What Made Roseanne so Popular?

Running from 1988 to 2018, Roseanne is one of the most popular TV series in the 80s and 90s. Starring Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson and Laurie Metcalf, you get to watch them all as the kids grow up and the parents age. The show took place in the fictional small town of Lanford, IL around the lives of a working-class family. The crazy thing is nothing stood out that made it popular. They didn’t have anything fancy or exotic that made them stand out. So why exactly was the show so popular and run for so long?

Why Roseanne Was Popular

Every show is known for something. Seinfeld was known for the crazy life of living in New York City, The Cosby Show focused more on Bill Cosby’s family life and The Golden Girls are known for the crazy lives of four older women living in Miami. But Roseanne was different; it stood out from the others because it appealed to its working class audience living in the Mid-West.

Roseanne was popular because it was relatable to its audience; they could identify with all of the scenarios of dealing with hardship due to a lack of money and resources while living with immediate family. Weight issues between the couple were also a popular aspect of the show, being that many families in the Mid-West are overweight. Here are some additional aspects of what made Roseanne popular than the typical TV show.

Broke the Stereotype

In the 50s and 60s, the wives stayed home while the husbands went out to work and made the money. So the stereotype was created around the image of the wife taking care of the kids and house while the husband was out working. But in the 80s, divorces peaked and things changed. While the working-class Connor family never split, they dealt with a number of hardships, similar to single parents.

But apart from staying married, Roseanne did have a job working as a line worker at Wellman Plastics (with her sister Jackie and friend Crystal). She may not have gotten paid much, but the point was that she was paying into the family. Roseanne also had more authority than the stereotypical wife; she wasn’t afraid to punish her kids. She yelled, screeched and scared them to death to teach them responsibility, respect and how they had to work for their money.

This lifestyle greatly reflected on the typical life in the 80s and 90s. Many moms also had to overcome the fear of being seen as pushy and bitchy. Roseanne certainly wasn’t afraid to be seen that way, so it gave single women some comfort and inspiration not to be afraid to do what needs to be done.

Finally, many single parents suffered from isolation as they didn’t have the dating apps we do today when finding a partner. Not that dating apps work, but it’s still seen as one of the most popular methods of meeting new people. Roseanne helped to provide some comfort, proving that the married life still isn’t the perfect life; in other words, just because she had a partner, things weren’t any easier. This is one of the best lessons in life for women as being with the wrong person can result in a catastrophic mistake.

They Didn’t Have Money

One of the best things about Roseanne is that the family jokes about their financial situation. Such as when DJ asks for things, Roseanne laughs and helps her son to realize that money doesn’t grow on trees. This also teaches her son to respect money and to spend it wisely.

The family also lives in a remote area, whereas the majority of people are in a similar situation. Not only do they not have money to buy gifts, but they are struggling to pay the utility bills. But the fact that they joke about it takes away the negative and horrible feeling from those who have that problem in real life.

For example in the 100th episode, the set went black as a result of being unable to pay the electric bill. Roseanne says “Well, middle class was fun.” Personally, this was one of the funniest moments of the series because my financial situation was also everchanging.

As many people look up to TV show characters, Roseanne was different. This show provided an alternative lifestyle that appealed specifically to lower class viewers with the moral being: we don’t have money and it’s not coming, so might as well make the best of it. It also enforces a positive state of mind that this family doesn’t have much, but what they do have is enough to stay together and happy.

Addresses Common Issues Between Couples

Many would argue that family sitcoms, as funny as they are, aren’t realistic. The main characters get away with some crazy things that would never happen in real life. Like in Friends, Phoebe carries her brother and sister-in-laws’ babies due to her sister-in-law’s older age and inability to become pregnant. Would you ever carry your sibling’s children? Neither would I! Another one in Fresh Prince of Bel Air is when Will is always hitting on girls that have no interest in him, but he’s got an insane amount of confidence. I have yet to see this when I go out.

On the other hand, Roseanne addresses real life situations, such as in an episode when DJ came home and told his family about not kissing a girl because she was black. Growing up in a small town, Dan said “it’s only 5% black.” Despite kissing being a new thing for DJ, this sparked a tension between Roseanne and Dan on the issue of race. Roseanne thinks Dan’s family is racist but Dan is claiming that’s not what he is, saying “I am not a racist.” Roseanne countered sarcastically, “Yeah and neither’s your father. He says he doesn’t have any problem with ‘the coloreds’.” Dan replied, “I am not my father.”

This example represented one of the many issues between couples when they come from different backgrounds. Some individuals are more sensitive to diversification and equal rights than others. In addition to money, lower-middle class and lower class families can enjoy these real-life situations play out on a comedy show and perhaps learn from these situations.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Roseanne was popular because it uniquely related to its audience as lower class families. By breaking the stereotype, making jokes out of being poor and addressing common issues between couples, this series certainly had its viewers hooked. I personally remember this show playing on my grandma’s TV when visiting her as I grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin with less money. She told me this was one of her favorite shows!

Do You Like Roseanne?

Why do you like Roseanne? If it’s for any reason other than being relatable to your lifestyle, I’d love to hear it! Please let me know in the comments below.