Behind-the-Scenes Secrets From ‘Roseanne’ That Will Change the Way You See the Classic Series

From 1988 until 1997, Roseanne was one of the most popular sitcoms on television. The show made Roseanne Barr and John Goodman household names. It’s even been ranked by TV Guide as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. But there’s a lot about this classic series that you may not know.

As we dive into the stories behind the stories, we’ll see how what happened off-screen was in some cases just as entertaining as what happened on screen.

So Many Controversies

The show Roseanne was plagued by seemingly countless controversies throughout its existence, including fights with writers, producers, the network, and even Barr’s own sister. Some of Barr’s creative choices would be controversial and later ignored and rewritten by the network.

Despite this, there’s no denying that the show’s success continues to be celebrated and remembered to this day, even though the titular character no longer appears on the show she helped create.

How It All Started

Roseanne began when two producers named Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner decided they’d like to develop a show about a working class mother. The producing duo had their own company called, appropriately enough, The Carsey-Werner Company.

Prior to Roseanne, the company had produced the hit series The Cosby Show. But Roseanne wasn’t always thought of as the hit series it ended up being.

Choosing Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr was a standup comedian known for her feisty and confrontational persona. Carsey and Werner saw Roseanne perform her act on The Tonight Show and thought she would be a perfect person to develop a show around. So the producers called Roseanne’s agent to discuss making a show together.

A Women-Influenced Project

From the beginning, Roseanne made an attempt to include a number of women in its creative team. Among these women were Roseanne herself; producer Marcy Carsey; writers Grace McKeaney, Lauren Eve Anderson, and Laurie Gelman; and director Ellen Gittelsohn.

The show was credited for being one of the first to focus on a working class woman.