Roseanne

Back when I was a kid, one of my favorite shows to watch on TV was "Roseanne." There was something about the show that appealed to me. Maybe because the family on the show modeled my own family in some ways. I had two older sisters, one of them named Becky just as on the show, and I was the youngest of the family and male (as it turns out, DJ doesn't end up being the youngest anymore late in the series). We didn't experience the trials and tribulations like the Conner family had, but still, I knew of families who were down on their luck and looking to catch a break. Even today, despite the fact that the show has been off the air for over ten years, it still appeals to a mass audience.

The early episodes are probably my favorite, with the ninth season being my least favorite (you know, the one where the Conner family wins the lottery - and it ends up being just a fantasy written by Roseanne?). The show had it all, from its funniest moments to the intense and serious parts. One of the most vivid scenes I have of the series is later on, when Roseanne and Dan end up in a huge argument. They say things they regret later on and Dan gets so upset, he punches a hole in the wall and overturns the coffee table. Roseanne also throws a shoe into the TV, ruining it. It's just one of those episodes that you remember because it was such a serious moment. Things just were not going very well for the Conner family and everything seemed to boil over at that point for Dan and Roseanne. It appeared to be the start of their problems, too. It wouldn't be long until they would end up separating for a time.

"Roseanne" is on quite frequently in syndication. The Oxygen network airs it at times, although not as frequently as they once did. It can also be seen on TV Land and Nick at Nite, usually in the evenings. When I was kid, I enjoyed the show but I didn't quite understand all of the jokes like I do now. And even though I may have seen a particular episode many times, I still find it to be fresh and enjoyable today as ever. The show still appeals to me to this day and I never tire of it. It's probably the only show like it that doesn't get stale, even though it's been off the air for quite awhile now. Even my mom finds it more enjoyable now than when it was originally on. And I'm sure 40 years from now, when we're looking back upon some of the greatest shows of all-time, "Roseanne" will be high atop that list.