Roseanne: The Complete Second Season

(Anchor Bay Entertainment, 12.6.2005)

Roseanne's first season made it cool to be poor, fat, and mean on television. As the American economy struggled under Reagan's watch and the impossible fantasy of the Huxtables dominated the airwaves, the financial burdens of the Conner family became a source of familiarity to millions of viewers. It was tragic to be lower class and flunking out at the American Dream, but it was also funny, at least it was on TV. By season two, Roseanne's out of a job, Dan is trying to get his construction company off the ground, Darlene wants her period to go away, and Becky is trying to live down the fart heard 'round the world. Only DJ has escaped corruption...for now. The Conners' never-say-die attitude of love and laughter is still intact, but they're being tested like never before.

Supporting casts can be crucial to a successful sophomore voyage and Roseanne is no exception. Sadly, most of the supporting cast from season one is gone, namely George Clooney's Booker and the staff from Wellman Plastics, where Roseanne used to work. In their place, however, we get to know the Conners' extended family, many of whom were introduced in season one.

Dan's father is played by Ned Beatty and, no kidding, the scenes featuring these two actors are incredible. It's easy to forget that both Goodman and Beatty have serious dramatic chops because they are both such versatile actors and fit right into their sitcom surroundings. During a memorable Thanksgiving episode, they effortlessly slip into a moving confrontation after Dan's father pursues the affection of Roseanne's friend Crystal. The moment lasts no more than thirty seconds, but Goodman and Beatty take it from sarcastic to angry to sad to confused, before the viewer even realizes what's happening. Perhaps the greatest testament to this scene is that, while it doesn't hold back in achieving what it's after, it doesn't suck the life out of the episode's humorous tone either.

Great episodes are in abundance throughout this season, many of which feature the exceptional production design work of Garvin Eddy, Ron Olsen, and Diane Yates. When the Conners leave the familiarity of their home, they are in good hands. One episode takes Dan and Becky to the mall, while Roseanne's job hunting takes her to a fast food chicken restaurant, a coffee shop, and finally a hair salon. We even get to see the Conners' basement for the first time when Dan builds Roseanne an office so that she can get back to her forgotten passion: writing. In each case, the sets look great, appropriate to the moment, but never overbearing.

To complement the extended interview with Roseanne from the first season DVDs, we get extended interviews with John Goodman and Michael Fishman, as well a reel of season two highlights and a separate reel of Jackie highlights. Fishman has grown from playing DJ into an extremely positive, pleasant family man. He's only twenty-four, but he's married and has two kids. It's nice to see a former TV child star who seems to be more, not less, stable because of the imaginary family he grew up around.

Footage from the season one DVD launch party is also included, in which the cast got together at a Los Angeles bowling alley, in some cases seeing each other for the first time since the series went off the air. John Goodman's audition tape clip could have been longer and is of interest because Goodman is so relaxed reading next to Roseanne. Goodman has said in interviews that he knew the part was his, the minute he walked through the door. This footage seems to confirms that.

The final noteworthy feature is simply titled "Peanut Butter and Jellyfish." In all my years of DVD watching, I can't think of an extra feature that comes further out of left field. This is a 30-second promo for a children's program starring Roseanne that will be released by Anchor Bay later this year and, no kidding, it will mess with your head. I'd otherwise recommend this box set as safe, casual nighttime viewing, if not for this clip. If you happen upon it while dozing off on the couch, it will startle the hell out of you. It just does not compute with the rest of the content on these DVDs. When I'm watching Teletubbies, I don't expect a clip from Roseanne to pop up out of nowhere. I expect the same courtesy going the other direction.

All kidding aside, humour generated from tough times can be a tough sell. The Roseanne clan gradually grew meaner from season to season, which is understandable, as the straits around them became more dire. Unlike the Married with Children family, who simply hated each other, Roseanne was a sitcom that combined the uncharted territory of a struggling lower income family in a sitcom scenario with the traditional belief that it's important to love one another, no matter how bad circumstances get. The Conners in season one are downright sweet compared to later episodes and, while the season two Conners are a little tougher, they've still got tenderness to spare. -- Jason Woloski