Parents' Guide to

Roseanne

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Fun, snarky blue-collar sitcom withstands the test of time.

TV ABC , Syndicated Comedy 1988
Roseanne Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 13+

Based on 14 parent reviews

Anna Q.
Anna Q. Adult
August 23, 2018
age 13+
1 person found this helpful.
mrjohnnny
mrjohnnny Adult
August 7, 2019
age 13+

Good show, but you have to know your child

This is a hilarious sitcom that shows both the heart and struggles of blue collar life. Despite some sarcasm and rude comments, there are a lot of lessons about family and sacrifice. But there is quite a bit of language and sexual references. The ratings for this show tend to be inconsistent. Some episodes are TV-G, some are TV-PG, and quite a few have been TV-14(DL). Most episodes are family-safe, but there are a few that might require some awkward conversations in the living room.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ROSEANNE, which aired from 1988 to 1997 (and rebooted in 2018), features the Conners, a blue-collar family living in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois. Dan (John Goodman) works hard to provide for the family, but it's Roseanne (Roseanne Barr), the strong, bossy, and wise-cracking family matriarch, who manages to keep everything running as smoothly as possible, despite having to balance taking care of Becky (played by both Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), and DJ (Michael Fishman) with working minimum-wage jobs at factories, beauty parlors, and fast-food restaurants to help make ends meet. Roseanne's younger sister, Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), practically lives with them, and sometimes needs as much guidance as the kids. It isn't easy to keep up with the family's changing needs on a tight budget, and there are times when they don't know how they will make it to the next paycheck. But the Conner family finds a way to keep going, and does so with their own brand of humor.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (13 ):

The groundbreaking series was the first to offer TV audiences a hyper-realistic look at the family life of working-class Americans. It highlights some of the real concerns Middle America faces, including rising costs, stagnant wages, and the lack of employment opportunities. It also features a strong female lead character who's unapologetic about her body, her domineering personality, and her frank (and sometimes crass) zingers. These character traits created some controversy during the show's first few seasons, but it's impossible to ignore the fact that Roseanne is always motivated by her love for her family.

Classic Roseanne episodes tackle many mature issues, ranging from underage drinking, drug use, and teen sex to domestic violence, child abuse, and falling below the poverty line. The 2018 reboot addresses more contemporary topics, including transgender youth and opioid addiction. It also features the older, wiser, and a little less energetic Dan and Roseanne enjoying their grandchildren while trying to figure out how to afford the rising cost of their prescriptions. But no matter which version of the series you choose to watch, you'll find a fun comedy about the day-to-day antics of a loving, imperfect family trying to do its best.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the family is similar to or different from their own. Do the members of your family talk to each other like the Conners do? Has your family faced any of the issues that the series highlights? How have you handled them?

  • Roseanne has dealt with different issues, and the cast has faced different challenges over the years. What were some of the problems they dealt with? Are the issues they discussed 20 or more years ago still relevant today? What's changed?

  • Why was Roseanne Conner a controversial character when the series first aired? Is she less controversial now? Why?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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