Nancy and Dan end up in a terrifying feud.


Episode 4: Thanksgiving '93

Oh! And a Thanksgiving Episode! Becky's back! She looks ... different. Also, Jackie appears to be Hella Pregnant.


Episode 5: Busted

Everyone's long-term relationships blow up due to a series of secrets and lies coming to the surface.


Episode 6: David Vs Goliath

The few secrets kept in the previous episode come to light to everyone, and soon DJ is the only child left at The Conner household.


Episode 7: Everyone Comes To Jackie's

Everything sucks for everyone.


Episode 8: Lies My Father Told Me

We haven't seen Dan's dad for a while. Last we knew he was a terrible parent who skipped out on his wife and married one of his son's friends. But could everything we know about him actually be wrong? Is Dan, maybe, the bad guy?


Episode 9: Body By Jake

We haven't seen Roseanne's mom for a while. Last we knew she was living in a retirement home being judgmental and awful to her children. But could everything we know about her actually be wrong? Or are stories about Roseanne's mom as funny as stories about Dan's dad are dark?


Episode 10: Skeleton In The Closet
​
It's Halloween again! And this time, the homophobe is Fred!
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The Conners In Significantly Fewer And Less Problematic Seasons,  4: The Dark Ages

4/25/2021

0 Comments

 
Roseanne Barrnoldargent has spent most of the last few years ruining the hard work she did in the 80s and 90s, making the most realistic American sitcom of the 20th century. While the original run of the series had its ups and -- hooooboy -- some very deep downs, it was mostly a well-written family comedy. John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and even Roseanne were dextrous enough to be funny while still injecting drama without reaching Melodrama. For the most part, the show has been about being progressive and understanding no matter what your political background. It was about acceptance, and being good to each other, especially your family, no matter what. That's why Roseanne's more recent descent into racist, right-wing celebrity crackpot who blames their problematic opinions on everything but their own brain and mouth has been such a disappointment.

I loved the show. And I still love what it was. We're a few seasons into Roseanne Minus Roseanne, and it's on par with peak Roseanne, and certainly worth watching a large swath of its back catalog.
Picture

Season 4:
​The Dark Ages


Episode 1: This Old House

Darlene has a boyfriend! Darlene has a boyfriend! And it's that guy who's going to end up being the least offensive character on Big Bang Theory! Also, Roseanne and Jackie dredge up some trauma when their childhood house is up for sale.


Episode 2: The Commercial Show

The Conner family is chosen to appear as customers in the new Rodbell's commercial. There's even breakups and characters leaving the show with minimal emotional impact!


Episode 3: Lies

Roseanne faces a lie detector at work.


Episode 4: Terms Of Estrangement

The bike shop closes down, and another character moves off the show. This one is a little more impactful.


Episode 5: The Dark Ages

It's all about power when The Conners forget to pay their electric bill, and Darlene suffers for Becky's transgressions against the family.


Episode 6: Crime And Punishment

Jackie's new boyfriend isn't all he's cracked up to be, and Dan stands up for her. Also, DJ suffers for Darlene's transgressions against artistic decency.


Episode 7: War And Peace

Fallout from the previous episode.


Episode 8: It's A Boy!

The house sure has seemed quieter since Becky left. Looks like it's time to welcome a new family member!


Episode 9: Tooth Or Consequences

Roseanne and Jackie have been running a diner since Rodbell's closed, and its future comes into question when Roseanne's old boss, Leon, shows up as the local health inspector.


Episode 10: Daughters And Other Strangers

The show underwent quite the change when Becky got married and moved out of the house. What will happen when Darlene goes off to college?
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