Everyone who knows the history of the Roseanne show is well aware that I am not in the pilot. That was filmed before I even had my first audition. However, that episode set the tone for our show and I, like so many of you, have watched it thousands of times.
Loving our show but also as a writer myself, this section of the pilot set the tone and heart of the show. It remains authentically raw and real in way most shows never dare to be.
I posted my favorite clip the other day. That snippet of Roseanne and Dan Conner playfully in love is also part of what makes this scene both believable and redemptive. You know these two people love each other. You know they have special chemistry. You also know they are real conflicts.
As a write this scene reminds me that anything can be funny. That conflict, while dynamic and impactful, can also be hilarious.
The way the fight stops to take care of hurt kid resonates even more with me now as a parent. It takes us all straight into their world, no filters, softening, or hiding.
The acting is tremendous. Mixed emotions. Deep thoughts. Hard, imperfect conversation. Unlick all the other episodes where I can tell you what it felt like inside production, in this episode I am an observer. Meanwhile I can still recite the lines every time because we showed a portion of this to the audience before every show we ever recorded.
Matt Williams was masterful at setting up dynamics, and Roseanne brought a realness that echoes to our core.
I think every married person has been on both sides of this argument. Feeling overwhelmed, having too much to do, the burden of family responsibilities. Sometimes things fall through the cracks, but in a family, anything missed has real consequences.
This is the tone I love for comedy. Real stakes, deep stories, relatable topics.
There are two additional things I want to highlight.
Roseanne says, “You better come down off of your thrown and start helping around here because I am getting fed up.” The writing, timing, and attitude, right down to her shaking the box of instant macaroni at Dan heights the tension.
When Becky starts demanding they take Darlene to the emergency room, and Roseanne just tells her to “Shut up, honey.” Suddenly there’s just a little humor to break the tension.
I get wide eyed and watch in awe every time all these decades later.
I hope you enjoyed this clip and my commentary giving you unprecedented insight.
