Happy families are all alike—except for Roseanne’s Connerclan, who have always been at their best when making each other unhappy. And even though two decades have passed since the sitcom’s initial run ended, not much has changed for the Lanford, Ill., family on ABC’s revival, though Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and her hubby, Dan (John Goodman), now trade banter about blood pressure and anti-inflammatory meds as they fill their days-of-the-week pillboxes.

The reboot — premiering March 27 at 8 p.m ET — makes a joke out of ignoring pretty much everything from season 9 (Dan’s not dead!), but no other narrative acrobatics are required to bring the family back together: Younger daughter Darlene (Sara Gilbert) has moved home with her two kids after losing her job; son D.J. (Michael Fishman) is back after a stint in the Army overseas; while Roseanne’s sister, Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), still lives nearby, and still can’t quite settle on a career (her latest: life coach). The only bit of obvious sitcommery is the story line involving older daughter Becky (Lecy Goranson), who’s been hired as a surrogate by a local yuppie…played by Sarah Chalke, a.k.a. the original series’ “Second Becky.” It’s a long way to go for an inside joke, but Goranson successfully conveys Becky’s frustration about her life’s unfulfilled potential.

Much has been made over Barr’s decision to have her alter ego be a Trump supporter, but in the episodes screened for critics, politics serve mainly as fodder for intra­familial ribbing: Jackie passive-aggressively brings a bottle of Russian dressing to dinner; Roseanne counters with “Aunt Jackie thinks every girl should grow up and be president, even if they’re a liar, liar, pantsuit on fire.” Mercifully, Jackie and Roseanne end their election feud in a tearful hug by the end of episode 1.

As with the original, the new Roseanne is most enjoyable when it focuses on the everyday life of the Conners; Barr and her writers know that family are the people who make you craziest, no matter what color your collar. Gilbert’s delivery of Darlene’s brutal zingers remains deadpan perfection (“The only reason you look younger than me is because you’re embalmed in Mike’s Hard Lemonade,” she tells Becky); Metcalf balances her character’s exaggerated intensity with superb comic timing; and the old-married-couple chemistry between Barr and Goodman is still relaxed and believable. Some of the best moments center on the family’s attempt to understand Darlene’s son, Mark (Ames McNamara), a 9-year-old who likes to wear skirts and “colors that pop.” Roseanne and Dan are befuddled by the boy’s clothes and worry he’ll get bullied at school, but their concerns stem from a fierce love rather than stereotypical “red state” ideas of masculinity. “Darlene,” Dan notes, “God did not give me this big a head to hold a narrow mind.” Barr always had an easy rapport with Roseanne’s child actors, and her scenes with McNamara are sweet without being cloying.

Networks have tried to justify their reboot mania by suggesting these series have something new and vital to say about today’s political climate (see: Will & Grace, Murphy Brown). But maybe it’s okay to admit that a group of talented actors and writers—and their fans—just want to revisit the good old days. So is this Roseanne revival necessary? Probably not. But it’s still real nice to have the Conners back.

Grade: A–

http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/...ot-review/

Glad i took a chance and watched this.It was really funny and I enjoyed the show

Roseanne gave a shout out to PRINCE on her second episode, and dressed up as PRINCE on one of her old episodes too. She's gotta be a fan!

Good and Bad

she has a (biracial) grandchild, but they chose a kid that just doesn't fit the part.

The aunt and the 2nd daughter are on Big Bang Theory

[Edited 3/28/18 12:31pm]

I didn't watch it last night but I have it recorded. I mean just to find out how Dan is there is worth it.

It was just OK.

Politics aside, I really enjoyed the back to back episodes...It's funny to see the Connor family deal with current events in 2018....I think they taped 8 episodes..News reports said that 18 million viewers tuned in.

StrangeButTrue said:

The remake was fun! There was even a Prince mention.

That was pretty cool.

She plays a Trump supporter; is one in real life; and Donald Trump is now taking credit for the show.

She could play 30 straight minutes of un-heard Prince bootlegs and I wouldn't watch.

I loved it. Going to keep watching.
Why comment though if you refuse to watch it. Go make your own damn thread

Hate when they call it a reboot!!!!! Hawaii 5-0 and MacGvyer those are reboots. Roseanne, X-Files and Will & Grace are not, it's just the next season. Think I'll watch it

RodeoSchro said:

She plays a Trump supporter; is one in real life; and Donald Trump is now taking credit for the show.

She could play 30 straight minutes of un-heard Prince bootlegs and I wouldn't watch.

I'm sold

RodeoSchro said:

She plays a Trump supporter; is one in real life; and Donald Trump is now taking credit for the show.

She could play 30 straight minutes of un-heard Prince bootlegs and I wouldn't watch.

Is she? Thats dissapointing, but I'm not surprised.

http://www.eonline.com/ne...-season-11

.

Just announced, full season ordered.

How do they explain away Dan dying at the end of the original series?

It actually was pretty awful if you think about it:

https://www.rollingstone....ks-w518543

The acting is shoddy, it is not astute like it was. Darlene isn't throwing out zingers, the timing is way off. They try to make Trump voters way too smarmy. The liberal Jackie is a psycho dumb ass, the opposite of most leftists, who value high education. The mean right wingism is not seen. They accept a black grand daughter and Gender Queer grandson?? Not in Trump's dumb America.

StrangeButTrue said:

The remake was fun! There was even a Prince mention.

Yes, I caught that, so cool! Politics aside I really enjoyed it and thought they picked up right where they left off. It feels as if the Conners never left. Glad it did so well in the premiere. The politics mentions where primarily in the first episode (they showed 2 episodes in the hour) though and personaly didn't feel they overdid it. I thought it was funny how Roseanne and Jackie discussed their differences about it too. Even though Roseanne is a Trump supporter, it is also cool she can accept a biracial granddaughter and cross dressing grandson, LOL. Fabulous ratings for this day and age and happy there will be a season 2.

purplethunder3121 said:

How do they explain away Dan dying at the end of the original series?

That was all a dream, just like when they "won" the lottery in the later years of the series. I am glad they undid all of that. It didn't feel like Roseanne at all to me after they did that in the original run of the series.

I loved her dressing up as Prince that year for the Halloween party, so cool!

[Edited 3/31/18 15:05pm]

Missmusicluver72 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

How do they explain away Dan dying at the end of the original series?

That was all a dream, just like when they "won" the lottery in the later years of the series. I am glad they undid all of that. It didn't feel like Roseanne at all to me after they did that in the original run of the series.

I loved her dressing up as Prince that year for the Halloween party, so cool!

[Edited 3/31/18 15:05pm]

Just like Bobby Ewing's "dream" segment in Dallas...

purplethunder3121 said:

Missmusicluver72 said:

That was all a dream, just like when they "won" the lottery in the later years of the series. I am glad they undid all of that. It didn't feel like Roseanne at all to me after they did that in the original run of the series.

I loved her dressing up as Prince that year for the Halloween party, so cool!

[Edited 3/31/18 15:05pm]

Just like Bobby Ewing's "dream" segment in Dallas...

LOL, exactly! I didn't like that season much of Dallas either btw.

The episode started out of Roseanne and Dan lying in bed and she yelled his name to wake him up and she said "I thought you were dead" and he said "Why does everyone think I'm dead?" Hilarious!

StrangeButTrue said:

http://www.eonline.com/ne...-season-11

.

Just announced, full season ordered.

purplethunder3121 said:

So, appearantly some folks are not down with the Roseanne okie doke. Found this interesting artice on twitter, perhaps you guys can tell me what you think.

https://shadowandact.com/...f-roseanne

Like all shows that need to come to end I eventually fell off back in the day...I DVR'd the new episode...I'm curious but I don't know if I want to see 5 more years of that family....

It's interesting how The Media & Hollywood embrace Roseanne's conservative views and they resisted Tim Allen....Keep in mind both Legendary Comics did not have much to say BEFORE Obama became President...During Obama's 8yrs Donald, Tim & Roseanne would not shut-up....